Lee hits Camille over ‘theatrics’

DAVID LEE, Opposition whip, yesterday accused Government whip Camille Robinson-Regis of “political theatrics, PR and gimmickry” in her recent letter to the editor that had hit the Opposition for alleged non-co-operation to pass legislation in Parliament.

“As the incoming government, our job is not to support poorly conceived legislation but to hold the government to account and provide alternative and workable strategies for our development,” Lee said. “The Government is under the misguided notion Parliament is an extension of Balisier House.”

He accused the Government of saying they will legislate by tactics.

“The dismissive and insulting manner with which the Government treats with questions and motions in Parliament is a matter of public record and they cannot hide their behaviour behind paltry letters to the editor.” Lee said the Government’s parliamentary record is atrocious, that is characterized by utter disdain for those with a different view. He said while the Government claimed five new bills must be passed for TT to come off blacklists like the Global Forum and FATF, only one poorly-drafted bill has reached Parliament. “Further, this Rowley’s Government’s record with Joint Select Committees (JSC) is deplorable. The JSC appointed to discuss the most important Tax (Amendment) Bill, met for only 2 hours and 15 minutes.” Lee alleged the Government had a poor record in effecting the Anti-Gang legislation that they claimed to be urgent. “We can look further at their behaviour in bringing, at the eleventh hour, legislation requiring a special majority, rife with errors and expecting the Opposition to participate in the creation of bad law. They are now resorting to their familiar blame game trying to make excuses for their incompetence.”

Lee said while the Government had claimed to be “red ad ready” to run TT, they have turned out to be the worst government in our post-independence history. “The country is fed up of the PNM’s blame game manoeuvres.”

He advised that the Government’s time would be much better spent fixing the inter-island ferry service, providing new jobs for the 5,000 workers fired at Petrotrin, and reducing the tax burden to stimulate growth in the economy.

“Our country is in shambles after three years of government by ‘vaps’ and policy made up on the fly. The population is demoralized.” Lee said our economy is one of the lower performers in Caricom.

“Camille Robinson Regis’ time would be much better spent convincing her Cabinet colleagues that they should immediately resign and call elections so that a UNC government led can restore sanity, prosperity and good governance to our country. That way they can settle into being the Opposition she would like to see.”