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The following is a press release from Fixin’ T&T, which calls for the immediate removal of Housing Minister Marlene McDonald pending an investigation into her conduct:
(Copyright Andy Hypolite/Trinidad Guardian)
FIXIN’ T&T insists that Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley immediately remove Ms Marlene McDonald as a Government Minister pending the outcome of investigations into the allegations levelled against her.
This, in light of the admission made yesterday (Monday 11, 2015) by the Housing Minister about enquiries she made in 2008 as to the status of an application made to the HDC by someone with whom she had a personal relationship.
It is the only appropriate action that can be taken if the PM is true to his campaign promises of restoring decency along with good, honest, transparent and accountable governance to Trinidad and Tobago.
For any Government Minister to suggest that direct enquiries into a matter such as this would not wield influence, is naive at best and perhaps dishonest at worst; even if it is not within his/her own ministry.
Ms McDonald’s statement yesterday begs more questions that need to be answered.
FIXIN’ T&T expects this probe to be fair, efficient and expeditious.
Just over a week ago, the chair of the Housing Development Corporation, Noel Garcia, was reported to have said that Read more
“No, Dr [Keith] Rowley, the ‘Smith Report’ must be made public. Taxpayers’ money [is] involved.” The following press statement was Read more
The ‘Marlene Affair’ raises important issues about the fate of our women. Progress, as measured by the number of women Read more
Events that rock us into further consternation about the state of our country and whether ‘we gone through’ are occurring Read more
Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley has stripped Marlene McDonald of her position as Deputy Political Leader of the People’s National Read more
On 23 December 2013, the Integrity Commission, then chaired by Ken Gordon, cleared POS South MP Marlene McDonald of ‘any Read more
Fixin T&T’s mission is the realization of good governance to achieve healthy, holistic, and fulfilling lifestyles for all citizens through the study, promotion, and furtherance of strong democratic institutions; sound infrastructure; integrity in public and corporate affairs; and a culture of respect by all for the laws and regulations of the country to create a safe, secure, efficient and productive Trinidad & Tobago.
In TNT Corruption is only a problem if you (your friends, your family or your tribe) are not benefiting from it.
This should be in CAPS
on a t shirt
and here too Tim. Genius
To see people perform the gymnastics I am seeing with this issue makes me think we would definitely win the gold at the olympics if we sent up some of them. lol
“Her relationship is moot’ but when kristian was allegedly sampling kams buljol for contracts for daddy that relationship was not moot then. Yuh have to love tnt yes. hahahahahah
What gymnastics though? I asked a simple question about what was breached and what are the issues. I got a response and shared info. Gymnastics? Lololol.
Rhoda Bharath – what did you write and post about the kristian revelations? Was it different to now?
Oh boy Lasana Liburd here we go again. Lol
Timothy Christopher P Nokio who Kamla bull is her business. Security breaches are ours.
In this HDC issue Marlene will be able to deflect. The HDC board will have ro deal with Carew.
And in all of this, housing distribution policy still needs addressing and cleaning up.
Rhoda Bharath what did you write and post regrading the kristian issue? Simple question. Were you saying kams did nothing wrong?
I am sorry for Trinis who are supporting Marlene. They are demonstrating how corrupt minded the population has become.
Is…not become…is.
frightening
I am of the opinion that Marlene committed a conflict of interest, but I’m willing to wait for all the facts to be made public.
what additional facts are you waiting for?
In all fairness, though Adrian Clarke, many are not seeing the big picture. You are intimately aware. I also supported the call, but not just based on the HDC issue, but there were other allegations against her, which I believe to be more serious, and by focusing on the HDC issue, if and when the other issue/s come up, it might end up with ppl saying…here we go again, and there might be even less outrage.
I would like to know what exactly was the nature of the relationship between her and the home owner …… I also want to be sure whether or not she helped pay for the home.
the HDC issue is sufficient for her to step down. She helped fund the house! Who knows if she has an agreement to collect some of the rent. I heard the tenant high tailed it out last week when the bacchanal broke
Vernal Damion Cadogan there appears to be a cheque deposited by the gentleman from the minister. From accounts, he would not have qualified on his own.
Nerisha Mohammed “appears to be” or “is”?
There is a world of difference between the two.
When it comes to governance and politics Trinidadians exist in a fog of ambiguity!
Vernal Damion Cadogan ihu I can’t seem to find a copy of it..there have been so many copies of cheques circulating. In any event, if I recall correctly, Sturge also alluded to it.
