Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley has promised to bring legislation in Parliament that will limit the number of ministries in T&T. Addressing PNM supporters in Belmont on Friday, Rowley said this will form part of the party’s policy when they return to office.
Rowley said the PP Government had too many ministers and with each Cabinet reshuffle, the numbers continue to grow.
“We will limit legislatively the number of ministries in Trinidad and Tobago. So no prime minister can come back here and use ministerial appointments for political purpose that you are seeing here.” Rowley said when former prime minister Patrick Manning had 25 ministers, the Opposition said it was too big.
The PP, he said, now has the largest Cabinet. “...They have been using ministerial appointments to pacify people...to appease people...to buy people. Some people who should not even be on the ministry’s door step are now in the Cabinet and some have the gall to invoke God in it.” Rowley spoke about locking horns with Speaker Wade Mark during his post budget contribution in Parliament on Friday.
“I was trying to keep cool.” Rowley said when he spoke about the Government’s corruption he was interrupted and stopped. “I have been accused of being a wajang before. I don’t want to be accused again.” Rowley raised the issue of the Brian Lara Stadium of which Calder Hart was responsible. “Of course we were not happy with Calder Hart’s behaviour with respect to his arrogance as a chairman and the rope he was given, and how he stepped out of line. I took personal responsibility for stopping that in this country.”
Even though Hart may have stepped out of line, Rowley asked why the stadium remained incomplete for three years. Rowley spoke about the fight between himself and Manning over a demand he had made to tighten Udecott. “The prime minister (Manning) had a different view. And I stood my ground on it, for which I make no apologies.”