PM did not blank Code of Ethics signing
Reference is made to two articles appearing in the daily newspapers today. On Page 4 of the Trinidad Express, there is a headline, “Kamla, Prakash blank Code of Ethics signing”. On Page 6 of the Trinidad Guardian, there is a headline, “PM, Ramadhar, no show at signing of election code.”
As the media was well aware, the weekly sitting of the Cabinet was held on the 18th floor of the San Fernando Teaching Hospital, San Fernando, on Thursday, September 4, 2014.
The Honourable Prime Minister, Mrs Kamla Persad-Bissessar, SC, MP, chaired the Cabinet meeting. This meeting concluded around 4 pm, the same appointed time of the signing of the Code of Ethics, at Archbishop’s House, Port-of-Spain. The Post-Cabinet press briefing was held at the end of the Cabinet meeting.
It was therefore virtually impossible for the Honourable Prime Minister to be in two places at the same time. The Honourable Prakash Ramadhar, Minister of Legal Affairs, and political leader of the Congress of the People (COP) was at the same Cabinet meeting and therefore unable to be at the signing.
The Honourable Carolyn Seepersad-Bachan, Minister of Public Administration, and Chairman of the Congress of the People (COP) requested and was granted leave by the Hon Prime Minister to leave the Cabinet meeting early to attend the signing ceremony.
The United National Congress (UNC), of which Mrs Persad-Bissessar is the political leader, was duly represented by its acting chairman, Khadijah Ameen.
Therefore, the headlines in the newspapers today are not reflective of the facts of this matter.
Please be guided accordingly.
September 5, 2014
END
Communications Unit