Trinidad & Tobago
Sombre faces at Rowley’s 'Conversations'
Port-of-Spain – Faces were sombre last week in the turnout by PNM faithful when Prime Minister Keith Rowley addressed party supporters during an episode of ‘Conversations with our Political Leader’.
The event took place following the controversy surrounding former Minister of Public Administration Marlene McDonald being arrested and fired by Rowley. Among those attending were members of the McDonald’s Port-of-Spain South constituency.
McDonald and her husband Michael Carew, along with former chairman of the National Commission for Self-Help Edgar Zephyrine, Wayne Anthony, and Victor McEachrane were last week handed a total of 49 charges that included conspiracy to defraud the government and money laundering.
Rowley told the sombre audience McDonald’s arrest was an example of public officials being held to account. It was something Trinidad and Tobago is not used to, he said.
Said Rowley: “For the last God knows how long, you will hear from time to time that wrong things took place in this country in the public sector, around the public sector, in the private sector. Eventually, by 2019 you came to the conclusion that nothing will happen. Because we had accepted certain standards in Trinidad and Tobago.”
McDonald’s arrest was an improvement in that apathetic system, Rowley said.
“Why we are not entirely unhappy about this development is because we see in it the system that we want to work in this country, and it is a system where, if there is wrong, you will be held accountable for it,” he said.
Despite the circumstances faced by McDonald, Rowley still extended his well wishes, saying, “I wish my colleague well. I wish her well in her defence, and I know she will get a fair trial.”
Rowley also touched on growing talk an early election should be held, ending speculation by saying it would be called when constitutionally due. He said those demanding to “call elections now” were simply trying to regain power, and prevent public officials from being held to account.
upbeat, optimistic
Port-of-Spain – Former Public Administration Minister and PNM heavyweight Marlene McDonald left the St Clair Medical Centre last week upbeat and optimistic, telling the media she will be vindicated of all charges.
Said McDonald: “I will have my day in court!”
McDonald spent her time in custody within police precincts and the St Clair Medical Centre. During her hospitalisation, a medical source said she “getting dialysis” and that “she was not in Intensive Care Unit”.
Following her release on (TT) $2 million bail and her exit from the hospital, McDonald smiled broadly at the media, appeared to be in good spirits, and even blew a kiss at the cameras.
While McDonald was fired from her ministerial post, she remains the elected Member of Parliament for Port-of-Spain South.
She has been charged along with husband Michael Carew, and former chairman of the National Commission for Self-Help Edgar Zephyrine, Wayne Anthony, and Victor McEachrane. The group faces a total of 49 charges, including conspiracy to defraud the government and money laundering. Along with the other accused, McDonald is due to appear in court on September 7.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Keith Rowley sought to distance himself from McDonald last week. “Your main interest is to see if you could pin this to the Prime Minister. I wish you luck,” he told reporters.
Rowley said the acts McDonald had been accused of occurred under the Patrick Manning regime. He also denied the nation was in crisis over McDonald’s arrest. Instead, he said her arrest was a sign of a strong government and its crafting of “a new society” of integrity.
Said Rowley: “The system is working. That’s why the police could have acted without let or hindrance. It is not a crisis; it is a ray of hope. For the first time we are dealing with matters that were insoluble in the society. Trust my judgement – you will be backing a good horse.”
He also said he did not show a lack of judgement with McDonald, noting that screening politicians involves a certain reliance on the truthfulness of their answers when asked about any personal liability.
Rowley also commented on a ten-question form designed whereby candidates for office were questioned on issues as bankruptcy, wife-beating, and DUI charges. Such a form was being designed, and would be used soon, he said, adding, “We are learning as we go along.”
Said McDonald: “I will have my day in court!”
McDonald spent her time in custody within police precincts and the St Clair Medical Centre. During her hospitalisation, a medical source said she “getting dialysis” and that “she was not in Intensive Care Unit”.
Following her release on (TT) $2 million bail and her exit from the hospital, McDonald smiled broadly at the media, appeared to be in good spirits, and even blew a kiss at the cameras.
