PM Rowley takes a dig at opposition, calls UNC liars

Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago Dr Keith Rowley expressed his concerns about the everyday allegations being made by the United National Congress- the opposition party of the country.

PM Rowley stated that the best of intentions and usually with the best will in the world people do not always get everything right. He said mistakes can be and are frequently made.

He noted that he could not help but notice the ever-increasing use of naked untruths by UNC Leaders, spokespersons and social media agents as a deliberate political strategy to disturb the national psyche, misinform the public or simply to create an issue which they can then engage on their political vines and platforms. Prime Minister stated that Wade Mark called a press conference to say, without a shred of evidence or an incident of any kind, that "vaccines have been stolen from Couva Hospital". Furthermore, he stated that the opposition Leader on a political platform speaks at length about a "Minister's 1% wedding in St Clair in violation of Covid restrictions". As Prime Minister, I know of no Minister who hosted a wedding as described.

"In the same speech, she rails against similar "disregard in Tobago where Ministers were playing in golf tournaments". As far as I'm aware, I am the only member of Cabinet who plays golf and I have not played in a golf tournament in Tobago since early 2019", added PM Rowley.

Prime Minister stated that the opposition attempted to use the demise of Minister Khan to politicize the events. "One would have seen and heard the Opposition Leader, upon the passing of Minister Khan, say that "there were three Motions of No Confidence against Ministers in the Parliament" and "the Prime Minister did not take part in any of them" even to defend Frankie Khan. What is the truth?" added PM Rowley.

2He stated that out of the three motions, only one debate had been concluded, the one against the Minister of National Security, and as Prime Minister, he did take part in that debate.

"The other two debates are still open and ongoing and I have made no position public that would allow the erstwhile leader of the Opposition to say that I will not be participating in any of those proceedings", stated PM Rowley.

On a matter of record on Hansard, another similar flagrant disregard for the truth and alternatively the use of lies to shape a conversation or issue can be seen by the UNC saying that, on the issue of fifteen seats in the Tobago House of Assembly, there has been no consultation with the EBC.

PM Rowley stated that there is a matter of major policy, so it has to be taken seriously. The truth is that the UNC is part of the Joint Select Committee of Parliament on this Tobago matter and must know that not only was the EBC consulted, but they responded giving their views, all of this in writing to the Joint Select Committee ( JSC). This is the era of the "Big Lie" as a political tool which is now a major destructive feature of North American politics alongside the constant conspiracy theories which here in Trinidad and Tobago emerge as "concerns" when lies are hatched by the UNC, stated PM Rowley.

Nevertheless he stated that clearly, we have spawned our version of QANON, but unfortunately for the country, its main advocate and the proponent is the UNC, the official opposition in the Parliament