Tuesday February 9th, 2010
- Last update:12 hours 56 min ago
Rowley: I had no talk with Hart about land
Published: 23 Oct 2009
Keith Rowley
MP for Diego Martin West Dr Keith Rowley has denied that Urban Development Corporation of Trinidad and Tobago (Udecott) executive chairman Calder Hart was solicited to purchase land in Tobago from Rowley’s wife, Sharon. The Tobago-born Rowley said his wife was sought out and received contact from Hart, who expressed an interest in her Tobago land. “Again, it is an attempt to slander me, that I was marketing land to Calder Hart. I have never been on my wife’s project with Calder Hart—not once, far less twice, or any other time,” Rowley said yesterday. “I never took Calder Hart to my wife’s project. I never took him to Tobago to buy my wife’s land. We were going to (visit a Udecott project in Castara) and I stopped at my home and from my home this project is visible in the distance.
“It was Calder Hart on his own, who called my wife and inquired about a personal piece of land and she sent him the document and that was the end, as far as I am aware, of the contact.” Rowley was responding to allegations from his PNM colleague, Public Utilities Minister Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, that Hart was escorted by Rowley to his wife’s project in Tobago in an attempt to pawn off a piece of the land on Hart. He said this did not happen “and even if that had happened, I do not know how Mustapha Abdul-Hamid would have known that unless somebody like Calder Hart would have told him that,” Rowley said. “Interestingly enough, Calder Hart has spent many hours before the commission of enquiry. He has put in a number of submissions. He has had the country to speak to for how many months? It has been almost two years now. I did not hear Calder Hart say that. I heard it from Mustapha Abdul-Hamid in the Parliament.” Rowley also sought to give an explanation about driving around in Tobago in the same car as Hart.
“On one occasion, Calder Hart and I—he as the head of Udecott and I as the minister (with the portfolio for oversight of Udecott)—there was a Udecott project in Castara (and) we were on our way to Castara. We were among public officials on our way to Castara to view that project,” Rowley said. “On one occasion, when I had just become minister (around 2003), I stopped at my home in Mason Hall, which is on the way to Castara. Calder Hart and I were travelling in the same vehicle. We spent about ten minutes at my home because I went to collect something from my home.” Rowley explained that his wife’s land was visible from their Mason Hall home and Hart made inquiries about it. “He (Hart) was able to see in a distance a project taking place, which he inquired about. I told him it was my wife’s project. He said he like the location and he would be interested and then it was finished,” Rowley said. “Sometime later on, unknown to me, he communicated with my wife and asked her to send him a document with respect to the property, and that was the end of it.”
Fair enough; we have heard
Fair enough; we have heard Rowley's explanation. The Guardian & other media should try to get the views of Hart and Sharon Rowley to corroborate what Rowley has said to refute Abdul-Hamid's allegations.
It was not my intention to
It was not my intention to throw the cat among the pigeons. I can well understand the revulsion that Manning and his PNM minions has produced in the decent population. But in spite of our sense of desperation, we must keep cool heads and open minds.
Rowley has some giant axes to grind with Manning and vice versa. Let us wait a little bit longer for some of the dust to settle. We have waited a long time, a little more patience and forbearance won't hurt.
It is unlikely Manning will call another early election this time around. So, we still have three full years ahead of us. During this time some new potential candidate(s) will emerge from any of the present three mainstream parties or even some dark horse from outside.
While we welcome Rowley's stand, it is basically a vengeful retaliation against his former friend and colleague. He is still proudly sporting his balisier tie and has unequivocally made it known that he is PNM till he dies. So those who want him to leave his Party are only dreaming. He still aspires to be its political leader. And that is his right.
If you knew the gentleman
If you knew the gentleman you would never have concluded that "it is basically a vengeful retaliation against his former friend and colleague", for that I believe is exactly what it is not!
But of course we are each entitled to our opinions whether based on personal knowledge, fact or conjecture.
I shall bear in mind your
I shall bear in mind your observation. Unlike you, I don't know the gentleman personally. But often people come across to their friends differently from the way they do to strangers, and their treatment of and attitude to friends and strangers can be different, and naturally so. But rest assured I am keeping an open mind.
I can assure you that he is
I can assure you that he is not by friend, but I have known him for quite a number of years. His so-called agression manifests itself in his zeal and loyalty when called to service, other than that he is quite a gracious gentleman.
Take it how you want, that's
Take it how you want, that's how business is transacted at these levels (whether or not a deal was struck) "rubbing shoulders" ...then. KNOHO
The Govt ministers no matter
The Govt ministers no matter who they can sure lump together to dig dirt. I believe Rowley and all who believe him should say so, and M will you reply now to my comment as you seem to wait for me then you hit it with an alter comment? whoever you are. Go Rowley GO!! I want you to be PM in the next election. Start a coup in the PNM party fight for the leadership, am sure the fellow members will be deserting the top.
