Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley has instructed his lawyers to initiate lawsuits against several radio talk show hosts and to explore the possibility of pursuing a lawsuit against a self-proclaimed political activist, Phillip Edward Alexander.
Rowley revealed this during Thursday night’s political meeting in St Augustine.
The lawsuits are related to comments made surrounding statements made in Parliament by Tobago East MP Vernella Alleyne-Toppin regarding Rowley’s parentage.
The comments, which spurred outrage from citizens across the country, made allegations about rape.
Alleyne-Toppin has apologised for some of the comments and was given mixed responses and limited support from her cabinet colleagues.
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bossessar, who distanced herself from the comments, refused several calls to simiss Toppin.
Rowley, who had been relatively silent about the issue, thanked citizens for their support throughout the past two weeks.
“If you have anything to say about my private life, my family life, my personal life, my public life, if you could say it inside, come outside,” Rowley said, adding that some people had “come outside.”
“I have instructed my lawyers to file suit against 91.1 FM and Wendell Eversley. I have instructed my lawyers to file suit against Morgan Job and Power 102 FM. I have instructed my lawyers to file suit against Gladiator and 91.9 FM and my lawyers, in the next few days, will be examining the publications and writings of Phillip Alexander and they already have instructions that if they find that I have been slandered, to sue Phillip Alexander.”
Rowley said the reason for initiating lawsuits was not to be vengeful, but to protect the political arena in T&T.
Rowley thanked T&T and all those “who expressed in any way your absolute rejection of this indecency because this can only happen when you fall in love with office.”
Rambachan reassures
Works and Infrastructure Minister Surujrattan Rambachan says problems Brazilian contractor OAS Constrotura may be having in its own country will not affect the completion of the Point Fortin Highway.
Rambachan was responding to comments made by Rowley, during the meeting in St Augustine on Thursday, that the Point Fortin Highway was in “deep trouble.”
Rowley said news was coming out of Brazil that the contractor for the highway was facing bankruptcy due to allegations made against the company.
“The local contractors are in great danger because they are not being paid,” Rowley said.
In a telephone interview yesterday, Rambachan denied the highway was facing problems.
The minister said he was not aware of any problems being faced by local contractors but promised to look into the matter.
He advised local contractors to contact Nidco if there was indeed a problem.
“The highway is 50 per cent complete. Whatever problems OAS has in Brazil we have a tight contract with them, We have certain things put in place legally and we are well protected,” Rambachan said.