The United National Congress will have concerns if the Government indeed picks retired Justice Rolston Nelson as its choice for T&T’s sixth President, says Opposition whip David Lee.
“There’s a cloud over Nelson due to his involvement in the recent Angostura commission investigating alleged sexual harassment issues at that company,” Lee said yesterday in response to a Guardian article which gave Nelson as one of three possible candidates for the position.
MPs were on Thursday notified by the House Speaker that the Electoral College of the Parliament will meet January 19, 2018, to elect a President.
The term of current President Anthony Carmona ends March 19 and a successor must be elected between January 18 and February 19, 2018, latest.
Lee said yesterday he’d noted claims that Nelson, now Unit Trust Corporation chairman, may be a frontrunner in Government’s consideration for the post.
When the last election of a president was being held in 2013, then opposition leader Dr Keith Rowley (now Prime Minister) had said Nelson was “eminently qualified” for the post. The People’s National Movement then sought “consensus building” talks with the then People’s Partnership government on Nelson. However then attorney general Anand Ramlogan claimed Nelson had told him the PNM hadn’t consulted him on the matter.
Yesterday, PNM officials were unable to confirm that Nelson was their frontrunner. They, however, said he is a sound, stable personality.
But Lee, added, “If he’s really Government’s choice we will have concerns since he chaired the Angostura enquiry into recent sexual harassment allegations by a former employee (against company chairman Dr Rolph Balgobin). Until that’s all fully settled, I’ll have a concern.”
Lee also dismissed as “rumour” that the Opposition is considering former public service head and retired diplomat Reginald Dumas and retired High Court judge Gladys Gafoor for the post.
He said, “There’s only been rumours about those names being bandied about. We do consider those names to be as good as Mr Nelson’s but we haven’t caucused on the matter to discuss any nominee yet. We’ll meet after Christmas into the new year on the matter, but as of now we have no selection.”