(Trinidad Express) Contrary to the statements of Government spokespeople over the past week that Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley did not have the support of all his Parliamentarians, and that some of them would vote with the Government, all Opposition members expressed no confidence in Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, voting solidly in support yesterday of their leader’s motion.
By a vote of 29 against and 11 for, the motion was defeated.
“This motion of no-confidence in the Prime Minister has been defeated in the House of Representatives by a majority,” House Speaker Wade Mark said to thunderous desk-thumping from the Government side. Mark’s announcement came at 5.20 p.m. after some 27-and-a-half hours of continuous debate.
The Government amended the preamble of the motion to state: “Whereas the Prime Minister and her historic People’s Partnership Government inherited an economy in decline, a culture of waste and rampant crime, debilitating corruption and a style of arrogance in leadership which led to a disconnect between the people and the Government.”
While the rationale was changed, the resolution that the House was being asked to express no confidence in the Prime Minister remained.
And therefore as the vote was taken, Government MPs shouted “No” to a man, while certain Opposition MPs were equally strident in the affirmative.
Diego Martin North East MP Colm Imbert for example said “One hundred per cent yes”, while La Brea MP, Fitzgerald Jeffrey said “Absolutely yes.”
At one point it seemed that St Ann’s East MP Joanne Thomas was unsure of what she wanted to say, but she said “Yes”.
Speaking earlier Rowley apologised to Attorney General Anand Ramlogan whom he had accused of asking about the ethnic composition of staff at the Trinidad and Tobago New York mission.
Ramlogan had always maintained that he had never done such a thing and that he had never even visited New York, USA, since becoming Attorney General.
Rowley however accused Foreign Affairs Minister Suruj Rambachan of being the minister to raised questions about the ethnic composition of the staff. Quoting an e-mail to Harold Robertson, the former consul to Washington, he said, contrary to statements of Government ministers, it confirmed that he (Rowley) had visited the mission and met with staff at a breakfast function.
He further said in the email Robinson stated that he recalled the gist of a conversation he had with Rambachan in which this matter was discussed.
Rowley said the debate was a reflection on what transpired since Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar had come into office.
He said a lot of Government speakers focused on issues that predated her coming into office.
He then gave the reasons why he felt that the Prime Minister was not governing the country properly.
He went through the usual list—the Reshmi Ramnarine issue, the appointment of Susan Francois as FIU director, the PM’s alleged “insult” to Caricom countries by the ATM statement and the statements that there must be a quid pro quo for any assistance to disaster-affected countries.
He said the Prime Minister met Trinidad and Tobago with a senior role in Caricom but had ceded leadership in the regional body.
He also cited promises made on the campaign which were not kept.
Rowley also criticised the awarding of a contract for a light rail (to be built on the Priority Bus Route) and the Invaders Bay project.
On the issue of Landate, Rowley said Landate held no dread for him and his family.
