Young: Opposition being unpatriotic

Young made the allegation as he responded to questions from the Opposition in the House of Representatives, 24 hours after Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley said a gas sales agreement for the supply of natural gas from the Dragon Field in Venezuela to plants in TT could be achieved by July.

Young explained that earlier this week in Caracas, a heads of agreement was signed between the National Gas Company (NGC), PDVSA of Venezuela and Shell. He said this was a follow-up to a heads of agreement signed last December by Rowley and Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. Responding to questions from Oropouche East MP Dr Roodal Moonilal and Caroni Central MP Dr Bhoendradatt Tewarie, Young observed, “What is going on and we are seeing it clearly, let the citizens mark it right now, is a complete lack of patriotism by those on the other side.”

Recalling that the former People’s Partnership (PP) government treated the gas shortage the country is facing as just a maintenance issue, Young said, “I will lend a dictionary to them very shortly for them to look at it. They keep trying to throw spanners into the wheel of what is going on. They keep trying to call something that does not exist.” Young said the initiative has moved, “from talk and conversation into a sanctioned project to operationalise the getting of gas from the Dragon Field into the pipeline and infrastructure that exists in TT to keep our gas industry alive.” He said the governments of TT and Venezuela are, “ensuring that every step of the way, everything that is being done, is being done in accordance with the respective laws (of each country).”

Young added, “Every qualified attorney coming out of law school knows they must stay within their own boundaries of the law that they understand.”