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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
“21. (1) A person in public life who—
(a) fails, without reasonable cause, to furnish to the
Commission a declaration, or further particulars
which he is required to furnish in accordance with
the provisions of the Act;
18 Chap. 22:01 Integrity in Public Life
LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
UNOFFICIAL VERSION
UPDATED TO DECEMBER 31ST 2014
MINISTRY OF LEGAL AFFAIRS http://www.legalaffairs.gov.tt
Integrity in Public Life Chap. 22:01 19
LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
L.R.O.
(b) knowingly makes a declaration that is false;
(c) fails, without reasonable cause to give such
information or explanation as the Commission or a
tribunal may require;
(d) fails, without reasonable cause to attend an enquiry
being conducted by a tribunal appointed under
section 15 or knowingly gives false information in
such enquiry,
is guilty of an offence, and liable on summary conviction to a fine
of two hundred and fifty thousand dollars and to imprisonment
for a term of ten years.
(2) Where, a person in public life is deemed to have
been in possession of undisclosed income or assets and fails to
account for such further income or assets, or where upon an
enquiry, it is determined that such other income or assets have
existed and the person in public life deliberately omitted to
disclose such information in the declaration filed with the
Commission, he shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine
of two hundred and fifty thousand dollars and imprisonment for
a term of ten years, and where the offence involves the deliberate
non-disclosure of property the Court may in addition—
(a) where the property involved is situated in
Trinidad and Tobago, declare that it be forfeited
to the State;
(b) where the property involved is situated outside
of Trinidad and Tobago, order that an amount
equivalent to the value of the property (the value
to be assessed as directed by the Court), be paid
by the person in public life to the State.”
“12. (1) A declaration required under this Act, shall include
such particulars as are known to the declarant, of the income, assets
and liabilities of himself, his spouse and his dependent children.
(2) Notwithstanding subsection (1), where—
(a) the spouse was not ordinarily living with the
declarant for a continuous period of six months
during the period in relation to which the
declaration was made”
I am made to understand that our PM made it clear that he will not fire the Minister in question nor invite her to resign. So, let us just wait and see how this matter will be handled if the public pressure the PM to act.
The Minister should be arrested and charged. The evidence is so blatant and glaring. In the US she would have been led out of parliament in handcuffs.
Look where you reach!
Adrian Clarke -no doubt you are speaking about the ‘Calabar Foundation’ matter which you had reported to the IC? I have been simply too busy to read deeply into that matter, so my post was not based on that…I restricted myself to the ‘Fidelis Heights’ issue with which this thread is engaged…Just to be clear, yes, I do agree that any public official could and should be subject to the procedures of law enforcement and our court system as you suggested…
Afra Raymond I believe both cases are grievous since I am aware of the source of funds fro the Fidelis property, which has not been made public. The calabar issue is conclusive yet no action has been taken.
take a taste of the evidence. Minute note stating approval by the minister
the funding
The request from fictitious calabar
the cheque
The IC is a waste of time. I heard the investigators may have applications in for housing
That is one of the seminal concerns I will be raising in my article/series…it is relevant that the HDC/Ministry has control over these scarce assets – i.e. affordable housing…
I just hear that . Waiting for confirmation from the Registrar. He has to ask them why the investigation taking so long
I do not think that the Minister should resign and have never called for any firings or resignations, even with high Public Officials to whom I had directed serious criticism – eg Calder Hart, Ewart Williams (does anyone know where Mr Williams is now serving within the Public Service?) or even then Prime Ministers Patrick Manning and Kamla Persad-Bissessar …the responsible Public Officials should conduct themselves properly and must be held accountable for the effective and lawful discharge of their duties…There are clear and huge problems within the HDC which this ‘Marlene’ issue both both obscures and highlights, that is the powerful paradox at work in the heart of this episode… I will be writing on this for next week’s column…
Well, seems they start with the PS at the Ministry of Legal Affairs. Don’t know if you read the statement/excuse from the last PS to the PM on why action was not taken against the PS at the Ministry of Sport. Let me fill you in-cause his name was not called in the report! I will leave that there.
I suspect the social media pressure will eventually get to the PM.
Which is very Kamla-esque
You mean reactionary? Appear to be devisive by taking action when in truth there is no choice left?
Nope…I disagree Timothy Christopher P Nokio
I’m willing to wait the week to see how the Prime Minister responds.
Marlene though shpuld have had thr decency to resign immediately.
what WE normal people think is the right thing to do, doesnt mean them politicians believe so too
Remove her for what? Steups! The people removed the PNM in 2010. They earned their right to govern again. I am beyond tired of the PeePeePissBrigade Clownship.