Nerisha Mohammed posting a check does not make it authentic.
If I recall Ravi Balgobin Maharaj used to post all sorts of documents from dubious origins.
If I post it it is authentic…LOL
Adrian Clarke you’s ah ass! Hahahahaha
Descend into what Vernal Damion Cadogan??
He said I was defending Marlene and I said he was supporting the UNC?
Why are you so upset about that?
Because you can’t get that he is supporting the UNC just from him being unhappy with what Marlene did. Fixin’ T&T isn’t a pro-UNC group for instance.
And I’m not upset, I just corrected you while eating a biscuit!
The same fixin T&T attacked the UNC even more than the PNM did.
Maybe then we shouldn’t accuse ppl of defending Marlene
Maybe then we shouldn’t accuse ppl of defending Marlene
Well Lasana Liburd, he can’t assume that I am PNM because I am defending Marlene!
Did you stop to think about that?
Thank you Kyon Esdelle.
He shouldn’t Melina. Certainly not. I didn’t see the entire exchange to be honest.
Fixing T&T is trying to remain relevant because nobody takes them on.
Fixing T&T is trying to remain relevant because nobody takes them on.
Well, check it out Lasana.
Melina, you mean after Sep 7 you stopped taking them on?
All yuh kiss and make up?
You might have to tag me on that comment Melina. I couldn’t find where he said you were defending the PNM.
Fixin’ T&T doing a good job if they keep making Govts uncomfortable yes. Lol.
Savitri Maharaj, what did they do to change things in Trinidad before Sept 7?
All they did was blow a set of hot air.
Who took them on, tell me?
You see the PNM looking uncomfortable Lasana?
You ever saw the UNC looking uncomfortable?
Melina Hutchinson the UNC is wholly unethical.
They would be comfortable walking down High Street Sando with no pants!
Well the PNM has done nothing wrong to feel uncomfortable.
If the dude Marlene helped get that HDC home was her boo at the time they should be uncomfortable …. more so if she helped pay for it.
She’s a citizen too
Once the state didn’t lose money and once she didn’t profit from rent
I don’t see the problem
If however it can be shown rent money entering her pocket then by all means
Do you know for a fact that she gave him money, and even if she did, does that make her culpable for anything?
If I give/loan money to my husband and he buys a gun with it and kills somebody, am I liable for murder?
Steups. Rent money entering her pockets? If Marlene boo in the attic smoking a spliff and the police come, everybody down to the maid going down.
In Trinidad, people just don’t get white collar crime I think.
If a crime is committed and you know about it and don’t report it Kyon, you are culpable. It is that simple.
Worse yet, when you actually helped the man commit the crime by fast tracking his application. And that is the same man you does hug up.
It is unethical for elected representatives to use their offices to benefit friends, family and financiers.
I fail to see what is so complicated about that.
But when the mother of a gangster crying in the press, people quick to throw stones at her.
Yet, Marlene isn’t her common law husband’s keeper when she helped him get the house that he misused?! Steups.
Since when can a husband or wife tell their spouse what to do and be held responsible if they don’t listen?
Perhaps long ago, but certainly not nowadays.
You are dealing with adults, not children!
And if your husband has somebody gagged and bound in the garage, what should you do Melina? Not call the police?
That is what adults do when they know about a crime. They act. Crooks and people of dubious character look for excuses while they benefit from the criminal action.
But I know if Kamla’s husband used to sell weed out of the guest house, everybody would have no problem questioning Kamla’s judgment and morality.
Lasana Liburd, please let me know what crime Marlene committed.
Selling weed is a crime
Asking for a house that you not giving away isn’t
Someone suggested that the Fidelis Heights houses were not subsidised by the Government and there might not be any rules that forbid them being rented out.
If that is the case–no taxpayers’ money and no rule against renting the property for profit–then I think it would change the complexion of this somewhat.
She would have still used a favour to get her “boo” at the front of the line. But there would have been nothing illegal about what they did with the property. And it wouldn’t have been tax dollars wasted.
But I wait to see if this can be confirmed. Because I’m not sure that even Marlene mounted this same defence for herself.
If that was the case, though, then I question why it was even built by HDC. Wasn’t HDC’s mandate at some point to build low cost housing? Hence the low qualifying income?
Yes. I think the Gov’t shouldn’t be building property for upper middle class and wealthy citizens at all. I find that bizarre.
To make a profit
In Nyc low cost housing is subsidized by the sale of high end housing
The Gov’t isn’t supposed to be in the real estate business or any other kind of business. That’s a recipe for disaster.
