Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar sought to clear the air yesterday over allegations that she employed two relatives at her Siparia constituency office.
While she admitted there were two employees who “may fall under the category of relative,” she said they were hired 20 years and 14 years ago, respectively. Persad-Bissessar said there was no breach of the law or any parliamentary guidelines in the employment of the two employees but she has written to the Clerk of the House seeking clarification on new guidelines. She gave assurance that she would take the necessary steps to resolve the matter. Addressing scores of party loyalists yesterday at the Couva South Hall, Camden Road, in Couva, during the United National Congress’ (UNC) national congress, the former prime minister said she wanted to spend a few moments “only” speaking on that issue.
Typical modus operandi by the detractors of the People’s National Movement (PNM) was how Persad-Bissessar described the recent allegations. She said when the PNM was under fire, it sought to distract the population from the real issues at hand. Almost 20 minutes into her address, Persad-Bissessar said, “And so we saw with the Minister of Housing, issues and serious issues related to the HDC and housing, related to the Calabar Foundation and so on...real issues, and in order to distract those serious issues which led to her firing, they are now raising issues about persons employed in constituency offices.”
She said there was no breach of the law or any parliamentary guidelines regarding those employed at her office. While she did not identify the employees by relation or name, Persad-Bissessar said, “There are two people at my office—one of whom was hired 20 years ago and continues to work continuously from 20 years ago and the other was hired 14 years ago and continues to work.” She said the Constituency Operations Manual under which she operated clearly stated who were the people restricted from being employed in constituency offices. Reading from page seven of the manual, she said those people included spouse, children or parents.
“I state categorically today, that no spouse of mine, children of mine or parents of mine have ever been employed at the constituency office.” This was received with a loud applause. However, she said, it was brought to her attention that those guidelines were changed after the elections in 2015.
She said in addition to spouse, children and parents, the new guidelines included a category under relatives. Persad-Bissessar said, “There are two persons in my office who may fall as being hired under the category of relatives.” “The question arises whether having been employed by the regulations in place—the guidelines, 20 years ago, 14 years ago, right up until September—whether they (employees) now fall into these restricted categories. “To that end, having been brought to my attention, I have communicated with the Clerk of the House seeking clarification and advice on the changes in the guidelines, as to first state whether these employees should be terminated.”
Additionally, Persad-Bissessar said she wanted to know whether any renumeration paid to them by the Parliament would have to be reimbursed from September. She also sought to find out what arrangements would be put in place for those who have been employed on a contiguous basis and were properly hired under the guidelines.
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And what arrangements would be put in place for those who would not have had an opportunity under natural justice or otherwise and who would now find themselves, should they be terminated, on the breadline. “I await the responses from the Clerk of the House and I give the full commitment that I will take all steps necessary to rectify the situation for resolution, should the Clerk so advise,” she said. However, she is questioning when the guidelines were made, by whom and how they were approved.