PM among 30 with uncashed cheques

However, Newsday was reliably informed that the cheque listed in Rowley’s name has nothing to do with the period he was suspended from Parliament as Opposition Leader.

Rowley was suspended from the House of Representatives on May 6, 2015, for the remainder of that parliamentary term, after the then People’s Partnership (PP) government used its simple majority to pass a motion to suspend him on the basis of claims he made with respect to the emailgate matter. The motion was passed in the House at 9.15 pm by a vote of 24 “for” to one “against”, hours after Rowley and 11 other People’s National Movement (PNM) MPs walked out of the Parliament chamber after debate began on a second motion of no confidence against him. Then Chaguanas West MP Jack Warner was the lone opposing vote to Rowley’s suspension.

According to a newspaper advertisement, the Office of the Parliament advised the individuals and groups in question that these cheques “will become void on March 31, 2017.” The Office of the Parliament further stated, “Cheques dated within the last six months should be cashed immediately.” It added, “However, cheques that are stale-dated (that is, more than six months have elapsed since the date of issue) should be brought immediately to the Financial Management Unit, Office of the Parliament, for revalidation.” Senior government officials told Newsday yesterday the cheque listed in Rowley’s name for this period represents a payment made to Rowley which had been misplaced. “Since the cheque is lost, it cannot be replaced without public notification after a specific period of time,” one official said.

A second official indicated that to date, Rowley has not been paid for the period of his suspension, so “there can be no loss on that score.” Rowley, the Diego Martin West MP, has publicly stated that his suspension from Parliament was irregular. He has said he continued to function as Opposition Leader during that period. He has argued that it is against that background that he should be paid. Rowley has also said that if it is found that he could not function as Opposition Leader while suspended, there could be a constitutional crisis because he signed off on the appointment of senior state officers and other duties. Newsday understands this matter is currently in the hands of the Prime Minister’s lawyers.