This afternoon’s Press Conference held by the Minister of National Security should have addressed what T&TEC’s General Manager Kelvin Ramsook described as the “catastrophic failure” which led to the island-wide blackout on Wednesday. Instead, it was nothing more than an embarrassing PR stunt the likes of which the Rowley regime is famous for.
But what is perhaps more startling is that when asked by reporters about what assurances he had that such a massive failure would not happen again soon, Minister of Public Utilities Marvin Gonsalves began laughing. He even callously stated that the Police Commissioner could not give an assurance there “would not be another murder.”
This blackout devastated the perishable stock of businesses already reeling from the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. It also facilitated criminal activity. Yet the government is behaving like it is a joke. I wish to tell these immature Ministers that this is no laughing matter.
Based on the utterances of those present today, Hinds, Young and Gonzales, the Government had no clue about what was happening in the country and worse, had no idea what to do about it.
These Ministers were not prepared. Citizens died last night, there were multiple robberies, citizens felt anxious about the safety of their homes and businesses, many were worried about their loved ones at the hospitals.
In many places, citizens had to direct traffic or there was no direction at all which totally contradicts the comments from the Ministry of National Security.
Government Ministers were frantically purchasing generators and hiding from the public. In an act of extraordinary cowardice, the Prime Minister also hid from the nation and never attempted to address citizens.
It is noteworthy that Prime Minister Rowley was missing from the press conference, once again failing to face critical questions on the incident. It is inexcusable that Rowley chose to not present himself to the public to explain what happened yesterday.
The incompetence of this government has now become dangerous to the well-being of all people of Trinidad and Tobago.
Kamla Persad-Bissessar, SC, MP
Leader of the Opposition
17th February 2022
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