‘I continue to find Rodney Charles a person to apologise to the people of T&T who sold out our public image for a plate of food’ Dr Keith Rowley
By Sue-Ann Wayow
MEMBER of Parliament for Naparima Rodney Charles has sold out Trinidad and Tobago’s public image for a plate of food.
This was the declaration made by Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley on Saturday who said Charles owes the nation an apology for his behaviour.
During the press conference the prime minister hosted to update the population on Covid-19 measures, Dr Rowley was asked about his outburst in Parliament this week when Charles asked why Dr Rowley did not go to Guyana but instead went to Qatar on a diplomatic mission.
The prime minister said, “I must admit, I did lose my cool at that moment.”
Dr Rowley gave his reasons why he is so appalled at Charles.
He said, “When Rodney Charles comes and play advisor to me and to Trinidad and Tobago, it ruts my gut because that same Rodney Charles, he was representing us in New York as a diplomat of the United Nations.
“There is a racist political party in France called the Nationalist Party (National Rally) run by Jean Louis Marie Le Pen. He died. His daughter took over that party Marine Le Pen.
Dr Rowley continued, “There was a presidential election in France and in attempting to push for her candidacy, she travelled to New York hoping to raise her profile by talking to diplomats and leaders in New York.
“So offensive was that campaign and the person associated with it, she was not even able to get the French diplomats in New York to host her because the French people did not want to associate with the nature of that campaign.”
He said, “She was not able to meet a single diplomat in New York except Rodney Charles of T&T who agreed to have lunch with her. I found that to be offensive. I continue to find Rodney Charles a person to apologise to the people of T&T who sold out our public image for a plate of food.”
The prime minister said Charles was instead focused on causing division amongst this country and other Caribbean states including Guyana and Barbados.
He also said he was not distracted by Guyana’s Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo’s comments that Trinidad and Tobago’s economy was “falling apart” given that its main source of income continues to be from the energy sector.
Attempts to get in contact with Charles on Saturday were unsuccessful.
