Prakash: Rowley wrong on Venezuela deal

ST Augustine MP Prakash Ramadhar said the Prime Minister was wrong to criticise the Opposition for querying the Dragon Field deal with Venezuela, even as the gas-supply deal may contravene TT’s commitment to democracy.

He criticised Dr Rowley’s recent claim in the House of Representatives that Opposition MPs who ask about the deal were unpatriotic and wished to harm the economy. Legitimate questions must be asked about this deal’s long-term viability, Ramadhar said, of which little detail has been given.

“When Opposition members in Venezuela indicate that they may not support and may very well rescind this agreement if they should come into power, it must be of great concern to us all. Are we putting so many eggs in that basket that may very well shatter?”

Ramadhar questioned the friendliness of the TT and Venezuelan governments.

“They are autocratic and dictatorial in their leadership. We are not that. We are a democratic country. TT believes in freedom, the right of protest, and the power of the people, and must not align ourselves beyond what is absolutely necessary for business purposes.

“Also very disturbing: in recent news, Russian bombers have landed in Venezuela. This does not bode well. This comes on the heel of TT, for the first time in my memory, allowing the berthing at our Port of a Russian spy ship.”

He said this should not have happened.

“We are not of that ilk. We are not communist, we ought never to be dictatorial in our government. We are all about democracy. We have aligned ourselves with western democracy, we believe in rights and freedoms and we have grown accustomed to them.”

Ramadhar said TT’s rights and freedoms are aligned to American democracy, British democracy, Canadian democracy and Western democracy.

“To do otherwise now jeopardises our relationship with those who stand for these things and enhances those who have a different point of view, who do not truly believe in democracy.”