PADARATH: ROWLEY FLIP FLOPS AGAIN ON MARLENE
Princes Town MP, Barry Padarath says that Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley has once again flip flopped on his position surrounding Marlene McDonald. Padarath questioned the Prime Minister in the Parliament yesterday, posing a question that asked the Prime Minister “Could the Prime Minister indicate whether he has received information from the Integrity Commission and or the fraud squad clearing Marlene McDonald of allegations of wrong doing and misconduct in public office”?
The Prime Minister responded to Padarath stating that only he, the Prime Minister, can appoint members to the cabinet and that those appointments are not dependent on any letter from the Integrity Commission. Padarath stated that the Prime Minister first removed McDonald one year ago because McDonald was the subject of an Integrity Commission probe into allegations of misbehaviour in public office as well as a police probe and that the Prime Minister publicly rationalized his decision for her removal based on those factors.
The Princes Town MP said that on the second occasion that Miss McDonald was fired, the Prime Minister indicated on Monday July 3rd, 2017 according to a CNC3 news report that she was fired because of her closeness to people allegedly involved in criminal activity. Padarath said based on the Prime Minister’s own words on that occasion, it disqualified Miss McDonald from holding public office since she herself is the subject of allegations of criminal misconduct as reported on June 30th, 2017 in the Trinidad Newsday.
Padarath stated that the Prime Minister’s rational for hiring, firing, hiring, firing and rehiring Miss McDonald was inconsistent and erratic.
In the absence of any logic, consistency and sanity in reappointing Miss McDonald for the third time to a Ministerial Portfolio under the Rowley administration, the Princes Town MP questioned whether the a Prime Minister was fearful of internal strife in the government and his party, being lead or involving Miss McDonald.
Padarath said that the unpopularity of the government coupled with the poor performance of the Prime Minister appears to have heavily influenced the Prime Minister to flip flop once again in the hope that the threat of Marlene McDonald to his leadership is thwarted, at least for now.