Leader of Government Business, Housing Minister Dr Roodal Moonilal says United National Congress (UNC) candidate for St Joseph Ian Alleyne is not a person in public life and as such cannot be referred to the Integrity Commission.Moonilal's defence comes after People's National Movement leader Dr Keith Rowley threatened to refer Alleyne to the Integrity Commission for alleged breaches related to some 25 community projects that he spearheaded during the build up to tomorrow's by-election.
"Mr Alleyne is a citizen calling upon Government agencies to get things done. He is an agent, there to assist. He is the candidate of a party and not a person in public life and Dr Rowley knows this," Moonilal said in a telephone interview yesterday.He said Alleyne was not "in the public life" as set out in the Integrity in Public Life Act which is under the ambits of the Integrity Commission.
"I hope the residents of St Joseph who benefitted from the box drains and paved roads can also refer Dr Rowley to the Integrity Commission," Moonilal said.Moonilal described Rowley's statements at the PNM's public meeting as "heartless and incompassionate" toward the people who have benefitted from Alleyne's work.He said Alleyne, by virtue of his vociferous nature, was more attractive to the St Joseph electorate that the PNM's Terrence Deyalsingh or the Independent Liberal Party's (ILP) Om Lalla.
"Both of them are stoic compared to Mr Alleyne," he said.