Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar is criticising President Christine Kangaloo for appointing as Integrity Commission Chairman someone who is a neighbour and friend of Speaker of the House of Representatives, Bridgid Annisette-George and her husband Newman George.
In a media statement, Mrs Persad-Bissessar called on President Kangaloo to explain her rationale for appointing Haydn Gittens to the post.
"Most concerning is that at no time did President Kangaloo, or Mr Gittens himself, see the need to show personal integrity and disclose the close ties of Mr Gittens to high-ranking individuals in the PNM hierarchy,” the Opposition Leader stated.
“Mr Gittens must also disclose if any member of his family was previously appointed to a state board by the Rowley Government. It appears that this appointment shows definite signs of cronyism, nepotism, and bias toward the sitting Government," she said.
Haydn Gittens was appointed as Chairman of the Integrity Commission following the expiry of Professor Rajendra Ramlogan’s term in office on January 11, 2024.