PM non-committal on Marlene

Asked by reporters at the post-Cabinet news conference at the Office of the Prime Minister in st Clair, Port-of-Spain, whether he could end public speculation as to whether or not McDonald could be reinstated as a government minister, he said, “No. It all depends on what happens in the future. I have no crystal ball.” He continued, “There are developments to take place in the future. we just have to get on with our jobs and see what happens.”

Rowley reminded reporters that he recently said McDonald’s “conduct has been called into question and she was removed from the Cabinet awaiting an adjudication on the allegations made against her.” He said he had no idea when there would be an adjudication on the allegations or what that adjudication would be. Reiterating that McDonald’s case was not an isolated one and members of the former People’s Partnership government were in the same position, Rowley said, “These situations just take too long to come to a conclusion.”

He further stated it would be “really unfair if because the future is dependent on the outcome of the inquiry...that like the Las Alturas Inquiry...you could have let the clock run out...and five years would have passed...and we have no determination and she (McDonald) would have been allowed to remain there...waiting on a determination.”

Recalling that he was “subject to unfairness” by the Integrity Commission in the past, Rowley said, “I had to go to the court for protection.” He said this was an example of the failure of certain institutions in TT. The Prime Minister added he could “go right down to the Remand Yard” and similar situations would be found. Asked if Government was considering either amending the Integrity in Public Life Act or scrapping the commission, he replied, “That is not before us at this time.”

Rowley removed McDonald as Housing Minister on March 17, after it was revealed that her common-law husband, Michael Carew, and a director of the Calabar Foundation were employed at her Port-of- spain south constituency office for five years, while Carew’s brother Lennox still worked at the MP’s office.