MP: Rowley opposed Toco port while in Opposition

“Why the change of heart?” she asked in a statement yesterday, noting his previous warning that the port construction could see a government doing a compulsory acquisition of lands at Toco, only for them to be given to their political financiers.

The MP hit Rowley for his Government’s incompetence on the sea bridge issues, as voiced by the Tobago Chamber of Commerce, the Tobago Hoteliers and Tourism Association, the Tobago Truckers Association and the Tobago Unique Bed and Breakfast and Self-Catering Association.

She said Rowley had recently reaffirmed the need to construct a ferry port at Toco, to create economic activity and link the people of Tobago and Toco, but she said this was a sharp departure from his previous condemnation of such a proposal when he was in the Opposition.

“He clearly cannot be trusted to lead this country if he cannot stay true to his own convictions.” She related Rowley’s stance in a parliamentary debate on crime July 28, 2000 when as an Opposition member, Rowley was very critical of any activity in Toco.

The MP quoted Rowley. “The basis for this port, is some Tobago to Toco ferry. Nobody in Tobago wants it; nobody in Tobago or Toco appreciates it; but that is the grease to have the product created.” “By saying that it is a Tobago to Toco ferry, the (past) Government is giving the impression that it is a public purpose and, under that category, the Government is now going to proceed to take away people’s homes to create this port. So, here we have a situation where those who are living on the land enjoying it now, protected by the law, the Government is seeking to find a mechanism to acquire their land, then give that land to other private citizens to make money. This Toco ferry port has nothing to do with the people of Tobago and Toco.” “Dr Rowley needs to come clean and let us know what has brought about his change in position,” she said. “When in Opposition he was critical of this project and declared that it was a money-making initiative by the then government.

“Does this change of heart allude to him or PNM financiers benefitting from this project?” She said National Infrastructure Development Company (NIDCO) head Herbert George had said the Sangre Grande to Toco proposed highway to facilitate the ferry port, could cost $5 billion.

“The Prime Minister needs to tell us where this funding is coming from and how much will it cost to build the ferry port as well,” Gayadeen-Gopeesingh said. “This level of inconsistency and incompetence has trickled down to his Government ministers where we are now seeing esteemed ministerial positions being treated like CEPEP and URP ten days projects