While McDonald was fired from her ministerial post, she remains the elected Member of Parliament for Port-of-Spain South.
She has been charged along with husband Michael Carew, and former chairman of the National Commission for Self-Help Edgar Zephyrine, Wayne Anthony, and Victor McEachrane. The group faces a total of 49 charges, including conspiracy to defraud the government and money laundering. Along with the other accused, McDonald is due to appear in court on September 7.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Keith Rowley sought to distance himself from McDonald last week. “Your main interest is to see if you could pin this to the Prime Minister. I wish you luck,” he told reporters.
Rowley said the acts McDonald had been accused of occurred under the Patrick Manning regime. He also denied the nation was in crisis over McDonald’s arrest. Instead, he said her arrest was a sign of a strong government and its crafting of “a new society” of integrity.
Said Rowley: “The system is working. That’s why the police could have acted without let or hindrance. It is not a crisis; it is a ray of hope. For the first time we are dealing with matters that were insoluble in the society. Trust my judgement – you will be backing a good horse.”
He also said he did not show a lack of judgement with McDonald, noting that screening politicians involves a certain reliance on the truthfulness of their answers when asked about any personal liability.
Rowley also commented on a ten-question form designed whereby candidates for office were questioned on issues as bankruptcy, wife-beating, and DUI charges. Such a form was being designed, and would be used soon, he said, adding, “We are learning as we go along.”
Port of Spain – Prime Minister Keith Rowley last week expressed disappointment some private sector companies are not doing more for Trinidad and Tobago despite reporting millions and billions of dollars in profits each year.
Said Rowley: “There are people who are reporting huge profits every six months, half year, every year. Billions, half a billion, and this country has need for greater humanity, greater economic investment, greater concern for the growth of the nation, not just growth of family wealth.”
At the time, Rowley was addressing a PNM public meeting in Port-of-Spain, which was entitled ‘Conversations with the Political Leader’.
He said there were local companies that produce blocks, roofing material, and tiles, and yet there were about 100,000 people “lining up” for public sector housing, which the government could not afford to build.
“We have incentives. We say build a house for as much as (TT) $800,000, and the government guarantees you a $100,000 profit in that exercise. And of course you will make a family happy. They wouldn’t build one house, but [Trinidad and Tobago] is a failed state,” he said.
Regarding his comment on Trinidad and Tobago being a failed state, earlier he had made comments to an editorial published in the Sunday Guardian. In its front page comment, the Sunday Guardian described Trinidad and Tobago as being “a hair’s breadth” from being a failed state.
Said Rowley: “The same business houses who are labelling us a failed state, their profits are increasing incrementally annually.”
Additionally, Rowley said: “… I looked at the returns for the banks in Trinidad and Tobago in 2017-2018. In all that difficult period where government was holding this nation afloat, they made increased profits. And the very mouths talking about failed state are the ones reporting from the other side of their mouths that they are breaking records in profit. This state will fail if we don’t become our brother’s keeper.”
He said in the face of the “small minority of imps” who kept killing off people in this country, particularly their friends and associates, the government has been “fighting against that storm”.
He added: “But what do I get? A front page editorial from a national newspaper who offers no comment of useful help, did it twice in a row, because they declared war on the government on the matter of crime, and of course is quite happy to list our country as a failed state.”
Rowley insisted while Trinidad and Tobago has been unsuccessful in defeating the criminal element, it was no failed state.
“We are not the only country that has been fighting the criminal element. And the criminal element, like a hydra, every head you cut off it grows two more,” he said.
Said Rowley: “There are people who are reporting huge profits every six months, half year, every year. Billions, half a billion, and this country has need for greater humanity, greater economic investment, greater concern for the growth of the nation, not just growth of family wealth.”
At the time, Rowley was addressing a PNM public meeting in Port-of-Spain, which was entitled ‘Conversations with the Political Leader’.
He said there were local companies that produce blocks, roofing material, and tiles, and yet there were about 100,000 people “lining up” for public sector housing, which the government could not afford to build.
