UNC leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar has challenged Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley to go to court on the integrity issues raised by UNC MP Saddam Hosein and Senator Wade Mark.
UNC frontliner Jack Warner has also urged his Independent Liberal Party members who are still wavering to come back home to UNC—and NTA leader Gary Griffith says the PNM “is on the ropes.”
Each spoke at Thursday night’s UNC Local Government campaign meeting in Arima.
Noting Rowley’s statements on the UNC’s challenge of issues related to his townhouse purchase in Tobago at Thursday’s post-Cabinet media conference, Persad-Bissessar said, “This man used national TV from the podium of the Prime Minister to give a personal political explanation and bouff anybody who ask him anything. It was like two-hour meltdown.
“He said he’s going to sue Saddam and Mark - well, Mr Rowley, come to court and the greatest lawyer in T&T will skewer you on the witness box—Anand Ramlogan!”
Citing home invasions, murders and “coward tax” extortion, Persad-Bissessar repeatedly made her “light em up call” against criminals.
“I make no apologies for saying light em up and reload and fire again !! Rack it, load it and knock it, knock it again and rack it up!”
Persad-Bissessar said when the UNC returns to government, she will offer a gun amnesty to PNM MPs and commentators who have legal firearms so they can give them back.
“You all really think I don’t know about the ‘matic (automatic) dropped off at the MOPS (station)?”she added.
“We know which dealer sold it, which minister who bought it, which senior officer organised for the minister to get rid of it. We know the officer who dealt with it at MOPS. We know the serial number,” she said, adding when Rowley spoke of gun issues the “fella” got frightened and gave the gun back to MOPS.
She added, “On Monday, come out and light up this dictator government with your vote - Monday is Light Up Monday ... this meeting is our last in the 14 corporations. (PNM) didn’t go to all. They’re expecting defeat,” said Persad-Bissessar.
Meanwhile, Warner made a rallying call to those sitting on the fence.
“To my ILP members: it’s too crucial a time to sit on the fence. My ILP members, many of you who are still uncertain - put aside your grievances real or imagined and come back home!”
Warner added, “Farley (Augustine) has Tobago. From Monday, Kamla will have Trinidad. Rowley will be the PM of the ‘and’ between Trinidad and Tobago.”
Warner also responded to Rowley’s claim that he (Warner) had reunited with the UNC because he wanted to be with people who would make a “Section 35” deal to halt his extradition from T&T.
Saying Rowley was talking foolishness, Warner said Local Government is not Central Government, as local government has no power to make a deal of any kind and the UNC had no power over the courts.
Warner added, “So what ‘deal? I’ve been in FIFA 30 years, FIFA never charged me for impropriety of any kind. I helped thousands of people. The Chief Magistrate put my extradition on hold where it still is and she was critical of the PNM and US lawyers. This Government spent millions in legal fees with 17 lawyers to have me extradited—and I’m still here!”
Warner said he had rejoined the UNC because T&T had a two-party system and while there were other parties, they could not change things.
Persad-Bissessar, dubbing Warner the prodigal son who returned, added, “What nonsense is (Rowley) talking about—Kamla and Jack making deal about extradition? The matter is before the courthouse, the courthouse will determine that!
“There’s no deal, we can make no deal. But I think you (Rowley) made a deal with (Warner) before, so you know what you talking bout! We’ll expose you! When I say light him up - light him up!”
