Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar said no taxpayers' money was used to fund the People's Partnership's mobilisation exercise for yesterday's debate on a motion of no confidence against her, which was brought by Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley. Rowley raised the issue during the People's National Movement's indoor public meeting on Wednesday in St Augustine.
But Persad-Bissessar responded during the People's Partnership public meeting in Diego Martin on Thursday night. "That is lie! Not one cent of Government funds had been used to mobilise you, you have done that all on your own," she told supporters. Persad-Bissessar then called on Rowley to present evidence to support his "false" allegation.
She said Rowley was expected "to bring lies in the Parliament in an effort to rescue himself" during the no-confidence motion debate. "We will not campaign with State funds," she insisted. Persad-Bissessar said her coalition Government remained strong two years after it was formed, despite claims to the contrary by those opposed to it.
"The coalition holds firm, it holds strong, it holds committed and we will not break up, I will not let this coalition mash up," PM Persad-Bissessar stressed. She was very critical of Rowley for moving the motion because it pre-empted a very important debate on the Children's Bill. She said Rowley was seeking his own interest by filing such a motion.
"He cares about raising himself up-upon the sick bed of his former leader-a leader he helped to bring down, so he took this opportunity to gallery and derail the Children's Bill debate on Friday," she said. She said Rowley opposed the Constitution Amendment Bill which would have allowed for the resumption of hanging in T&T.
She said he also withdrew from the Joint Select Committee on new procurement legislation. She said the PP Government would approve the new procurement legislation with or without Rowley's PNM. Persad-Bissessar said there would be no early general election in T&T.