Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley is insisting that Energy Minister Kevin Ramnarine failed to address critical issues affecting the sector during the budget debate. Rowley is taking House Leader Dr Roodal Moonilal to task for claiming that he was distracted and was not aware of Ramnarine's contribution in the Senate. Rowley hit back yesterday, saying Moonilal was 'playing smart with foolishness." He maintained that Ramnarine was the first Energy Minister in the past decades who did not contribute to a budget debate in the House of Representatives. Rowley said the Senators were not elected by the people and therefore represented no one.
Rowley said there were 41 elected MPs in the Lower House and it was there Ramnarine should have contributed.
He said all previous Energy Ministers, elected or appointed would have contributed in a budget debate in the House of Representatives. "Rather than take issue with me, Dr Moonilal should answer the specific questions raised," Rowley insisted. Rowley said his questions were all relevant and citizens wanted the answers. "He said for the government minister to talk about PNM business and not answer the questions was "a dereliction of duty." One of the questions Rowley wanted answered was whether the People's Partnership Government was still interested in an energy-related project with the Government of Ghana. He also wanted responses to a proposal for the establishment of a Parliamentary Committee on Energy and the establishment of a national energy company.