Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar is describing Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley’s latest apology for the challenges in getting a replacement ferry for the inter-island sea bridge as “a pathetic attempt at distracting from his incompetence in handling this situation.”
She said more than the “too little, too late” apology, the Prime Minister “must accept responsibility for this debacle,” deal with his Minister of Works and Transport, as well as the chairman and members of the Port Authority of T&T board and 23 months after assuming the mantle of leadership he should call a fresh election. In a release on the issue, Persad-Bissessar said Rowley’s apology “did nothing to comfort the people of Trinidad and Tobago.”
Contending that the problems with the sea bridge started under his tenure, Persad-Bissessar said in the months that followed, “the Prime Minister issued a number of apologies but failed to take any action to correct the problems and bring about a resolution in the interest of the people of this country.”
“Rowley keeps apologising to the nation for the ferry problems and instructing his Minister of Works and Transport Rohan Sinanan to fix it, not realising that his minister is the problem,” she said.
According to Persad-Bissessar, “not only did the Prime Minister fail to take action against the reports of possible corruption in the deal for the Ocean Flower 2; he continues to show contempt for citizens, with his latest “summons” to stakeholders to a meeting next week Monday, shortly before proceeding on yet another vacation. It is clear that Rowley does not care about the crisis created by his Government not only on the Tobago ferry, but in every aspect of governance.”
As a result of what she described as “his incompetence and lack of a plan to take the country forward,” Persad-Bissessar said “citizens are suffering. Criminal activity continues unabated, more persons are losing their jobs and only means of income, consumers are reeling from high food prices, and sick people cannot get the medication they need at the nation’s health institutions.”
The former prime minister said “Rowley is clearly not up for the job of Prime Minister, and he should heed the calls to seek a fresh mandate.” In so doing, she said he would give the people “the opportunity to choose a leader and a team with a vision and strategy to return the country to a path of growth and prosperity.”