“We have incentives. We say build a house for as much as (TT) $800,000, and the government guarantees you a $100,000 profit in that exercise. And of course you will make a family happy. They wouldn’t build one house, but [Trinidad and Tobago] is a failed state,” he said.
Regarding his comment on Trinidad and Tobago being a failed state, earlier he had made comments to an editorial published in the Sunday Guardian. In its front page comment, the Sunday Guardian described Trinidad and Tobago as being “a hair’s breadth” from being a failed state.
Said Rowley: “The same business houses who are labelling us a failed state, their profits are increasing incrementally annually.”
Additionally, Rowley said: “… I looked at the returns for the banks in Trinidad and Tobago in 2017-2018. In all that difficult period where government was holding this nation afloat, they made increased profits. And the very mouths talking about failed state are the ones reporting from the other side of their mouths that they are breaking records in profit. This state will fail if we don’t become our brother’s keeper.”
He said in the face of the “small minority of imps” who kept killing off people in this country, particularly their friends and associates, the government has been “fighting against that storm”.
He added: “But what do I get? A front page editorial from a national newspaper who offers no comment of useful help, did it twice in a row, because they declared war on the government on the matter of crime, and of course is quite happy to list our country as a failed state.”
Rowley insisted while Trinidad and Tobago has been unsuccessful in defeating the criminal element, it was no failed state.
“We are not the only country that has been fighting the criminal element. And the criminal element, like a hydra, every head you cut off it grows two more,” he said.
Port-of-Spain – UNC Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar last week declared nominations open for all general election seats, putting the party on an election footing. She also said the PNM had collapsed and was using former government minister Marlene McDonald as a “scapegoat”.
Persad-Bissessar said the Keith Rowley-led government continues to show it is unable to govern the country. This was evident with the McDonald debacle, which occurred last week, where she noted Rowley revoked McDonald’s appointment for a third time after she was charged with several offences.
Said Persad-Bissessar: “Keith Rowley and several of the PNM hierarchy are in the same boat as Marlene with questions to answer on allegations of corruption. What we are seeing playing out is that Marlene is being used as the scapegoat in a last-ditch effort to save themselves from the electorate.”
She said she warned Rowley about McDonald, and pointed to other PNM ministers with allegations against them, including Planning Minister Camille Robinson-Regis, former sport minister Darryl Smith, and Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi.
Persad-Bissessar also criticised the government on the controversy where PNM Senator Garvin Simonette was appointed to replace McDonald as Public Administration Minister. Simonette’s appointment was later revoked following discovery of a DUI offence in the US. It was yet another example of Rowley’s poor leadership, she said.
Persad-Bissessar also noted while Simonette resigned due to his DUI offence, there was another Government Senator, Lester Henry, was convicted of a similar offence and remains in office.
Persad-Bissessar said the Keith Rowley-led government continues to show it is unable to govern the country. This was evident with the McDonald debacle, which occurred last week, where she noted Rowley revoked McDonald’s appointment for a third time after she was charged with several offences.
Said Persad-Bissessar: “Keith Rowley and several of the PNM hierarchy are in the same boat as Marlene with questions to answer on allegations of corruption. What we are seeing playing out is that Marlene is being used as the scapegoat in a last-ditch effort to save themselves from the electorate.”
She said she warned Rowley about McDonald, and pointed to other PNM ministers with allegations against them, including Planning Minister Camille Robinson-Regis, former sport minister Darryl Smith, and Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi.
Persad-Bissessar also criticised the government on the controversy where PNM Senator Garvin Simonette was appointed to replace McDonald as Public Administration Minister. Simonette’s appointment was later revoked following discovery of a DUI offence in the US. It was yet another example of Rowley’s poor leadership, she said.
Persad-Bissessar also noted while Simonette resigned due to his DUI offence, there was another Government Senator, Lester Henry, was convicted of a similar offence and remains in office.
brush - analyst
Port-of-Spain – The PNM will be tainted by its brush with corruption and the issues surrounding Marlene McDonald will impact on the elections, political analyst Bishnu Ragoonath said last week. He added that given the work of the police, there may be more corruption-related matters coming to the fore such as the “fake oil” scandal, among others.
