Rolwey, Kamla face off Friday in Parliament

Keith Rowley will be leading off debate Friday as he outlines his arguments to support his motion of no confidence in Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar.

Rowley has stated publicly that his motive is to call government to account and that he has no "mark to buss" as widely anticipated.

The Leader of the Opposition knows his motion will fail but believes that by placing on record his reasons for bringing the motion in the first place he would have succeeded in highlighting what he considers failings of the government led by Persad-Bissessar.

His motion claims that the Prime Minister has failed to stimulate the economy and create sustainable jobs, that she has not acted in the best interests of citizens and that she has not effectively managed those under her charge.

All week the government has been lobbying support and it has presented evidence that Rowley's claims are false.

At a final meeting in Diego Martin Thursday night Persad-Bissessar went on the attack, telling supporters in Rowley's constituency that he will lose the next election, which she said will come when it is constitutionally due.

She reminded them that Rowley was almost defeated by Rocky Garcia of the Congress of the People (COP), winning by a margin of 954 votes. And she said Rowley is afraid to meet with his own constituents.

She defended her government and the partnership, noting that unlike the People's National Movement (PNM), her coalition can disagree and discuss ideas freely and make decisions in the best interest of the citizens of Trinidad & Tobago. She described the People's Partnership as a truly representative government, one based on inclusion.

She said the strength of her government is in its unity and its close relationship with citizens. "I will never lose touch with you," she said.

She challenged Rowley's sincerity about accountability and noted that when he had a chance to work with the government to draft procurement legislation he walked out.

Persad-Bissessar wondered as well why Rowley's motion did not raise the issue of crime, which she said has fallen 25 per cent since her government took office. She declared that in itself is an admission by Rowley and the opposition that the country's number one problem under the previous administration is being solved.

Persad-Bissessasr made reference to Thursday's guilty verdict against the killer of Amy Annamunthudo and asked Rowley why he doesn't want child killers to hang, a reference to Rowley's refusal to support the government's hanging bill.

The Prime Minister also served notice that she intends to revive the Landate affair when she speaks in Parliament on Friday. Earlier in the week PNM stalwart Louis Lee Sing questioned whether Rowley's motion was a wise move and suggested that it would give an advantage to the government and present an opportunity for the Landate matter to be revived.

Landate is a housing development owned by Rowley's wife. It was the subject of an inquiry that was aborted due to a constitutional challenge. However there are lingering questions that have never been answered.

Earlier in the evening COP Leader Prakash Ramadhar suggested that it was Divine intervention that caused Persad-Bissessar to become leader of the country. "When God cannot come, He sends a messenger," Ramadhar said, adding that Persad-Bissessar is that messenger.

He and other members of the governing coalition pledged their full support for and confidence in the Prime Minister.