FORMER prime minister Dr Keith Rowley has accused the United National Congress (UNC) Government of being “drunk with power”, following Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s attacks on Independent senators.
Persad-Bissessar has described the Independent senators as “vile satanic demons” and “scumbags” after all nine voted against the passage of the Special Operations Bill. She also vowed that she would not accept a single amendment from them to legislation going forward.
Rowley, in a Facebook post yesterday, condemned the Prime Minister’s comments and what he described as attacks on State officers carrying out their constitutional duties.
“This unwarranted, sustained, vulgar attack on the Independent senators is to be condemned in the strongest of terms, since it is the Government’s way of telling us that they are not prepared to be constrained or made to comply with the letter and spirit of our Constitution,” he said.
He stressed the oath of office taken by members of the Government, particularly the Prime Minister, required them to perform their duties within the confines of the Constitution.
“For them to be openly and freely tearing up such provisions of the written Constitution by attempting to neuter, frighten, and render ineffective the involvement of Independent senators in the work of Parliament is the worst form of subliminal power grabbing, which must redound to the detriment of our society,” he said.
Rowley said the Prime Minister’s “irritation at being questioned or having her policies objected to is a copy from other jurisdictions”.
“No right-thinking citizen will disagree with the Government making every reasonable and visionary effort to respond to the criminal elements that prey on the nation, but that assignment cannot justify the abuse of power, constitutional sidestepping, and governmental overreach,” he said.
He also accused the Government of creating racial, ethnic and geographical divisions while addressing crime.
“What is even more alarming is that as the Government initiates this misbehaviour against officers of State whose sacred duty is to stand guard against governmental excesses, the Prime Minister has also embarked on racial, ethnic, and geographical separations within the country. All right-thinking citizens should take note that the intended outcome of this incipient…policy of governing and fighting crime by separating the country into ‘we and them’ is the basis for this overreach, which should disturb all of us,” Rowley said.
“It is foolish to think that on these little islands we can barricade and demonise one group or area so as to bring safety and Nirvana to another. We either fight crime together and win, or the criminals will win by our actions of tearing ourselves apart,” he stressed.
“We have been warned.”
Trinidad Express
