Valley: UNC grasping at straws over NLCB

TRADE and Industry Minister Ken Valley yesterday said the Opposition UNC was grasping at straws when it alleged that his relative obtained a post at the National Lotteries Control Board (NLCB) because of her “intimate PNM Government linkages.” In a statement, the UNC claimed that Patricia Pierre-Joseph has been acting as deputy director of the NLCB since 2002 and “is alleged to be the sister of PNM MP Ken Valley.” Referring to the recent High Court judgment in favour of Devant Maharaj and against the Statutory Authorities Service Commission’s (SASC) decision to bypass him for promotion to NLCB deputy director, the UNC alleged that the “family relationship between Pierre-Joseph and MP Valley now adds further intrigue to the Maharaj vs the SASC issue.”

The Opposition claimed that Pierre-Joseph’s “intimate PNM Government linkages” were the reason why she was allegedly appointed to act as NLCB director over Maharaj. The UNC added that in light of this “startling information,” the SASC and NLCB Boards must resign immediately. Valley told Newsday, however, that there was absolutely no truth to the UNC’s latest allegations. The minister explained that Pierre-Joseph was his second cousin and not his sister as alleged by the UNC. He also indicated that Pierre-Joseph does not hold the position which the Opposition alleges that she does, and she has been “fighting up” within the NLCB similar to Maharaj.