Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley is being taken to task by the women's arm of the United National Congress after he accused Opposition leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar of "jamettery" in the way she revealed the contents of an internal audit at state-owned Petrotrin. The UNC women are now demanding an apology from the country's leader.
Reporters at the weekly post-Cabinet meeting yesterday appeared to taken aback at the terminology when Rowley initially used it, seeking clarification on whether it was really the word which the Prime Minister had used.
Addressing the issue of the investigation and of Persad-Bissessar's attempts to link him to the matter by virtue of his relationship with the persons involved, Rowley said: "I do know from my own experience that very serious allegations can be made and all that is required to happen is proper clear and conclusive investigations. But to jump off on a preliminary inquiry and accusing people of being involved in a grand conspiracy was bit of over reach."
He said in "bussing the mark," Persad-Bissessar played it for all it was worth, noting the allegation was being made against a company, the principal of whom "is a friend of mine."
The PM said he was happy that after having "spent a lifetime accusing me of racism, I am glad she admitted I have a friend who is not of my race."
He said: "You could behave as an effective Opposition Leader but "jammetery" is not the best way to deal with it, that kind of behaviour could be an impediment to get to the root of the problem."
Asked whether the word he used was indeed "jamettery," he said "I choose my words very carefully."
Reacting to the PM's statement soon afterwards, the UNC women's arm said it had noted "with distaste" the utterances of the Prime Minister. It said the reference by Rowley "seeks to demean and degrade women."
According to the UNC women, "referring to the Opposition Leader Mrs Kamla Persad-Bissessar SC's revelations of the "fake oil scandal" at Petrotrin as "jammettery" is a major cause for concern."
They called upon the PM "to issue an immediate apology to all women, especially the Opposition Leader, as the reference was made against her person."
The women's arm said it continued to note with dissatisfaction the references regarding women used by Rowley and expressed the hope that "this alarming occurrence will be rectified since it is reckless and demeaning."