This has nothing to do with PNM and UNC, this has to do with the question of malgovernance and whether or not Ms. McDonald abused her ministerial position to unfairly benefit a close acquaintance.
You all got caught in the UNC trap again.
Like if this is something significant to warrant this action. Give me a break from the santamonius nonsense eh.
They are very SERIOUS matters of state that require our urgent and focused attention.
This UNC/PeePee level nonsense is pathetic.
This is a wild goose chase.
Goose alone? Try a dodo bird chase.
“After staunchly sidestepping the issue when it first arose two weeks ago, Housing Minister Marlene McDonald on Monday did an about-face and admitted that, in her previous incarnation as Minister of Community Development, Culture and Gender Affairs, she did make inquiries to the Housing Development Corporation on behalf of a close personal friend.
That had not been Ms McDonald’s initial reaction, though. Calling the allegations made by Opposition Senator Wayne Sturge “a wild goose chase,” the incumbent Housing Minister had stoutly denied that she owned any house supplied by the HDC, even though this was not the allegation made.
Rather, Mr Sturge had accused her of using her then-ministerial position in 2008 to obtain favourable consideration for one Michael Carew, who has been variously described as a close friend and the common-law husband of Ms McDonald.
Now, she is admitting that she did make an enquiry on behalf of Mr Carew, whom she described as “a citizen of Trinidad and Tobago, who was a retired teacher and with whom I had a personal relationship.” But she also asserted that as Community Development Minister she “performed no functions in relation thereto and the public resources for which I was at the time responsible did not include the allocation of housing.”
This argument lacks conviction. Even the greenest Government Minister would know better than to make an approach in this way. Most public servants interpret such inquiries as an indirect directive to ensure that such people are given preferential treatment.
This may be why Prime Minister Keith Rowley, in a media conference on Tuesday, emphasised that Ms McDonald had addressed her inquiry to the then Housing Minister. This, however, means only that the Minister with direct responsibility would have sent the inquiry to the relevant public servant, so Dr Rowley’s argument is even more specious.
Minister McDonald has implied that her inquiry was simply a standard duty for a citizen of T&T who was one of many such people for whom she made an inquiry.
This is an unconvincing explanation. After all, according to Minister McDonald herself in a statement to Parliament last November, there are 168,065 applications before the HDC. Obviously, then, any citizen who can get any Government Minister to make a personal inquiry is well-connected in some way, whether by party card or personal relationship or fewer than six degrees of separation.
However, apologists for whichever party is in office typically ask, as though it is a rhetorical question, whether the relatives and friends of Government ministers should not get assistance. The answer is no, they should not. Precisely because they have that pull-string, anyone personally affiliated to government ministers should go through the normal procedures that most citizens have to endure. Indeed, were this the norm, those procedures would almost surely see rapid improvements in efficiency.
At any rate, it remains an open question as to whether Ms McDonald committed any wrong-doing, with the allegation as to whether she gave Mr Carew money to buy the upper-income property still to be addressed. Much depends on what further evidence may come to light. For now, however, she has the Prime Minister’s staunch support.”
Maybe she was ‘advised’ to admit to lesser allegation in the same way Nicole may have been ‘advised’ to apologize and blame it on niavety. Point is, in neither case is there any remorse nor even consideration that what they did could be construed as abuse of office.
A mere distraction from Kamla and her thieves.
If Dr. Rowley fires Marlene Mc D, then he has to fire Nicole O or else it will seem as though he is setting a double standard. Marlene Mc D has been a close supporter of Dr. Rowley, so he must tread lightly.
Marlene’s track record: Secret scholarship
$3 million dollar community centre
HDC house for boo
No more time to waste on distraction….have a great day all!
The more parties that keep the issue at the forefront, the better. Let us not only have the politicians and the media doing this as they both tend to do it at their own convenience.
Maybe they should FIX their name because they are not FIXING anything!
The Parliament keeps issues at the forefront.
The news and other tv and radio programs like Morning Edition do the same thing too.
With all due respect, if Parliament held TnT accountable and kept issues alive, how was Section 34 passed and revoked? The largest demonstration in TnT.
The Parliament kept that issue at the forefront and it still is up to today.
Did the demonstration FIX anything?
Keeping issues at the forefront. We are a forgetful people.
And helping to keep those who govern us accountable.
What purpose may I ask?
I have even joined them at the Parliament on occasion when I thought that I had to be there to show support for the issues raised by Fixin T&T. They definitely serve a purpose!
