The firing of Sports Minister Darryl Smith was not because of the sexual harassment allegations leveled against him.

Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley says Mr. Smith interfered with the Public Service, and created an expensive problem for the State.

At a political meeting in the Barataria/San Juan constituency last evening Dr. Rowley said Mr. Smith instructed the Permanent Secretary in his Ministry to remove the cause for the termination of a female member of staff.

The woman made claims of sexual misconduct against the then Minister.

Dr. Rowley said Mr. Smith wanted to end the tenure of the staff member because she was not good at her job.

Dr. Rowley said that created a major problem for the government and the taxpayer.

He said the Opposition sees the firing of Darryl Smith as one of the two scandals of his first term as Prime Minister.

The other issue was the Shamfa Cudjoe phone bill issue.