(Trinidad Express) The Integrity Commission today issued a statement indicating that at the first meeting of the new Integrity Commission two weeks ago, Chairman Kenneth Gordon said he would recuse himself from participating in any deliberations or investigation related to the emailgate probe. The following is the statement –
“Please be advised that at the first meeting of the seventh Integrity Commission which was held on Thursday July 04, 2013, Chairman Kenneth Gordon indicated that he will recuse himself from participating in any deliberations or decision regarding any investigation the Commission may undertake into the authenticity of the alleged emails disclosed by Leader of the Opposition in the House of Representatives on May 20, 2013, as he was cognizant of the importance of perception.
Mr Gordon’s decision was confirmed at the Second Meeting of the seventh Commission which took place on Tuesday July 09, 2013”.
Express Political Editor Ria Taitt reported yesterday that the hands of Integrity Commission (IC) chairman Ken Gordon are likely to be severely tied in any e-mail probe by the commission since all the key parties want him out of any investigation.
Citing “apparent bias” , attorneys for the Prime Minister and Attorney General Anand Ramlogan have formally written to Gordon and the IC registrar on the issue.
Works, Infrastructure and Local Government Minister Suruj Rambachan is still to consult his attorney, but he is of like mind on this matter. Rambachan said Wednesday night that he had not yet consulted his attorney, but he supported the views of the Prime Minister on the recusal of Gordon. The Prime Minister’s lawyer, Israel Khan SC, wrote to Gordon on July 12, asking that he recuse himself. And three days later, Attorney General Anand Ramlogan, speaking through his lawyer, Dana Seetahal SC, went further, asking Gordon to recuse himself, but also requesting that the commission force him to do so should he be unwilling. “I am instructed to request that the chairman recuse himself or the Integrity Commission causes him to step down from participating or deliberating in any investigation that may be undertaken by the commission, regarding the authenticity of the alleged e-mails referred to and submitted to the House by Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley, during debate on the no-confidence motion in the Prime Minister and the Government on May 20, 2013,” the letter stated.
The letter, addressed to the Registrar of the Commission, Martin Farrell, is the continuing fallout from a meeting which took place between Gordon and Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley at Gordon’s private residence on May 15.
The letter said the meeting between Gordon and Rowley, coming five days before the no-confidence motion on the Prime Minister and the Government, “must erode the appearance that justice by this commissioner may not be administered evenhandedly, in treating with members of the Government as opposed to members of the Opposition”.
