PM: Kamla knew about Anand, Ramdeen

Prime Minister Dr Keth Rowley said the Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar will not be allowed to exonerate and distance herself from the issues involving her one-time Attorney General, Anand Ramlogan, and ex-Senator Gerald Ramdeen following their arrests on corruption-related charges last week-end

“It is my intention to bolt them to your chest,” Rowley said as he lashed out against the Opposition Leader at a PNM public meeting at Signature Hall, Chaguanas on Tuesday evening. He was referring to the charges brought against the former Attorney General and Senator for which they appeared in Court on Monday.

"If after all of this, if the people of this country want you back as PM they free to do so," he said. his comment directed at Persad-Bissessar. “Monies were being sent to lawyers by the Attorney General’s office and Persad-Bissessar cannot say she did not know because she was in a position to know that something is radically wrong.”

According to Rowley, Persad-Bissessar as a Senior Counsel would have known of the numbers passing through the budget to the AG’s office every year would be a problem to the people of TT, but he added she sat in parliament and approved it every single year.

“The budget moved from $20 million a year to $60 million and then to $84 million and at the end of the year it was $100 million, and if continued it would have been $500 million in five years,” Dr Rowley said.

While in office, he said members of the UNC were all holding secrets for one another and they all moved as if they were each a prime minister.

“Kamla gave all her ministers a ‘tush’ at being prime minister for a while,” he said.

The PM claimed that the opposition is condemning laws that will deal with white collar crime and violent crimes.

“They vote it down." he said in reference to the lack of support from the opposition for Whistleblower legislation which caused the measures to fail in the Parliament on Monday. Explain Your Wealth legislation is under attack from the opposition, Rowley said charging that it seems everyone wants to have their hands in the treasury.

He suggsted that in this country where no one is safe, the opposition is against laws that will keep criminals down.

"If found with a firearm you should he held for 120 days. This was not passed and therefore criminals can continue to do crime," the PM said, adding that there was a time when high level crime was associated with Laventille and Enterprise, but today "no one is safe."

On the issue of homes being searched by the police in the Gulf View area, Rowley said the police says they are engaged in civic operations and in time they will reveal what it is about. He said the opposition members of parliament jumped into race, ethnicity and religion saying this could not take place in Westmoorings.

“They want to divide this country,” Rowley said, reminding that the police raided residents of Westmoorings who were held with drugs. As leader of the country, he said he will not tolerate the police operating in one part of TT, but throughout the country.

“A new society has to be built in Trinidad and Tobago if we are to benefit from our potential where when you elect public officials, you did not elect them to fill their pockets and turn millionaires.”

This operation he said had to do with the law involving life and limb.

“Only last week a police had to intervene and shoot a man who was chopping a woman.” he said.

**Just In**