Padarath: JSC must call Gonzales

PRINCES Town MP Barry Padarath, in a statement on February 20, called on Parliament's Joint Select Committee (JSC) on State Enterprises to summon Minister of Public Utilities Marvin Gonzales.

This follows a JSC meeting on February 19 where TSTT former CEO Lisa Agard and former CFO Shiva Ramnarine criticised the company's handling of last October's cyber attack.

Padarath said the duo's remarks to the JSC had been "damning and explosive."

He said Gonzales owed a duty to the people of Trinidad and Tobago to urgently address the issues raised by Agard, as the testimonies on February 19 raised issues of national importance only Gonzales could address.

He said the issues raised had left the country with more questions than answers.

It was in the public interest for Gonzales to expeditiously appear before the committee to answer the questions raised, he said.

Padarath said Gonzales must say if Agard communicated directly with him last October to provide updated and accurate information, and if so, had he chosen to disregard it.

The MP also wanted answers on an alleged gag order on TSTT's executive management after the cyber attack.

He asked if Gonzales was made aware of the breach and alleged insubordination by middle management by withholding vital information from Agard and Ramnarine before they were fired.

He asked if the minister was aware of alleged conflicts of interest entailing board members and the operations of TSTT, the board firing Agard and Ramnarine and whether due process and natural justice were followed.

"In light of all the allegations of incompetence swirling around the politically-appointed board of TSTT, why was the board not fired?"

The MP asked about the appointment of Kent Western to act as CEO of TSTT, saying Gonzales now had a platform to air his side.

Padarath said an alleged continuous undermining of employees at state institutions was a feature of the current Government, claiming TSTT was just another example of political interference by people whom he alleged "were not fit to even run a parlour."