Kamla: Explain McDonald’s return

In a press release, Persad-Bissessar said: “Rowley must explain his re-appointment of Marlene McDonald to his Cabinet, who was the subject of a police investigation over allegations of fraud and misconduct and a probe by the Integrity Commission.” In March 2016, after newspaper reports alleged that McDonald played a role in the allocation of an HDC house to one Michael Carew who was described as a friend, Rowley revoked McDonald’s portfolio as Housing and Urban Development Minister.

Randall Mitchell was appointed to take her place and police later launched investigations.

Rowley’s decision to remove Hinds, whose portfolio was already reassigned from Transport Minister to Minister of Public Utilities, is also being questioned by Persad-Bissessar. “He must tell the country what has changed since his removal of the Member from his Cabinet and now her reinstatement in the Cabinet. Further, the Prime Minister should explain why, for a second time, he has removed MP Hinds from a substantive portfolio.” The Opposition Leader also accused the Prime Minister of having no economic policies to save the country from collapse other than taxation. Persad-Bissessar said the policy of taxation is now being furthered in Rowley’s appointment of Allyson West, “a tax expert from PWC (PricewaterhouseCoopers)” as a Minister in the Ministry of Finance.

Persad-Bissessar said the reshuffle of Rowley’s Cabinet comes in the midst of a crime rate that is spiralling out of control as seen in the vicious double murder of 13-year-old Videsh Subar and Rose Mohammed on Wednesday and yesterday’s kidnapping of Gregory Laing, owner of Puff n’ Stuff bakery in San Fernando.