“When those things come up, the PNM will be painted with the same corruption brush as the UNC, and it would not matter which era, which term. They will be painted with that brush,” Ragoonath said. He noted the PNM had campaigned heavily on a platform of anti-corruption during the last elections.
“It most likely will have an impact upon the elections because the plank upon which they based their campaign and strategies thus far has been that the UNC was the corrupt party. Now they are dealing with the issue of corruption within their own ranks. That is going to impact upon their capacity to campaign on that primary plank,” Ragoonath said.
However, he believes the PNM will survive and the damage control to be rolled out will steer the direction of the party.
“We are still a long time away from an election and anything can happen,” he noted.
Ragoonath said the Prime Minister’s leadership, decisions, and the issue of due diligence will be called into question given his decision to re-hire McDonald. Rowley made this move despite being informed by former police commissioner Stephen Williams there was an active police investigation with respect to allegations against her.
He said the controversy surrounding former government senator Garvin Simonette also speaks to a lack of due diligence.
“The Opposition will use all of this in their campaign, and it is up to the Prime Minister to do damage control and get his party beyond this messy issue,” Ragoonath said.
“When those things come up, the PNM will be painted with the same corruption brush as the UNC, and it would not matter which era, which term. They will be painted with that brush,” Ragoonath said. He noted the PNM had campaigned heavily on a platform of anti-corruption during the last elections.
“It most likely will have an impact upon the elections because the plank upon which they based their campaign and strategies thus far has been that the UNC was the corrupt party. Now they are dealing with the issue of corruption within their own ranks. That is going to impact upon their capacity to campaign on that primary plank,” Ragoonath said.
However, he believes the PNM will survive and the damage control to be rolled out will steer the direction of the party.
“We are still a long time away from an election and anything can happen,” he noted.
Ragoonath said the Prime Minister’s leadership, decisions, and the issue of due diligence will be called into question given his decision to re-hire McDonald. Rowley made this move despite being informed by former police commissioner Stephen Williams there was an active police investigation with respect to allegations against her.
He said the controversy surrounding former government senator Garvin Simonette also speaks to a lack of due diligence.
“The Opposition will use all of this in their campaign, and it is up to the Prime Minister to do damage control and get his party beyond this messy issue,” Ragoonath said.
to PNM official
Port-of-Spain – Political leader of the UNC Kamla Persad-Bissessar last week raised questions on several contracts granted by the government to PNM Senator Foster Cummings. At the same time, she also questioned Cummings’ appointment, removal, and then his reappointment to the Senate. He is also the PNM’s general secretary.
Persad-Bissessar revealed the government awarded millions of dollars in contracts to companies owned by Cummings. She displayed documents that were filed in the Companies Registry, revealing Cummings and his wife, Juliet Modeste, were the directors and shareholders of Cummings and Associates and PICAL Services.
According to Persad-Bissessar, PICAL Services was awarded the contract to demolish a building at Besson Street through selective tendering. It is a project that is being managed by the Urban Development Corporation of Trinidad and Tobago.
Said Persad-Bissessar: “Foster Cummings and his wife Juliet Modeste are the owners of PICAL Services. We have the records in black and white. And all from the Ministry of Legal Affairs official records. These are facts. These facts are indisputable, so the prime minister cannot deny them. The company has only two shares – one for [Cummings] and one for his wife.”
Persad-Bissessar questioned whether the company was hand-picked by Prime Minister Keith Rowley, who took over the responsibility of UDeCOTT last November.
Cummings was appointed a temporary senator from January 2008 to April 2010. He then served as temporary Opposition senator from June 2010 to June 2014. In September 2015, he was appointed a government senator from September 2015 to July 2019.
Persad-Bissessar said Cummings’ latest migration saw his removal “to make way for Donna Cox, and for him to focus on party matters for the elections”. But then last week, Cummings was reappointed a government senator following the removal of Garvin Simonette.
Persad-Bissessar also called on Rowley to say why Cummings’ PICAL Services Ltd was awarded contracts for garbage collection in Housing Development Corporation developments. She also wondered about the procurement process used to select the contractor, and the value of the contracts.
