Is anyone in the Office of the Prime Minister using Government credit cards? That's the question the Opposition PNM wants Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar to answer at tomorrow's House of Representatives session. It comes in the wake of last week's disclosures about expenses incurred for the Prime Minister's trip to India in January.
It included a $233,600 cost by the Prime Minister's sister, Vidwatie Newton, as her travel assistant. It also follows on Tobago Development Minister Vernella Alleyne-Toppin's recent statements about her use of the Government credit card. Alleyne-Toppin, who has denied alleged "misuse" of the card, has said she was paying back monies incurred for use of the card locally.
The Opposition is seeking to know whether any persons in the Office of the Prime Minister had been issued with Government credit cards and a list of any such persons and their designations. The Opposition also has filed a question for answer on whether Allan Newman QC, Gerald Ramdeen, Akbar Ali and Martin Hall and Mark Seepersad have submitted billings for payment or been paid by any State enterprises or statutory authorities concerning any investigations announced by the Attorney General.
It also wants identification of any of those who have been paid and the total payments for each. Information also is being sought on total payments for any or all of the group for engagements from the Attorney General's Ministry over June 2010 and January 2012. Another Opposition question seeks answers on whether any policy permits ministers or parliamentary secretaries or their personal drivers to drive ministry vehicles, and if public funds are used for payment of fuel, maintenance and other aspects,
The Opposition also wants a list of any such ministers, parliamentary secretaries-or their personal drivers-who have done this.
