Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley says his fight with Works�and Transport Minister Austin "Jack" Warner is not personal. "It is the principle of a minister of government not sticking to the Code of Ethics of the Parliament and confining activities to full-time duties for the people of T&T," Rowley said. He was speaking with the Guardian after he held a meeting with PNM supporters from central Trinidad at Couva West Secondary School, Balisier Street, on Wednesday night.
The Integrity Commission said the Code of Ethics for parliamentarians, including ministers, required that "Cabinet ministers divest themselves of their private interests upon their assumption of public office." Rowley said it was not permissible for a government minister to hold directorship and external employment while a minister. He said all he was doing was his job, by pointing�this out so it could be rectified. Rowley also knocked the Government's housing policy, and plans by the UNC-led People's Partnership to distribute laptops to schoolchildren.
He said there were fears that the UNC might scrap the housing plans set in motion by the PNM and that would lead to the death of the national construction�programme and leave the tens of thousands of people wanting housing in limbo. Rowley said the plans to give a laptops to schoolchildren might be flawed with several problems, including the security, maintenance and upgrade of these computers. He said the computers should instead remain in schools where all students could use them in a secured and monitored environment. Rowley praised PNM supporters in central Trinidad for their years of struggle in opposition territory and their dedication to the party. He was endorsed for leader by PNMites from Couva North, Couva South, Caroni Central and Tabaquite.
Rowley said he planned to rebuild his party and make it more attractive to the wider population to make it the party of choice for all nationals. PNMites who attended the meeting said they believed the PNM could rise again under Rowley. A middle-aged supporter said plans to strengthen the PNM's youth league and women's arms were afoot. The supporter, from the HDC housing development, said the party would be keeping a "hawk's eye" on government ministers who had employment on the outside. He said, however, that PNMites feared that the Government might use its majority in the Parliament to throw�out the�legislation�and thus allow government ministers to have private practices. He said he personally planned to look carefully and see which company got the contract to bring in the computers.