The PNM government neglected the people while delving in mismanagement, nepotism, corruption and wastage says, acting Prime Minister Jack Warner. A fiery Warner was at the time delivering the feature address at a political meeting at the Couva Car Park on Saturday night. Warner said Opposition Leader Keith Rowley was part of the PNM government that chose instead to squander billions of dollars, while neglecting roads, drains and water. "Rowley and Manning were part of the same plan," he said. Warner said Rowley only started to speak when he was kicked out of Cabinet. The acting PM said the billions wasted on the two summits in 2009 and on the Tarouba stadium could have brought water and roads to the people.
"Summit one and summit two were a priority, not water for you," he said. Warner said Rowley was part of the PNM administration that blocked local government for the last four years. He slammed Rowley for meddling in the affairs of the PP government. He said: "Ask Rowley how come he mouth big now. He don't want Nizam (Mohammed) as head of the Police Service Commission. Why they ent put Philbert?"
"But while we are here he will take Nizam Mohammed...who he want, he want Robocop," he added.
Bobol galore
Warner said an individual on the board of a state-owned company in the energy sector (name of the company and the director called) took a loan from Nedco for $30,000 and has not repaid it. Warner said the man, who was once a special adviser to a former government minister, was never interviewed for the loan. "Today, he has not paid back a cent," he said. Warner said another state company director (names called) took taxpayers' money and bought Carnival fete tickets worth $121,000 for parties at Salybia, Soca in the Baliser and UWI, among other venues.
PNM rental nepotism
Warner said eight families were raking in $276 million in annual rent. He said these rental contracts were signed on the eve of the 2010 general election. He said one family led by an official of the PNM campaign, was collecting $30 million a year in rent. Warner said one incomplete property at the Aranguez Estate was raking in $920,000 in monthly rent. He said one lease for a building at number one Alexandra Street is taking in $865,949.43 in monthly rent and ends on November 31, 2014. "Thank God November has no thirty first," he said. Warner said the PNM hurriedly signed contracts before the elections to "get the last ounce of blood from the country."
Blows for independents
Warner also hammered independent candidates, who were members of the United National Congress. The Chaguanas West MP went as far as branding Rajendra Gosine "a neemakaharam." Gosine is an independent candidate for California/Point Lisas on the Couva/Tabaquite/Talparo Regional Corporation. Warner said the UNC breathed political life into Gosine during his term as an alderman. He said Gosine and other independent candidates, Rasheed Karim (Charlieville) and Pradeep Cassieram (Enterprise North), may very well be agents of the PNM.