PM: Lee remains Housing Minister

PRIME Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar is making no change to her appointment of Caroni Central MP David Lee as minister of housing. She made this clear in a text message to Newsday sent via WhatsApp on October 10. Newsday had asked if Lee was still functioning in office while now being under conditions of bail.

Persad-Bissessar replied, "Yes, he remains minister of housing. There will be no change to that." The prime minister has been steadfast in her support of Lee while saying that her government always supports the rule of law and that the course of justice must take its course.

On October 9, opposition chief whip Marvin Gonzales argued that despite the principle of someone being deemed innocent until proven guilty, Lee ought not to continue as a minister while facing matters before the courts. He did say that Lee should retain his parliamentary seat.

On October 7, Lee and businessman Hugh Leong Poi were re-arrested on charges connected to Lee’s use of a vehicle tax exemption granted to MPs.

On April 7 Chief Magistrate Christine Charles discharged the matter after she determined there was insufficient evidence for the case to go to trial before a judge and jury in the High Court. Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Roger Gaspard, SC, has since reinstated the charges.

Initially, upon news of Lee's arrest, the PM said on October 7, "We have respect for the courts of the land. Minister Lee was acquitted of these allegations before.

"Now that the charges have been re-laid, we have confidence in the courts to deliver a just result."

Lee was released from police custody under a $1 million bail set on October 8.