Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley has noted that former prime minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar agreed to go ahead with legislation regarding the appointment of a police commissioner when she was in office and he hopes responsible conduct will prevail when the People’s National Movement Government attempts to amend the law on this.
“We’re not going to the Parliament to fight the Opposition. This Government isn’t going to engage in any fruitless fight with the Opposition. If the Opposition indicates they won’t support a particular legislation, we’ll attempt to persuade them and hopefully people will be guided by the oath of office...we’ll move to getting done what we can get done,” Rowley told reporters after yesterday’s swearing-in ceremony of the new Cabinet at Queen’s Hall, St Ann’s.
He said Parliament would open before Republic Day on September 24, likely on September 21.
The Rowley administration will present proposed legislation including procedures to devolve authority to Local Government, an amendment of the law to appoint a CoP, whistleblower legislation, an amendment to the procurement law which Government wants to introduce and proclamation of that law.
Rowley also said he would not interfere with the Las Alturas Commission of Enquiry, which the past People’s Partnership administration initiated. He said the Government would await the findings but “those are sideshows that will entertain us.”
He also shrugged off the PP’s intention to take legal action seeking to have Monday’s election result declared null and void.
“Those are part of the UNC’s internal politics, where people are trying to explain themselves,” he said.
Rowley also described as nonsensical the UNC’s claim that his administration was a “minority” government.
“These are things for them to console themselves with—the election is over.”
He said it was also either nonsensical or worrisome that the UNC had said they were ahead of the PNM at 6 pm on polling day.
“How would anybody know you’re ahead at 6 pm? The vote is secret...you could think so, but the vote is secret, so those aren’t serious things,” he said.
Rowley noted yesterday the 9/11 anniversary and the 14 T&T nationals who died in the destruction of the World Trade Towers in 2001.
He also shared some insight into his youth when he opened his address by relating how he’d stood on the stage of Queen’s Hall as a Bishop High School student participating in a competition and been dumbstruck. He said he froze. His principal, Mr Blackett, the only one there to support him, was shocked since he (Rowley) always had the “biggest mouth” in school. He said Blackett had told him afterwards not to worry and that he was “going to make it.” He said that experience lived with him until he entered politics in 1970 and “I haven’t stopped speaking since...”