Rowley bites back

Speaking on Friday night on the Housing Development Corporation Bill 2004 in the House of Representatives, he rebutted allegations by Nariva MP Harry Partap, St Augustine MP Winston Dookeran, and Princes Town MP Subhas Panday.

Rowley said, "The UNC is on a philosophy to mash up Trinidad and, Tobago, if they can run it. MPs speak untruths to incite people."

Addressing each UNC charge, Rowley was especially biting towards Partap.

"That’s an example of a seat in Parliament full of...," he paused thinking for the right word, adding "sound and fury saying nothing." "He is using Parliament to grandstand and grab headlines for a moment."

Three-quarter of Partap’s speech, said Rowley, had no basis in fact.

Noting Partap is a preacher, Rowley quipped, "Follow him and you’ll go straight to Hell."

Recalling Partap’s claim that a contractor had run-off with Government monies for National Housing Authority (NHA) houses never built, Rowley accused Partap of slandering the builder who had simply been fired.

An angry Rowley hit at Partap, "The Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago is populated by idiots. How can you make statements like that? Do you think you can score political points?"

He hit Partap’s claim that 200 houses were outstanding from the NHA development at Ramgoolie Trace in Curepe. Rowley repeated his previous explanation to the House that this shortfall was not because of corruption but because the ministry had fired a contractor.

Rowley countered Partap’s charge that the walls and floors are collapsing in NHA houses at Tarouba, saying no families had complained in the media.

Hitting back at Partap for saying the NHA is a nest of corruption, Rowley said, "What evidence does he have. He has tarnished the character of people. I am very proud of my staff."

As to Partap’s claim that the Government should have completed 35,000 homes to meet a target of 100,000 homes in ten years, Rowley replied, "I explained before that it requires a certain gestation period." Regarding UNC claims that contractors are fighting for NHA works, Rowley said, "We are having difficulty having contractors take the work we have." Rowley rejected Partap’s charge that the Housing Development Corporation was violating the Central Tenders Board Ordnance. Rowley said, "The NHA isn’t subject to the Central Tenders Board. It’s got its own rules."

At that, Junior Minister of National Security, Fitzgerald Hinds, looked at Partap, grinned, and impishly chipped in, "He’s as bright as he is tall."

Replying to UNC charges of faulty houses being built at Edinburgh by Caribbean Housing Limited, Rowley said this was a private company which has nothing to do with the NHA.

He told Partap, "You come here making all manner of allegations! What manner of man is this?"

Countering UNC praises for Roystonia Housing Development, done under the former UNC government, Rowley said an audit report on the controversial project would soon be available.

Rowley hit UNC Senator Carolyn Seepersad-Bachan for allegedly urging the demolition of apartment blocks in high-crime areas of Port-of-Spain like Nelson Street. "That is Mugabe’s policy," he said, adding "Hitler did that."

Rowley replied to UNC charges that the PNM is wasting money on housing by recalling controversial expenditure by the former regime.

He said the country pays US$30 million every 13 months for water produced by Desalcott, for the next 20 years, because of a bad deal made by the UNC regime.

Rowley had a sharp exchange with Caroni East MP Ganga Singh, former Minister of Public Utilities.

Rowley said Singh as a minister had possessed a report which said Desalcott would bankrupt WASA, "Tell me I lie! Get up and tell me that!"

Singh retorted that WASA buys water from Desalcott for US70 cents per unit and sells it for US$1.05 per unit to Point Lisas Industrial Estate.

Rowley hit back, "If there is a profit, why is WASA running cap in hand every 13 months for the Cabinet to approve US$30 million every 13 months to pay the desal plant?"

He said that as then minister, Singh had instructed TTEC to delink the company that was supposed to go with the Inn Cogen plant."

Singh interjected, "That’s not true."

Rowley said, "I read the letter in Hansard where TTEC was instructed by permanent secretary on the advice of the minister. As a result, people have to pay a higher price for current, while ‘they’ get their money and bank it in the Isle of Man and Jersey and Guernsey."

Singh shouted "Lie!"