How much longer can Mr.
How much longer can Mr. Rowley remain as a representative of the PNM, with these continuous allegations, infighting and back stabbing right in Parliament? And by his own 'colleagues' ?
By the way, the reporter did not really provide us with the context of the above discussion...But it seems odd that Mrs. Rowley would send Calder Hart a document on her 'project', leading to a potential conflict with her husband's ministerial position.
It is time for Dr. Rowley to officially leave the fold of the PNM and become an Independent (at minimum). There is no goodwill left in that relationship. Only continuous rancour and personal attacks, with no resolution or end in sight.
Where was the Speaker of the House ? Is it not his job to maintain some order in the House ?
Lil peewat Abdul-Hamid jump
Lil peewat Abdul-Hamid jump into the foray now...
Who else is left to attack Dr Rowley, the Tourism Minister?
We all know that this is just a set up so that they can politically chop up Rowley while he's down (in the PM's books).
http://dsaltsman.blogspot.com/
Is ah good ting Manning and
Is ah good ting Manning and Rowley fighting, see how everybody remembering all who make and wanted to make deals with Hart, whether is true or false.
Manning and his minions are
Manning and his minions are going after Dr.Rowley because of the anti-corruption body blows Rowley gave Manning on Monday in Parliament - those were licks like peas !!
Dr.Rowley's vote was crucial in order for the Clico Bailout bill to pass by the 3/5 majority as required by the T&T Constitution and Dr. Rowley put T&T before self and he cast is vote in favour of the bill . The good people of T&T are supportive of Rowley's speech on Monday and a minion like Mustapha-Abdul-Hamid will never be able to change the thoughts of the good people .
The PNM and Manning are having their last mas - UDeCOTT is liken to a mill-wheel around their necks .
Manning , the ship is sinking !!!!
ATW-Barbados .
This confusion and bachanal
This confusion and bachanal would have never surfaced if Mr Rowley and Mr Hart didn't have a fall out. Now all sorts of allegations are being made by every Tom, Dick and Harry so as to protect Hart. While I hold no brief for either gentlemen, we are the ones to pay the cake. I wonder what if Rowley and Hart had not have this fallout, what would have been the case.
Let us not lose sight of the
Let us not lose sight of the main issue here. All of this came to a head because Dr. Rowley revealed to the nation that he was uncomfortable with the way Udecott was managing government contracts given to them. He found that Calder Hart was behaving like a lord unto himself. 'Wajang', 'a man out of control', 'whey de money gorn', 'bully' and now Dr. Rowley's wife's land in Tobago are all distractions from the real issue.
I was surprised at the venom which came from the mouth of the once loved and adored Mustapha Abdul-Hamid as he went to tongue on Dr. Rowley using choice words very much out of character for the minister who had my respect before now. When the dust settles, we still have sworn testimony concerning irregular practices at Udecott and someone must be made to answer for that. Jump high, jump low, the country will never forgive the PNM if they seek to brush this aside and move on with business as usual. If this had happened in the UNC, the PM and his boys would not have allowed it to rest. I hope they remember that it was the pronouncement of corruption inside the UNC government which led to their demise. Let us see if lightening will strike the same place (ruling government) twice.
It is sad to see non
It is sad to see non performers like Minister Mustapha Abdul-Hamid trying to do a hatchet job on Mr Rowley who has certainly contributed much more than most of them both to the country and the party.But what I still can't understand is why with all the resources the Government has,They can't hire some independent body to find out if the family of Calder Hart is not linked to CH limited.There is no need to wait for the COI to find out this .There are also immigration and telephone records.Are these records being purged? Can Ministers Swaratsingh,Kangaloo etc swear that Mr Hart is not linked to CH limited ? Do They wonder at all ?Are they just taking the word of their seniors in cabinet?are they patriots?Very interesting case study of ministerial subservience in a developing country
Let's face it.. The T&T
Let's face it..
The T&T Government knows very clearly whether or not there is a link between CH Limited and Calder Hart; they know with certainty who the much discussed FAX # belongs to. There are registered documents that would prove the CH linkage, and phone records on the FAX #.
The Government conveniently chooses to turn the other way on this matter, since there may be severe implications for all involved.
There are many talented auditors & forensic experts in the country who could easliy put together an ownership trail of CH Limited and the FAX #, and they probably already have this information at hand.
Continuous denial instead of transparency and accountability...
CHARGE AND COUNTER CHARGE
CHARGE AND COUNTER CHARGE -
This is clearly a case of charge and counter charge. The strategy is if someone says something bad about you, you say two bad things about the person and it goes on until people do not know who to believe. In the court of public opinion it end as a stalemate, and dies a natural death, mission accomplished. This is a game mastered by PNM, they are the New South Wales of this game.