“What about the other smaller contractors with their vehicles parked up and rusting away while they fight up with this PNM to get monies owed to them for the last four years?” she wondered. She said vehicles belonging to PICAL Services Ltd were being parked at a former Caroni (1975) Ltd building in Exchange, Couva.
Said Persad-Bissessar: “Is PICAL Services Ltd the owner or tenant of that piece or land? Who currently occupies and manages the building owned by Caroni (1975)? Does PICAL Services Ltd have any interest in the land and the building?”
Persad-Bissessar revealed the government awarded millions of dollars in contracts to companies owned by Cummings. She displayed documents that were filed in the Companies Registry, revealing Cummings and his wife, Juliet Modeste, were the directors and shareholders of Cummings and Associates and PICAL Services.
According to Persad-Bissessar, PICAL Services was awarded the contract to demolish a building at Besson Street through selective tendering. It is a project that is being managed by the Urban Development Corporation of Trinidad and Tobago.
Said Persad-Bissessar: “Foster Cummings and his wife Juliet Modeste are the owners of PICAL Services. We have the records in black and white. And all from the Ministry of Legal Affairs official records. These are facts. These facts are indisputable, so the prime minister cannot deny them. The company has only two shares – one for [Cummings] and one for his wife.”
Persad-Bissessar questioned whether the company was hand-picked by Prime Minister Keith Rowley, who took over the responsibility of UDeCOTT last November.
Cummings was appointed a temporary senator from January 2008 to April 2010. He then served as temporary Opposition senator from June 2010 to June 2014. In September 2015, he was appointed a government senator from September 2015 to July 2019.
Persad-Bissessar said Cummings’ latest migration saw his removal “to make way for Donna Cox, and for him to focus on party matters for the elections”. But then last week, Cummings was reappointed a government senator following the removal of Garvin Simonette.
Persad-Bissessar also called on Rowley to say why Cummings’ PICAL Services Ltd was awarded contracts for garbage collection in Housing Development Corporation developments. She also wondered about the procurement process used to select the contractor, and the value of the contracts.
“What about the other smaller contractors with their vehicles parked up and rusting away while they fight up with this PNM to get monies owed to them for the last four years?” she wondered. She said vehicles belonging to PICAL Services Ltd were being parked at a former Caroni (1975) Ltd building in Exchange, Couva.
Said Persad-Bissessar: “Is PICAL Services Ltd the owner or tenant of that piece or land? Who currently occupies and manages the building owned by Caroni (1975)? Does PICAL Services Ltd have any interest in the land and the building?”
Port-of-Spain – Central Trinidad will not give the PNM a chance in the upcoming local government and general elections, the UNC’s Couva North MP Ramona Ramdial said last week following the opening of Balisier House, Chaguanas, by Prime Minister Keith Rowley.
A livid and incredulous Ramdial said residents in central Trinidad see Rowley and the PNM for who they really are, and would not respond to the call for support by the ruling party and government. So far, the PNM has selected its Minister of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries, Clarence Rambharat, to contest the Chaguanas East seat in the 2020 General Elections. The new PNM’s Chaguanas office will also be the campaign headquarters for Rambharat.
Said Ramdial: “How can Central Trinidad give [Rowley] and the PNM a chance, when only a couple of weeks ago he and his government showed a lack of care and compassion, when they failed to visit the families of the seven dead fishermen of Orange Valley?”
Additionally, “To further add insult to injury, we had a junior acting Minister of National Security, Minister [Fitzgerald] Hinds saying twice on national television that they would only visit if a silent request was made from the families. This was an all-time low for the PNM-led government during one of Trinidad and Tobago’s darkest weeks.”
Ramdial added: “[Rowley] and his uncaring ministers came to central to open an office, a barrage of ministers visited former minister McDonald when she was charged for corruption, bringing food and words and comfort… but up to this day, there have been no visits from the prime minister, ministers, or government officials to the people of Orange Valley. I want the people of Trinidad and Tobago to wake up and not be fooled by the prime minister’s hypocritical and uncaring statements.”