In my opinion, all NGO’s have a part to play. They, along with the MSJ, have consistently spoken out on issues of national importance. We may not like what they say nor when they say it, but definitely they have been consistent, unlike many other NGO’-which probably only speak out on issues of their interest, in all fairness.
Why didn’t the UNC deal with Marlene when they were in power and looking anything to make the PNM look bad?! For that reason alone I could say that there is probably nothing here but something to try to stir up the population in the same way that misinformation on the property tax is being disseminated by the Congress of Prakash and the UNC faithful.
Marlene was a good friend of the PP. She has never really attacked the PP in her presentations in parliament . She got more hampers than any other MP from Roodi . All in exchange for leaking PNM information to the UNC
Adrian Clarke so why was Penny sidelined and Marlene embraced? Because one is a better team player?
then why attack her now when she could be a mole in the government?
She made the mistake of tackling JJ .
And it’s not all of a sudden!
I always thought they were a waste of time.
Dr. Rowley is the one who had the UNC’s feet to fire, not Fixing T&T.
Waste of bloody time!
Come on guys…we cannot continue like this…Business as usual…If you don’t care what we think and whether you get re-elected or not, think about where this is leading the country.
Dr. Rowley and the other opposition MPs did that!
Who needs Fixing T&T?
Did they unearth anything that the the then opposition hadn’t already brought to the nation’s attention?
What did they do to Fix T&T?
Melina Hutchinson, yuh need to do some homework yes.
Enlighten me, tell me what they did.
So, you want me to do yuh homework fuh you now?
Just tell me one thing that they did to fix T&T.
Start here nah…Google is yuh friend: https://m.facebook.com/pages/Fixin-TT/163145037060962
A march?
Did that fix anything?
They are deeply concerned.
We are all deeply concerned about many things but what are they doing to FIX it?
Well, if daiz all yuh see den carry on smartly oui.
But don’t waste time trying to shoot the messenger. Let’s deal with the Minister’s role in this matter.
What else is there to see?
They just highlighted what the then opposition under Dr. Rowley brought to the attention of the nation in the first place
Kamla and Sturge brought the Marlene issue to the nation’s attention.
Fixing T&T is just repeating what they said.
They are a waste of time and I always thought so.
They have nothing new to say to any issue that has already been highlighted.
Fixin T&T has a facebook page Melina, I suggest you go there and begin scrolling down in order to familiarize yourself with the group you’re now disparaging.
I’ve personally known about them from before the Persad-Bissessar administration.
Disparaging?
What have they done to FIX T&T???
They’re a watchdog group, they highlight malgovernance. If you’re looking for examples you can easily visit their facebook page and begin scrolling …… but I have a feeling that you won’t because you’d rather believe they either do nothing or are a UNC group.
They mirror what the political parties are doing and that is the extent of their organisation.
They bring nothing new to the table or FIX anything.
Look how they have you all beating up over Marlene while they are laughing in the background about their success in diverting attention away from them.
All of a sudden Fixin’ T&T irrelevant, after holding the Persad-Bissessar administration’s feet to the fire for five years?
Yep! They weren’t considered irrelevant when they were calling on the UNC/PP government to fire JW, && and many others…in fact, many were calling them a PNM group. Now they’re irrelevant? Steups, oui!
We have convenient memories.
The opposition headed by Dr. Rowley was calling for Warner’s head.
MSJ was calling for Warner’s head.
The population was calling for Warner’s head.
What makes FIXING T&T any different from them?
They are merely voicing concerns already voiced by other people.
In many instances they were calling for these “heads” first.
The issue is not the witch hunt ( which I admit occurred) or the guilt of Moonilal or others of the UNC party. The issue is not even the money value or quantity of matters that Marlene is improperly connected to. Nor is the issue the amount of time that passed ( by the way these allegations were circulating for quite a while now). The issue is that she is an minister of government and correctly subjected to the scrutiny of the people and the expectation of the highest ideals. It’s a matter of principle. And it’s a movement towards integrity in government and the eradication of corruption and nepotism- aspects of the culture in government that have our country where it is right now. To achieve that change we have to be loyal to principle, integrity and correctness. Not to party or persons. and not excusing or rationalizing wrong doing, But calling it out and making it clear that it’s no longer accepted.
They don’t know how to say what they really want.
Is it just me or the response from a body calling itself ‘Transparency’ seems to involve more gymnastics? Lord, have a position nah, this in the public domain long enough.
Who de hell is Fixing T&T?
