Opposition Senator Wayne Sturge yesterday questioned the silence by Movement for Social Justice (MSJ) leader David Abdulah and Fixin T&T activist Kirk Waithe on allegations of improper conduct by Housing Minister Marlene Mc Donald.
He also questioned the silence from Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley, who he said had came into office promising to deal harshly with corruption and misbehaviour in public office.
Speaking at a press conference at Regius Chambers, Richmond Street, Port-of-Spain, yesterday, Sturge said the activists who usually called for transparency in government had been strangely silent in recent weeks.
Noting that Abdulah had expressed a desire to see white collar criminals brought to justice, Sturge said he was giving him his wish.
“We are granting him his wish in the hope that he would see it fit to open his mouth since he seems to have become a member of the deaf and dumb association.
“We have not been hearing from him and that is most disturbing. Since he has been appointed we wonder if that is no longer an empty vessel but his belly is full more or less,” he said.
Abdulah was recently appointed to the Economic Advisory Board.
Sturge also said Mc Donald still had questions to answer.
“She has not denied that she has a beneficial interest in Fidelis Heights or that the house was rented from day one. It is common knowledge that when one buys HDC houses and rents the premises they lose the unit,” Sturge said.
“This is nepotism and cronyism and the kind of thing that ought not to happen in public life but is a case of the pot calling the kettle black,” he added.
He said in the circumstances, “the high standards set in the past where there is evidence of wrongdoing and ministers were called upon to resign” was appropriate.”
Sturge also said he had not finished exposing misconduct by government ministers.
“I got more documents relating to Minister Mc Donald and we intend to forward them to the Integrity Commission,” he said.
Neither Waithe nor Abdulah answered calls yesterday.
Dr Rowley is expected to return to T&T today after a trip to Miami.