Former head of the Public Service Reginald Dumas says chairman of the Equal Opportunity Commission (EOC) Professor John La Guerre must explain how a report on award of scholarships was released before the investigation was complete. Dumas' comments came after La Guerre wrote to Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley confirming that the matter was still being investigated and it was recommended that it be put to conciliation. La Guerre said the report could not be released as a consequence.
La Guerre also said he was requesting information from Parliament about the release of the document during Tuesday's sitting of the House of Representatives by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar. La Guerre said the report was given to Transport Minister Devant Maharaj, who is the complainant in the matter, under the Freedom of Information Act.
He said the Community Development Minister was also presented with a copy of the report as the respondent in the matter. "If the matter was ongoing then how did it get into the public domain via the Freedom of Information Act?" Dumas asked. "Is this a final report or not? "I am a little uncomfortable and I would like an explanation from the commission and the Government," he added.