PM rips into Moonilal on social media after ‘Rose’ blunder
Lead Editor – Newsgathering
ryan.bachoo@cnc3.co.tt
Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley has called on Opposition MP, Dr Roodal Moonilal, “to acknowledge his lies and his disgusting political style” in a scathing social media post.
Rowley was responding yesterday to Moonilal’s accusation that Keron Rose, who did a seminar at Balisier House, had received $4.8 million in contracts to fix box drains.
Rose himself responded to the claim on Facebook, labelling it, “the craziest most asinine, reckless thing I have ever witnessed with my own eyes.”
At UNC’s Sunday media conference, Moonilal claimed Rose “is the criminal mastermind” behind Rose Capital and Trillions Systems, having done all his research and in possession of the Articles of Incorporation for the company and list of directors.
Moonilal used Rose’s image while making the accusation. Rose went further on Facebook, “This is whilst publicly using my image and now immediately puts my life in danger … since business owners are heavily being extorted in Trinidad … and has brought my reputation in disrepute, since I’ve received a number of messages from people thinking that I am the con man.”
Later on Sunday, Moonilal would offer a clarification on Facebook, saying, “At today’s press conference I asked several questions concerning serious allegations of mismanagement and improper corporate practices by the Housing Development Corporation (HDC). A name found on the company documents for “Rose Capital Investments LTD” was JAMES ROSE, who is also known as JAMES KERRON ROSE.”
The Oropouche East MP said it was not his intention to drag the wrong Rose into question.
“Any resemblance between the ROSES by name or appearance is regrettable and unintentional as far as the central issues raised are concerned,” Moonilal wrote.
However, the Prime Minister was unforgiving in his Facebook post saying it was the same thing Moonilal did to him when he and Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar were “building and promoting their ‘Fake Oil’ election campaign against me and Nazim Baksh of AV Drilling.”
That matter is currently before the court.
Rowley added, “Those are the UNC’s understanding and practice of organised wrong doing in the hope of deliberately damaging peoples’ reputation. They do it consistently, especially Moonilal, Mrs Kamla Persad-Bissessar and Wade Mark.”
Just last week, the Prime Minister won a defamation lawsuit brought against him by the Oropouche East MP.
HDC responds
Yesterday, the Housing Development Corporation (HDC) also refuted Moonilal’s claims that its chairman Noel Garcia signed contracts and issued payments to Rose Capital Investment Ltd in the sum of $4.8 million, an alleged increase from $3.7 million. In a statement, HDC said, “Rose Capital Investment Ltd is NOT a company with which the HDC conducted business.”
The HDC said there is no award letter from the HDC to Rose Capital Investment Ltd, Garcia does not sign letters of Award and/or contracts to any HDC contractor and the cheque is not one issued by the HDC.
HDC said a search of its contractor database had not provided the company as having conducted any business with the HDC for the works identified.
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