(Trinidad Express) The motion of no confidence against the Prime Minister is a serious matter, says Government Minister Jack Warner, who indicated he will be defending his leader, beginning today at a public meeting in Couva South.
Speaking to the Express yesterday by phone, Warner said there is no bad blood between him and Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, contrary to what some people may want to believe.
On Sunday, parliamentarians and supporters of the People’s Partnership attended a meeting at Persad-Bissessar’s private residence in Phillipine, South Trinidad, to discuss Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley’s motion of no confidence in the Prime Minister which will be debated in the Parliament this Friday.
It was agreed at that meeting that in the run up to the debate, three public political meetings will be held in Couva South, Penal and Diego Martin where Persad-Bissessar will be the feature speaker.
Although he did not attend the Sunday meeting, Warner was asked yesterday to deliver greetings at today’s first public meeting.
Asked whether he was invited to the Sunday meeting, Warner responded: “I had an urgent family matter to see about.”
Asked if he was aware of the meeting, he repeated his reply.
Questioned on whether reports and blogs alleging that there was a strained relationship between he and Persad-Bissessar and he was in fact secretly mobilising people against her, Warner said: “I don’t read blogs and I don’t intend to. The fact is I don’t know of anybody real or imaginary who believes there is hostility between me and the Prime Minister,” Warner said Persad-Bissessar has nothing to fear.
“I believe that her achievements can stand up to scrutiny. I believe when you consider what has been achieved in 22 months, the facts speak for themselves,” he said.
While the Prime Minister has dismissed Rowley’s motion as “frivolous” and “vexatious”, Warner said it is a “serious matter”.
He said as Opposition Leader, Rowley has few “trump cards” at his disposal and the use of a motion of no confidence in the Prime Minister was one of them.
Warner said when the People’s National Movement (PNM) was in office just after nine months, former Opposition chief whip Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj had moved a motion of no confidence against Manning.
“We did not consider it to be frivolous and vexatious then … I am taking this to be very serious, Mr Rowley is within his right … we as members must remember we did the same thing,” said Warner.
Warner is also the chairman of the United National Congress (UNC), the party which Persad-Bissessar heads as political leader.
Asked if he has decided to defend the chairmanship at the March 24 internal election, Warner replied: “I have been told that there are bloggers who are trying to demonise me. I remain unperturbed. On Friday I will decide what I am doing, I will not allow any social deviant to make me decide sooner than I should.”
