Political leader of the People’s National Movement (PNM) Dr Keith Rowley intends to write to the Integrity Commission (IC) about the United National Congress using millions of dollars in state funds to promote its 2015 general election campaign. Rowley said it was wrong for a Government to budget monies through various ministries to fund its campaign, but that was the reality the country has been faced with.
He said $26 million was used by the Government Information Services Ltd in advertisements to brainwash people into believing that the Government was working for them. He said billboards placed all over the country and full page advertisements in The Voice newspaper were clear examples of their advertising campaign. “This is being paid for by your taxpayer dollars. It is a naked political campaign.”
Speaking yesterday at the PNM’s National Women’s League annual conference in St Augustine, Rowley said, “This coming week, I will write the Integrity Commission. “I will provide them with documentation.” Rowley said permanent secretaries in various ministries were being encouraged to spend public money on a campaign. “If that is not wrong, you tell me what is. If the PNM was doing this, do you think the country would have accepted that? No.”
Rowley said the Commission must ensure that public officers do not misconduct themselves in office.