Govt gets Darryl Smith report

ACTING prime minister Colm Imbert yesterday declared there will be no premature publication of a report of a committee appointed to investigate the dismissal of former sport minister Darryl Smith’s personal assistant, Carrie-Ann Moreau and a settlement paid to her.

Imbert made this declaration in the House of Representatives, after he confirmed the report was submitted by the committee on June 4. The committee, chaired by former permanent secretary Jacqueline Wilson, was appointed by Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley on April 10.

On that day, Rowley fired Smith as a minister in the Housing Ministry after receiving certain information. On April 9, Smith was reassigned from the Sports Ministry to the Housing Ministry, as part of a Cabinet reshuffle. Government MPs thumped their desks as Imbert quipped, "Unlike the Life Sport report, this PNM government will follow due process."

He continued, "Where there is a report that involves the conduct of someone, they have a right to be heard and a right to answer any accusation made against them." Imbert reiterated, "So unlike the UNC, we are following due process and allowing natural justice to be done."