MEMBER of Parliament for Chaguanas West Dinesh Rambally is claiming to be framed as someone who is deceitful and obstructionist by Planning Minister Camille Robinson Regis who he says is pouring scorn on him.
In a press release on Thursday, Rambally stated that instead, Robinson-Regis was misleading the public into thinking that proper consultations were conducted concerning the two Tobago Bills which are before Parliament.
Robinson-Regis is the Chairman of the Joint Select Committee (JSC) for Tobago Self Autonomy of which Rambally and two other Opposition members – Jearlean John and Rudranath Indarsingh – are a part of.
He stated, “To suggest that amending some clauses in a Bill is the same as having consultations is rank disingenuity. I consider it offensive and reprehensible that I am being framed by the Chairman as someone who is… obstructionist and who came with an agenda to delay.
“I categorically reject all such insinuations and insults as I find the remarks of the Chairman to be rather dishonest and fatuous and reeks of a certain desperation to save face and create the illusion that they cared enough to hear Tobago out on this matter.”
Tobagonians have been recorded stating they were not satisfied with the consultations and now asking them to send in suggested amendments to the bills was a slap in the face, he stated.
“Consultation is what you ask for when you care to hear. Amending (or tweaking) is what you ask for when you did not care to hear and you get called out on it,” Rambally said.
Rambally is challenging Robinson-Regis to contradict that he along with John and Indarsingh insisted that proper consultations be conducted before finalising of the Bill proposal.
He listed details of the Committee’s meetings showing where wider consultations were lobbied for.
In one, he said, “I am concerned that consultations are coming to what I consider a premature end and we have not been able to inspire more widespread participation in one of the most important decisions facing us as a nation.
“I cannot feel assured that, given the brief window of consultations, we have solicited sufficient views to say we understand what Tobagonians and Trinidadians are thinking on this subject.
“Tobagonians have been urged to speak their minds as this is a valuable opportunity to have their voices heard. However, on Friday 30th April and May 1st 2021, public consultations were held and a mere 31 oral submissions were received. The online survey between 17th April to 4th May 2021 saw a low participation of 195 citizens. I ask, could it be truly said that Tobagonians have spoken?”
It was paradoxical that Robinson-Regis had been urged to keep the consultations open for some time longer so the JSC “would get it right”, a request which she refused to facilitate, yet she accused the MP of deception, he added.