They have been blowing hot air for the longest while and have done nothing to better this country.
They are irrelevant!
I think someone asked about my ability to write. lol “Once upon a time there was a fella named Karew.
Retired teacher and De Minister’s reputed Boo.
Some say Common law but she say he was just a Screw
Along with some other nuts and bolts, yeah that Too
Figure out a way to get a house and he get Through
Even use the Minster’s money, the docs looking like iz True
But de Minister bright like dat , she is no Booboo
Use she weight to get him another cheque and we money it Flew
Get caught by meh boy Adrien, who tell she long time he Knew
Buss de mark on she but she get away like them fellas in de Coup
Laugh at him and say cry now nah, go Boohoo
But he had is revenge as Stooge and company start to cook to make a Brew
Get a lucky break when she and Jerls fall out and is allegations Anew
Jerls nah, de one who dey does call de black Syrian or is it Jew
Time for Keithos to act now he say he doh know what to Do
Once false Move with Marls and he will end up in Doodoo
Hear she have one setta info on him enough to put he cock in a Stew
UnC people calling for she head forgetting how quiet dey was when de lady say for a house, Glen she Blew
PnM people performing mental gymnastics saying business as usual, UnC do it Too
The independents watching saying, what the F@#K wrong with the party Crew
Whilst I’m over here thinking how we could flush all ah dem down de toilet, or as they say in England, the Loo.
Hope this poem don’t offend too much I cyah take on getting Sue
So to avoid being too serious this poem I will change the view.
And make a joke about how Marls is not only corrupt but one big fat Moo Moo.”
Lol…urrmmm..yuh leave out Calabash
what you talking bout? lol
Good piece buh the NGO
plausible……. lol
“Use she weight to get him another cheque and we money it Flew”
Timothy Christopher P Nokio…u trying to give Lasana some competition? Lol.
Saints men doh compete with one another Nerisha Mohammed. lol
Timothy Christopher P Nokio , complement each other
ent.
So you have forgotten about them now?
I thought Fixing T&T was keepinig things on the front burner.
How do i say this nicely? I know. I can walk and chew gum at the same time.
You are walking but it looks like you swallowed the gum.
Yikes. lol. Like somebody red…and ready.
This alleged wrong doing happened 7 years ago and is now being raised by the UNC after they have left government with massive corruption hanging over their heads and an audit that is to be conducted at the HDC.
People are so gullible that they are unable to see that this has been raked up and blown out of proportion as a distraction away from the bobol that was going on under Moonilal at the HDC.
People have fallen hook, link and sinker for this nonsense which is what the UNC set out to do in the first place.
No one is talking about Moonilal anymore, it’s now about Marlene and a house worth $400, 000.00, and everyone is adding their two cents to it to make a mountain out of a molehill.
This alleged wrong doing happened 7 years ago and is now being raised by the UNC after they have left government with massive corruption hanging over their heads and an audit that is to be conducted at the HDC.
People are so gullible that they are unable to see that this has been raked up and blown out of proportion as a distraction away from the bobol that was going on under Moonilal at the HDC.
People have fallen hook, link and sinker for this nonsense which is what the UNC set out to do in the first place.
No one is talking about Moonilal anymore, it’s now about Marlene and a house worth $400, 000.00, and everyone is adding their two cents to it to make a mountain out of a molehill.
When stacy reported corruption to the previous pm about surushramsaran why they was not campaigning for him to go
Maybe it’s the fabulous bottle of wine I shared tonight eh, but I’m flabbergasted at the dotish attempts by some here to defend pure arseness on the part of the Minister. If the PM does not rescind her appointment forthwith he will have lost a great deal of credibility as far as I’m concerned. But, I’m just one single voter I suppose….
This is standard PNM fare
PNM?
This is standard fare in Trinidad politics, which we’re supposed to be trying to get away from.
Rowley deliberating too long!
Kamla woulda bust she throat already….at the drop of a hat!
Hahahahaha@Kamla woulda bust she throat…only if she didn’t share the spoils!
Tell meh ah lie!
Yuh lie! Satisfied? Lol
Kamla woulda buss she throat after thoroughly reviewing people’s opinion of the matter via facebook comments.
How long was Anand there, how long was Anil there, ho we long was Warner there?
The average Trinidadian has a five year memory, Job like yuh have ah degenerative disorder? LOL
Job Reborn, you got that one right.
This is a mere distraction.
If there was anything to it, Kamla would’ve dealt with Marlene while she was in power.
Vernal Damion Cadogan, Anand, Anil and Warner were Kamla’s friends, Marlene is her enemy.
