By Sue-Ann Wayow
“I plead not guilty, I hijacked no debate.”
Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley made this statement on Wednesday defending his Parliamentary statements and stance on Tuesday while debating the Constitution (Amendment) Tobago Self-Government Bill in Parliament during which Opposition Members of Parliament walked out on.
At a press conference on Wednesday held just after the House of Representatives sitting, Dr Rowley said he could not understand what was the Opposition’s complaint and House Speaker Brigid Annisette-George should not be blamed for what was normal Parliamentary procedure.
Referring to the motion to change the speaking times of speakers, Dr Rowley said, “We don’t need permission from the Opposition to put a motion to the House.”
Describing the Opposition’s behaviour as “outright irresponsible” Dr Rowley said the House Speaker looked to the other side for a contributor for there was none. Those who were there would have spoken already, he added.
“The Speaker did look to get a speaker on their side but nobody rose,” he said.
The main purpose of the Opposition led by Kamla Persad-Bissessar was to bring division between Trinidad and Tobago and there was nothing true with her statements, he said.
Dr Rowley lamented that the Bill cannot be passed without Opposition support and cannot even get pass the House of Representatives to the Senate.
Our 22 seats cannot do it,” he said.
He added that for the first time after seven years, the population can have a written copy of what the Tobago Self-Governance Bill could be.
He also made reference to his former position as opposition leader saying he took that job very seriously and if Persad-Bissessar could not do hers, she needed to give the position to someone else.
