Senior Reporter
akash.samaroo@cnc3.co.tt
The Prime Minister unapologetically defended the cost of his overseas business travels saying it has added billions of dollars to this country’s purse.
In fact, Dr Keith Rowley said he is carded to leave again in May for trips to Africa and India.
Speaking during yesterday’s post-Cabinet media briefing, the clearly irritated Prime Minister chastised both the United National Congress and some members of the media for what he described as a manufactured scandal.
It was revealed by Oropouche East MP Dr Roodal Moonilal that the State paid $10.6 million of taxpayers’ money on 19 international trips over three years.
But the Prime Minister said each trip had a significant purpose to this country.
“If I have to invest $10 million in travel to get $17 billion, I will do that every day,” Rowley asserted.
The Prime Minister added, “I am not a Prime Minister who travels for travelling sake. I indicated to this country that I am this country’s number one salesman and I led from the front in renegotiating and opening terms of contracts which were extremely important to Trinidad and Tobago.”
He said his travel expenses pale in comparison to what the People’s Partnership administration spent.
“One delegation, in a previous government in 2011, one delegation to Australia cost them, $USD 2.6M. I can tell you now without fear of contradiction, throughout my tenure as Prime Minister no delegation cost $2 million, none. And there was another one to India in 2012, one delegation to India led by the prime minister, cost $12M, I didn’t see any banner headline in this country about scandal,” Dr Rowley posited.
Meanwhile, the Prime Minister said, he goes with a lean delegation, only comprising people who have a purpose at those overseas meetings. He said the Partnership government did quite the opposite.
“You will see a certain Shem Baldeosingh, special advisor to the prime minister, he is hiding somewhere in Australia I am told. You will see a certain captain travelling first class, you will see a certain other member, Padarath, he was advisor to the prime minister too, you will see an advisor on public engagement, you will see a Mrs Vidwatee Newton, not a public officer travelling first class with the prime minister, you will see a research assistant to the prime minister then, a personal assistant to the prime minister and a photographer,” referring to Persad-Bissessar’s 2012 trip to India.
“I did not go to meet my ancestor nowhere and drink and drunk nowhere,” he added.
From renegotiating energy prices to signing oil and gas deals, the Prime Minister said altogether $18 billion was recovered from his trips.
“I am here talking about billions of dollars that would not have come to us and you come calling my name about scandal over $10M dollars in travel to get that done. You ain’t see all of you crazy?” he asked.
Before concluding his statement on his travels, Rowley announced that two more trips were coming in May.
“I have been invited by the Asantehene, the King of the Ashanti to be his guest of honour at his 25th anniversary celebrating his ascension to the throne. I have accepted the invitation. I will travel to Ghana on May 8, and I will spread the word according to Trinidad and Tobago and we would be represented,” he said.
Following this, the Prime Minister will travel to Mumbai, India to meet with representatives of the Reliance Group to discuss investments in sport.