It's a call to order. That's how Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley describes today's motion of no confidence against Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar. Rowley made the statement during a public indoor meeting of the People's National Movement (PNM) at St Augustine Secondary School on Wednesday night. He said no office holder in T&T had a mandate to rule for life. "And from where I stand and from what I see and from what I know, what we will do...is just a matter of time," he said, without elaborating.
"After 22 months of a 60-month term of the UNC Government, we have seen enough to know that it is time to call them to order in the Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago," Rowley said to loud applause from the audience, which included Juliana Chambers, wife of former prime minister George Chambers. He said the no-confidence motion was filed because the confidence the people placed in the UNC on election day, May 24, 2010, "has over time been eroded to a point where we now need to demonstrate to the country that the trust you placed in those people ought to be remained and be reviewed."
Rowley claimed the People's Partnership Government had betrayed the people. He said the Opposition was now expected to demonstrate its reasons for coming to that conclusion. He said that would be done during today's expected marathon debate.
"That is what the no-confidence motion is all about...It is about the Government being examined, being called to order with respect to its stewardship," the Opposition Leader said. "The vote of no confidence has absolutely nothing to do with Patrick Manning (former prime minister) and the PNM, it has everything to do with the Government of Trinidad and Tobago." Rowley said the Government had been "running scared" since the motion was filed. He also said he wanted "answers" from the Government during the debate. He said he was "not concerned about the 29 cabal members voting in their own defence. "I am concerned about a more informed public-and there will be a more informed public on the night of the debate," he added. He said it would be the informed public that "will be in a better position to protect itself from the rampant corruption, discrimination and aggression of the current cabal.
"That is what I want from this debate," he stressed. Rowley said he was not concerned about the 29 government votes against his motion. He said he was certain of 11 Opposition votes. He said he was more interested in the vote of the population after it was better informed in the debate. Rowley said the PNM did not need 29 seats to be effective in the Parliament. He said the truth was the first casualty when rights were taken away from citizens. He insisted the people of T&T must "demand the truth from the Government. "If the truth is a casualty of governance, the people are at risk," he said.
Rowley said the population should be told the source of financing for the PP no-confidence motion campaign, which includes media ads and live broadcast of its meeting on radio and television stations. He said the funding was coming from questionable sources. The motion was filed in the Parliament on February 17. It is the first time since T&T became an independent nation almost 50 years ago that a motion of no confidence was filed against a Prime Minister in office less than two years. The debate, which begins this afternoon at 1.30, is not expected to proceed through the night into Saturday.
The motion
"Whereas an unending series of events have demonstrated:
• The Prime Minister's gross incompetence
• Failure to stimulate the economy and create sustainable employment
• A consequent unwillingness to act in the best interest of the people of Trinidad and Tobago
• An absence of effective management of officers under the control of the Prime Minister, resulting in persistent confusion and encouragement of wrongdoing in the conduct of the national affairs of Trinidad and Tobago.
Be it resolved that this Honourable House express its concern and lack of confidence in Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar."