While United National Congress Whip David Lee says activist Devant Maharaj is acting on his own in releasing Government ministers' cellphone numbers, Lee is not condemning Maharaj's action.
Lee confirmed this in replying to T&T Guardian queries on Maharaj's recent threat to release all ministers' cellphone numbers so citizens can call and hold them accountable. Last weekend, Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley complained that the circulation of his number caused him to receive abusive messages. But when National Security Minister Stuart Young's number was issued last Sunday, Young ignored it, saying he was focused on his work.
And yesterday when Maharaj released Education Minister Anthony Garcia's number urging parents of "Belmont Primary School" students to call Garcia on the "unacceptable" school conditions, Garcia also shrugged off Maharaj's move.
Garcia said, "The gentleman's ignorance is brought on by the fact he named a school that doesn't exist - there's no Belmont Primary school. There's only Belmont Boys' and Girls' RC primary schools and Belmont Government primary school. He obviously doesn't know what he's talking about.
"Therefore I have no intention of taking on Devant Maharaj and his nonsense. I've served in Local Government for five years and it was mandatory for all local government practitioners to make their phone numbers available to burgesses since councillors are closest to the 'ground'. As Education Minister I didn't change that policy and my number is available to anybody. I have a responsibility to my constituency and if one area of service is by means of phone, I have no problem with that at all."
How does the party which Maharaj belongs to feel about his a daily "outing" of ministers' numbers?
Lee said Maharaj as an activist acts on his own and the UNC wasn't in on his recent cellphone"sharing" exercise.
"Maharaj is an activist, just like a Kirk Waithe (Fixing T&T), he's fighting for the people so he seems to be doing what he feels he has to...it has nothing to do with UNC.
"...did we sanction what he's doing? Well, my cellphone as Pointe-a-Pierre MP, as all my other colleagues' numbers, are on the official letterheads of our correspondence. I don't hide. We're all public figures, elected to serve the people."
He added, "Government's protests on this may be geared to trying to change the narrative away from national issues: rampant crime, Petrotrin fallout, joblessness and economic issues. It's going to be a sour Christmas for many. Mr Maharaj may or may not get support from people, but many average citizens are concerned about what's really happening in T&T. But the Government feels great enough to plan on having cocktails on Friday (at Stollmeyer's Castle) - it's insensitive.
"Friday is traditionally Parliament. We haven't heard yet if there's any sitting that day. So we're waiting to see if Government is going to put cocktail party ahead of the people's concerns."
Contacted yesterday, political analyst Dr Bishnu Ragoonath didn't agree with Maharaj's wide circulation of numbers.
"If he wanted to give it to one or two people, fine, but publishing it this general way opens it up to misuse of the numbers. But Devant Maharaj is Devant Maharaj and he'll always do whatever he can to create whatever upset he thinks is achievable," Ragoonath said.