PORT-OF-SPAIN – MARLENE McDonald is to be fired for an unprecedented third time as cabinet minister in the Government of Trinidad and Tobago.
This was announced in a press release by the Ministry of Communications early on Monday.
The release stated, “The Government has been reliably informed that based on the advice of the Director of Public Prosecutions, the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) shall be charging Minister of Public Administration and others with several offences.”
It said that based on this latest development Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley will be advising the President to revoke McDonald’s appointment as Minister of Public Administration.
A new Minister of Public Administration will be announced, the release stated.
McDonald will be charged with conspiracy to defraud the Government, money laundering and misbehaviour in public office.
Following the Government’s statement the TTPS issues its own a few hours later stating that five people will be charged in all.
They are McDonald, Michael Carew, Victor McEachrane, Wayne Anthony and Edgar Zephrine. They are being charged with several offences of conspiracy to defraud the Government and money laundering offences.
The five were arrested between last Thursday and Friday.
The allegations claimed they were committed during the period 2008 and 2009 and the investigations began in 2016, and were carried out by acting Assistant Commissioner of Police Toteram Dookie and a team of officers of the fraud squad.
All accused are expected to appear before a Port-of-Spain Magistrate on Monday.
