Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley has called on churches to play their role in ensuring accountability and good governance from politicians. Referring to the government’s $55 million donation to churches, Rowley said there must be proper accountability when money was spent on churches.
Speaking at the PNM’s Spiritual Shouter Baptist Liberation celebrations in Moruga yesterday, Rowley acknowledged the need for the Government to assist churches, but said, “we have to have proper systems of accountability when we spend state resources in churches.” Otherwise, he warned, it paved the way for wrongdoing. He added, “When I see $55 million suddenly available to the church...Is this a gift or is this a bribe? I ask the recipients, what is your role in ensuring that T&T has good governance and proper accountability.”
He said if money could be spent in that way without a proper system of accountability, at the end of the day everyone would be held responsible for the abuse of “opportunities given to us.” During the celebrations at Gran Chemin Recreation Ground, Rowley and some the PNM’s candidates in the upcoming general election were anointed with oil and blessed by spiritual leaders.