'Gafoor was told of suspension before media'
By Keino Swamber keino.swamber@trinidadexpress.com
Story Created: Feb 12, 2012 at 11:52 PM ECT
Story Updated: Feb 12, 2012 at 11:52 PM ECT
SUSPENDED deputy chairman of the Integrity Commission, Gladys Gafoor, expressed surprise when contacted for comment by the Express on Thursday.
Gafoor said no one had informed her of President George Maxwell Richards's decision to suspend her "until further notice".
"I do not know anything about this. They haven't given me any notice yet. I really don't know, maybe they intend to tell me but I really don't know at this point," she said.
However, according to an official statement to the media sent yesterday by the Office of the President, Gafoor was informed before a media release was sent to the Government Information Services Ltd (GISL).
The President's statement said: "On February 9, 2012, a letter of suspension was sent to her (Gafoor). When it was established that Mrs Gafoor had received the letter of suspension, a media release dated 9th February, 2012, on Office of the President letterhead, was sent to the GISL, as is customary, for despatch to the media, without alteration.
"This media release, quite unexpectedly and contrary to normal practice, was altered and issued on Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Communications letterhead."The Office of the President said a notice in the Trinidad and Tobago Gazette, stating that a Tribunal had been appointed to enquire into complaints made against Gafoor by members of the Integrity Commission, was also issued on the same day.
The statement also noted: "In the interest of clarity, the Office of the President advises that, during visits paid to His Excellency the President, beginning 9th January, 2012, the matter of disharmony within the Integrity Commission was discussed with Mrs Gladys Gafoor.
"Complaints made by Members of the Commission were brought to the attention of Mrs Gafoor who was given the opportunity to respond, which she did. The intention to take further action was also drawn to Mrs Gafoor's notice."
The complaint against Gafoor is that on March 15, 2010 through to January 2012 and continuing, she engaged in "certain conduct".
The Tribunal is to be chaired by former chief justice Michael de la Bastide with Reginald Armour SC, as counsel. The other members are Justice Humphrey Stollmeyer and Justice Maureen Rajnauth Lee.
This announcement by the government came on the heels of a raid by the police on the Chacon Street, Port of Spain office of the Newsday newspaper yesterday morning.
Gafoor has been at the centre of a controversy involving an alleged fallout between her and chairman of the Commission, Ken Gordon. The issue was reported by Newsday journalist Andre Bagoo on December 20 last year.
On the day of Gafoor's suspension, Newsday's offices were visited by officers of the Anti Corruption Investigation Bureau (ACIB) and several items were seized.
Other items were seized at Bagoo's home in Belmont.
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