(UPDATE) Opposition wants AG fired, Al Rawi apologises for maskless appearance

Hours after Opposition Senator Wade Mark called for him to be fired as a Cabinet minister, Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi apologised for appearing in an Instagram livestream without wearing a mask and physically distancing himself from other people. But he insists all public health regulations were obeyed during the event.

Al-Rawi appeared on the game show Vibes with Voicey on Instagram. The show was hosted by soca artiste Aaron "Voice" St Louis on Thursday night.

The episode, to raise funds for charity, also featured appearances from radio personality Ancil "Blaze" Isaac Jr, Beyond the Tape co-host Supt Roger Alexander and celebrity bodyguard and bouncer Kevin "Johnny Bravo" Da Costa.

At a covid19 media briefing at the Diplomatic Centre in St Ann’s on Saturday, the Prime Minister said he was disappointed by Al-Rawi's conduct, and no official was exempt from following the public health regulations.

Responding to Newsday, via WhatsApp on Sunday, on the call for him to be fired, Al-Rawi said he was aware of the criticisms and assured while all rules were followed, he apologised for not wearing a mask and promised to do better.

"Quite simply, and in all the circumstances, I am renewed in giving my personal redoubled commitment to do better by being seen to adopt best practices.

"I fully support the Honourable Prime Minister’s reflections on this issue and especially his expressed view that each of us has a part to play in fighting covid19.

"I’m certainly very far from any perfection and have a bunch of big fat ugly mistakes which I embrace openly.

"Even though no law was broken I should have done better and unreservedly apologise!"

Al-Rawi said his intention for appearing on the livestream was to bring relief through charity and light-heartedness.

He also noted the regulations on mask wearing could get blurred in private settings, home functions, weddings and restaurants and commended hosts Voice and Penny for their work in coordinating the event.

During the Opposition's weekly media conference on Charles Street, Port of Spain, on Sunday, Mark accused Al-Rawi of being hypocritical in his approach to the public health regulations and said Dr Rowley's response was not good enough, calling for harsher measures to be taken.

"Faris Al-Rawi, the Attorney General, is a law-maker in the day and a law-breaker in the night."

He also called on Police Commissioner Gary Griffith to take action against Al-Rawi for not wearing his mask.

Holding a photo which appears to be a screenshot from the show, Mark said: "Mr Commissioner of Police Gary Griffith, here is the evidence. Arrest the Attorney General because he has broken the law. Any ordinary individual caught without a mask would have been charged and fined."

Mark and Gopeesingh sat very close to each other without their masks on. But when Newsday why he (Mark) was chastising Al-Rawi for doing the same, Mark said both he and Gopeesingh’s temperatures were taken before entering the building and they kept their masks on for most of the briefing.

Contacted for comment, Griffith said he did not want to say anything until he got all of the facts surrounding the issue.

Newsday also spoke to Voice's manager Lyndon Gomez who said the studio where the game show was filmed was at a private residence and wanted to assure the public that all safety regulations were obeyed.

"When we had him (Al-Rawi) it might have slipped us that there could be some uproar, but the show was at a private residence and I know that masks don't have to be worn in those spaces.

"We did our best to obey the public health regulations so surfaces were sanitised, and there were only seven people allowed in the studio. We took it so seriously that not even I was allowed inside at the time."

Gomez said while Mark was entitled to his own opinion, he felt the technical team did its best to ensure the safety of the crew and participants, and thanked Al-Rawi for participating in the show as it was for a good cause.