I TOLD ROWLEY

The former criminal judge addressed concerns over his meeting with security officials saying he had on three occasions informed PM Rowley of the meeting. Carmona said he was taken aback when he later received a letter from the Office of the Prime Minister, expressing concern about the meeting. At the same time, Carmona also dismissed as false, a series of issues ventilated in media outlets and on social media in relation to the reported procurement of wine and jewelry, the use of the Presidential Seal, his receipt of a housing allowance and matters raised in an Auditor General Department report on the state of public accounts. At one stage, Carmona said in relation to the housing allowance issue, “We were lied upon viscously.” “Is somebody trying a thing on the Office of the President,” he then asked. However, the President left unaddressed, concerns raised over his failure to immediately assent to the Strategic Services Agency (SSA) legislation sent to him a few months ago by the democratically- elected Parliament. The President eventually assented that law after what he described as a period of review. Yesterday’s developments raised serious questions over the tenure of Carmona who, as President, is called upon to work closely with the Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.

In relation to a security meeting held on September 5, with Minister Dillon, the President alleged this meeting was, “conducted with the stated support of the Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley.” “On three occasions beforehand I indicated to the honourable Prime Minister my intention to hold a meeting with the Minister of National Security and he supported it,” the President said. He did not give details such as the form of this notice. Nor did he state in what context and at what dates these occasions entailed.

Of his conduct of the meeting, the President said, “I wish to make it clear now that I did not impose myself or my views on those great men nor did I interfere with the functions of the Prime Minister and the Cabinet. I did not summon them to a meeting. I am about service leadership. There were no demands made to the honourable minister.” In relation to one legal opinion on the matter, Carmona said that opinion was premised on the meeting being done without the Prime Minister’s support, which was not the case. He said he exercised his power under Section 74, Section 80, Section 81 of the Constitution and acted in his capacity as commander-in-chief of the armed forces. He said he paid due regard to the separation of powers.

“I am a citizen and I can offer my suggestions within my Constitutional remit to alleviate certain issues that plague us as a nation,” Carmona said. He said he set out the contents and discussions of that meeting in a letter sent under confidential cover to the Prime Minister and did not disclose it to anyone else.

“I am extremely concerned that missive which was sent to the honourable Prime Minister has found itself in the hands of the press,” Carmona said. “I am even more taken aback to have received a letter from the honourable Prime Minister which calls into question the Constitutional propriety of my holding the said meeting especially since I had his support to conduct same. Perhaps the explanation for the oversight may well be found in the fact that the Honourable Prime Minister has a vast portfolio of responsibilities and a hectic schedule and quiet possibly may have forgotten our discussions and the stated support which he gave to me to hold said meeting.” LIES, LIES, LIES In relation to the long-standing question of his receipt of a $28,000 housing allowance, Carmona said he was entitled to this under a determination of a panel of the independent Salaries Review Commission (not appointed by him). The Commission, he said, determined he was entitled to this payment in lieu of accommodation of the same standard as President’s House.

The President also said he spent $300,000 out of his own pocket to repair State-provided accommodation to him and his family.

“Our humility became our burden,” Carmona said. “Whenever it rained, the drawing-room was flooded...when electricity went, we used candles. Bathroom pipes burst, flooding the master-bedroom.” On drink, Carmona said he along with his wife, made changes which saw champagne cut from all events. He also said these changes resulted in $600,000 in savings and said there were no breaches of procurement.

He said the catering bill was cut by 80 percent. He dismissed as “false and incorrect”, a series of reports in relation to a particular company and persons reportedly tied to his wife Reema.

Carmona said the President’s Seal should not be confused with the National Coat of Arms and there is no law regulating the former. He also said it is standard for tableware items to bear such seals for official events and that the re-labelled wine was cheaper. He said the Auditor General never accused President’s House of buying $2 million in wine and jewelry.

“It was simply false and unsupported,” Carmona said. He dismissed as a “total fabrication” the claim that $2.8 million was “missing” from the books, stating the funds were placed under a wrong note and that 70 percent of that figure related to salaries. He said this was no discrepancy unique to President’s House. Of all the allegations, Carmona said, “It has generated old mas. Nice ole mas.”