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| Roodal Moonilal: "Dr. Rowley should get some more serious matters to address his time." |
The Leader of Government Business in the House of Representatives said on Tuesday cabinet approved the funds used to pay for official expenses for Vidawattie Newton, the sister of Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar.
Newton has accompanied Persad-Bissessar as an unpaid assistant to the PM on several overseas trips since Persad-Bissessar took office in 2010. The most expensive trip was in January when the Prime Minister was on a state visit to India.
Roodal Moonilal revealed to the Parliament last month that travel, accomodation and other related expense for Newtown since June 2010 has amounted to $868,268.11
All of the expenditure had prior approval of cabinet. However the opposition has been trying to create a scandal about Newton's travel expenses. On Monday, Opposition Leader Keith Rowley told reporters he is asking the Integrity Commission to look into the matter.
In response Tuesday Moonilal told local media Rowley is just trying to politicise what is clearly a rountine administrative matter that is above board and meets transparency rules.
"Dr. Rowley must know that Cabinet can take anybody from the private sector, a delegate from business, a trade union," he said.
"So referring that matter to the Integrity Commission as if he doesn't know that Cabinet can approve expenses for anyone in a delegation is really, I mean, Dr. Rowley should get some more serious matters to address his time."
Newton has accompanied Persad-Bissessar as an unpaid assistant to the PM on several overseas trips since Persad-Bissessar took office in 2010. The most expensive trip was in January when the Prime Minister was on a state visit to India.
Roodal Moonilal revealed to the Parliament last month that travel, accomodation and other related expense for Newtown since June 2010 has amounted to $868,268.11
All of the expenditure had prior approval of cabinet. However the opposition has been trying to create a scandal about Newton's travel expenses. On Monday, Opposition Leader Keith Rowley told reporters he is asking the Integrity Commission to look into the matter.
In response Tuesday Moonilal told local media Rowley is just trying to politicise what is clearly a rountine administrative matter that is above board and meets transparency rules.
"Dr. Rowley must know that Cabinet can take anybody from the private sector, a delegate from business, a trade union," he said.
"So referring that matter to the Integrity Commission as if he doesn't know that Cabinet can approve expenses for anyone in a delegation is really, I mean, Dr. Rowley should get some more serious matters to address his time."
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