Support businesses, don’t create your own business. That’s what was wrong with projects like Life Sport and Hoops of Life for instance.
I fully disagree with u
Well, we can cross swords on that any day of the week. The priorities for any government makes it difficult to run good business. So they should leave it alone.
Let them go in areas where there are hardly taxis and run buses. That is where they should do business. Where there is a gap in the Matrix. Nowhere else.
Housing is a priority all over the developed world govts have intervened
Not so. Housing is priority after wars in developed worlds. Or in the developing world where it is necessary.
What the arse the government in any first world nation doing knocking up houses?
They have found that it makes more sense for Govt’s in developed world to subsidise houses if necessary but no more.
Not so. Housing is priority after wars in developed worlds. Or in the developing world where it is necessary.
What the arse the government in any first world nation doing knocking up houses?
They have found that it makes more sense for Govt’s in developed world to subsidise houses if necessary but no more.
But hdc didn’t build the houses
They merely subsidized them
They actually reduced the cost of the subsidies by their business practices then
That’s why the a average cost of construction was 200k then under PNM vs 1m under the PP
Ok Kyon. I am a layman on HDC’s practices at best. I don’t mind them subsidising.
And actually public housing is still being built in Europe decades after world war 2
I think as an island there should be no fully private housing development
That is controversial Kyon. But Europe isn’t a country. What Poland needs is different to what Iceland might need or the UK or France.
It is controversial in the UK.
I know
I can bring specific examples
I have an album on public housing
I don’t know why these discussions must descend into this. Just because someone disagrees with something a PNM MP does does not make that someone a UNC Melina Hutchinson.
Elsewhere it is common for Shaun Lynch to be called a PNM.
And I suspect that you are commenting for the sake of supporting Kamla and her gang of thieves.
Fixing T&T needs to shut the hell up.
Like they getting dunce like Kamla and her thieves
Since when is somebody fired for enquiring about the status of a matter, especially the Housing Minister who has the authority to do so?
Like they looking to unfix what Dr. Rowley is trying to fix.
What kind of “personal relationship” was this? Was he her ‘boyfriend?
IC declarations asks about husbands & wives ..
They are not married. Last year in a media interview Marlene stated that they live in separate places.
Apparently you don’t understand the term common law husband.
Or are like some intent on bending over backwards to make this work. lol
I did ask ‘what kind of personal relationship didn’t I?
Do you know that they had a common law relationship? I don’t!
Mel read my comments and then ask meh questions nah. Let meh help yuh. “If by Marlene’s admission via a press conference to ‘clear the air’ where she said she and the retired teacher HAD a personal relationship – then it must be asked if this relationship defined as a common law one and if so did she make ic declarations for him during the tenure of their relationship.”
It has been so described in the media. I’m not sure if IC addresses common law relationships. Marlene never called it common law. Id have to check the IC law.
Hahahahaa – yes rhoda do that
When the IC sent representatives to help us throught our forms no one said anything about ‘common law’ relationships. They specified husbands and wives
#condoningarseness
sigh
sigh indeed
shame too mel. shame
You asked a question and said you weren’t sure..I’m telling you what I know from someone who has been through the process..
Mel – remember i was on a state board as well.
Worse yet..if he was just her boyfriend
lolol
sad
You said you weren’t sure..I told you my experience while the IC representatives were present to answer questions about the forms
Nobody declares a ‘boyfriend’
Sad…real sad
… as to what happened to you mel. lol
As far as I know..nothing has ‘happened’ to me but if you have information that I don’t know about then so be it…
keep it
If this document is valid, the Minister must go, simple as that!
Mel Lissa…her relationship with Carew is moot. Housing policy allows for her as MP to enquire or write endorsements. Further, her relationship with him does not impact on the policy. The responsibility to allocate housing falls on HDC board and officials. So, according to Afra, Marlene looking into a house for her man is not the issue. The issue is the breach of the lease arrangement…which Ive been saying on several threads.
All MP’s write endorsements for housing…Some even have a template in their offices like the one Gerard posted that they sign off on when people come to their offices to ask for help to get Government housing
#refusetocondonearseness
Or, as JW might say, “UNC arseness, PNM arseness, same bag of salt”!
If my recollection and understanding are correct then we have precedent that should inform the happenings of this case.
And I think his defence at the time was ‘that was meh wife own’
This point of ic declarations is very important I suspect because if memory and my understanding of the situation serves me right panday was jailed for not declaring his ‘wife’s’ london home.
