Four Government ministers, among them acting Prime Minister Errol McLeod, said Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley is unsuitable to lead T&T following this year’s general election. McLeod, Works and Infrastructure Minister Dr Surujrattan Rambachan, National Diversity and Social Integration Rodger Samuel and Transport Minister Stephen Cadiz all contributed to yesterday’s resumed debate in Parliament on a motion of no confidence in Rowley.
As was the case when the matter was first debated two weeks ago, the Opposition MPs, including Rowley, walked out of the chamber shortly before 3 pm as the motion was about to resume. During their contributions yesterday they all recalled former prime minister Patrick Manning describing Rowley as a raging bull. Samuel said Rowley was a politician who liked to attack but was against being attacked.
Rambachan said the decision by the Opposition to walk out of the chamber was not a good example for the children of the nation. He said Rowley was a man who, by his action, was saying one should run from challenges. He said the walkout was a disrespect to the Parliament. Rambachan said Rowley had divided the PNM since he assumed leadership in 2010.
Commenting on the rejection of many PNM incumbents by the PNM’s screening committee, Rambachan said that was a clear indication that Rowley did not want any opposition. “He doesn’t tolerate any opposition. And every single (PNM) member (MP) who has been discarded for the next election has been discarded because they didn’t support (Rowley) and they supported the MP for San Fernando East (Patrick Manning),” Rambachan added.
He said the rejection of Diego Martin Central MP Dr Amery Browne would negatively affect the young people of the nation who supported the hard-working Opposition MP. Rambachan also said Rowley was refusing to support T&T’s proposed nominee for the post of Commonwealth secretary general, Planning and Sustainable Development Minister Dr Bhoendradatt Tewarie. He said Rowley had opted to support Antiguan nominee Sir Ronald Sanders.
According to Rambachan, Rowley “has proven himself to be anti-T&T, anti-citizen, anti-country, anti-nation.”