Caption: UNC political leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar and her deputy Dr Roodal Moonilal at the screening of candidates at the party’s headquarters on Friday evening.
Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley tells Indo-Trinidadians that there is no reason to fear being targeted by the state.
Rowley, who was speaking during a press conference on Friday, made the comment in response to claims by Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar that fresh corruption allegations against former Housing Minister Dr Roodal Moonilal are part of a “racist election campaign strategy.”
In a report published by the Trinidad Express, Persad-Bissessar stated that the new allegations raised by the Estate Management and Business Development Company Limited (EMBD) on February 11, during a status hearing, are intended to portray Indo-Trinidadians as corrupt.
In response, Rowley accused the opposition leader of attempting to sow divisions in the country with her comments.
“You have nothing to fear from the rest of the population. The law will determine who is police and who is thief,” Rowley said.
The prime minister described Persad-Bissessar’s comment as offensive, stating that Indo-Trinidadians can be found in every sphere of national life in the country.
Rowley stated that it was the courts and not his People’s National Movement (PNM) government that allowed EMBD to amend its case after the defendants in the matter asked for “further particulars” in the matter.
He said the matter has been heard through the different levels of the judicial system even making its way to the Privy Council in London and at all times the judges’ ruled in the EMBD’s favour.
The lawsuit centres around contracts for the rehabilitation of roads and infrastructure conducted before the September 2015 general election.
The contractors are seeking over TT$200 million in balances owed for their respective contracts.
EMBD has counter-sued and is seeking $275 million plus interest, and a series of declarations against the parties, including one on the illegality of the contracts.
Concerning Moonilal, the prime minister chastised him for claiming that the government is weaponizing the judicial system against him.
He likened Moonilal’s claims to those of US President Donald Trump, who also accused the former administration of using the judicial process to victimised him.
Rowley said his government is committed to ridding the country of white-collar crime and will spare no expense to hold those who seek to misuse taxpayers’ funds accountable for their actions. (CMC)
