T&T’s PM, Hon. Kamla Persad-Bissessar challenges Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley to one on one debate

PM challenges Rowley to one on one debate, “I put the challenge tonight to the Opposition Leader who is contesting the post of Prime Minister as I am… let’s get on with it, let us organise between ourselves and give to the people of T&T the debate that they deserve”

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad – Prime Minister and Political Leader of the United National Congress and the People’s Partnership the Hon. Kamla Persad-Bissessar last night (July 13th) challenged Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley to battle her one on one in a national debate on July 30.

“I say to my opponent the Opposition Leader, do you want a debate Mr Rowley?.. Are you ready for a debate Mr Rowley? And so tonight I put a challenge to the Opposition Leader will you debate with me Dr Rowley, one on one, mano y mano,” she said.  “I put the challenge tonight to the Opposition Leader who is contesting the post of Prime Minister as I am, I say come on Dr Rowley let’s do this, let’s get on with it, let us organise between ourselves and give to the people of Trinidad and Tobago the debate that they deserve. So Dr Rowley are you ready? I am ready for the debate! Come on, let’s do this!” said the Prime Minister.

The Prime Minister has stated clearly that she is ready to debate PNM Leader Dr Rowley. Dr Rowley and the PNM are using a technicality to run from the proposed leaders’ debate since Rowley knows he cannot dispute the work done by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and the People’s Partnership Government.

He knows also that he has no plan, no vision, no idea how to take Trinidad and Tobago forward and is not ready to face scrutiny so he has found a convenient excuse to avoid the debate.

The Debates Commission, a self-appointed organization, agreed to July 30th as the date for the leaders’ debate.

The PM’s negotiator, Larry Lalla, has suggested that another organization should now host the debate between Kamla and Rowley if the TTDC is unable to proceed.  The people of Trinidad and Tobago deserve to hear a debate between the two contenders to be Prime Minister.

The Prime Minister challenged Dr Rowley: “Let’s organise this between ourselves and give the people of Trinidad and Tobago the debate they deserve. Come on let’s make this happen.”

Mrs Persad-Bissessar outlined her vision for the further development of Trinidad and Tobago at the UNC’s Monday Night Forum Meeting in the Diego Martin East Constituency.

Below are excerpts from her speech:

It is so important we gain a second term so that we keep the economy on track and deliver prosperity for all the people of Trinidad and Tobago and so continue to work to build the new T&T.

Going forward we will make a dedicated effort to further diversify our economy to create jobs and promote growth, to people’s lives.

We will continue to invest significantly in education and training to help people improve their skills and get better jobs.

We will also focus on productivity because we know industries cannot compete in the world and grow exports without enhanced productivity.

No country can make significant progress in the world unless the people are productive.

People must feel safe and protected in their country and this is why we will continue our aggressive efforts to fight crime.

I will take a zero tolerance approach towards crime.

Let me repeat a zero tolerance approach towards crime.

We are going to introduce the toughest ever anti-crime measures ever seen in Trinidad and Tobago.

I will not tolerate what we have seen in Enterprise, Chaguanas in recent weeks. Recently, I convened a National Security Council meeting and requested the Acting Commissioner of Police and Chief of Defence Staff to immediately implement heightened security measures to bring an end to the recent spate of violence.

I then joined a combined national security force in Enterprise, as they undertook ‘Operation Restore’ to return peace and safety to the people of the central community.

My message is clear. We will not negotiate with criminals and with gangs.

We will not negotiate with terrorists.

We will give the resources necessary to the security services to hunt down the criminals and bring them to justice.

We will do our utmost to deliver quality healthcare and education and will invest in buildings, facilities and training.

We will deliver the crucial roads to improve our citizen’s lives and to link our communities.

FLAGSHIP PROJECTS

We will deliver major flagship projects such as the Highway from San Fernando to Mayaro, the Access on the Ocean Front to Chaguaramas, the Establishment of Dry-docking facilities in La Brea, A Medical Tourism hospital in the East West Corridor, The San Fernando Waterfront Development Project the Mayaro Hotel Tourism project, the Maracas Beach facility, the Mayaro Hotel Tourism project and more.

I’m proud we delivered a turnaround, stability, growth and progress in our first term.

But now our work must continue into the second term so we are to truly achieve a nation we can celebrate.

We must strive to be a just and fair nation, driven by good and transparent governance, where the people have power over the politicians, and where we are working together with a common objective of prosperity for all!

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