King has acknowledged that her husband and son are connected to the software engineering company Ixanos Ltd, which won a contract from King's ministry last November to develop a government website. The contract is valued at just under $100,000.
King denies media reports that she was involved in the evaluation for the contract. However he has admitted that she did not declare her interest in the company.
She told the media that she did not even know that the company had tendered for the contract until the last moment, at which time she felt that it was not necessary to declare her interest.
A statement from the Office of the Attorney General Monday said Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has referred the matter was referred to the AG for advice.
The statement from the AG's office said the Attorney General has been instructed to undertake "a comprehensive review of the procedure followed in the award of the said contract in light of concerns expressed by the Honourable Prime Minister."
It added, "The issues raised are of grave and public importance. The Attorney General therefore intends to expedite his review of the relevant documents and circumstances in the shortest possible time frame."
The AG's office said it is imperative that the principles of natural justice be scrupulously observed, "less the review/enquiry be vitiated by allegations of procedural irregularity and unfairness."
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar confirmed on Monday that she received documents from King relating to the award of the contract to Ixanos Ltd.
"When the matter was brought to my attention, I did ask the Minister about it. The Minister gave us some documents...I referred it to the Attorney General," she said.
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