T&T diplomats, come home when I call.That's the order from Prime Minister Keith Rowley who gave his position on Tuesday following contentions over Government's removal of ambassador Eden Charles from a United Nations' post.
"When I put my signature that you come home, then you come home because I am the Prime Minister of T&T," Rowley stressed at Tuesday's PNM Local Government meeting in San Juan. He said he had taken a dim view of a recent editorial concerning the diplomat who had been asked to return.
A newspaper editorial recently called Rowley out on what was described as the "untimely removal" of deputy permanent representative to the UN, ambassador Eden Charles, from the chairmanship of the Group of Latin American and Caribbean (GRULAC) countries in the UN.
The editorial noted the prompted appeals from within the UN for Government to hold off on the removal.
GRULAC had written Government requesting that Charles be allowed to continue as chairman of negotiations for the new Law of the Sea Treaty. Professor Andy Knight (former director of the Institute of International Relations) also knocked Government's decision to revoke Charles' appointment.
However, Rowley said a number of people had been taken out of posts and some sent to posts in normal foreign affairs assignments. He said he had noted the editorial attacking the Government for "interfering with a particular foreign service officer."
He said: "Let me say something to all of you here at home and everywhere else in the country. "I take a dim view of any citizen who is sent abroad to represent us abroad and who has 'dropped anchor' for ten years and when we are beginning to reorganise our business, we ask you to come back home and you decide to go and invite other foreign countries to assail the Foreign Affairs Minister, the Prime Minister and the country and to bad mouth the Prime Minister and the country, hoping to stay out there.
"But let me tell you something: When I put my signature that you come home, then you come home because I am the Prime Minister of T&T."
Rowley said he was not impressed with those who wanted to "support that ridiculous conduct where foreign service officers could go and be recruiting foreigners to lobby to remain in the lap of luxury. "What you should be doing is crying shame on such a person," he added.
Asking if T&T was a banana republic, Rowley queried why "our officers" could do that.
"Can you imagine, an Englishman, American, Indian can do that? Your Government call you home and instead of coming home and seeing what else they have for you to do in your career, you go campaigning against the Government.
"There are people in T&T who should know better than to encourage that kind of foolishness," he added.
Rowley questioned why some may feel they could get away with such behaviour since they would not try it with former prime ministers Eric Williams, George Chambers or ANR Robinson.
"So why you feel that under my Government, you could be called home and you could be doing that?" he asked.
Saying he was unmoved by the editorial, Rowley added: " This PNM Government is a mighty force as we do what is right... those of us who hold authority... sometimes we have a little more information than you. So don't get on your high horse. Your saddle might be loose."
ROWLEY'S FAMILYLIVES AT PM'S HOUSE
Prime Minister Keith Rowley's daughter, son-in-law and grandson live at the Prime Minister's official residence in St Ann's along with he and his wife.Rowley confirmed that at Tuesday's PNM San Juan meeting. He said the Opposition had been querying who lives at the residence and who was driving in the PM's cars.
He said: "I have nothing to hide. The Opposition wants to know who sleeps in the PM's house, so let me tell you: My wife, my daughter, my son-in law, my grandson and anybody else I invite as my guest... sleeping in that house.
"I didn't ask for anything when I went to that house. The security agencies provided what they thought the family should have.
"If I am in a car and my wife is in another car and if my daughter comes and we take her somewhere else... I'm sure the people know what I am entitled to and what not. I hope the Opposition can answer what's asked of them."
Rowley said he had seen bills for $1.67 million for one Divali function at the PM's residence hosted by former prime minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar.–Gail Alexander