A Government and an Administration tormented with investigating itself…
Keith Rowley and the PNM continue to be at war with the truth!
Emailgate was the worst abuse of parliamentary privilege in Trinidad and Tobago and yesterday, its architect Keith Rowley once again abused that privilege.
At Friday’s sitting of the House of Representatives, UNC MP Rodney Charles asked Prime Minister Rowley about a US State Department 2022 Tier 2 Watchlist which said, “senior government officials alleged in 2020 to be involved in human trafficking.” Charles asked Prime Minister Keith Rowley what action was being taken in respect of this allegation by the US.
Rowley said, “We did hear that allegation and when we investigated, we discovered it was referring to current Members of Parliament, none of which is on the Government side.”
Having perused that US State Department Report, it is abundantly clear that there was never any reference to any Opposition Member but rather to senior government officials, “and the government did not take action against senior government officials alleged in 2020 to be involved in human trafficking.”
The country now needs clarity from the Prime Minister into his assertion that “We (the Govt) did hear that allegation and when we investigated, none of which is on the Government side!”
Is the Prime Minister saying that either the US State Department cannot differentiate between a Government and an Opposition or is the US simply mistaking the Opposition for the Government?
But on the response of the Prime Minister, it begs the question(s); just who investigated this allegation? Was it the TTPS? Was it an “outside counsel?” If so, Rowley should have substantiated his statement by either quoting a TTPS Report or simply saying that the TTPS has “cleared” any Government official on this despicable affair.
And why did the Speaker not ask the Prime Minister to produce or refer to the “report” that he was quoting from?
The government penchant for continuing to investigate itself and refusing any type of public scrutiny when citizens seek the truth is worrisome and greatly troubling.
And despite the continued botched attempts of this Government to investigate itself, the population is always left with more questions than answers.
We have seen many times during the past 7½ years, this Rowley-led PNM Administration continues to investigate itself which allows it to decide whatever action it wants to take… against itself… a joke!
Who can forget the bank deposit of $143.000.00 in solid, liquid cash made by Minister Robinson-Regis and her outright refusal to comply with the declarations of such a large deposit. When the matter became public information, she was “cleared of any wrongdoing” by Rowley and then AG Faris Al-Rawi.
Who can forget the scandal of international dimensions when former PNM National Security Minister Edmond Dillon was a party to a fraudulent conversion of cash and property case in a NYC court which has being further exacerbated by a sealed agreement by both parties?
Who can forget the allegations against Sport Minister Darryl Smith as it relates to the payout of $150K on the grounds of wrongful dismissal of his former personal secretary at the Ministry?
Who can forget the hands-off approach adopted by Rowley and Al-Rawi in the sexual misconduct allegations involving Government-appointed Angostura Chairman Rolph Balgobin?
The Prime Minister owes the country an explanation whether or not he, as Chairman of the National Security Council, knows just who these allegations were levelled against.
Can citizens expect any real and investigative response and action from the Administration into allegations of “senior government officials involved in human trafficking?”
To answer this one just need to reflect on this Government total lack of response when less than a year ago, the country was rocked with shame and anger when the Judith Jones Task Force Report which detailed everything from drug transactions to rape of minors was release… a report that incriminated several politicians.
Citizens continue to be overwhelmingly distrustful and dissatisfied with the faulty policies and acts of this Rowley-led PNM Administration which have only been able to provide the country with scandal after scandal, crisis after crisis but most importantly, a rudderless leadership!