(Trinidad Express) Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley has criticised United National Congress (UNC) deputy political leader, Dr Roodal Moonilal, for imputing that his wife, Sharon Rowley, had any inappropriate dealing in Calder Hart’s acquisition of property in Tobago with State funds.
During the People’s Partnership second anniversary celebration rally at Mid Centre Mall carpark, Chaguanas on Thursday, Moonilal said Hart, former chairman of the Urban Development Corporation of Trinidad and Tobago (UDeCOTT), acquired property at Coral Seashells Villas #113, Anthony Charles Crescent, Bon Accord, Tobago, to the tune of US$449,500 (TT$3 million).
Moonilal said he had a document which allegedly had as a signatory Sharon Rowley, the wife of the Opposition Leader, and he asked whether the Opposition Leader knew of the transaction.
Speaking with members of the media yesterday at the People’s National Movement (PNM) Family Day at Manzanilla Beach yesterday, Rowley said the suggestion made by Moonilal was “a reflection of the type of person he is”.
“That says a lot about Dr Moonilal and I think that Moonilal, on reflection, will know that he will embarrass himself. He seeks to draw my wife into the politics…My wife is a private attorney conducting private business, who has absolutely no business with Calder Hart and UDeCOTT and any transaction. What he was referring to was witnessing the actions of other persons,” Rowley said.
The Member of Parliament for Diego Martin West said the signature was done in 2007, while Hart was not reporting to him. He also said, however, that he was at the time Housing Minister and the line minister for UDeCOTT.
“Dr Moonilal is just embarrassing himself and that is par for the course for UNC,” Rowley added.
Asked if he will take legal action, Rowley said it has nothing to do with him and he would choose to disregard the comments.
He was also dismissive of Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s announcement of an upcoming Cabinet “reconfiguration”, saying that Government will adopt their “same disrespectful policies”.
“If you reshuffle the same cards you get the same hands. I don’t think it will make much of a difference. It is the same people following the same policies of disregard and disrespect to the population. Whether the minister is in this post or not, the policy is to serve themselves. Even if they change portfolios, it will be the same people doing the same things,” Rowley said.
And on the issue surrounding the decision by calypsonian Michael “Sugar Aloes” Osuana’s to appear as a surprise guest artiste at the coalition government’s May 24 celebration, Rowley said Osuana was still a PNM supporter.
“Sugar Aloes is a performer and he is a private citizen and free to do as he pleases for performances. The PNM has no control over Sugar Aloes or any other performer,” Rowley said.
Asked if the PNM feels in any way slighted by Osuana’s decision, Rowley said, “No! I mean, he is a private performer making his private living as he sees fit. We may be disappointed that he has done certain things but that is not our call and I tell you I have no doubt that he is still supporting the PNM…I have no doubt about that!”
