Charles: Where is My Money Going?

Caption: Chaguanas West MP Dinesh Rambally, left, greets Naparima MP Rodney Charles at a press conference in April

By Chantalé Fletcher

MEMBER of Parliament for Naparima Rodney Charles says he gives $1,700 to the United National Congress (UNC) which is ten percent of his salary every month.

He made the statement at the United Patriots meeting at the Barrackpore Country Club on Wednesday.

He added the money was paid to the notification of the party’s National Executive (Natex) and was a requirement for all MPs. 

Charles said, “When he multiplied $1,700 by 12, it means every year, I give the party from my salary, $20,000 a year. And for the past nine years, if multiplied by nine, it is $183,600, I have given to the party. When we multiply that by five (MP’s), that is one million dollars given to the party. At least our contribution could have paid for a down payment for land for a headquarters.”

He questioned the transparency of the “millions” from the contributions as councillors also had to pay.

However, Charles believed that his contributions were being used to “pay  maxi taxis to  bus in people, to go on platforms  and talk against us.”

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He said it was time to have a properly functioning NATEX.

Charles referred to his United Patriots slate as “cabinet material.”

He said the quality of people in UP exceeded both that of the People’s National Movement (PNM) cabinet and his colleagues on the Star Team,

Charles said when he looked at his UP slate, there was no corruption but clean, decent people of integrity.

Making reference to the UP slate  leader, Charles said, “When he speaks in parliament he speaks with authority, decorum and class. When I look at Rushton Paray, I do not see a person I can go and talk about corruption and say let we run a racket. I see a person of integrity, someone I can tell my  children to look up to.”

He stressed the importance of being in government to help the people.

Charles  said, “I am supporting this slate (UP) because I do not want to be in Opposition for five more years. I want to be in government. I want to win.” 

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He added it was hard to face his Naparima constituents as he did not have the full means to assist.

“When you face flooding I can’t help because I am a MP in opposition. When we have problems with roads, I have to beg. I take all the humiliation because I love the people of Naparima but it hurts because I cannot help you. When you want your children to get the amenities in schools; when we want to deal with flooding, I cannot help. I could write a letter and Rohan Sinanan tells me that if  I feel is only Naparima he has to take care of.”

Charles reiterated, “We are important and we must be in government in 2025.”

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