The US Government is distancing itself from statements made by former New York Governor David Paterson at a People’s National Movement (PNM)| rally in Woodford Square, Port-of-Spain, on Saturday. Paterson, who was invited as one of the guest speakers at the event, was critical of T&T Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar.
Speaking to an audience of PNM supporters, candidates and the party’s leadership, Paterson said Persad-Bissessar Government was “so dishonest that it shut down all of the agencies to give statistics on its own progress.” A release, issued by the Public Affairs Section of the embassy in Port-of-Spain, yesterday, said the US Government, and the Embassies that represent it abroad “do not endorse candidates or parties in foreign elections.”
“US citizens are free to express their opinions in any forum, whether in the US or abroad,” it stated, adding that “opinions expressed by US citizens who are former office-holders, either on the Federal or State level, should not be seen as reflecting the policy or views of the US Government.”
And Deputy Political Leader of the UNC , Housing and Urban Development Minister Dr Roodal Moonilal said both Patterson and former US Congressman Edolphus Towns foreigners were “out of place to come on T&T soil and bad mouth our prime minister.” Moonilal said: “They both have serious corruption and misconduct issues around their heads,” adding that “in America they are unelectable and now they come to support the undesirable.”
Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley could not be contacted for comment yesterday but the statement was condemned by former head of the public service Reginald Dumas, who said it was a clear interference in the internal political affairs of a sovereign nation. Dumas said that was “not acceptable,” adding that he was stunned by the “highly improper” comments.
He noted that Paterson was the Chairman of the Democratic Party in New York and consequently a senior party official. “It was astounding that the PNM should have invited him to come to this country and make such a statement, which was a clear intervention in the affairs of T&T. It was reprehensible and I reject it totally.”
Dumas said he wanted to know what kind of thinking would have influenced the decision to invite Paterson to make those comments at the rally. “It showed a lack of understanding and a lack of nationality and a lack of self-respect.” Dumas said that would never have happened under the first PNM leader and the country’s first Prime Minister, the late Dr Eric Williams. Dumas said he cannot sit back and accept that as normal.
He said there was a public outcry and condemnation in June when British comedian John Oliver had unfavourable things to say about Jack Warner and T&T in matters related to Fifa. He said if there was condemnation then why should Paterson’s remarks be accepted now by citizens of this country.
And former foreign affairs minister Ralph Maraj said while the PNM’s rally on Saturday was successful, he was “not happy that the former (US) governor came to our country and got involved in our political affairs in that way.” It was not right for the former governor to speak in “such a derogatory manner about our prime minister and I am not being partisan.”