Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley yesterday blasted the Government and Finance Minister Larry Howai for deliberately “deceiving” the population over the level of inflation. Speaking to a crowd at the 25th annual People’s National Movement (PNM) St Ann’s East Constituency conference at San Juan North Secondary School, yesterday, Rowley referenced an article in Saturday’s T&T Guardian which quoted the inflation statistics from the Central Bank.
He said that higher food prices were set to push headline inflation to 7.5 per cent, almost double the figure Howai quoted in his budget delivery earlier this month. Rowley said Howai must have known food prices were rising but chose not to inform the public during his budget delivery. “What manner of people are these?” he asked.
Rowley also told the gathering that he planned to write to the Integrity Commission for an investigation into whether the Government was using taxpayers’ money to fund its “Government is working for you” advertising. He said the advertising included spots on television and flashing billboards along the highway. He said a permanent secretary revealed that the public purse was being utilised and he planned to ask the commission to investigate the matter.
Rowley once again defended the PNM’s rapid rail project and the multi-million dollar repayment of the loan taken under the PNM for the feasibility study. He described the situation as similar to taking a bank loan to build a house and changing the plan half way through construction. “Would you not have to still pay the bank?” he asked the crowd.