Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley last night assured the nation that if Housing Minister Mc Donald is found guilty of any wrong doing he will take action, saying he would not ignore new information which has come to light.
Rowley said after fresh evidence surfaced in the media yesterday, involving Mc Donald's husband Michael Carew and his brother Lennox Carew, he had a discussion with her and would make a pronouncement on the matter "shortly".
"This morning I saw what appears to be new information and I spent the day looking at it. And I just want to give the assurance to the national community that if the facts bear out, if I have to take action, then I will."
The PM was responding to a question on the matter from CNC3 news anchor Golda Lee-Bruce last night, as she had a studio interview with him on his Government's first six months in office.
Yesterday, a report surfaced that Fixin T&T head Kirk Waithe had received information from the Parliament which showed that Mc Donald's husband Michael Carew and a director of the Calabar Foundation was employed at her Port-of-Spain South constituency office for five years, while Michael's brother, Lennox Carew, still worked at the MP's office.
Michael Carew, who worked at the office from June 1, 2010 to September 7, 2015, earned the second highest salary of $13,400 on the constituency payroll for the full parliamentary term. Lennox began working in the office on March 1, 2011 and has been in receipt of the highest salary of $14,000 out of 13 people working in the office.
The Parliament pays the salaries of all employees in the 41 constituency offices.
Citing Parliament rules governing the hiring of constituency staff, Waithe questioned whether McDonald was not in breach. He also noted a connection between McDonald, Michael Carew and the Calabar Foundation, which is currently being investigated by the Integrity Commission over grants it received before it officially became a duly registered non-governmental organisation.
Waite forwarded the information to the Commissioner of Police and the Director of Public Prosecution.
During the hour and a half interview last night, the PM said there were a series of allegations that were made against McDonald, which was investigated by the Integrity Commission and a pronouncement was made, which did not support the allegations, adding the commission looks at the conduct of public officials.
"That commission looked at some allegation and made a ruling which did not warrant any action on the part of the political leader of the PNM. I have to act on facts. As I just said, I saw this morning something that was frightening and I did not ignore it." Asked if he took a risk by selecting McDonald as a candidate to contest the September 7, 2015 general election given that the allegations against her were already in the public domain, Rowley said allegations were levied against him as well and were taken before Commission of Enquiries to defend himself.
"Allegations in themselves are not the basis for acting. In fact, they are supported by information, which indicate that there is something to deal with. So the fact that an allegation was made it means that you look at it and accept it as a case-by-case basis."
The PM said "maybe if the Integrity Commission had not been given the opportunity to investigate the Calabar Foundation in 2010, the PNM's screening committee may have taken a different version. Subsequent to that, other allegations are being made. And those allegations have to be dealt with."
Rowley said, however, that his Cabinet members are responsible for their conduct.
Asked how much time he needed before he acts and if McDonald was likely to remain a Government minister in his Cabinet, Rowley said every issue has to be dealt with "as a case in point and a case-by-case basis".
Asked by Lee-Bruce why he made a decision to appoint McDonald as a Cabinet member although the issue involving the Calabar Foundation was before the Integrity Commission, Rowley replied,"You hear what I am saying, one cannot act on allegations. Allegations have to be supported by some element. Miss McDonald was a public figure."