Speciality computer/cyber crime expertise should be involved in any probe of the e-mails revealed in Parliament by Opposition Leader Keith Rowley, says Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Dookeran. Dookeran was speaking during yesterday’s debate on the no-confidence motion brought by Rowley against the Government.
Rowley piloted the motion—that the Government was undermining T&T’s institutions—on the basis of several e-mails alleged to be from the addresses of the Prime Minister and other high People’s Partnership officials. Yesterday, Dookeran said he didn’t recognise that Cabinet had taken any deliberate action to undermine local institutions.
He said the evidence brought by the PNM involved conversations purported to have taken place among government members, and it would have to be ascertained if this was authentic or was a bogus piece of information spread by those who wanted to perpetuate public perception on the Section 34 issue.
Dookeran said he shared the view of his Congress of the People (COP) colleague Prakash Ramadhar that there were consequences either way. He said it was assumed this was taken into consideration “before one used three days of parliamentary debate or what I consider much ado about little.” He added: “If it is in fact bogus, then clearly there are serious consequences and therefore we must get to the very truth of this situation.”
Dookeran said MPs must recognise that in bringing things to Parliament there must be consequences. “We must not just use these occasions to be completely frivolous,” he said. “So I assume the Opposition Leader has had the experience to understand the implications of what he’s done and understands the seriousness of the allegations.” He said the Prime Minister’s immediate response to refer the issue to the police was the most appropriate one, since the matter could not be ignored. (Gail Alexander)