Did you meet IC official on May 15 Moonilal asks Rowley

Dr Roodal Moonilal

Roodal Moonilal had a question in Parliament Thursday for Keith Rowley but he stumped the opposition leader who is yet to provide the Government House Leader with an answer.


It happened during the all night debate on a budget appropriations bill that was approved by the House of Representatives.

Moonilal asked Rowley to say whether it is true that he met on May 15, 2013 with a "high official" of the Integrity Commission at the home of the official. He did not name the "high official" but stated that if such a meeting took place it would be a serious matter.

Moonilal explained that coming just five days before the opposition no confidence motion such a meeting would undermine Rowley's credibility and be a serious ethical breach for both Parliament and the commission.

Rowley was not present in the House when Moonilal asked the question. His parliamentary colleague, Colm Imbert, asked Moonilal whether he was saying that the opposition leader met with IC Chairman Ken Gordon, who was the only commissioner on May 15.

However, Moonilal noted that he said a "high official", not one of the commissioners. Imbert's question was based on his interpretation of who is a "high official" in the commission.
Rowley told the House of Representatives on May 20, 2012 that the Prime Minister and other top ministers conspired through a strong of 31 emails to undermine the judicial system by spying on the Director of Public Prosecutions and trying to get the DPP promoted to the bench so someone else could be appointed DPP. In addition he said the emails exposed a conspiracy to harm a newspaper reporter.

Rowley said he did not report the matter to the police but passed the emails to President Max Richards on January 8 this year. Richards, who demitted office in May, subsequently stated that he passed the documents to the Integrity Commission for verification in March, just days before he left office. Rowley has insisted that the email matter must be investigated by the Integrity Commission. 

On May 20, Prime Minister passed the documents to the police for an investigation as soon as Rowley spoke about the matter in Parliament. She and those named in the emails denied any connection with them.

Rowley has stated that he has no confidence in the police to investigate the matter.