There is no comparison!
But the real question is this:
Would you beat out Marlene for a free house…… Dun dun dunnnnnnnn.
#manhavebelly
Hahahaha. Ahem. I mean quite uncalled for chap. Quite uncalled for!
Disgusting and disrespectful.
Indeed.
Fire her immediately
Anyway, it is what it is. The Prime Minister has said that he wants more info before he makes a change.
And Marlene has found herself balancing on a ledge.
From experience, we know it is only a matter of time when a politician finds him or herself in such a position.
More skeletons will eventually come crawling out and the Prime Minister’s hand will be forced.
I’m only suggesting that Rowley takes in front and acts under the facade of integrity at least. Either way, Marlene’s days are numbered.
The way the PM handles this sacking will say plenty.
This issue has been boiling before the GE, they were handed evidence of all the allegation and chose to ignore it…we will see
Yes, the Integrity Commission cleared Marlene before. But, like I said, we would feel a lot more comfortable if we had people without skeletons to clean out the corrupt mess that is our public sector.
Apparently the case has been re-opened.
Ok.
Hey the IC cleared her in December 2013 but reopened the case in December 2014 just before the screening . The untrained investigators did not know that her husband was a director of Calabar
Adrian is not her husband eh…is a close friend
She is living with that close friend and gave him over 400k to buy a house
I am amazed that people defending her . The country corrupt to the bone
Adrian Clarke I think Savitri Maharaj was being sarcastic eh…she probably forgot
ha ha , I guess so .
I was actually…after reading all the comments…thought I’d remind you nah
Politicians will be politicians. it is there nature. But for people to pretend that they are ‘unbiased’ and for ‘cuntry’ I find that unconscionable.
(Trinidad Express December 2014)
Incumbent Port of Spain South Member of Parliament (MP) Marlene McDonald claims she did not know her companion was a director of a nongovernmental organisation (NGO) that received grants from the Ministry of Community Development, which she once headed under the former People’s National Movement (PNM) administration.
In an exclusive interview with the Sunday Express last Thursday at her Piccadilly Street constituency office, McDonald broke her silence on the allegations of misconduct levelled against her.
She feels she has been subjected to class discrimination from PNM colleagues because of her humble background and her elevation to chief whip and deputy political leader of the PNM.
McDonald also dismissed allegations that she was under a fresh investigation by the Integrity Commission (IC).
Admitting she shared a relationship with Michael Carew, a director of Calabar Foundation, McDonald claims she was in the dark over the grants given to the NGO under the Community Action for Revival and Empowerment Programme.
“Michael Carew has his own home and I have my own home. We are together,” McDonald said.
Lewis Carew and Victor Mc Eachrane are listed as the other directors of the NGO.
McDonald and McEachrane were colleagues when she was employed at the Diego Martin Credit Union before she decided to throw her hat into the political ring…
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/Marlene-dismisses-all-allegations-286476091.html
God laughing
This is simply an amazing post.
It is HDC policy for a minister from another ministry to inquire as to the status of a close friend’s application for housing?
And on the balance beam tonight let’s hear it for….hahahahhaahaaa
So HDC policy allows for clear wrongdoing?
I give up.
Tell me the policy flawed and needs changing. But this mindlessness is too much. As it stands, according to HDC policy Marlene has not done anything that isn’t sanctioned, standard practice.
It’s clear wrong doing. Use of office to influence a process to benefit a friend. The kind of thing to resign or be fired for. It’s a sad day when intelligent people lose their objectivity. It’s not answering the issue by citing the UNC infractions either. It’s so clear. We need to hold out politicians to a standard or things won’t ever change. It’s really up to us u know. We get the government we deserve.
Nah, it’s clear wrong doing. Use of office to influence a process to benefit a friend. The kind of thing to resign or be fired for. It’s a sad day when intelligent people lose their objectivity. It’s not answering the issue by citing the UNC infractions either. It’s so clear. We need to hold out politicians to a standard or things won’t ever change. It’s really up to us u know. We get the government we deserve.
Ok Wayne Sturge, stop talking rubbish now!
I didn’t say I have no problem with it – the allocation policy needs review. But we nowhere closer to seeing anything/hearing anything (because Dick-Forde not talking) where Marlene ask for a house fuh she man.
Where were you when UNC ministers were doing that and raping our treasury.
You all are jokers, not to be taken seriously.
You deserve to have Kamla and her thieves governing over you once more!
And on whst basis are you condemning her Shaun Lynch, UNCism?