PNM candidate charged with fraud

By FRANCIS JOSEPH Saturday, September 29 2007

CHARGED: Rose Howai, the PNM's candidate for Arouca/Maloney, at Balisier House on September 13 after she was screened and chosen. She has been charged...

A 31-year-old woman who was chosen as the candidate for the People’s National Movement (PNM) for Arouca/Maloney in the November 5 general election, has been slapped with five counts of fraud.

Rose Howai, of Avella Court, Smart Street, St Augustine, appeared before Magistrate Ejenny Espinet in the Port-of-Spain First Magistrate’s Court to answer the charges in which it is alleged that she defrauded five persons of $733,020.

Howai was screened by the PNM at Balisier House on September 13 and got the nod of approval from the Screening Committee and Prime Minister Patrick Manning. She was screened with two other persons, Denise Lewis and Patrick Rousseau for the seat.

Having been selected, Howai replaced Planning and Development Minister Camille Robinson- Regis for the constituency, which was previously known as Arouca South. With the laying of the charges against the chosen candidate, the PNM would now be seeking a new candidate in time for the elections in five weeks’ time.

Newsday learnt that investigations were being conducted into the alleged fraud involving Howai. But after she was successfully screened, Special Branch informed the Fraud Squad that the candidate was about to contest the general elections. Investigators completed their enquiries and on Thursday, they arrested Howai and took her to the Fraud Squad offices in Port-of-Spain.

She was slapped with the five charges and remanded in custody to appear in court yesterday.

She was taken to the Four Roads Police Station for safe-keeping. But she was bailed in the sum of $300,000 on Thursday night and released. Yesterday, Howai appeared in court wearing a dark-coloured suit and surrounded by members of her family. She was represented in court by Kenneth Munroe-Brown.

Oh gawd oye. They should make Rosy the fockin political leader of the PNM. Rosy eh even reach fockin parliment and she done start already. You could well imagine if Rosy get ah cabinet position. She will make Frankie and Rowley look like dunce.

Typical PNM nigga, practice first in the private sector and coming to rein the blows now on the treasury.

Ah bet all yuh if the PNM win the election, Rosy will get ah big post somewey. Keep all yuh eye out.