IT'S SOAP OPERA FROM GOV'T SAYS UNC

CCNTV6

A soap opera.  That's how one Opposition MP is describing the way the Government is managing this country's affairs, as he made reference to the Prime Minister's recent statement about lights being taken off in some police stations at night.  This, as another Opposition MP is questioning the timing of the Prime Minister's resignation where the salary of that office is concerned.  Juhel Browne reports.

Transcript

00:00This is a soap opera, an episode from a soap opera you are watching here.

00:06Every day is drama from the government as if they could take attention away from the

00:11issues we are raising, pension, poverty, unemployment, economic decline and collapse.

00:18Urupuj East MP Dr Rudal Munilal during the UNC's pavement report meeting in his constituency

00:25on Tuesday night.

00:26Earlier in the meeting another opposition MP Barry Padarath posed a question regarding

00:31Energy Minister Stuart Young's pending appointment as Prime Minister after Dr Keith Rowley resigns

00:37as the head of the government to go into retirement.

00:40There are a couple of things that I am still committed to doing before I come out of office.

00:45One of which is to attend the CARICOM meeting in Barbados, that is on the 19th of February.

00:56And sometime after that, I would indicate the actual date when I leave, but I am busy

01:04on some matters that I am wrapping up.

01:06This was MP Padarath's question.

01:08I want to ask the Prime Minister from this platform tonight, whether or not it is true

01:15that the administrative arrangements have not been made because there is a process to

01:21be followed and that the administrative arrangements will only be completed at the end of February.

01:29At the end of February, for the Prime Minister and the government to receive the new salary

01:36of $87,000 a month.

01:39This is what Prime Minister Rowley said during his media conference in Tobago on January

01:446th in response to a question from TV6 News about a statement from the MSJ regarding the

01:51recent increases in salaries for many of the nation's highest office holders, including

01:56the office of Prime Minister.

01:58As I leave this post after 45 years in public life, I have held a number of positions including

02:06that of Prime Minister.

02:07I have never once spoken to one person in the Salaries Review Commission about the emoluments

02:18of any position that I hold in Trinidad and Tobago.

02:23Never once have I advocated for, made any submission, and on that score, I am done with

02:31that.

02:32Dr. Munilal made reference to Prime Minister Rowley's revelation that Minister Young won

02:37the majority of a caucus vote by the PNM's elected MPs via a straw poll.

02:42A Prime Minister must be elected by the people.

02:45He or she must represent the will of the people, not in a backroom in Tobago by raising hand

02:53and pulling straw.

02:54The people must appoint you.

02:57MP Munilal urged all of the UNC's members who are eligible to vote to cast their ballots

03:02in the general election due later this year.

03:06Jule Brown, TV6 News.

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