Ramdial’s annoyance followed the PNM’s move last week to solidify its position in central Trinidad Opposition stronghold by formally opening its Balisier House, Chaguanas office. At the opening, Rowley called on voters to give the party a chance.
Remarkably, as Ramdial indicated in her livid response to the PNM’s move, Rowley’s call came despite his government’s poor response following the murders of seven fishermen from central Trinidad.
Late last month, ten fishermen from Orange Valley and Carli Bay were attacked and thrown overboard by pirates while fishing at sea, with the boats and engines stolen. Three of the victims survived the attack, while seven men drowned. The bodies of two of the dead fishermen were not found.
According to the victims’ families, calls were futile to the government, and the Coast Guard, with family members reporting they were told no gas was available for search and rescue helicopters. Also, the government minister Hinds was reported as reproachfully telling the victims’ families they should have reached out privately to National Security minister, Stuart Young.
Despite the accusations of apathy, late last week Rowley was on an election footing, sending a message to the Opposition, saying “every single seat in Trinidad and Tobago is targeted by the PNM”.
Rowley said not only Chaguanas East was being pursued, “but we are equally eager in Couva South, Couva North, Caroni Central, Caroni East and all constituencies in central Trinidad and Tobago”. He added: “There will be a formidable PNM standard-bearer.”
Rowley also called on eligible voters to give the PNM a chance, saying, “You have tried the rest, now try the best – the PNM.”
According to Rowley, central Trinidad has some of the “staunchest PNM supporters”, but it was difficult for them to openly show support due to location. He said new office was not by accident, but by design “based on our fundamental principle that we are a national party for all the people of Trinidad and Tobago, cutting across race, colour, creed, class, or location”.
Additionally, “We of the PNM have come… to Central, not in a strange place as some might think, not in a place unknown to us because we have always maintained a presence in this part of the country. Some of the staunchest PNM supporters are in areas where it is difficult to be PNM, and Central has those members.”
Rowley said being a PNM supporter in Diego Martin and Laventille was easier, since there was “a view those are PNM strongholds”. However, “when you are PNM in Chaguanas East, when you are PNM in Chaguanas West and you are PNM in Couva South and areas where the PNM has not been your representative in the Parliament for a number of years, there are those who believe you don’t belong.”
Said Rowley: “People who support our party in this area where it is difficult for the PNM to win, we are saying to you, ‘You are not alone, and you are not forgotten’.”
He added: “It is the first time the PNM has established a regional office of this stature in this part of Trinidad and Tobago. It proves that the PNM is a movement for all, cutting across all races, religion, classes. It also underscores the value it places on the people of the area.”
A livid and incredulous Ramdial said residents in central Trinidad see Rowley and the PNM for who they really are, and would not respond to the call for support by the ruling party and government. So far, the PNM has selected its Minister of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries, Clarence Rambharat, to contest the Chaguanas East seat in the 2020 General Elections. The new PNM’s Chaguanas office will also be the campaign headquarters for Rambharat.
Said Ramdial: “How can Central Trinidad give [Rowley] and the PNM a chance, when only a couple of weeks ago he and his government showed a lack of care and compassion, when they failed to visit the families of the seven dead fishermen of Orange Valley?”
Additionally, “To further add insult to injury, we had a junior acting Minister of National Security, Minister [Fitzgerald] Hinds saying twice on national television that they would only visit if a silent request was made from the families. This was an all-time low for the PNM-led government during one of Trinidad and Tobago’s darkest weeks.”
Ramdial added: “[Rowley] and his uncaring ministers came to central to open an office, a barrage of ministers visited former minister McDonald when she was charged for corruption, bringing food and words and comfort… but up to this day, there have been no visits from the prime minister, ministers, or government officials to the people of Orange Valley. I want the people of Trinidad and Tobago to wake up and not be fooled by the prime minister’s hypocritical and uncaring statements.”
Ramdial’s annoyance followed the PNM’s move last week to solidify its position in central Trinidad Opposition stronghold by formally opening its Balisier House, Chaguanas office. At the opening, Rowley called on voters to give the party a chance.
