PM: I want no talks with Farley without third party present

THE Prime Minister says he does not intend to have any future discussions with Chief Secretary Farley Augustine unless there is a third party present.

He made the statement on Monday night while addressing a PNM public meeting at the Calder Hall Multipurpose Facility, Tobago.

Under the constitution, the Prime Minister and the Chief Secretary are supposed to meet at specific periods to discuss matters pertaining to Tobago.

During his address, Dr Rowley revisited the circumstances surrounding the absence of a chief administrator in the THA after Ethlyn John retired on May 17. He reiterated the THA administration was to blame for the office being empty.

Rowley said Augustine had developed a habit of telling untruths and withholding vital pieces of information.

He said during their discussions on the chief administrator issue, Augustine made a recommendation but withheld the fact that the THA had intended to take action against the person who was interdicted.

“Up to this point, I have spoken to him on the phone. We communicate on WhatsApp and we sit down and talk.  But I am telling you all, from tonight, I want nothing to do with Farley unless there is a third party, “ Rowley said.

Referring to Augustine’s pre-recorded public briefing last Friday, in which he sought to clear the air on the audio recording controversy, the PM said, “It took him three weeks to come up with that Nansi story he came up with there last week.”

He also dismissed his allegation that two senior government ministers gave the THA $100 million and told the assembly to pay a Tobago contractor: “I suspect that the two senior ministers (are)  the Prime Minister and the Minister of Finance.”

Rowley told audience nothing could be further from the truth.

“People of Trinidad and Tobago, yuh see lying politicians, is a disease.”

PNM Tobago Council political leader Ancil Dennis, Tobago West MP Shamfa Cudjoe and THA Minority Leader Kelvon Morris also spoke.

Below is our updated story on this matter:

THE PRIME MINISTER says he does not intend to have any future discussions with THA Chief Secretary Farley Augustine unless there is a third party present.

He made the statement on Monday night while addressing a PNM public meeting at the Calder Hall Multipurpose Facility, Tobago.

Under the Constitution, the Prime Minister and the Chief Secretary are supposed to meet at specific intervals to discuss matters pertaining to Tobago.

During his address, Dr Rowley revisited the circumstances surrounding the absence of a chief administrator in the THA after Ethlyn John retired on May 17. He reiterated the THA administration is to blame for the office being empty.

Rowley said Augustine has developed a habit of telling untruths and withholding information.

He said during their discussions on the chief administrator issue, Augustine made a recommendation but withheld the fact that the THA had intended to take action against the person who was interdicted.

Rowley said, “Farley comes out and did the most amazing thing. It is not a laughing matter. Up to this point. I have spoken to him on the phone. We communicate on WhatsApp and we sit down and talk.

"I am telling you all from tonight, I am having nothing to do with Farley unless there is a third party present.”

Referring to Augustine’s pre-recorded public briefing last Friday, in which he sought to clear the air on the audio recording controversy, the PM added, “It took him three weeks to come up with that nansi story that he came up with last week.”

Rowley also alluded to the Chief Secretary’s claim that two senior government ministers had given him $100 million to give to their friend, a Tobago contractor, “and the friend blackmailing he.”

Rowley aimed to set the record straight.

“Ladies and gentlemen, it was not that we were giving Farley money to give any friends of ours. People of TT, you see these lying politicians? It's a disease, and you have to take a medicine for them.”

He said the THA got $100 million from the government under the development programme that had taken place in Tobago.

“Instead of Farley coming and telling you that the central government has done that, he come to tell you that we give him money to give he (their) friend and to tell him how much to pay the friend and so on. That is a man not to be trusted.”

Rowley said he did not want to go into the details of conversations he had had with Augustine.

“But to think that he would come and tell you that the money we gave is to pay friends….”

He noted the company that Augustine is waging war against laid off about 300 people some months ago.

“A Tobago contractor laying off 300 people because they have PNM-haters in office.”

Rowley recalled that the father of a THA official once said, “I hate the PNM. But he son have authority in Tobago waging war against contractors.”

Rowley said the Prime Minister’s official residence in Blenheim was built by a Tobago contractor, under his stewardship, and he makes no apologies.

He said although the UNC opposed the project, “It was my view that...there must be a place in Tobago for the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago. and I built it.

‘It was built by a Tobago contractor. and I am proud of the work he has done there.”

Rowley recalled the UNC told a different story.

“The story from the UNC was that it was built by this same contractor who Farley hate, and I give him the job because me and he is friend. Lie, inno.”

He said the official residence was built by another Tobago contractor.

“I think his name is Parks. If Mr Parks walk in this room now, I don’t know him. But there are people who would lie to you like that.”

PNM Tobago Council political leader Ancil Dennis, Tobago West MP Shamfa Cudjoe and THA Minority Leader Kelvon Morris also spoke.