Rowley: Don't leave governance up to chance

The Prime Minister is urging Tobagonians to vote the PNM back into power in the THA election and not leave its governance up to chance.

Dr Rowley was speaking on Monday at Shaw Park Complex at the PNM's launch of candidates for the January 25 THA election.

The PNM won ten of the 12 seats in the last THA election, with the PDP claiming the other two.

Claiming to have heard some people clamouring to give others a chance to govern, Rowley said the PNM's structure and stability trump anything political rivals have to offer.

"This is not a bingo, it is not Play Whe, it is not a horse-race track. This is the future of the children and all the people of Trinidad and Tobago and not a chance matter," he said.

Recalling PNM's victory in the August 10, 2020 general election and its sweep of the Tobago East and West seats, Rowley said, "Four and a half months ago our slogan was: 'PNM, the right choice.'

"What has changed in four and a half months? Nothing. We have confirmed it, that PNM is the right choice in Trinidad and Tobago."

Rowley said the PNM will be celebrating its 65th anniversary on January 24 and called for further celebrations a day later.

"Give us that birthday gift of a resounding victory in the THA election."

Rowley told Tobagonians the PNM is looking out for Tobago's interests and its future. He said there was tremendous benefit to a PNM-led THA and PNM central government working in tandem.

Even in difficult times, he said, Tobago's development has not been curtailed. Noting the scheduled 2021 arrival of the APT James and Buccoo Reef fast ferries to service the seabridge, Rowley said transport woes will soon be eliminated.

Tobago continues its development amid the pandemic, he said, and when global travel is normalised, Tobago will have a refurbished ANR Robinson International Airport to welcome visitors.

Saying the PNM treats people fairly, Rowley warned public servants about possible repercussions if other parties got into power.

"Let me say something to a lot of you people, especially public servants in Tobago who have a job and believe this is not your business and you secure. You go and put somebody in office who vex with everybody else and put God out your thoughts and put him in office.

"When they start to deal with you because they feel you didn't support them enough or at all, and treat you the same way they treat their union members after election, then you will know this is not a chance thing.

"Your future is secure with the PNM, because the PNM is about fairness, it's about responsibility and vision. Don't take a chance with that. We are building Tobago together."

PDP political leader and PSA president Watson Duke sent 20 PSA members on vacation leave last month and terminated the services of independent contractors. Duke claimed the decision to send workers on leave was in keeping with the association's collective agreement with the Banking,Insurance and General Workers Union (BIGWU) to ensure all employees use their vacation time.