While former PNM Port-of-Spain South nominee Louis Lee Sing insists dismissed minister Marlene McDonald should step down as the area’s MP—and a by-election be held—another former nominee Isha Wells doesn’t believe McDonald should do so.
PNM leadership officials were mum yesterday on whether McDonald—who was sacked as a minister on Thursday amid three allegations concerning breach of proper conduct—would continue as PNM deputy leader or Port-of-Spain South MP. The overall issue is expected to be discussed at today’s general council meeting at Balisier House.
After serving as deputy political leader under the Manning administration she was retained as deputy by the Rowley administration and retained as Port-of-Spain South candidate by the PNM’s screening team in 2015.
PNM chairman Franklin Khan didn’t answer calls or texts on the issue. Vice chairman Colm Imbert had “no comment,” while General Secretary Ashton Ford said, “I can’t comment on anything. The political leader is the only one who appoints deputies.”
But Lee Sing, commenting on McDonald’s dismissal, said, “It’s a start for the way we’ve started to treat with criminality in a serious way. But it’s too little, too late for the Prime Minister.
“There are a number of questions to be asked including when did he know of the information on which he acted. While the information might be new to some quarters, it’s not new to the PNM leadership as I and two others—separately and collectively—made this information available to the leadership as early as 2014.”
Lee Sing added, “Why did the entire leadership ignore this information and bring to bear a burden on the PNM as it did? The PNM is in government six months and already it has to shed weight. This is an indication the leadership might not have been as cautious, serious, committed or discerning as leaders ought to be in putting together a parliament team. It might have been they were driven by loyalty to leader, rather than country.
“I’m not taking the position that Ms McDonald should remain in the Parliament at all. I strongly feel on the basis of the evidence presented she cannot be trusted to represent Port-of-Spain South.”
Calling for a by-election, Lee Sing, however, said he didn’t think he would contest if there was one.
Former PNM Youth officer Dane Wilson said McDonald will have to decide if she stays as MP or steps down. “She was elected for five years, so she’ll have to examine that.
Wells, a 2015 Port-of-Spain South nominee, lives in the constituency. While she supported the dismissal of McDonald, she added, “The calls for McDonald to be removed as MP aren’t justified. She’s a hardworking MP; it’s unfortunate this had to happen.
“We in Port-of-Spain South are now left without any voice in Cabinet and no feeling of hope. Residents need housing badly and she, as the housing minister, could have done a lot for her area more than any others.”
Wells, a radio show host, said she wouldn’t contest any by-election since she’d transitioned away from politics, but might return when the time is right.
Checks being made at other 40 MPs’ offices
Fixin’ T&T has now requested information on the staff salaries and positions of people employed at the other 40 constituencies apart from Port-of-Spain South where sacked minister Marlene McDonald is MP.
Fixin T&T had written the police and Director of Public Prosecutions about McDonald’s alleged breach of parliament rules and allegations she hired her common-law spouse and his brother to work in her constituency office last parliamentary term at salaries above $10,000 each.
Parliament pays the expenses of MPs’ constituency offices and its rules forbid the hiring of such relatives.
Prime Minister Keith Rowley said he’d seen “something frightening” in the new information and had spoken to McDonald. He signalled Wednesday he would act “shortly.”
He fired her the next day.
Fixin T&T yesterday commended Rowley, calling for implementation of procurement law and for the DPP to be adequately resourced.