FUELGATE PART 3: Rowley’s Dangerous Dictatorship Dance can Destroy our Economy

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro (C) and Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Keith Rowley (L) dancing “calypso” after a meeting at the Miraflores presidential palace in Caracas on December 5, 2016. / AFP / FEDERICO PARRA (Photo credit should read FEDERICO PARRA/AFP via Getty Images)

Once again, I am calling on PM Rowley to publicly state that he intends to fully cooperate with any investigation into the highly questionable ‘Fuelgate’ fiasco that his Government has dangerously plunged our country into.

This after his refusal to do so, even though he has now basically confessed he and his Government lack any credibility in this matter. It has been reported that the United States is probing the April 21, 2020 gas shipment from the State owned Paria to Aruba for a possible breach of its sanctions on Venezuela.

The US has also confirmed that any country, including Trinidad &Tobago, found guilty of assisting the Maduro regime could face sanctions for being involved in illegitimate transactions.

I have previously called on PM Rowley to disclose all relevant documents to prove his Government’s innocence in this alleged shady deal.

This, since the US remains T&T’s most powerful and beneficial global trade ally. It chiefly sustains our food, energy, tourism, business and national security sectors. Any such sanctions could therefore destroy our very fragile economy

Yet, in his latest string of strange, hysterical, rambling and petulant Facebook posts on this issue, Rowley took curious affront to being questioned. He also pathetically whined about how his denial of wrongdoing “is not to be believed”.

He must know by now that this damning lack of public credibility, he so readily admits to suffering from, is entirely due to his Government’s dismal track record of outright deceit, incompetence, failed promises, wastage, nepotism and corruption.

It is also the result of their governance philosophy of PR gimmickry, nonstop distraction, malicious propaganda, bluff, bullying and blame-games and a constant rejection of transparency and accountability in public life.

I serve notice that I will not drop this matter until the truth is revealed. Under my watch as Opposition Leader, no Prime Minister will be allowed to lead our country down such a dangerous, destructive road and expect to get away with it.

PM Rowley should know by now that no matter whom he chooses to dance with, Trinidad and Tobago remains, to date, a democracy, not a dictatorship. I will therefore never falter in my Constitutional and patriotic duty to protect our beloved nation, and I urge all right thinking citizens to join me in this crucial battle for our very democratic survival.

Stay safe. God bless.