PM criticised over catwalk strut

United National Congress (UNC) deputy political leader David Lee yesterday hit out at Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley’s decision to strut on a fashion catwalk with his wife Sharon Rowley on the weekend, while the country he leads is faced with many burning issues such as the recession, murders and social unrest.

“When I saw that this morning in the papers, I was trying to understand what was the rationale for the prime minister to be modelling. I guess he can do it in his own private capacity, but there are so many different issues going on in the country, with crime and the economy coming easily to mind. So I really am at a loss as to why he would have put himself on to be modelling on a catwalk. I remember when Kamla Persad-Bissessar was prime minister and she made a guest appearance on a stage at one of the Fantastic Friday nights show and she had on a sneakers that became a furore in the entire country...for a sneakers. The entire country was in an uproar and not in a positive light.

“So I’m wondering if Dr Rowley now being on the catwalk, given the situation in this country with people not being paid, the economy in the doldrums, crime going unabated, the Beetham unrest, can the Prime Minister really find the time to model? I guess it’s where your priorities are at this point in time for the country. It really tells where the prime minister’s focus is at this point in time.”

Asked if the PM’s appearance might help the country’s export thrust in fashion, Lee quipped, “I don’t think they will be exporting many of those suits I saw him wearing on the catwalk, so I really don’t know what was the genesis behind it.”