THE PRIME MINISTER scoffed at threats made by the UNC to go to the Integrity Commission to demand an investigation into the possible conflict of interest of the PM owning and profiting from his goat and sheep farm in Tobago.

Opposition Senator Wade Mark levied the accusations at Thursday’s UNC mid-week press briefing.

“I want to say, make up your mind. Either you want to remain as Prime Minister, or you don’t,” Mark said. “But you cannot draw two salaries,” Mark said.

“We may have to consider writing to the Integrity Commission on the conduct of this Prime Minister, who is running a goat farm, a sheep farm in Tobago and according to him, selling meat and exporting meat to TT. So he is getting two salaries.”

“Is that fair? Is that right? Is the Prime Minister not conflicted? Do we have a business Cabinet, or do we have a Cabinet that is looking out for the interest of the people?”

Newsday contacted Dr Rowley who responded via whatsapp.

“Why are you surprised?" Rowley asked, "They are shocked that I as Prime Minister would get some money from the animals I raise on my farm. They just can’t understand that I would be so idle to spend time and money producing food. That’s not what they will do.

"If they want some money they just tief it.

[caption id="attachment_965846" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Wade Mark -[/caption]

"No sweat, no dutty hand, no muddy boots, no shovelling manure, no cutting and planting grass, just tief it!

Rowley added, "This Prime Minister has farming as a hobby, they have tiefing and calling for investigation into why others not teifing too.”

Legal sources advised Newsday that earning income from a venture is in no way an offence. Only if the person is gainfully employed and earning a salary from the venture while being a person in public life, can there be a conflict of interest.

Rowley’s goat farm is in Mason Hall, about an hour’s drive from Scarborough and about 30 minutes away from his official residence in Blenheim. The farm was built in the same area where his father and grandfather, also farmers, worked the land.

In an interview with reporters in 2021, Rowley said farming was a relaxing and fulfilling hobby. He says that he goes to the farm for his health, to bring his blood pressure down. Rowley plants feed in the form of grass for the animals, cuts grass, cleans pens, manages the mating process and everything else involved in running a farm.

Communications Minister Symon De Nobriga dismissed Mark’s allegations as simple distraction tactics.

“You throw the most outrageous, outlandish statements out to distract from the reality of the work that the government is doing. As the Minister of Communications, I strongly condemn these misinformation tactics that UNC continues to foist on the population,” he said.

On the wider issue of conflicts of interest, De Nobriga said the government, being a responsible one, made use of recusing itself on several occasions, to ensure th