Rowley’s litany of mistakes
THE EDITOR: Is Dr Keith Rowley serious? In Newsday of September 28, on TT co-sponsorship of the UN Security Council resolution, he makes several shallow statements advocating a “neutrality” and avoidance of an anti-terrorist position.
One example — “little Trinidad and Tobago has to be careful to walk among the gears and don’t get crushed.” Does he know anything about the delicately interlinked elements of this society in which he lives? Is he briefed by anyone (within his party) about the complex agony of 2014 Syria and Lebanon, Iraq and Kurdistan? Has he spoken to his PRO Mr Al-Rawi before displaying that he is unfit for the practice of foreign policy?
His “jewel of the PNM”, Mr Manning, would not have made that grave mistake. His “jewel” would have noted the recent and separate statements of ASJA and the Islamic Missionaries Guild against terrorism; and endorsed their position of peace.
But Dr Rowley needs to look at our society carefully, even for his first time, come out of the vacuum of slingshot politics. Read for example the Simmons Commission Report (March 2014) into the 1990 attempted coup.
First quote, Lennox Smith – “From about 1988, the whole thrust was indoctrination … (later emerged) were splinter groups and sub-systems”. Ch.10.42
Second, witness in camera replying on the greatest challenges to National Security today-
“And there is the issue of fundamentalists because at this point in time there is more than just the JAM (Jamaat al Muslimeen) operating… The ******* people are more radical than anything else and they have been infiltrating the other, more traditional Mosques to the extent that some of the more traditional Muslims are afraid to go to church sometimes.” Ch.10.38 at p.1139.
Read the quote again.
The cost of the Simmons Commission of Enquiry was fully justified, and the country should thank the People’s Partnership for that investment.
By the way, how should the nation respond to Rowley’s litany of mistakes? Faris al-Rawi for PNM Chairman, and later, election as political leader? One hell of a question.
Arthur L Mc Shine
via email