With the five-year anniversary of Government looming ahead on Sunday and the Opposition PNM busily fine-tuning systems last Sunday, where was UNC’s Monday Night Forum this week—and what about the PP’s comments on current developments?
UNC deputy leader Roodal Moonilal, going solo minus his Forum platform, cleared the air on that and other issues yesterday saying:
•The forum was dropped in favour of another “road”, blitzing 31 constituencies to organise troops for Sunday’s May 24 anniversary rally.
•Nor was it “Moonilal Monday” (he says) because the Prime Minister, rather than UNC’s deputies, starred at seven such meetings in areas including marginal seats. (No, Tobago, wasn’t in the mix).
•On the Integrity Commission’s termination of the Emailgate probe: “I stick firmly to my observations of two years ago when I said I entered the Parliament with a hard hat, steel tipped boots and industrial gloves prepared for hard wuk, which I also offered to the Opposition leader. Now I’ve been vindicated by the commission. So if he spurned the offer of the equipment, he might certainly be needing it now.”
•Also: “So now the PNM says they’re concerned about the ‘parameters’ of the probe. Mr Al Rawi is on TV every morning trying to defend the indefensible so much he’s appearing tired, trying to shift the goal posts. I won’t comment on his football skill but it doesn’t matter what parameters, diameter, radius or circumference you talking about—if you lie, you must say goodbye.”
•As well: “ I saw an unflattering picture of myself, the Prime Minister and her attorney. But it didn’t bother me as much that I lost 100 pounds in the last two years as the fact that it seems the Opposition leader hasn’t lost one ounce of shame.”
•On other Parliament matters: “I spoke to (ILP’s) Jack (Warner) on Monday on if he was proceeding with his planned
motion to rescind the Opposition leader’s suspension. He said he was standing firm on his motion but by Tuesday, typical of Jack, Monday was Monday and Tuesday was Tuesday so by Friday—when the motion was to be debated—it’s going to be PNM business instead.
•His take on the situation? “Seems Jack went down on all fours and bowed to PNM whip Marlene (McDonald)’s notice the PNM would debate its Soldado motion. So Jack remains PNM-coattail attached.”
•Retorting to the PNM’s announcement that its cabinet will be well selected and won’t have constant reshuffles: “How anybody could believe dat? ,” Moonilal groused, “They reshuffle five PNM nominees already and still can’t find one for Chaguanas East—even before they form a Cabinet. Yuh tink it will have an ‘after’?”
•But PNM chairman Franklin Khan might have rebutted Moonilal’s views with some of his comments at last Sunday’s PNM planning forum. “We doh do ting vie-kie-vie,” Khan declared.
•Also: “Dr Rowley has the intellectual capacity to lead T&T....he would never tell you, ‘I am advised’. Everybody (in PNM) must be on the same page (with message and script) we doh want anybody making up policy in front microphone on the platform, if we stick with the message and script all will be well.”
•And Khan will be gratified to know PNM’s lady vice chairman is also on board with priorities. At Tuesday’s Senate, PNM senator Camille Robinson-Regis confided to senators that legislative drafting was once her first love “followed by politics.” She listed “husband” and “the PNM” after. But quickly added, “Not in that order....”