Remarkably, as Ramdial indicated in her livid response to the PNM’s move, Rowley’s call came despite his government’s poor response following the murders of seven fishermen from central Trinidad.
Late last month, ten fishermen from Orange Valley and Carli Bay were attacked and thrown overboard by pirates while fishing at sea, with the boats and engines stolen. Three of the victims survived the attack, while seven men drowned. The bodies of two of the dead fishermen were not found.
According to the victims’ families, calls were futile to the government, and the Coast Guard, with family members reporting they were told no gas was available for search and rescue helicopters. Also, the government minister Hinds was reported as reproachfully telling the victims’ families they should have reached out privately to National Security minister, Stuart Young.
Despite the accusations of apathy, late last week Rowley was on an election footing, sending a message to the Opposition, saying “every single seat in Trinidad and Tobago is targeted by the PNM”.
Rowley said not only Chaguanas East was being pursued, “but we are equally eager in Couva South, Couva North, Caroni Central, Caroni East and all constituencies in central Trinidad and Tobago”. He added: “There will be a formidable PNM standard-bearer.”
Rowley also called on eligible voters to give the PNM a chance, saying, “You have tried the rest, now try the best – the PNM.”
According to Rowley, central Trinidad has some of the “staunchest PNM supporters”, but it was difficult for them to openly show support due to location. He said new office was not by accident, but by design “based on our fundamental principle that we are a national party for all the people of Trinidad and Tobago, cutting across race, colour, creed, class, or location”.
Additionally, “We of the PNM have come… to Central, not in a strange place as some might think, not in a place unknown to us because we have always maintained a presence in this part of the country. Some of the staunchest PNM supporters are in areas where it is difficult to be PNM, and Central has those members.”
Rowley said being a PNM supporter in Diego Martin and Laventille was easier, since there was “a view those are PNM strongholds”. However, “when you are PNM in Chaguanas East, when you are PNM in Chaguanas West and you are PNM in Couva South and areas where the PNM has not been your representative in the Parliament for a number of years, there are those who believe you don’t belong.”
Said Rowley: “People who support our party in this area where it is difficult for the PNM to win, we are saying to you, ‘You are not alone, and you are not forgotten’.”
He added: “It is the first time the PNM has established a regional office of this stature in this part of Trinidad and Tobago. It proves that the PNM is a movement for all, cutting across all races, religion, classes. It also underscores the value it places on the people of the area.”
Rowley claims
Port-of-Spain – There is no crisis in Trinidad and Tobago, and nationals should “feel good” that white-collar criminals are running scared for the first time, Prime Minister Keith Rowley said last week.
Rowley said it was with grave cynicism that people felt no action would be taken against white-collar criminals, but his government has taken the lead and worked to fix the system.
“And where you are seeing a crisis today, we are saying to… the people of Trinidad and Tobago: feel good about it, this is how it is supposed to happen. This is how it is happening for the first time, exactly what you want to happen is happening – that if persons, especially public officials, misconduct themselves, there must be policing to identify the misconduct and the person must be held accountable, and it will end up as a trial in the court house where they are innocent until proven guilty,” he said.
Speaking to the arrest and laying of charges against former Public Administration Minister Marlene McDonald, Rowley said the police did not have the capacity to pursue criminals. However, he gave the commitment his government would build that capacity.
“I went abroad, Minister [Stuart] Young and I. We spent significant time with the British and the national crime agency dealing with this matter. How does Trinidad and Tobago move from an area of cynicism where its Police Service, its agencies of State, are unable to pursue white-collar criminals? We got assistance, and that is why I am saying that it is happening the way you want it to happen. What you are seeing here is what you were to expect to happen if there was evidence of wrongdoing, it will be found by good policing,” Rowley said.
He said corruption had become a way of life in Trinidad and Tobago, and now that it is being addressed, people are saying it is a crisis when it is a “ray of hope”.
Said Rowley: “I wasn’t elected to be re-elected. I was elected to fix this country's problems, and this is one of them that’s being fixed,” he said.
