Keeping the real issue clear

Only in Trinidad and Tobago, office holders in public life act as though they could be two persons at the same time. They must remember that once you hold public office, your duty is to uphold your portfolio at all times.

One of the most important offices in this country is that of the integrity commission. The reality is, the public perceives that this office is the watchdog for public officials trying to steer themselves away from proper behaviour while holding these portfolios. This perception is accurate and should be the norm.

At the time, if there was no active commission, then Dr Rowley should not meet with Mr. Gordon since the commission was dysfunctional and Mr. Gordon cannot act alone as Chairman.

If Dr Rowley needed information from the commission, he could have contacted the registrar. From media reports, Dr Rowley lured Mr. Gordon to a meeting to which none of his own people even knew about.

Bringing the AG and the PM into this matter is definitely not the leading issue. The main issue is that public officials need to operate appropriately so that citizens can have full confidence in them.  Please take note.

Derrick Johnson

via email