Trinidad and Tobago's Prime Minister Patrick Manning - REUTERS
GEORGETOWN, Guyana (CMC)
MORE PUBLIC officials in Trinidad and Tobago will face prosecution arising from corruption charges against them, Prime Minister Patrick Manning warned on Tuesday.
Former government ministers, Franklin Khan and Eric Williams, resigned in the past three months as a result of allegations of corruption.
Khan, who headed the Works Ministry, resigned last November, and Williams, the Energy Minister, this week. Both are facing prosecution.
MORE WILL FACE COURTS
Manning who was on a short visit to Guyana as the new Caribbean Community (CARICOM) chairman, told local journalists he expects more public officials will face the courts on reports of crooked dealings.
"In the body politic in Trinidad and Tobago recently you have seen a number of charges being laid. It will continue, I assure you," Manning said.
The Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister warned that "there will be more of that to come and at the end of the day what we want to see is a body politic free of corruption and subscribing to the highest standards of integrity."
He said the charges against his two former ministers were slapped against them "as a result of reports (he made) to the Integrity Commission through the Attorney-General."
Elaborating on the resignation of Khan and Williams, Manning explained: "The Prime Minister was written to and he took the initiative to forward the matter to the authorities. And, therefore, it is as a consequence of the government itself that this has come about.
"What is of significance is the determination of the government of Trinidad and Tobago to ensure that as we conduct our public affairs, we do so in accordance with the highest standards of integrity."
He, however, cautioned that "nothing that has happened so far suggests that the individuals concerned might be guilty."
