Let’s get this on.
This was the challenge Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar last night threw out to Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley, urging him to take her on “one-on-one, mano y mano” in a “great debate” which she said the people deserved.
Persad-Bissessar made the comment during the UNC’s Monday Night Forum at the Trinidad Country Club, Maraval, where she also announced that Attorney General Garvin Nicholas (Diego Martin North East), Jairam Seemungal (La Horquetta/Talparo) and Clifton De Couteau (Moruga/Tableland) had been chosen to contest the September 7 general election by the party’s screening committee.
On the national debate issue, the PM said she met with the T&T Chamber of Commerce and had agreed to debate Rowley on July 30. But Persad-Bissessar said she was very disappointed when told the date had been cancelled.
Saying that she was still all for the debate, the PM added that she was willing, able and keen to take on Rowley on July 30.
“I put the challenge to the Opposition Leader, who is contesting for the post of prime minister, as I am I say, ‘Come on Mr Rowley let’s do this. Let’s get on with it. Let us now organise between ourselves and give the people of T&T the great debate they deserve. I am ready for the debate.”
But during a press conference yesterday, Rowley said the PNM never agreed to a debate on July 30, noting that the debates body spoke to a date in August.
In addressing the crowd, Persad-Bissessar said there were some who believed the People”s Partnership should not have held a meeting at the Country Club. But she said the PP was “a party of the people” and could go anywhere throughout the country.
“I make no apologies, we will take every city, every town, every space until we take all of T&T for the People's Partnership,” Persad-Bissessar said.
Regarding the crime situation in Central, particularly in Enterprise, the PM praised law enforcement officials for their latest efforts, but again warned they would not negotiate with criminals.
Persad-Bissessar also threw jabs at Independent Liberal party leader Jack Warner, who was critical of a march for peace in Chaguanas over the weekend.
“There was a peace march in Enterprise and somebody sent me a text saying, ‘We must get the criminals off the streets but good Lord Jack Warner still walking up and down in Enterprise,’” she said.