The T&T Transparency Institute (TTTI) has welcomed the "prompt action" taken in the matter involving Mary King, former Minister of Planning, Economic, Social Restructuring and Gender Affairs and a Government senator. The institute's statement came yesterday following King's dismissal. The statement said: "We trust that this is one step in a comprehensive range of investigations that would establish if other persons should be held accountable for not discharging their duties properly in this matter. "We also hope if it is established any laws have been broken, due process will be quickly implemented and the appropriate sanctions carried out."
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar met yesterday with President George Maxwell Richards and advised him to revoke King's senatorship. The discussions between Persad-Bissessar and Richards involved media reports implicating King in the award of a $100,000 Government Web site development contract by King's ministry in November 2010 to Ixanos, a company in which King's family has an interest.
A statement from the T&T Chamber of Industry and Commerce yesterday also said:
"The chamber subscribes to the belief that at all times transparency of the tendering process and observance of the rules of good governance are paramount and must prevail. "This includes the basic and time-worn standard of self-disqualification from the performance of any function whatsoever regarding the tender, selection and award of contract for anyone with an interest in the transaction." President of the Point Lisas Chamber of Commerce, Nal Ramsingh, believes the Prime Minister made the best decision. "The Prime Minister has made the best decision by asking the President to revoke her appointment as minister," he said. He added King had been preaching against corruption for a long time and should have known what was ethical behaviour in public office. "Mary King made her decisions, knowing what her position is in the Government. She has been involved in transparency for years and so knows what should or should not be done." he said.