Fresh evidence presented to the Integrity Commission has prompted it to reopen an investigation into People’s National Movement Chief Whip Marlene McDonald.
The Integrity Commission has not responded to e-mailed questions seeking confirmation, but the Sunday Guardian received information from three former employees who have already been summoned and interviewed by the commission over the past week. The three worked with McDonald during her tenure as minister of Community Development from 2007 to 2010.
The investigation, based on the questions posed to the three former employees, seemed to be centered on the money donated to the Calabar Foundation, the Waterwheel Foundation, McEachrane Rental and Transport, and allegations that a relative was listed and paid as a ministerial driver, though he was living out of the country at the time of that contract.
Calabar Foundation, a non-profit organisation, lists McDonald’s common-law husband Michael Carew, his brother Lennox Carew and Victor McEachrane among its directors.
McEachrane is also the owner of McEachrane Transport and Rentals, which received million-dollar contracts for the construction of community centres under McDonald’s tenure.
The Sunday Guardian also received copies of some of the new documents submitted to the commission, including one letter which the former employees said caught the Integrity Commission’s eye.
Back in December, when the Sunday Guardian first broke news of the McDonald investigation, she had denied knowing that her common-law husband was involved in Calabar and, in subsequent media reports, went further in denying knowledge of the Calabar Foundation.
However, one document has been presented to the Integrity Commission which contradicts that public statement.
In 2009, McDonald granted same day approval of a $65,000 payment to Calabar Foundation for the hosting of a Christmas/End-of-Year function for senior citizens in the La Brea/Point Fortin area. Calabar Foundation did not have a registered office then, but carried a PO Box located in Arima and a mobile phone contact. That letter requested $75,000.
One year later, when the Government changed, a company under the same name but a different address applied to the new minister for a similar event requesting $40,000. Only $3,000 was granted.
Package details
Part of the package of documents sent to the Integrity Commission includes copies of the cheque collection form which is signed by everyone collecting cheques from the ministry. The highlighted pages include the signatures of Michael Carew and Victor McEachrane and messenger Brent Low.
Low collected two cheques on the same day, one for $200,000 and the other for $375,000. Both were issued in the name of Calabar Foundation. While the $375,000 cheque has already been ventilated in the media, further investigation by the Sunday Guardian has uncovered little information on the $200,000 payment to Calabar Foundation.
Marlene: I have no idea
McDonald has maintained her innocence in this matter. In an interview during the parliamentary tea break on Friday, McDonald said she was not aware that the investigation had been reopened. McDonald has already faced allegations of breaches to the Integrity in Public Life Act (ILPA) but was cleared by the commission by letter dated December 23, 2013.
“I am not aware of any investigation,” McDonald said.
When asked about the $62,000 difference in approved payments to Calabar Foundation, McDonald said every minister has his own way of running a ministry. McDonald, who defended her payments to Calabar Foundation last December, reiterated that a minister is guided by a permanent secretary. At the time McDonald was minister, Angela Jack was the PS and Hermia Tyson-Cuffie worked as deputy PS.
Jack, who was interviewed back in December, had said then that she could not recall granting any approval for Calabar but noted that signatures were often affixed to cheques electronically.
During a short interview last week Saturday at the PNM candidates retreat, McDonald said she did not know why she was being “targeted” but had a very good idea of who was leading the charge against her. She also said during her tenure, she granted approvals for community events for MPs who were not government ministers.
“It does not matter who it is making the request, I have granted money to others. Why would I check to see who is everyone I am giving money to? That does not make sense,” she said.
“I would advise you to treat that very carefully,” McDonald said.
Background
Back in December, a secret group named TnT Whistleblower, claiming to be supportive of the PNM, e-mailed party leader Dr Keith Rowley threatening to go public with a series of allegations against McDonald.
It was also revealed then that the matter had been submitted to the Integrity Commission.
Shortly after that information became public, the PNM produced a letter from the commission clearing McDonald.
McDonald also denied any knowledge of Calabar or that her common-law husband was associated with the organisation.