Rowley on Marlene appointment: I don't need a letter from Integrity Commission

PRIME Minister Dr Keith Rowley said it his responsibility to appoint Cabinet members and it does not depend on any letter from the Integrity Commission.

He was responding to a question in Parliament on Friday from Princes Town MP Barry Padarath. He had asked that with the reappointment of Marlene McDonald as a minister whether the Prime Minister had received information from the Integrity Commission and/or the Fraud Squad that McDonald was no longer the subject of an investigation and has been cleared of all alleged wrong doing and misconduct.

Rowley responded: "The last time I checked the responsibility of appointing any person to the Cabinet of Trinidad and Tobago lies with the Prime Minister and I am not aware that is circumscribed by any correspondence to or from the Integrity Commission."

The Opposition did not ask any supplemental questions.

Returning to Parliament Oropouche West MP Vidia Gayadeen-Gopeesingh asked with the recent judgment indicating that the Law Association of Trinidad and Tobago did not have the authority to investigate Chief Justice Ivor Archie after expressing its discomfort with the Chief Justice's performance whether the Prime Minister intended to heed the calls from the association and members of the citizenry to intervene.

Rowley responded: "The only insurance I can give the member is that as Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago I will ensure that the responsibilities of the office of Prime Minister operates under the provisions of the Constitution of Trinidad and Tobago and not to calls being made by persons who may or may not understand the role of the Prime Minister and the provisions of the Constitution."