Did not read all the comments but Maybe another issue arises and that is the filing of IC declarations. My understanding is that one declares for themselves and their spouses. If by Marlene’s admission via a press conference to ‘clear the air’ where she said she and the retired teacher HAD a personal relationship – then it must be asked if this relationship defined as a common law one and if so did she make ic declarations for him during the tenure of their relationship.
Let he has not sinned cast the first stone
DO NOT FIRE MARLENE MACDONALD , SHE DID NOTHING WRONG
Disagree, Anne, we must demand better from our leaders, regardless of political affiliation. We endured 5 years of this crap and should not tolerate any more.
Gerard Emile Zatopek Pinard but she was doing what she was paid for…to seek the citizen interest…..
Brian Marcelle, that is #condoningarseness imho.
Why didn’t people say that when Kamla took her sister as her travel companion at State of expense?
Let’s not have short memories. And let’s be consistent in our judgments.
yea the Gerard Emile Zatopek Pinard #ppcondocoolieseness did it as a normal part of guavament….wha is the problem…did u make noise then
Brian Marcelle, like yuh now reach on FB? I criticized the UNC/PP dotishness then and will do the same for the present government. Who want to be sycophants could do what they want.
dreadful pity
It’s already too late . The Calabar evidence is even more damning but has not hit the public since it was not ventilated by a Senator. This is live and still before the IC. This house issue has just given it new life
Fair play to Rowley in moving so quickly to say he would keep Marlene though. Which was a good PR move in that he tried to nip the story before it got legs.
It throws the ball back into the UNC’s court to come up with something new or defeat his reasoning.
I think it was the wrong decision. But it was smart from a PR standpoint I think.
I disagree; detractors would argue that is arrogance coming through. If you are being objective, you need to listen to the concerns and address them, not let them fester.
That is exactly what he did Nerisha. You might not agree with his decision. But he acted.
Kamla would just hide and duck from the press for days or weeks and hope everything blew away.
Lasana Liburd I meant for the Minister to address them though lol. If these ‘allegations’ have been around for years, they not going away just so; she need to clear her name and cannot be in office while doing so. That is the expected standard of conduct in public office.
Might be arrogance. Might be that she simply cannot logically address them.
Anil Roberts is a very intelligent fellah. But it ent easy to sound clever when you are trying to justify wrongdoing.
How is life in the land of Ostrich? Head in the sand – butt in the air.
Marlene ; Secret scholarships – “it wasn’t me.”
Invisible 43 million dollar Community centre? “It wasn’t me.”
HDC House? “Not me”
Oh well….
* $3 million dollar centre.
The big ministries are Works, Housing, Finance, Security and Energy. Rowley must have thought long and hard before putting her there, so I understand his reluctance to make a change.
But I suspect this won’t go away. He should be the one thing that Kamla was not: proactive!
Don’t wait to be embarrassed before acting. Hold a meeting and decide how to salvage that situation.
If the UNC does find more damning evidence, you will have to get a Plan B anyway. So locate that Plan B one time.
The country cannot handle bad ministers but worst of all in those aforementioned ministries.
@lasana-proactive? This has been over her head since GE. As for the Minister of Energy, hmm. The solution to the problem seems to be to shield them from the public; I recall the Minister of Energy did not know what type of business a player in rge field was in, and the obvious conflict of intetest in soliciting funds for beauty pageant resulted in a slap on the wrist. These things do not instill confidence in a Minister in such a key ministry at this critical time.
Well, I’m talking about when it was brought into the public domain at least. I’m no expert on this matter.
I think there are too many issues here to be brushed aside so easily.
Do ministers really personally ask other ministers for favours for constituents? Or only really special ones?
Because I want to believe that Marlene wouldn’t personally contact the Housing Minister for every resident who said they wanted a house.
Is it okay for special favours to be granted to spouses and relatives of minister when we are talking about access to public goods?
If it was her husband, did she not automatically have a stake?
Did their combined salaries make them eligible for that house?
And, of course, was she party to the illegal use of the house? Did she know of its misuse and not alert anyone?
Did someone not say she was an MP? (so many confusing “statements of fact” …apologies if I am getting it wrong. Probably correct she would not have asked the Housing minister on behalf of most members of the public….she was obviously treading a fine line to do it for her spouse, but i note you said “if” he was her spouse …so…perhaps we need to be clear on what are the facts of this matter….
