Minority Leader in the THA, Kelvon Morris is calling on the Chief Secretary Farley Augustine and Education, Research and Technology Secretary Zorisha Hackett to step down until their names are cleared, in connection with the controversial leaked audio recording.
Morris said if the reports are true that the TT Police Service is, in fact, investigating the leaked audio recording of THA executives discussing plans to hire people to spread propaganda on behalf of the Tobago People’s Party, and if the Integrity Commission takes up the call to investigate the matter, then the two should go.
Morris, in a media conference yesterday, said: “It leaves to the Chief Secretary and the Secretary of Education to, in a similar way, to vacate the Office of Chief Secretary and Secretary of Education forthwith, until such time as this investigation has been properly investigated, and completed and that is where and that is the only time there’s exoneration.”
Morris said he had also received a letter from a member of the public who had written to the Integrity Commission, asking that they investigate whether any of the Integrity in Public Life laws were breached if it is proven the voices heard on the leaked audio tape were, in fact, executive members.
His statements came hours after Augustine spoke publicly for the first time on the issue at a town hall meeting in Bacolet on Tuesday night, saying he was confident his executive would be exonerated.
However, Augustine said he will speak on the matter in his own time.
Morris said the only comment he wanted to hear from Augustine was whether the voice in the audio clip was in fact his.
He wondered if by invoking national security, Augustine was implying wherever this conversation was had the room was bugged.
Morris said it didn’t matter how the information was gathered, suggesting the person who recorded and leaked it should be rewarded. He said this was what whistleblower legislation was meant to allow.
“I heard the Chief Secretary saying 21 days for crapaud, one day for schoolboy, but what he forgot to tell us is that it also says 21 days for thieves, and one day for police and the police is on its way in this matter,” Morris said.