Rowley hits Council for Responsible Political Behaviour

THE Prime Minister in an online comment on Thursday queried the validity of the Council for Responsible Political Behaviour the day after it had issued a statement critical of two remarks he had made in his address to a PNM rally at San Fernando on Saturday, July 15.

The council had met last Monday to consider two complaints levelled by the UNC. The first complaint was about allegations that gunmen had been sent to shoot up Port of Spain (remarks which the UNC said were inflammatory and divisive), the UNC claimed the allegations were directed at it's members.

In the second complaint, the UNC alleged that a PNM election flyer stating "Apply now – grants available" had acted as an improper inducement to people to visit the candidate's office.

The council firstly ruled that Rowley had alluded to events not linked to the UNC which were therefore unsubstantiated. Secondly, commission claimed the flyers gave the impression that state funds were being channelled through the campaign offices of PNM candidates, where state resources must not be used for political campaigns.

Rowley, in a brief statement on Twitter and Facebook on Thursday, remarked, "An ethical council without ethics and steeped in bias is to be ignored for what it is."

The council, on its website at www.politicalethicstt.org, stated its goals as fostering of democracy, promotion of respect for human rights, encouraging participation in the electoral process, and promoting an election process free from violence.

The council's code of ethical political conduct was drawn up by several groups including the Inter Religious Organisation, TT Chamber of Industry and Commerce TT Publishers and Broadcasters Association plus six six prominent religious organisations. It is chaired by UWI lecturer Dr Bishnu Ragoonath.