Rowley sides with UNC in water debate

Diego Martin West MP Dr Keith Rowley stunned members of his People's National Movement (PNM) Friday when he voted with the Opposition United National Congress (UNC) to force the Government to debate the country's water shortage as a definite matter of urgent public importance.

When the Speaker asked whether MPs would debate the motion several PNM MPs quickly said NO but the tables turned when Rowley joined Kamla Persad-Bissessar, Basdeo Panday and eight other Opposition MPs to give the opposition the 11 votes need to get the House to agree to the debate.

There were only 10 opposition MPs in the House when the count was taken and the PNM had hoped that the UNC would be divided because of differences since the internal election.

But the opposition demonstrated unity as each of the 10 stood up to be counted. Then Rowley joined then, causing a stir on the government benches.

In an interview with the media following the vote Rowley said he had no choice but to vote with the opposition on the matter since the government's position was contradictory.

"How come when the Government tells us there is a water crisis and the Speaker rules that it is a matter of urgent public importance, on what basis are you voting against it? The Government seems to be voting against its own position," he said.

He added that he had to vote on behalf of his constituents.

"Before I came to Parliament today, the last thing I did was to write a letter to WASA (Water and Sewerage Authority), raising with them my serious concerns over their decision to take water out of Diego Martin and Chaguaramas, to go eastward. That is madness."

Rowley said half of his constituency suffers from a daily water crisis and WASA's decision to move water from the area as it rations supplies would make it even worse.