Roodal Moonilal capitalised on the rift within the opposition People's National Movement (PNM) Tuesday to deal with allegations by Opposition leader Keith Rowley that the Housing Development Corporation (HDC) was renovating HDC homes in Diego Martin for "investors".
Rowley made the charge at a media conference on Monday, showing pictures of renovations at the HDC homes. He said sanitary fittings and tiles were being ungraded and the homes redesigned for potential investors, not the average citizens for whom the homes were originally built.
HDC boss Jearlean John refuted the charges and explained that the small 900 square feet homes were being made larger and more comfortable for use by mid-income and professional persons. She added that it is no different from what the PNM did while it was in office.
On Tuesday, Moonilal, who is the Housing Minister, had some advice for Rowley. He suggested that the PNM political leader should focus on "calming troubled waters" and healing within his party and leave the HDC alone to carry out its mandate.
“In this season when we reflect upon betrayal and resurrection, Dr Rowley has to ask the question whether there will be a resurrection for him,” Moonilal told the Newsday newspaper.
Moonilal told the paper he was "shocked” that Rowley could find the time “to inspect sinks and toilet bowls” rather than oversee the affairs of the PNM.
Moonilal's take on the PNM is in relation to what happened in the House of Representatives last Friday when three PNM MPs defied the party and voted with former PNM leader Patrick Manning on a motion in which Manning was seeking to have his lawyer question witnesses at his hearing before the Privileges Committee of Parliament.
The PNM caucus had instructed its members to abstain in the vote. The party had a heated discussion on the matter over the weekend and eventually threw out Chairman Franlyn Khan's suggestion for the three MPs to be disciplined.
Khan later called the matter "a storm in a teacup" and Rowley glossed over the rift saying it was just a matter of a miscommunication.
With respect to the houses, Moonilal reminded Rowley that the upgrade in the HDC project is the same as what the PNM did in such places as Federation Park.
The minister supported statements by John that the HDC was simply making units more comfortable for occupants.
Moonilal added that Government has not made changes to the system of allocating homes. He said the government will continue to provide affordable housing to persons from everyone currently on the HDC’s housing database.
Rowley made the charge at a media conference on Monday, showing pictures of renovations at the HDC homes. He said sanitary fittings and tiles were being ungraded and the homes redesigned for potential investors, not the average citizens for whom the homes were originally built.
HDC boss Jearlean John refuted the charges and explained that the small 900 square feet homes were being made larger and more comfortable for use by mid-income and professional persons. She added that it is no different from what the PNM did while it was in office.
On Tuesday, Moonilal, who is the Housing Minister, had some advice for Rowley. He suggested that the PNM political leader should focus on "calming troubled waters" and healing within his party and leave the HDC alone to carry out its mandate.
“In this season when we reflect upon betrayal and resurrection, Dr Rowley has to ask the question whether there will be a resurrection for him,” Moonilal told the Newsday newspaper.
Moonilal told the paper he was "shocked” that Rowley could find the time “to inspect sinks and toilet bowls” rather than oversee the affairs of the PNM.
Moonilal's take on the PNM is in relation to what happened in the House of Representatives last Friday when three PNM MPs defied the party and voted with former PNM leader Patrick Manning on a motion in which Manning was seeking to have his lawyer question witnesses at his hearing before the Privileges Committee of Parliament.
The PNM caucus had instructed its members to abstain in the vote. The party had a heated discussion on the matter over the weekend and eventually threw out Chairman Franlyn Khan's suggestion for the three MPs to be disciplined.
Khan later called the matter "a storm in a teacup" and Rowley glossed over the rift saying it was just a matter of a miscommunication.
With respect to the houses, Moonilal reminded Rowley that the upgrade in the HDC project is the same as what the PNM did in such places as Federation Park.
The minister supported statements by John that the HDC was simply making units more comfortable for occupants.
Moonilal added that Government has not made changes to the system of allocating homes. He said the government will continue to provide affordable housing to persons from everyone currently on the HDC’s housing database.
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