Calling it a sordid affair and a web of deception, Housing Minister and UNC Deputy Political Leader Dr Roodal Moonilal is calling for Integrity Commission chairman Ken Gordon “to do the honourable thing” after his secret meeting with Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley. Rowley and Gordon have come under fire from the Government for meeting at Gordon’s home on May 15. The Integrity Commission, appointed to investigate people in public life, is supposed to be an independent institution.
The meeting took place a few days before Rowley presented a no-confidence motion in Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and revealed 31 e-mails claiming misconduct in public office.
Moonilal, in Parliament last week, disclosed Rowley’s meeting with Gordon. In an interview on CNC3’s Morning Brew programme yesterday, Moonilal indirectly called for Gordon’s resignation. Rowley also owes the nation a proper explanation, he said. Agreeing with Attorney General Anand Ramlogan, Moonilal said the secret meeting at Gordon’s house was highly unethical and utterly improper. “Regrettably, this has brought into disrepute the Integrity Commission and also the Office of the Leader of the Opposition. “This is a sordid affair. Regrettably, I believe the Integrity Commission is completely compromised. I believe Mr Gordon, in these circumstances, should now consider his options and do the honourable thing. “I think Dr Rowley owes the nation a proper explanation as to his conduct and the nation will not rest easily until he explains properly his conduct in this matter.”
Moonilal said, to this day, Rowley could not explain what was so urgent that he had to meet Gordon at his home. “He had these papers (e-mails) with him for six months. What was so urgent that required you to go to someone’s home and have a drink? Why could you not wait for the next day, during normal business hours? “The whole thing is just a web of deception. And then to know that the Monday after, you came actually carrying a case for the Integrity Commission.” Responding to Rowley’s charge that Moonilal and Ramlogan were only using the matter as a distraction, Moonilal said, “He never alerted us to the meeting. It’s only when I threw a hand grenade through the window, he came running out the door.
“So he only admits to this meeting after Gordon announces there was one (in an aide-memoire after Moonilal’s Parliament disclosure). “Why did Rowley consider it to be so secret that he could not tell the population he met with the chairman of the Integrity Commission?” Moonilal said Rowley spoke for 150 minutes during the no-confidence motion and he never bothered to mention his private encounter with Gordon. Moonilal said such meetings were terribly improper.