In the face of mounting public pressure for her resignation over her alleged influence in the acquisition of a Housing Development Corporation (HDC) home for her male companion, Housing Minister Marlene McDonald has written to the Integrity Commission to ask if there is an ongoing probe involving her and what was its status.
Through her attorney, Michael Quamina, the one-page letter, addressed to the commission's registrar and dated Tuesday, said that course of action had become necessary as McDonald had become a victim of public persecution by some.
“My client has noted with alarm the continued pressure being brought to bear upon the Integrity Commission by her political opponents, along with a particular interest group, to act on certain allegations with respect to her role in the allocation of a house by the Housing Development Corporation to Mr Michael Carew, while my client was not the minister responsible for that agency,” the letter said.
Describing what was called “inappropriate pressure” being mounted upon McDonald, combined with “inappropriate calls” for her resignation, Quamina said that was being done without awaiting the commission's findings.
“That being said, some time has in fact elapsed since the press reported that a complaint was made with respect to the allegations, and in an immediate response my client has expressed her intention to co-operate fully with the Integrity Commission, should the commission consider it necessary to conduct an investigation,” Quamina wrote.
“To date, my client has received no notification whatsoever that an investigation is being conducted. In light of the unfortunate public campaign being consistently waged by those opposed to my client, a speedy resolution to this matter is now in the best interests of all concerned.
“Accordingly, my client has instructed me to write to enquire from you as to the status of the complaint,” he added.
Since January this year, Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley has defended McDonald in the matter, insisting that she will not be asked to step down over it and calling on those levelling the accusations to bring the evidence to prove their claims.
But Fixin’ T&T leader and activist Kirk Waithe has described Rowley’s position as disrespectful and contemptuous to the people of T&T. Waithe had recently reiterated his call for the removal of McDonald amid allegations of abuse of public office.
McDonald has been referred to the police and the Integrity Commission over questions of whether she used her position in 2008 as a minister to influence the allocation of an HDC unit to her partner.
She has since denied specific claims that she requested a file for Carew and that she had a beneficial interest in a Fidelis Heights in St Augustine home allocated to Carew.
Opposition Senator Wayne Sturge had written to the commission on the issue, calling for an investigation into whether McDonald had breached specific sections of the Integrity in Public Life Act, when she was a Minister of Community Development, Culture and Gender Affairs in the former Patrick Manning administration.
In particular, he referred to Section 24 of the Act, which states:
A person to whom this part applies shall ensure that he performs his functions and administers the public resources for which he is responsible in an effective and efficient manner and shall:
(a) Be fair and impartial in exercising his public duty
(b) afford no undue preferential treatment to any group or individual
(c) arrange his private interests whether pecuniary or otherwise in such a manner as to maintain public confidence and trust in his integrity.
Section 24 (2) A person to whom this Part applies shall not:
(a) Use his office for the improper advancement of his own or his family’s personal or financial interests or the interests of any person
(b) engage in any transaction, acquire any position or have any commercial or other interest that is incompatible with his office, function and duty or the discharge thereof
(d) directly or indirectly use his office for personal gain.
Sturge provided documents to the commission purportedly showing that in 2008 McDonald recommended the allocation of a government housing unit for her spouse, allegedly provided funds for Carew to buy the Fidelis Heights unit in St Augustine and then organised to have the property rented.
In response, however, McDonald had said she would not be distracted by Sturge’s “wild goose chase” as she denied claims that she owned a home from the HDC.