‘I know of no minister who defied Customs’

PRIME Minister Dr Keith Rowley says after speaking with Foreign Affairs Minister Dennis Moses and Planning Minister Camille Robinson-Regis he is satisfied no Government minister defied Customs at Piarco International Airport.

Asked in the House yesterday during PM’s Q&A, by Princes Town MP Barry Padarath, what steps were taken to ensure government ministers do not defy the authority of customs officials, Rowley said: “I am sure my colleague from Princes Town is getting his knickers in a twist because it is not in this government...that we have ministers defying customs and civil authority. I know of no minister of this Government who has defied customs and I have no report on that.”

Padarath asked whether the Prime Minister asked for a report on the incident concerning Moses and Robinson-Regis at the Piarco International Airport. Rowley responded: “I know of no such report and I have no minister in this Government who has defied customs at the airport.”

Airport Authority security officer Kelvon Alexander was suspended on November 16, for two weeks without pay, for being discourteous to Ministers Moses and Robinson-Regis on September 20 at the airport. Last Wednesday, Alexander – supported by the Estate Police Association – issued a pre-action protocol letter to the Airports Authority.

Oropouche East MP Dr Roodal Moonilal also asked the PM to indicate his course of action in relation to the request by the Law Association to consider triggering Section 137 of the Constitution to establish a tribunal to investigate allegations of misconduct against Chief Justice Ivor Archie.

Rowley responded: “Decency would have dictated that this question would have been delayed as the vote of the Law Association took place (Tuesday) night and I am now being asked what action I intend to take. I have no matter in front of me at this time and therefore I have nothing to report on.”

Rowley was also asked if official investigations had been launched into threatening phone calls he received after his phone number was leaked by former minister Devant Maharaj. He responded: “Any call which which warranted the intervention of law enforcement, by that I refer to calls that were threatening or calls that were in breach of the law, such calls will be directed to the authority which is the Commissioner of Police and that has been done.”