(Trinidad Guardian) Government has lost much of its credibility and Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar needs to address the nation and clear the air on the Reshmi Ramnarine appointment, political analyst Selwyn Ryan and other experts said on Monday. Calls for Persad-Bissessar to answer questions on the issue have begun mounting. Last week Persad-Bissessar had appealed to reporters to “move on” from the issue since Ramnarine had resigned. After last Friday’s Lower House session where the issue held the spotlight, the Opposition PNM was to raise it again at yesterday’s Senate session during debate on the Bail Bill, according to PNM Senator Terrence Deyalsingh.
On Monday, Ryan was among those who headed calls for Persad-Bissessar to speak on the issue.
Ryan said: “I’m very unhappy. I was one of those who wanted the thing (PP) to work but I’m very disappointed.” He said former UNC leader Basdeo Panday was right on the possible cause of the issue—cronyism. Ryan added: “The Government has lost much of its credibility and the Prime Minister needs to address the legitimacy problem she faces as PM since this situation has caused a serious loss of face for her administration.” Ryan said Persad-Bissessar needed to address the “monsters” created by the image problem the Government has.
Ryan said more spin-doctoring had taken place on the issue than disclosure. He added: “The shine is off the ball and a lot of spinning is taking place. Panday has said these faux pas occur in Governments due to a high level of cronyism. I think he is right.” On the Government’s lack of credibility, Ryan noted the recent “missing piano” issue. He added: “It was clearly impugning Mr (Patrick) Manning’s integrity and honesty but it was later found. But this is the central point of the problem.
You don’t know what to believe about the Government anymore.” Ryan said National Security Minister John Sandy could not continue in the post and should resign since he had been compromised.
He added: “He’s been put in an awkward position and is now seen as someone who was given a message to deliver. I’m not impugning his competence or integrity, it is just that the impression is that he has been used.”
Ryan said the issue would not go away despite the Carnival atmosphere. “If anything, it’s providing a topic for everyone to talk about at fetes,” he added.
Ryan said he had felt T&T had a good opportunity under the PP but he was disenchanted now. “Cockroach have no place in fowl business — I gone,” Ryan added.
