Integrity Commission: Vidwatie’s overseas trips no breach

The Integrity Commission has said the oversees trips of Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s sister Vidwatie Newton, a non-employee of the State, were not illegal. In a letter sent by the President-appointed commission to the head of the Public Service, Reynold Cooper, on Wednesday, the commission said it came to this conclusion after conducting an investigation into allegations that Newton’s oversees trips were financed by the Office of the Prime Minister. The investigation was prompted by complaints made by Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley, who revealed in May that he had sent documents on the issue to the commission for consideration. The one-page letter sent by the commission’s registrar Martin Farrell said: “Kindly be advised that the commission has found no breach of the Integrity in Public Life Act, by anyone at the Office of the Prime Minister.”