Former PM Ralph Gonsalves has raised several formal questions in Parliament concerning the role of Prime Minister Friday’s son within the new administration.
While acknowledging the Prime Minister’s public statement that his son acts as an assistant or aide without receiving a government salary, Gonsalves asserts that this explanation does not address all relevant concerns regarding public administration and governance.
Gonsalves on Wednesday posed the following questions for oral answer concerning the PM’s son.
Roles and Authority: He seeks to know the specific duties the son performs and the legal authority under which he was appointed and engaged.
Access to Information: He questions whether the son has been privy to official documents and if he has taken the necessary oath of secrecy.
Meeting Attendance: Gonsalves asks for details on the number and nature of private or formal meetings the son has attended, including who else was present, the subjects discussed, and whether a formal log of these meetings is being maintained.
Financial Benefits: Despite the claim that the son receives no salary, Gonsalves is inquiring whether he receives any stipends, allowances, or in-kind benefits from the public purse.
External Funding: He further questions whether any person or entity outside the central government is making financial or other contributions toward the son’s role in the government.
Gonsalves has criticised the local press for what he perceives as a lack of interest in these issues, arguing that the Prime Minister’s simple assertion of trust in his son is an inadequate response to the requirements of transparency in public affairs.