Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley will be pursuing legal action against UNC candidate for Febeau/Bourg Mulatresse Devon Thomas for comments he made during a UNC meeting on Saturday, despite Thomas’ apology.
Speaking with reporters after casting his ballot at the International School of Port-of-Spain in Westmoorings yesterday morning, Dr Rowley described the voting process as “smooth and straight forward.”
The PM said while he had received no reports of irregularities he “expected to get those before the end of the day” but he also rubbished claims made by UNC candidate Anil Juteram that he was told by the EBC that he could vote twice.
“I’m not surprised, that has to be a UNC candidate right. Okay right.”
Thomas issued an apology to PM Rowley on Sunday, but the Prime Minister said ge still intended to sue him.
“I didn’t see an apology and whether there is one or not, he will be sued,” said Rowley.
According to Rowley the comments made by Thomas is not new.
“This is about the tenth time that the UNC has put somebody in a position to try and smudge my character. This is nothing new.”
According to the PM, it mattered not if UNC leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar also apologised since according to the Prime Minister, those statements made have been endorsed by the party throughout the years.
“This is a matter the UNC created and endorsed even in the parliament. You will recall that when Vernella Alleyne-Toppin came to the parliament with it, under parliamentary privilige she was congratualted by Mrs Persad-Bissessar and Roodal Moonilal. So I’m not surprised that they have continued to endorse it and made it a campaign issue.”
Allegations like those made against him he said never go away. “When you do things like this you can’t disown it. It is a stain that is indelible. That gentleman was trying to please his handler,” Dr Rowley said.