Rowley also criticised the “media frenzy” surrounding the McDonald controversy. He was at pains to point out McDonald was not the first minister to be arrested, but a UNC former Local Government Minister, Dhanraj Singh, who was arrested for murder.
He said Trinidad and Tobago did not collapse when Singh was arrested, neither did it collapse when former Attorney General Anand Ramlogan and former national security minister Gary Griffith were fired under the former regime.
Rowley said the PNM is held to higher standards, and gave the assurance “the ship of State is sailing smoothly”.
Rowley said it was with grave cynicism that people felt no action would be taken against white-collar criminals, but his government has taken the lead and worked to fix the system.
“And where you are seeing a crisis today, we are saying to… the people of Trinidad and Tobago: feel good about it, this is how it is supposed to happen. This is how it is happening for the first time, exactly what you want to happen is happening – that if persons, especially public officials, misconduct themselves, there must be policing to identify the misconduct and the person must be held accountable, and it will end up as a trial in the court house where they are innocent until proven guilty,” he said.
Speaking to the arrest and laying of charges against former Public Administration Minister Marlene McDonald, Rowley said the police did not have the capacity to pursue criminals. However, he gave the commitment his government would build that capacity.
“I went abroad, Minister [Stuart] Young and I. We spent significant time with the British and the national crime agency dealing with this matter. How does Trinidad and Tobago move from an area of cynicism where its Police Service, its agencies of State, are unable to pursue white-collar criminals? We got assistance, and that is why I am saying that it is happening the way you want it to happen. What you are seeing here is what you were to expect to happen if there was evidence of wrongdoing, it will be found by good policing,” Rowley said.
He said corruption had become a way of life in Trinidad and Tobago, and now that it is being addressed, people are saying it is a crisis when it is a “ray of hope”.
Said Rowley: “I wasn’t elected to be re-elected. I was elected to fix this country's problems, and this is one of them that’s being fixed,” he said.
Rowley also criticised the “media frenzy” surrounding the McDonald controversy. He was at pains to point out McDonald was not the first minister to be arrested, but a UNC former Local Government Minister, Dhanraj Singh, who was arrested for murder.
He said Trinidad and Tobago did not collapse when Singh was arrested, neither did it collapse when former Attorney General Anand Ramlogan and former national security minister Gary Griffith were fired under the former regime.
Rowley said the PNM is held to higher standards, and gave the assurance “the ship of State is sailing smoothly”.
Port-of-Spain – TT RideShare last week temporarily halted service in crime hotspots in East Port-of-Spain after an operator was killed. The stop notice was posted on the company’s Facebook page.
The company operates a private taxi service using a mobile app that uses GPS. An available driver nearby will accept the request and contact the passenger to verify location and destination.
In July, the company requested an additional safety check requesting passengers to upload a selfie and a copy of the national identification card.
A week ago, a TT RideShare driver, Segun Yusuf Ekundayo was murdered after responding to a ride request. Police also report other drivers have been robbed in the crime hotspots. TT RideShare did not indicate the number of drivers attacked, or when or where the assaults occurred.
According to the police report, Ekundayo drove to the Gonzales area, following which a gunman shot him several times.
TT RideShare, a 14-month-old company, was formed months after Uber ceased operations in T&T following the murder of one of its drivers in St James. Other Uber drivers were also robbed.
TT RideShare is still operating in other parts of the country.
The company operates a private taxi service using a mobile app that uses GPS. An available driver nearby will accept the request and contact the passenger to verify location and destination.
In July, the company requested an additional safety check requesting passengers to upload a selfie and a copy of the national identification card.
A week ago, a TT RideShare driver, Segun Yusuf Ekundayo was murdered after responding to a ride request. Police also report other drivers have been robbed in the crime hotspots. TT RideShare did not indicate the number of drivers attacked, or when or where the assaults occurred.
According to the police report, Ekundayo drove to the Gonzales area, following which a gunman shot him several times.
TT RideShare, a 14-month-old company, was formed months after Uber ceased operations in T&T following the murder of one of its drivers in St James. Other Uber drivers were also robbed.
TT RideShare is still operating in other parts of the country.
