PM goes on vacation after US trip

Speaking at the post-Cabinet news conference at the Diplomatic Centre in St Ann’s, Rowley said he will leave the country on March 29 to meet with executives of British Petroleum, Shell and Exxon in Houston.

He noted that Shell is playing a integral part in this country’s ongoing energy initiative with Venezuela, and explained that discussions with Exxon are important in terms of keeping TT’s eyes focused on what is happening in Guyana’s emerging energy sector and how this country can partner with its Caricom neighbour in that sector.

“When all of this is done, I would have been on my feet since August (2016). When I’m through with the assignment in Houston, it is my intention to take one week vacation. It’s only for a week, so don’t let that shock you,” Rowley told reporters.

He reminded that he is entitled to 28 days vacation and has not taken any large vacation in the last five to seven years. He took a brief vacation last August, when he went to the US for a medical check-up. The Prime Minister subsequently said his doctors gave him a clean bill of health.

Rowley also said he will be travelling again at the end of May to New York, to attend his daughter Sonel’s graduation. “I would not miss her graduation for anything,” he said.

After his return to TT, Rowley will pay a state visit to Chile. That visit takes place from May 29 to 31. A state visit to China is unlikely to happen this year, he said.

Disclosing that the next few weeks will see several sittings of Parliament to deal with a plethora of legislation, Rowley said a daily newspaper (not Newsday) in an editorial last week advised the Government that “it did not want to hear anything about happened before, it just wants the Government to get on and do what has to be done.” The Prime Minister countered, “Let me promise that editorial writer and anyone else in this country...that you will continue to hear about what has happened before (the People’s National Movement was elected in September 2015).” He added that the country “will be expected to hold those who were there before accountable for what happened before.” Rowley said, “If you ignore the past, you surrender the future.”