He was referring to a letter from the commission that Persad-Bissessar read to the media at last week's post cabinet news conference.
The letter said:
“Dear Prime Minister, Re: complaint of alleged Integrity in Public Life Act. The Integrity Commission has directed me to inform you that a letter of complaint alleging a breach of the Integrity in Public Life Act Chapter 22:01 pertaining to your stay at the Gopaul's residence at Pasea, Tunapuna has been received.
"The Commission has considered the matter and rejected the complaint. Yours Faithfully, Martin Farrell, Registrar of the Integrity Commission."
"The Commission has considered the matter and rejected the complaint. Yours Faithfully, Martin Farrell, Registrar of the Integrity Commission."
However, Hinds said that's not the whole truth. He said contrary to what the Prime Minister stated last week, she has not yet been cleared by the Integrity Commission of allegations made by the PNM.
Hinds read a letter sent to him by the Integrity Commission in which the commission stated that it is still probing the possibility that the Prime Minister's three-month stay at a private residence may have influenced the award of a contract from the state-owned NP.
Hinds wrote to the commission on May 19, asking it to investigate the award of the contract to determine whether the Prime Minister breached the Integrity in Public Life Act.
The Prime Minister had this to say, when reporters asked her about it: "I heard Fitzgerald Hinds alleging that I am deceiving the population when I read the letter I received from the Integrity Commission when it said they rejected the complaint about me staying at the Gopauls' residence was in breach of the Integrity Act. Hinds is alleging that I am misleading the public when I said I was cleared.
"I want to state categorically, if there is there any deception by anyone, it is by Mr Hinds, to create mischief; to the best of my knowledge, there is no other complaints against me before the Integrity Commission. His statements are defamatory, and I will take steps accordingly, with respect to that matter."
"To the best of my knowledge, there is no other complaints before the Integrity Commission. Indeed, I am going to be writing to the Integrity Commission to ask them if there are other complaints. When the complaints was first made, I was issued a letter by them informing me of the complaint and was informed when they made their findings. I have received no other message stating that there is a complaint against me. I will deal with that matter in due course," she added.
Hinds said his letter came from the Integrity commission's registrar, Martin Farrell. he said the letter that that Persad-Bissessar's stay at the residence of the Gopals did constitute a breach of the Integrity in Public Life Act.
Hinds read a letter sent to him by the Integrity Commission in which the commission stated that it is still probing the possibility that the Prime Minister's three-month stay at a private residence may have influenced the award of a contract from the state-owned NP.
Hinds wrote to the commission on May 19, asking it to investigate the award of the contract to determine whether the Prime Minister breached the Integrity in Public Life Act.
The Prime Minister had this to say, when reporters asked her about it: "I heard Fitzgerald Hinds alleging that I am deceiving the population when I read the letter I received from the Integrity Commission when it said they rejected the complaint about me staying at the Gopauls' residence was in breach of the Integrity Act. Hinds is alleging that I am misleading the public when I said I was cleared.
"I want to state categorically, if there is there any deception by anyone, it is by Mr Hinds, to create mischief; to the best of my knowledge, there is no other complaints against me before the Integrity Commission. His statements are defamatory, and I will take steps accordingly, with respect to that matter."
"To the best of my knowledge, there is no other complaints before the Integrity Commission. Indeed, I am going to be writing to the Integrity Commission to ask them if there are other complaints. When the complaints was first made, I was issued a letter by them informing me of the complaint and was informed when they made their findings. I have received no other message stating that there is a complaint against me. I will deal with that matter in due course," she added.
Hinds said his letter came from the Integrity commission's registrar, Martin Farrell. he said the letter that that Persad-Bissessar's stay at the residence of the Gopals did constitute a breach of the Integrity in Public Life Act.
However, it noted that a complaint that her stay may have influenced the business arrangement with the state company "has been considered and is being investigated by the Integrity Commission. You will be informed of the decision of the Commission in due course."
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