Prakash: Life in jail for any Life Fund scam

Ramadhar was referring to recent reports that there was misappropriation of funds from the Children’s Life Fund.

Speaking at Thursday night’s meeting at the Malabar Community Centre, Malabar, Ramadhar said there is now an effort to suggest that there is corruption within it.

“I want to assure you something if there is, if there are persons involved in corruption in the Children’s Life Fund I want to tell you they should get life,” he said.

He added, if there are any allegations, it must be investigated.

Ramadhar said everything the Government has done the People’s National Movement (PNM) has interpreted it into the “worst possible way.”

“Everything is corrupt, corrupt, corrupt. That is the message and people unfortunately have started believing but if this Government was so corrupt how is it then that almost every single project of this government have been brought in under budget and within time?” he said.

He questioned what the PNM did with the “hundreds of billions of dollars” before 2010.

“They have created this concoction of corruption and discrimination. What they suggest is that this government develops only south of the Caroni. There is a racial inclination in that but there are people of all races, colour and creeds in south of the Caroni river but the truth is this government has developed all of Trinidad and Tobago,” he said.

In his address, National Diversity and Social Integration Minister Rodger Samuel also defended the Children’s Life Fund saying it was sufficient cause to ensure the Government returns to office. He said there was a cause before the COP and that cause was to continue developing the nation.

“There is a cause because we began the Children’s Life Fund and that must continue because that cause has helped children upon children so that they can fulfill their desires. If it’s only for the Children’s Life Fund that you put this government back into office that is a sufficient cause,” he said.

Questioned after the meeting on the Third Force Movement, Ramadhar said the only division he wants in the country is the division of good and bad people.

He said he was willing and able to talk to everybody at all times.

“We really must learn from history and I put a little caution to all those with noble intentions it could create a problem,” he said.