Political leader of the PNM Dr Keith Rowley is a little richer from winning a bet that Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar would not have participated in the leadership debate."I collected my bet this morning," he told supporters of the People's National Movement (PNM) in Point Fortin on Monday night, hours after the Debates Commission decided to call off the debate due to the withdrawal of Persad-Bissessar.
He said long before the commission's decision, he placed a bet that there would be no leaders' debate, "because Kamla Persad Bissessar not debating nobody in this country."He said when he signed in to the debate and a meeting was being planned for Point Fortin, his camp was concerned about him confirming he would be on the platform in the borough instead of preparing for the debate.
"From the very first day, I told them the PM of T&T would not subject herself to any debate. So said, so done. I could read that woman like a book, with one page," he added.He said he found it interesting that the PM, who had come to the defence of COP leader Prakash Ramadhar, her substitute in the debate, was the same person who refused to meet with Ramadhar in spite of several letters of requests over arrangements for the local government elections.
"She would not meet with him while he is a part of a coalition government but wanting to slip out of the debate, found Prakash had to be defended," he added.He said her withdrawal was an injustice to the entire country which was looking forward to the debate among leaders of the main political parties which has put forward candidates for the local government elections.
Rowley said he was disappointed when he heard Persad-Bissessar said she never committed to participate in any debate when all of the leaders had signed and were committed to it.He said when the Debates Commission invited the PNM to take part in a national debate they committed to it as did the other parties.He added: "All of last week, all of this week, the country was told and was led to believe the Prime Minister was committed and she was coming.
"I understand the same thing we signed and committed to, they signed and committed to and the PM now telling us she never committed to any debate?"This is not child's play. This is a multi-million dollar undertaking and the TTDC would have committed significant money to putting on this debate for the public benefit."If in a matter like this, the PM could behave like that, how could you trust somebody like that with your affairs."
PNM Senator Fitzgerald Hinds, who also spoke, said not only was the UNC colour yellow, "their belly yellow too," in reference to the forced cancellation of the debates.Rowley also called on Housing Minister Dr Roodal Moonilal to break his silence on allegations by ILP leader Jack Warner about houses being given for sexual favours.