Rowley wants to know what deal PNM deserter made with PP

The leader of the People's National Movement (PNM), Keith Rowley, is angry that one of his party's former MPs has deserted the PNM and joined the People's partnership.

And he wants Roger Joseph to tell the nation what is the deal he made with Jack Warner.

Joseph is the former MP for La Horquetta/Talparo. He was not selected to contest the seat in 2010, which was won by the UNC's Jairam Seemungal in the May 24 general election.

Joseph spoke on a People's Partnership platform Saturday night and told his audience that he feared victimisation in the PNM. "I do not want to be a part of a bunch of misfits; I do not want to be part of victimisation and spite,” he declared.

Read the story: Former PNM MP jumps ship to People's Partnership

Rowley told the Trinidad Express two weeks ago Warner made a statement to the Parliament about $50 million of taxpayers money being wasted on a boat for the Water Taxi service in which Joseph was implicated.

"Jack Warner came to the Parliament and made a lengthy statement implicating the same Roger Joseph in the $50 million waste on the boat HSV Su. He was saying the boat was inspected by Joseph...in the water among other things. Warner said there would be investigation into this", the PNM leader said.

Read the story: Jack orders sale of 14-year-old ferry that was never used

"The next thing we see Roger Joseph landing on the UNC platform in Sangre Grande touted as a big catch by the UNC...what he must tell the country is what deal he struck with Jack Warner.

"I didn't know anything about his involvement with this boat, but I find it very strange that one day Jack Warner could portray him as a Minister acting improperly and the next day present him as a big find on the UNC platform," Rowley told the paper.

Rowley said Joseph owes this country an explanation not just about his move to join the People's Partnership but also why he left the PNM.

"After he was screened information coming to the screening committee caused them to ask him to withdraw, which he dutifully did, he withdrew and disappeared. So Roger Joseph, the last time we knew of him in the PNM was when he was asked to withdraw his candidacy," said Rowley.

Rowley said "his (Joseph's) position in the PNM has nothing to do with me or my stewardship...I am asking him to tell the public why he withdrew his position, having been the only candidate for the La Horquetta/Talparo seat."

When Joseph spoke on the political platform he stated that he got no favours in return for his support.

“I was given nothing, I asked for nothing and I do not want anything. I do not want any chairmanship or directorship. In service of the people I chose the PP," he said.

“The PNM lost the general election for one reason and that is because they failed to serve the people of T&T.

“What I expected from PNM turned out to be two different things. I grew up with one philosophy from the late Dr Eric Williams, and that was serving the people. When I look at the PP I think I can make a contribution to serve my people,” Joseph said.