The PNM is praying for the health and well-being of MP Marlene McDonald as she faces charges, including misappropriation of funds.
There are reports that McDonald fell ill while attending court this morning and was taken to the St. Clair Medical Center. She is due to appear in Court at 1:30p.m.
Public Relations Officer Laurel Lezama issued a statement today in which he remind the public that the charges for which McDonald and others face, occurred before Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley first appointed McDonald to the Cabinet in 2015. The statement reiterates the PNM’s thrust to denounce corruption, “irrespective of the perpetrator’s creed, colour, social status, gender or political affiliation”.
See below the official statement released by the Party.
STATEMENT BY THE PEOPLE’S NATIONAL MOVEMENT
The People’s National Movement has taken careful note of the unfolding events surrounding the Member of Parliament for Port of Spain South, the Honourable Marlene McDonald, and three other persons. It is now widely known in the public domain that charges are expected to be laid against them today, and that Prime Minister, Dr. the Honourable Keith Rowley has advised Her Excellency, the President, to both revoke MP McDonald’s Cabinet appointment and appoint Senator Garvin Simonette as her replacement in the Ministry of Public Administration.
While undoubtedly saddened by this turn of events, the People’s National Movement is thankful for the yeoman service Ms. McDonald has provided, both as a Deputy Political Leader with responsibility for Legislative Matters and as the Port of Spain South MP for the past 12 years. The Party also recalls with gratitude her stint as Chief Whip in the House of Representatives during the Opposition years of 2010-2015.
That notwithstanding, the People’s National Movement has long stood on the side of the law, and particularly under the stewardship of Dr. Rowley, has been vehement in its denunciation of corruption and wrong doing, irrespective of the perpetrator’s creed, colour, social status, gender or political affiliation. In this regard, and mindful that the matter is now before the courts, the Party wishes to reaffirm its commitment to the independence of the major stakeholders in this ongoing situation, namely the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service, the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, and the Judiciary. It is in the strengthening of that independence, and the timely execution of their
functions, that confidence will be reposed once again in our institutions, and the new society of which our Political Leader speaks will be created.
functions, that confidence will be reposed once again in our institutions, and the new society of which our Political Leader speaks will be created.
The Party wishes to also acknowledge that these matters for which the four (4) are to be charged, allegedly occurred many years before Prime Minister Rowley first appointed MP McDonald to the Cabinet in 2015, and for which MP McDonald had twice been exonerated by the Integrity Commission.
Today, the Party joins with MP McDonald’s constituents, in particular, in praying for her health and continued well-being as she traverses this difficult part of her life’s journey.
-END-
Laurel Lezama- Lee Sing
Laurel Lezama- Lee Sing
Public Relations Officer
12th August 2019
12th August 2019
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