UNC: An indefensible act by the Attorney General
The United National Congress is not surprised by the weak and tired defence made by Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi to the revelations that property owned by him is being rented out by the Keith Rowley Government amounting to millions of dollars.
The Attorney General knows full well these revelations are indefensible and there is no credible case he can make in his favour.
Mr. Al Rawi’s poor attempt at deflection by saying the previous People’s Partnership Government expressed a desire to lease properties belonging to him, of course, misses the obvious point – Mr. Al Rawi was never a Cabinet member of that Government. If Mr. Al Rawi is seriously suggesting he sees no conflict of interest in a company in which a sitting Cabinet Minister is involved receiving a multimillion-dollar contract from the Government; then he clearly needs a refresher course in basic legal definitions.
It is beyond obscene that while this government has wrecked the livelihoods of thousands of families by shutting down Petrotrin, crippled the economy of Tobago by destroying the sea bridge and have increased the tax burden on a people already struggling to find jobs and make ends meet–that they are also awarding multi-million dollar contracts of taxpayer monies to fellow Cabinet members.
While the Prime Minister, Al Rawi and his fellow ministers preach a message of “belt tightening” to the nation, they are busy enriching themselves.
Mr. Al Rawi and Dr. Rowley can both continue to arrogantly believe that the citizens of Trinidad and Tobago cannot detect malfeasance and incompetence which pervades everything this government does, but the United National Congress would like to suggest to both of them that the only way Mr. A; Rawi can truly “recuse himself” in this sordid matter is to resign immediately, as there can be no public confidence in the office of Attorney General while he is at the helm.