Lee: Devant is a champion

UNITED National Congress (UNC) deputy leader David Lee hailed activist Devant Maharaj as “a champion of the people” but chose to neither congratulate nor condemn Maharaj for leaking the phone numbers of the Prime Minister and Minister of National Security.

Dr Rowley said Maharaj’s action was “dangerous and reckless” while Young said it was “an all-time low” and “worthy of criminal investigation.”

Lee told Newsday, Maharaj was a strong fighter and a champion for the citizens of TT. “He is a one-man show in a sense that he keeps issues affecting citizens out in the forefront and keeps this Government in check.”

On the release of phone numbers, Lee said, “Devant Maharaj is not part of the Opposition, so whatever he does he does on his own.”

However Lee then said the cellphone and office phone numbers of every Opposition MP are made known to their constituents. “I think what is happening today is that this present Government is trying to change the narrative away from the strong issues affecting the citizenry for example the economy, loss of jobs from Petrotrin and crime that is rampant.

“These are issues they (Government) are trying to deflect from, making a mountain out of a molehill over Devant Maharaj.”

Does the Opposition associate or dissociate itself with Maharaj’s action, or is it neutral? Lee said, “It’s not about the Opposition associating or dissociating itself with Mr Maharaj’s action. Mr Maharaj did a course of action no different to such as is done by Kirk Waithe of Fixin’ T&T, and this issue has been blown out of proportion by the Minister of Communication who is Minister of National Security.” Lee said Maharaj had a long track record of fighting for citizens even before he became a UNC minister from 2010 to 2015.

Newsday asked if the UNC had known of Maharaj’s action beforehand?

Lee said, “No. Mr Maharaj does not caucus with the Opposition. He is not part of the Opposition. He’s not part of our national executive. Mr Maharaj is a champion on his own.”