There is mounting pressure on Planning Minister Mary King to resign. It's coming from both an expected source - the opposition People's National Movement (PNM) - and a member of her own party, the Congress of the People (COP).
Sports Minister in the People's Partnership, Anil Roberts, said Monday his cabinet colleague should "resign immediately."
Roberts's call was in response to a newspaper article on Sunday that alleged that King participated in the invitation and evaluation process of the award of a $100,000 website development contract for her ministry, which was awarded to a company, Ixanos Ltd, in which her husband and son have an interest.
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar stated Sunday that when she first learned about the contract she found it to be "highly inappropriate".
Roberts, who is a leadership candidate for COP, felt so strongly about the matter that he called a media conference to express his concerns.
Sports Minister in the People's Partnership, Anil Roberts, said Monday his cabinet colleague should "resign immediately."
Roberts's call was in response to a newspaper article on Sunday that alleged that King participated in the invitation and evaluation process of the award of a $100,000 website development contract for her ministry, which was awarded to a company, Ixanos Ltd, in which her husband and son have an interest.
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar stated Sunday that when she first learned about the contract she found it to be "highly inappropriate".
Roberts, who is a leadership candidate for COP, felt so strongly about the matter that he called a media conference to express his concerns.
Speaking as a member of COP he said his party must ensure that those who hold office mus demonstrate at all times the highest standards of corporate governance, integrity, accountability and transparency.
Roberts said King contributed to the development of COP's principles so it gave him no pleasure to ask her to "to do the right thing without further delay" and resign.
However he said he was speaking not for the government of which he is a part but for COP members and supporters.
Roberts expressed concern that the leadership of his party has not commented on the matter. "There has been a deafening silence from the leadership of my party," he said.
He said King broke COP's stated principles in three ways. The first he said was by her own admission that she did not disclose at any time, her interest or her family's interest during the tender of a contract. He noted that the second was that she was present at the opening of the bid/tender documents and the third is a breach of "the principles of accountability and transparency".
Roberts said he would be "very perturbed and upset" if King does not resign, especially considering her past role as head of the local chapter of Transparency International and a person who presented herself as a guardian of accountability and integrity.
Roberts said the he first learned about the matter when he read about it in the Sunday Express exclusive.
The PNM has also called for King's resignation.
"From all available reports Senator King is a shareholder in Ixanos Ltd and is still listed as the corporate secretary of the company. Senator King has also admitted that she participated in the selection process for the tender evaluation committee which subsequently recommended the award of the contract to Ixanos Limited," the PNM said in an official statement..
The party also called for the Integrity Commission and the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to investigate the matter. The PNM said by her own admission (in a media interview) "Senator King has breached Section 29 of the Act and as such she is not fit to hold public office."
Roberts said King contributed to the development of COP's principles so it gave him no pleasure to ask her to "to do the right thing without further delay" and resign.
However he said he was speaking not for the government of which he is a part but for COP members and supporters.
Roberts expressed concern that the leadership of his party has not commented on the matter. "There has been a deafening silence from the leadership of my party," he said.
He said King broke COP's stated principles in three ways. The first he said was by her own admission that she did not disclose at any time, her interest or her family's interest during the tender of a contract. He noted that the second was that she was present at the opening of the bid/tender documents and the third is a breach of "the principles of accountability and transparency".
Roberts said he would be "very perturbed and upset" if King does not resign, especially considering her past role as head of the local chapter of Transparency International and a person who presented herself as a guardian of accountability and integrity.
Roberts said the he first learned about the matter when he read about it in the Sunday Express exclusive.
The PNM has also called for King's resignation.
"From all available reports Senator King is a shareholder in Ixanos Ltd and is still listed as the corporate secretary of the company. Senator King has also admitted that she participated in the selection process for the tender evaluation committee which subsequently recommended the award of the contract to Ixanos Limited," the PNM said in an official statement..
The party also called for the Integrity Commission and the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to investigate the matter. The PNM said by her own admission (in a media interview) "Senator King has breached Section 29 of the Act and as such she is not fit to hold public office."
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