PM: Were there other secret meetings?

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has declined comment on the statement issued by the Chairman of the Integrity Commission, Mr. Ken Gordon, on his private meeting with Opposition Leader Dr. Keith Rowley.

The Prime Minister said her concern is not about the meeting, but rather the venue of the meeting and the content of the meeting.

“In this case, no one knew of this meeting until the question was asked, and should it not have been that a question was asked would we ever have been told that such a meeting took place? Yes, I am still of the view it was a secret meeting.”

She wondered about the outcry had the shoe been on the other foot.

“If Madame Gladys Gafoor or any other members, or Rollingson, of the Integrity Commission had met me at their home and had told no one, I wonder what would have been the uproar?”

The Prime Minister maintained that the Opposition Leader has a lot to answer.

“Have there been any other secret meetings that we don’t know about? And if so, what was the content of the meeting? What was the venue of such meetings? Have there been any other meetings?”

As for Mr. Gordon’s future as the Integrity Commission Chairman, the Prime Minister said that is out of her hands.

“There’s justice and there is a perception of justice and therefore it’s a matter that will engage public discussion for quite a while. It is not for me to lose confidence in Mr. Gordon or any other person. That is a matter for the public and for the population to speak on. I say again, I do not appoint or dis-appoint members of the Integrity Commission. It falls in the domain of His Excellency the President.”

The Prime Minister met with President Carmona on Thursday where she raised her concerns about the private meeting with Mr. Gordon and Dr. Rowley.

Meantime, Mrs. Persad-Bissessar confirmed that her office has since received correspondence from the President with respect to four potential members of the new Integrity Commission.