Former minister Mary King has said the manner in which recent allegations levelled against her and her family were dealt with was undemocratic and several allegations "will be challenged in the appropriate fora in due course."She issued a statement yesterday, through her lawyer Dana Seetahal SC, hinting at further action in the issue.She thanked the Government for her previous appointment and wished her successor, Dr Bhoendradatt Tewarie, well.King was fired from the post of Planning Minister last week by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar for acting "improperly" concerning the award of a $100,000 contract from the Planning Ministry to a King family firm.
It is alleged that King failed to disclose her interest in the firm, among other things.The Integrity Commission began probing the issue last week, interviewing ministry staff and will continue this week.Following recent reports Persad-Bissessar's statements on the issue had "gaps", Persad-Bissessar denied King's claims she (the PM) had okayed the contract and referred questions to the Attorney General.Yesterday, King, in her statement,through Seetahal, said:
"The events which have transpired during the course of the last ten days have left me and my family with feelings of deep sadness and disappointment."My sadness stems from the fact that I have been replaced from the position of Minister of Planning, Economic and Social Restructuring and Gender Affairs, a charge to which I gave my most loyal and devoted attention over the past 12 months and the circumstances in which they occurred."
King added: "Upon reflection, I believe that the manner in which the allegations levelled against me and my family were dealt with was undemocratic."These several allegations will be challenged in the appropriate fora in due course."I want to emphatically say that I never knowingly acted improperly during my tenure as minister."My understanding is that an investigation has been launched and therefore I feel it would be inappropriate for me to comment further on these matters at this time."King added: "The disappointment is that I am now unable to serve the people of my country at that level with which I had been graced and to which I had fully committed myself.
"This, however, does not mean that I will not continue to serve this country in the several capacities that I have done in the past and am capable of doing in the future."...Rest assured that I remain committed to serve the people of Trinidad."King also said: "My deep and sincere appreciation is also extended to the staff of the ministry and my former ministerial colleagues for their co-operation and assistance during my short but insightful tenure as minister."To all those who have supported me, expressed their confidence in me and rallied around me and my family during this turbulent period I express my gratitude."
Tewarie swornin as senator
New Planning Minister Dr Bhoendradatt Tewarie was sworn in yesterday as a Government senator, replacing former senator/minister Mary Kathleen King.At yesterday's senate, acting Senate president Lyndira Oudit, read out the revocation of King's appointment which was done by President George Maxwell Richards last week when Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar fired King.