The National Communications Network (NCN) Berbice Manager, Donna Mathoo, is being considered as a possible replacement for Business Minister Dominic Gaskin as a Member of Parliament (MP) for the Alliance For Change (AFC).
Chairman of the AFC, Raphael Trotman, on Wednesday told the media that the party wants someone who is loyal.
But Mathoo was reportedly involved in a major financial fraud scandal. Mathoo was accused of being involved in fraudulent practices which reportedly saw over $3 million disappearing from the NCN’s coffers.
Mathoo was sent on administrative leave in 2017, and in March 2018, she was back on the job. The State-owned NCN has been silent on the outcome of an internal probe into the allegations.
Minister Gaskin, who was born in the United Kingdom, will be resigning as a MP because of his dual citizenship status.
As such, Trotman reiterated that this situation is somewhat different from other parliamentarians, who attained citizenship in another country after birth. Nonetheless, he said the AFC will comply with the requirement.
Once confirmed, they will announce the individual selected for the ministerial post.
However, going forward, he said the party will lobby for an amendment of Article 155 of the Constitution, so that persons with dual citizenship can serve as parliamentarians.
Meanwhile, Trotman said Gaskin will continue to hold the post as Treasurer of the AFC and will serve in other capacities in the future.
