Padarath: Timing of Rowley’s vacation is insulting to citizens

Mr. Barry Padarath, MP
Member for Princes Town

PRINCES TOWN MP Barry Padarath slammed Prime Minister Keith Rowley for going on vacation just short of one year of coming into office. Padarath stated that while he understood that the office holder was entitled to taking vacations, he felt that the timing was all wrong and questioned the Prime Minister’s commitment to the nation especially at a time when the country is plagued with national security issues, unemployment and socio economic problems.

Padarath stated that after being in office for almost one year, the country is worse off than when the Prime Minister took over. He stated that the Prime Minister continues to take very hands off approach to dealing with the economy and national security matters.

The Princes Town MP challenged the Prime Minister to advise the nation of what his government’s achievements have been since taking office. Padarath stated that the country faces a serious challenge of absent leadership and that many in the national community felt that the government and the Prime Minister needed to prove themselves before the Prime Minister takes off on a jaunt.

Padarath called on the Prime Minister to lead by example and vacation right here in Trinidad and Tobago, as is being advocated by his government to citizens. He encouraged the Prime Minister to demonstrate his faith in the local medical institutions by doing his medicals locally.

Padarath stated that the timing of Rowley’s vacation was insulting to the citizens of the nation since many of them are affected by crime, poor healthcare, lack of medication, poverty and unemployment. Padarath said the Prime Minister must lead this nation by example and that there cannot be one set of rules for the government and another for the citizens.

The Princes Town MP advised the Prime Minister to get down to work and prove himself to the population before jetting off on vacation. He added that the Prime Minister could start gaining the faith and confidence of a weary population by developing a comprehensive crime plan instead of passing the buck to the police service, create avenues for employment and investment, deal with the healthcare crisis and remove incompetent office holders such as the Attorney General and the Minister of Health.

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