Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar says chairman of the Integrity Commission Ken Gordon has compromised his office and must recuse himself from more than just the e-mail issue, because of his private meeting with Opposition Leader Keith Rowley on May 15. Speaking to reporters yesterday at the launch of a new NP gas station in Charlieville, Persad-Bissessar said her lawyer has advised her that Gordan should not be a part of matters regarding her government or the Opposition.
“My lawyer is now advising that Mr Gordon may well have to recuse himself from any matters which concern members of my government, because of that meeting.” Persad-Bissessar said yesterday the private meeting created a perception that could not be overlooked about Gordon’s ability to fairly sit in on matters concerning the Government and the Opposition. She said it was unknown what other matters Rowley and Gordon might have discussed.
“Now they have indicated it (the meeting) was about the e-mails. We don’t know what else was discussed. And I believe my lawyer is about to write to Mr Gordon that he should recuse himself and not sit on any matters which relate to members of the Government. And secondly, that he should not sit in on any matters related to members of the Opposition and the former government.”
Persad-Bissessar said she was advised that Gordon so severely compromised that office with the “secret meeting,” that “it would be unwise and inappropriate and unfair for him to sit on any matters related to my Government and/or to the Opposition and former government.” She said a letter saying this from her lawyer should go out soon.
“It therefore places the commission in a very untenable position, where we would have a chairman who would not be able to sit on matters related to the Government and to the Opposition and former government, and therefore would in effect be hamstrung in carrying out his duties.”