Someone said as much to me regarding assistance from an MP…apparently it is possible…but again…perhaps not likely to actually work out for most people…because the same person who said it…is also still waiting…i do not see how enquiring on a person’s behalf…(which is what I read)…can be perceived as some sort of action requiring investigation….but perhaps i need to read the story again…forgive me if it is not at the top of my list…there are too many other issues … unless they can show me there is some kind of evidence Ms. McDonald was distributing houses to all and sundry of her relatives…
And constant questions arising, questioning the leadership. Why did she not address these allegations in the public domain? Where is the pre-action protocol letter? One would expect her to deal with it, or the PM to do so.
I hope she goes because she can’t be trusted with ministerial powers.
I hope she stays because she’ll be peeing her pants anytime somebody suggest racket to her
Truth is Marlene ain’t going no where because all the MP’s have done the same thing she has call Minister of Housing for a Bligh
yea rassclat Mortgage Finance have interest in my property too…just because they lend me money to buy it…fakkery
She nah movin.
Minister McDonald’s role in this matter needs to be thoroughly and urgently investigated. This does not look good!
At best Marlene’s role in the acquisition of this home for someone with whom she shared a close personal relationship as well as assist in payment for the home presents a case of conflict of interest.
Though it might not be illegal it is in fact highly unethical and if we are insisting on an elevated standard of governance we must reject outright both illegal as well as unethical practices therein.
Marlene hadda go!
Else you opening pandora’s box as to what is acceptable or not, and these grey areas should never be allowed to be our ethical standard. But since we seem to need outside help to determine right from wrong, I wonder what bodies like the local chapter of Transparency International have to say about the situation. Curious the gov’t issues a statement they would not be acting on ‘allegations’, but accusations are ‘allegations’ until they are investigated and these allegations prove to be true or not. Moreover, if ppl were following, there have been investigative stories in the media providing some proof; that can be a good start to investigating these allegations. And if they were false, the Minister is free to sue for libel and clear her name.
If she did wrong she must go.
Steupssss
Brian you are correct . Any subsidized unit cannot be sold or rented for 10 years after purchase . This is a possible case of money laundering .
For her husband come on I too went to my mp and you know what the allocation officer told me no mp cannot tell them who to give house to wait my turn that was 2005 it’s now 2016 and I still living in my mother house in a one room . Guess that rule applied to some
Nothing will come of this.. #prettycertain
I thought that HDC housing was for ppl who cannot afford to buy a house with cash and need help to get long term payments in order to cover their needs.
Fidelis Heights, from my recollection was not subsidized and was offered on the open market for those who could afford it. Therefore it wouldn’t fall under the “low cost housing” category.
So what ur saying is there are different categories to apply for affordable housing?
Anthony Morgan Beach correct. Because I considered purchasing a unit via a loan.
Brian Manswell there are different categories of HDC homes. Clearly outlined on the application forms.
Well I always thought once your income was at a higher level than what was required you would not be able to apply.
Brian Manswell nothing stops you applying…your salary should stop you from qualifying for low income housing. I believe every citizen can apply.
Oh ho. So does the think about renting it out still apply if it wasn’t subsidised Rhoda? I’m fuzzy on this.
Lasana Liburd as am I. Id have to ask Afra when I meet up with him. According to my HDC peeps if it wasnt subsidised then the rental issue does not apply. But lemme check and get back to you.
If the rental issue doesn’t apply and it isn’t a subsidized house, then it seems like a misdemeanor to be honest.
And the fact that, at the moment, nothing seems to link the “advisor” to Marlene does put a slightly different spin on it.
But I will wait to hear about the rent thing.
Ok…the rental issue applies. Apparently his lease specifically says he cannot sublet.
It is now to see whether the HDC board will take the necessary action.
And Marlene seeking the interests of her bf getting a house is apparently not a breach at all. Our current housing policies allow for such to happen.
These are not the times as the set up with Eric Williams and Franklin Khan, that turned out to discredit innocent men, not this time, wheel!
The influence over the house distribution is indeed a non issue. The bigger issue is the co mingling of her personal funds in the transaction and the house being used as an investment property to produce rental income .
Then I guess the investigations will address this. But the current issue of McDonald interfering in the distribution process is weak imho.
This is not the only HDC property that launderers have done this with .
Money launderers do not put their name on properties directly . They lend proxy owners the money to buy the house and hold a lien on the property in exchange for monthly payments .
The renting of the house is the problem. In that respect it should be taken away from Carew.
