PM Kamla asks opposition about CL $5M cheque sent to PNM

Prime Minister Kamla Persad Bissessar asked the opposition People's National Movement (PNM) Thursday night about a cheque for $5 million that it received from CL Financial in 2007.

"I have in my mailbox, a cheque dated June 28, 2007 to pay $5 million to the People's National Movement from Colonial Life Insurance (Trinidad) Limited, signed at the back by Rose Janniere, Assistant Secretary. It is stamped for cash, with the PNM's stamp, Linus Rogers, Elections Officer."

She raised the matter in the context of the measures for dealing with the CL fiasco, which came under the PNM's watch. She directed her remarks to opposition leader, Dr Keith Rowley.

"Did you know about the $5 million paid to your party prior to the elections... and then entered an MOU to bail out this institution and then you come here with bleeding hearts, crocodile tears: Clico, poor Clico! Why do we not help them?...

"You gobbled up $5 million and you sank the country into a hole of $90 billion and more and counting. The one who was in charge, the Minister of Finance, bailed her money out first. Not only her own, but her mother's," the Prime Minister said.

She explained that while the PNM administration didn't deal effectively with the issue, it was her government that offered a lifetline to the tens of thousands affected by the CL collapse.

She also spoke about the income of a former CL top executive, who was also holding boards positions in key government institutions while also sitting on the PNM executive as the party's treasurer.

She said in 2007 alone that person, Andre Monteil, earned US $500,000 in salary from CL, a bonus of TT $ 18,250,000.00 and retirement proceeds, US $5,125,000.00.

She challenged Rowley to "stand up and tell me if it is a lie."She added, "Tell us if it is so. This is the PNM treasurer.

"This is Clico, the same people. Sum of $5 million into the coffers of the PNM and millions into the treasurer’s pockets. Is it true? Tell us if it is true."

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