Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley is standing by his claims that Attorney General Anand Ramlogan expressed concerns about the ethnic balance of staff at the T&T mission in New York.Rowley said he was standing by his remarks when contacted for comment yesterday.He made the claim during his presentation of a private motion in the House of Representatives on Friday.Works and Transport Minister Jack Warner said later in the debate that Ramlogan never visited the mission in New York since assuming office almost a year ago.Warner accused Rowley of misleading the House and called on him to apologise. Rowley got up but did not apologise. He said instead that he was "very careful to say what was told to me by staff at the mission (in New York) where I went.
"I reported to this House what I was told, what was said to me and what we have now is the veracity of what was said to me, and that is where the matter lies," he said.House leader Dr Roodal Moonilal then said, while seated: "You're not apologising? You've brought the AG into odium and disrepute, apologise, apologise."Warner then resumed his contribution, but Moonilal continued the cross with Rowley: "You were wrong, you were misled, you misled the House, apologise... see you at the Privileges Committee."Warner later told legislators, as Rowley refused to apologise, that "there are avenues for us to find redress, don't worry."
Yesterday, Rowley said he would welcome any clarification of the matter by Ramlogan in Parliament.Rowley said his remarks were made based on "what was told to me and I represented the information correctly."Told that the Government seems intent on having him referred to the Committee of Privileges, Rowley said: "The Government can do what it wants....That's what the committee is there for."Rowley insisted yesterday that he had said all that he had to say on the matter in Parliament on Friday and he would welcome any clarification by Ramlogan in Parliament.A statement issued by the AG's office on Thursday said consideration was being given to filing a motion to have Rowley appear before the Committee of Privileges.