Is providing the downpayment for a home illegal? Is her name.on the deed? Unless her name is on the deed she isn’t a co owner.
That and the fact that if the house was paid for in full and cost of construction not subsidized, wouldn’t he be able to rent the house out if he pleased?
Anthony Morgan Beach if that is the case…then the rental is not an issue either.
The houses have been heavily subsidized by almost 50% .. The units cost over 1 million but they paid under 650k
In fact they were the most expensive units built under PNM . Huge cost overruns . They are also very nice units in an upscale area.
Mc Donald also part paid for the house by depositing over 400k into Carew’s account so can be deemed having a financial interest in the property . The property is also being rented which is against the law. Trinidadians are too inherently corrupt to understand the difference between right and wrong . The lady has even more serious allegations still before the IC after one year. The Calabar issue is still live.
That is what I was referring to about possible fraud, and in my mind, is a more serious allegation. In any event, these should be dealt with-regardless of when the incident took place. In the same way KPB told JW to clear his name, the Minister should also be told the same.
Allegations…are allegations…unless you believe everyone is guilty until proven innocent. I know nothing of the allegations or what evidence there may be…it would be nice to see concrete information rather than speculation.
Read the comments above . Evidence was provided
The checks…? Is there some law that prevents one person from lending another money? What is the evidence she profited from this transaction?
Wow ! Just unbelievable
Why now and not then?
Don’t move her ,she’s the iron lady , keep her !!!
What is UNC worry ,you was in charge but greed have you all on the other ,sit and enjoy,PNM in charge, no body listens to anybody.SYFM.
Many MPs go to ministers to highlight the plight of individual citizens in and out of their constituencies. She simply made a query on the status of a document that should have been process already. Stuff like this happens all the time. Wayne Sturge is grasping at straws for political mileage.
Back in 2004/5 thereabouts when I applied for a HDC home I was told that one way to improve my application was to reach out to a MP and have them write a letter of endorsement for and on my behalf. About 25% of HDC homes can be distributed at the discretion of Ministers or MPs. Afra Raymond can correct any inaccuracies here. So, I am unsure that Marlene McDonald has done anything the laws of the country doesn’t allow her to do. I never accessed that route…but it is an avenue available to all citizens applying for a home. Is it abuse? It seems so. But has she done something wrong? No.
Again, I am subject to correction.
This woman has and will always be a liability to the “new” PNM politics and policies that Rowley is trying to promote!
I have to support this call; if the shoe were on the other foot, the PNM would have been calling for the removal of the Minister. There is a document circulating showing her requesting his application to be favourably considered. Of course, party supporters say nothing wrong, everybody does it. That does not make it right. And there are other allegations which, in fact, are more serious and can be deemed fraud. These issues should have been addressed and cleared before putting her back up
And the PM’s response that he not firing her-well, that’s a good sign. Same was said about Jwala. It is about time this process of assigning housing be reviewed, as it is a real concern that it can impact on the outcome of an election.
You would have to establish that Marlene writing a letter on behalf of Carew is wrong or illegal. Somehow I think you will find it is not.
The document circulating is actually that of the assistant to the Minister of Housing requesting an allocation for Carew to the HDC – not one from McDonald.
People’s ignorance and the momentum they build on hearsay never ceases to amaze me.
Anthony Morgan Beach the question would be on whose initiative the request was made-the Memo clearly stated on behalf of the Minister. We cannot be on semantics here. Whether directly or not, the request came from the Minister.
Rhoda Bharath..not illegal but should be a conflict of interest. The interesting part was the payment, if so-it was paid off quickly, deed sought and subsequently rented out, if I recall correctly. Now we have so many ppl needing housing, but the Minister recommends her ‘friend’ to get one-not to live in, mind you, but to rent out, knowing the housing shortage, and ppl don’t find anything wrong? Hmm
1. The request came from the Minister of Housing. McDonald enquired on the status of the application. The Minister of Housing wasn’t obligated to fulfill or proceed with a request.
2. Again, the houses in question weren’t for low or middle income earners.
Anthony Morgan Beach i suspect that the details if the story outside of Marlene, man and HDC house have escaped many.
Anthony Morgan Beach ihu but once a request comes from a Minister, who going to say no? And despite income, HDC houses were not to be rented out.
If he is renting it, that is a different issue and is something that the HDC has to deal with in the case of all who have units and are renting them out. I don’t think that has anything to do with his getting the house.
http://www.guardian.co.tt/news/2016-01-12/i’m-not-firing-her