UNC slams Colm for attack on journalists
United National Congress MP Rudy Indarsingh has accused Finance Minister Colm Imbert of trying to belittle and humiliate media reporters.
And former PNM Moruga party group chairman/ executive committee member Nathaniel “Base” Malchan has now joined the party’s Moruga MP Michelle Benjamin’s team.
Indarsingh has also challenged Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley to debate the Salary Review Committee’s salary report in Parliament on Monday and allow PNM MPs to vote on their conscience.
Plus, UNC’s David Lee has called for answers on further questions on the Tobago airport terminal’s cost scandal. Indarsingh and Lee spoke at Thursday’s UNC Caroni Central Pavement Report.
After the meeting, Benjamin and Senator Anil Roberts welcomed ex-PNMite Malchan.
Roberts told Malchan, “We welcome you to the UNC and all the PNM members who realise that Rowley’s not about the people but about himself … we want all the PNM to come across!”
Malchan’s November 28 resignation letter as chairman of PNM Party Group 21 cited lack of motivation and personal circumstances affecting his ability to work
Yesterday, Malchan gave his reasons for departing from the PNM.
He said, “I feel T&T can do with exhaling, as the current political climate isn’t friendly to the man on the ground and those at the bottom of the ladder. I’ve also seen that the people who work the hardest are treated the worst. But I’m seeing in the UNC, an opportunity to do better for all such people.
“MP Benjamin is a hard worker despite having little resources but she’s respectful. I was in PNM since 2013, my party group got (ex-MP) Dr (Lovell) Francis going and elected and I was vice chairman in 2022-2024. I then became an executive committee member this year.” Malchan said he knows the current PNM Moruga candidate, Lisa Atwater.
“She’s a former teacher of mine. However, I’m working with Michelle to ensure she retains the constituency.”
Contempt for taxpayers
During Thursday’s meeting, Indarsingh, upporting the Opposition Leader’s call for an investigation on the Tobago airport terminal project, said it was strange Government “sent a man to the post-Cabinet media conference who couldn’t account for $3.5 billion,” to try to account for $462 million which Indarsingh alleged was “missing.”
Indarsingh said it showed the PNM’s arrogance, contempt and disdain to taxpayers.
“They don’t care… You saw the cold-heartedness, arrogance and contempt of the Finance Minister coming out during his interaction with the press (Thursday) and he attempted to confuffle, belittle and in a way humiliate the reporters who were questioning him.”
He added, “Poor Dareece Polo! He attempted to make a circus out of her, who was attempting to find out about the negotiating process and the collective bargaining process and unions’ position on four per cent or whether they wanted the negotiations reopened.
“I felt insulted … humiliated – I felt a sense of pain. How can a Government Minister treat a sitting reporter (like this) who was attempting to get information on behalf of ordinary citizens. And he continues to also berate Urvashie Tewarie-Roopnarine continuing in her quest to provide information for taxpayers and citizens and you have a Minister of Finance who thinks he’s the lord of lords! He thinks apparently he’s sitting somewhere within a feudal system, he sees himself as an overlord.”
Indarsingh said the UNC won’t rest concerning the issue of the SRC pay hike report, which is on Monday’s Parliament’s agenda.
“I want to tell Rowley if he is man – as he said, he’ll bear the political fallout and this is a political issue – the Parliament is the place to debate T&T’s political issues impacting on the people.
“And if you name man, instruct the Finance Minister to debate this motion in Parliament and lift the ‘whip’ and allow your PNM MPs to vote on their conscience on this SRC motion!”
He added, “Is it because of Laventille East/Morvant MP Adrian Leonce’s position on this SRC issue that he’s no longer finding favour with PNM’s screening team? Is it that Leonce was forced out as Laventille East/Morvant candidate because of his position on the SRC report? So Rowley, don’t run, duck, hide or attempt to deceive the population …”
Indarsingh, who called on T&T to send a message to the Government at today’s protest outside of Whitehall, Port-of-Spain, said the public cannot bear another five years of the PNM.
“Therefore, in the 39 seats in Trinidad and two in Tobago, we must marshall the troops to ensure the UNC is the next government,” he said.
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