'HE LIED ON ME' – Rowley moves to sue 'so-called whistleblower'

THE Prime Minister has sent a pre-action protocol letter to whistleblower Akil Abdullah for allegations that Abdullah made against him.

Abdullah's allegations formed the basis of claims made by THA Chief Secretary Farley Augustine that Dr Rowley and other high-ranking government and police officials were part of a conspiracy to bring his administration down.

Rowley also declared that Augustine was out of place to tell him he did not understand the THA Act.

He described Augustine as an "upstart" who would soon learn his lesson.

Rowley made his statements during an interview on TV6's Morning Edition on Thursday.

He said a pre-action protocol letter has been sent by his personal lawyers to "the so-called whistleblower who has participated in the commission of this monstrous lie, implicating me in serious criminal conduct."

"I have taken some legal action."

Abdullah has a certain period in which to respond to Rowley's attorneys.

Focusing on Augustine, Rowley said, "The chief secretary clearly has difficulty respecting his elders."

He added, "He will very soon learn that he will have to respect his betters."

Rowley said Augustine was wrong to claim that he did not understand the THA Act.

"You have just put your toe in the water and just come to the public, is a kind of arrogance that is unbecoming of somebody in the news."

After describing Augustine as a disappointment, Rowley said, "I am not going to be the arbiter of his statements."

He said there was no comparison between Augustine's statements in the assembly on July 19 and the emailgate matter he (Rowley) raised as opposition leader in Parliament in May 2013.

Rowley said, "To compare what I did in the Parliament and what he did, there is a fundamental difference."

He recalled bringing documents to Parliament that he believed warranted an investigation.

"I went to the Parliament by way of a motion which allowed the entire parliament to respond to what I laid there."

In July 2019, the police investigation into emailgate was closed after the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) was not satisfied that information in documents provided by Rowley to Parliament offered a realistic prospect of conviction of anyone for the offence of misconduct in public office or any other offences.

Then police commissioner Gary Griffith said the documents could not be traced as they were typed by someone and there was no electronic footprint.

In contrast, Rowley said, "He (Augustine) went to the assembly with a statement which could not be challenged by anybody."

He said Augustine sought to cover that statement with the blanket of the assembly's privileges.

Rowley maintained that the assembly's standing orders say "that the conduct of the prime minister ought not to be raised in the assembly except by way of a substantive motion."

What is worse, he said, is that Augustine is "being egged on by people who should know better."

Rowley reiterated, "I will take my due from what the law permits.

He said, "That is why I am going to sue the person who lied on me."

Rowley was confident the matter would be resolved in the court, through cross-examination of relevant people and a determination of the facts.

"In the meantime, the chief secretary can jump on his high horse and prance in whichever direction that he is going."

Rowley attributed Augustine's actions to one thing.

"The chief secretary is facing action by the police, which got to the level of the execution of warrants."

Rowley, who is also National Security Council chairman, said Augustine "got himself in a situation where he was of interest to the police and routine police work."

He said Augustine was maintaining there was no need for him to be investigated for the THA audio recording investigation because certain people "have conspired against him and his administration."

Rowley said, "The motive is very clear, and that is what it is."

Asked whether THA Minority Leader Kelvon Morris had been directed by him to question the role played by the assembly's presiding officer Abby Taylor in facilitating Augustine's conduct on July 19, Rowley said he did not direct Morris in such matters. He said Morris was an independent officer in the assembly even though he was member of the PNM.

Rowley is also PNM political leader.

He said it was for Morris to decide whether a motion could be raised to debate Taylor's actions.

Rowley said that would allow all THA members to debate the issue.

"We will see how that goes."

At a news conference at the Diplomatic Centre, St Ann's on July 20, Rowley said he instructed Attorney General Reginald Armour, SC, to get legal advice on whether or not Augustine breached the law when he made his allegations against him at a special sitting of the THA on July 19.

He said the court would determine what was right and what was wrong as he planned to take any legal action available.

Rowley pointed out that the man named by Augustine, Akil Abdullah, stated in the video shown in the assembly that he was a witness co-operating closely with the police in the THA audio-recording investigation.

“When the chief secretary would have done, as far as he is concerned, the police investigation which he denigrated in the production as far as he's concerned, that should go the way of all flesh and disappear; the chief secretary in the THA has put himself above the law and has taken steps to ensure that he doesn’t only think he is above the law but that he acts to put himself about the law."

Rowley did not respond to requests for a copy of the letter sent to Abdullah.

The Opposition UNC did not respond to questions as to whether they might offer legal assistance to him.

In a statement earlier this week, the UNC called for Abdullah to be placed in witness protection.