Howai: No such account exists

In a short statement yesterday, Howai said the bank was gravely concerned about statements made regarding the account. He said, "no such account exists." The bank also said so in an advertisement today (See Page 26A).

It was Opposition UNC Senator Wade Mark who spoke about the account during Tuesday’s debate in the Senate on amendments to the Occupational Safety and Health Act (2004).

He said there was a private bank account at FCB, Independence Square with more than $2 million in the name of Phillipa Richards, "who was once personal assistant to the Minister of Community Development Culture and Gender Affairs." Mark called for Minister of Community Development, Joan Yuille-Williams to investigate the matter.

Yuille-Williams who responded to the allegations in the Senate again commented on the matter yesterday at the National Carnival Commission headquarters, Queen’s Park Savannah, where she handed out subventions to regional Carnival Committees.

"Some people take advantage of parliamentary privilege, and I felt that was a deliberate attempt to damage someone’s credibility and character."

Yuille-Williams said on Monday night someone informed her that Mark would go to the Senate to "do that." She said on Tuesday (the day of the Senate sitting) some members of the media were told to assemble early at the Senate. "It was planned. It was very irresponsible but what do you expect from somebody like Mark."

During his contribution in the Senate, Mark had to be cautioned several times to remain relevant.

Earlier, Mark said he wanted answers regarding a special advisor at the Ministry, Dr Stanley Plowden, who he said was receiving "some extremely high and sizeable emoluments." Mark said he received information and wanted the Minister to give the facts.

In her response, Yuille-Williams said she could not understand why Mark chose to call the names of people who could not defend themselves. "When things are like that, they get into the system and people are blamed. It is unfair for people to do it. You would not like it," Yuille-Williams said.

Labour Minister Danny Montano also criticised Mark for maligning a member of the public, without that person having an opportunity to respond. He reminded Senators that a similar situation arose recently in the House of Representatives.

"Certain names were called and the speaker ruled that the names could not be called outside," Montano said.

Senate vice-president Rawle Titus, said he could not see how Mark’s statements related to health and safety and admonished him saying Mark should desist from calling any names. He said Parliamentary privilege was one thing but abuse of this privilege was another matter.

Mark persisted in questioning the Minister, asking if the Minister was aware of a private slush fund in her Ministry and whether she was a joint signatory on cheques.

While he tried to link his questions to health and safety, Titus advised Mark that he was out of line. He said Mark should follow the necessary procedure to have his questions answered.

Yuille-Williams asked Senator Mary King to allow her to respond to the other allegation about the bank account which she did not hear. Yuille-Williams "firmly" denied that her name was on an account, or that she was signatory to an account.

Yuille-Williams said she had to put her denial on the record because the media would have remained with the wrong impression.