Press Release:-
Opposition Leader: Today, the Prime Minister has made his stance clear; he has accepted the SRC Report to increase his salary. He wants his money now; he doesn’t like his money to sleep out. This is characteristic of his selfish and negligent behaviour: disconnected from citizens’ struggles and focused on self-preservation. Rowley is a lazy, greedy old man who should get a pay cut, not an increase! His press conference today was a masterclass in shamelessness and arrogant greed.
As expected, and predicted, the Prime Minister has accepted the SRC Report to increase his salary. He justified his move by effectively saying that his Government, filled with incompetent members, deserves a pay raise. This was not surprising or shocking because Rowley does not care about the average citizen. That’s why today he said nothing about the out-of-control violent crime and murders, the high cost of living, poor healthcare, no forex, job losses and increased utility rates and taxes. BUT shamelessly found time to do a lengthy press conference to justify his acceptance of a pay increase for himself.
I stated my position from the beginning: do not increase my salary but pay the judicial officers and public servants. Today, Rowley has made clear his stance: he wants his money now; he doesn’t like his money to sleep out. This is characteristic of his selfish and negligent behaviour, which is disconnected from citizens’ struggles and focused on self-preservation.
A few months ago, the Finance Minister, in a sworn affidavit, cried about the economic doom and gloom of the nation that the PNM Government created. Rowley is now denying that he said people should tighten their belts. He is the very one who told the nation that all economic burdens must be shared, and that people should prepare for difficult times ahead.
Citizens are riled up because this government can’t account for 3 billion missing taxpayer dollars, hired a cult in the SSA who they then claimed wanted to commit a coup, presided over almost 5000 murders and 5000 COVID deaths, lost over 50 thousand jobs, shrunk the economy by $30 billion, recused themselves during cabinet meetings hundreds of times, paid his golf partner Gilbert eat a food Peterson 9 million dollars for the Paria inquiry and have been accused of harbouring a paedophile ring.
This is the only prime minister in our history with no achievement in his name, yet he is publicly lobbying to justify his acceptance of a raise in pay for himself. So failed is his record that he resorted to opening the Carenage fish fry facility three times; he might reopen it for a fourth time in 2025. He opened Niquan, which blew up in a ball of fire. He was outsmarted in gas price negotiations in Houston and has desperately resorted to stealing credit for projects started under the UNC Government.
Rowley is wholly tone-deaf and ignorant of the pulse and pain of the population, who are fed up, angry, and frustrated, living in a country besieged by crime and where its social fabric is deteriorating. He said he would bear the cross of this decision without fear of retribution. There will be retribution when the general election bell is rung and a caring United National Congress returns to the Government to restore law, order and prosperity, where our citizens are the priority.
Rowley is a lazy, greedy old man who should get a pay cut, not an increase! His press conference today was a masterclass in shamelessness and arrogant greed.
Kamla Persad-Bissessar, SC, MP
