Imbert: PM is coming home

Rowley is in California on vacation and is undergoing medical examinations at a clinic there this week.

The Prime Minister said he plans to return home on August 15. Rowley said his health remains a private matter, although he is a public figure.

While he was overseas, Rowley extended condolences on the passing of National Joint Action Committee (NJAC) Chief Servant Makandal Daaga on Monday.

“We certainly believes he qualifies for a funeral with State involvement which is a situation where the State will defray part of the expenses of the funeral,”Imbert said. He then disclosed, “This morning, the Cabinet agreed to make a contribution of $100,000 to his funeral.” He added that the National Carnival Commission has made the Queens Park Savannah and the Grand Stand available to Daaga’s family and NJAC, “free of charge” for his funeral there on Saturday.

Imbert explained that under established protocols, Daaga did not qualify for either a State funeral or an official funeral. State funerals are reserved for Presidents and Prime Ministers who die in office. Official funerals are for former prime ministers, former presidents, sitting government and Cabinet ministers who are in office and Chief Justices. Former prime minister Patrick Manning, who died on July 2, was given an official funeral on July 9.

On a report allegedly speaking about a TT national who is a foreign terrorist fighter, Imbert said that matter has not been authenticated.

“We look into all such things but we go through a very rigorous process of due diligence to determine whether these things are idle statements or whether there is any truth in it.”