Tuesday, October 20 2009

PNM Diego Martin West MP Dr Keith Rowley yesterday disclosed that he is considering his legal options against Independent Senator Michael Annisette for statements Annisette made against him during debate on the Validation and Immunity from Proceedings Bill 2009 in the Senate on October 1. The bill was debated in the House of Representatives yesterday.

Speaking during the tea-break in the House, Rowley said, “The matter is in the hands of my lawyers.” During the October 1 debate in the Senate, Annisette claimed that Rowley received a $500,000 campaign contribution from NH International Caribbean chairman Emile Elias when he was campaigning for leadership of the PNM in 1996. Rowley described Annisette’s claim as “an absolute lie” and said he never received such a campaign contribution.

The senator referred to a September 22 transcript from the Uff Commission of Inquiry in which Rowley said Elias was one of several campaign contributors but he did not know how much his contribution was.

Neither the transcript or any of the other documents which Annisette used in the debate made any mention of a $500,000 campaign contribution.

Elias has also rejected Annisette’s claim and wrote to President George Maxwell Richards to fire Annisette as an Independent Senator.

To date, Annisette has refused to resign and has not been dismissed by the President.