Click to view full size

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar is making no change to her appointment of Caroni Central MP David Lee as minister of housing. She made this clear in a text message to Newsday sent via WhatsApp on October 10. Newsday had asked if Lee was still functioning in office while now being under conditions of bail.

Persad-Bissessar replied, "Yes, he remains minister of housing. There will be no change to that." The prime minister has been steadfast in her support of Lee while saying that her government always supports the rule of law and that the course of justice must take its course.

On October 9, opposition chief whip Marvin Gonzales argued that despite the principle of someone being deemed innocent until proven guilty, Lee ought not to continue as a minister while facing mattrers before the courts. He did say that Lee should retain his parliamentary seat.