With regard to Rowley's persistent attack on the Attorney General on Section 34, Warner stated last week that the focus on the AG was because of his race.
The Express took issue with that. It stated: "Jack Warner's resort to the ethnic card in attacking the Opposition leader's motion is just reckless obfuscation that could be easily dismissed if it were not so distasteful and divisive.
"Mr Warner should know that it is precisely such expediency that has tripped up the government in one misstep after another. The fiasco of Section 34 is a serious matter with potentially dire implications, the scope of which we will yet discover.
"No one who sat in cabinet on that day and agreed to send it to the President for proclamation, has any moral authority for attacking any citizen who insists on answers.
"It is a sad indictment of our politics that in a matter of such gravity, senior political figures, inside the government no less, are willing to defend themselves by any means necessary, including by playing the race card. Shame."
Warner signed the release as chairman of his party, the United National Congress (UNC), stating that "the affairs of government will not be dictated or directed by the PNM or its band of propagandists". He asked the media to publish his statement in its entirety "so that the public would have the benefit of my full response, as a matter of fairness".
JYOTI has published the statement below:"Which right-thinking person would ever expect the PNM to agree with or be satisfied by anything done by its political rival, whether with regard to the Section 34 issue or any other matter?
"Because the PNM and a group of individuals who have declared war on the government admit to being predictably dissatisfied, does that mean that the explanation given is incomplete?
The Express took issue with that. It stated: "Jack Warner's resort to the ethnic card in attacking the Opposition leader's motion is just reckless obfuscation that could be easily dismissed if it were not so distasteful and divisive.
"Mr Warner should know that it is precisely such expediency that has tripped up the government in one misstep after another. The fiasco of Section 34 is a serious matter with potentially dire implications, the scope of which we will yet discover.
"No one who sat in cabinet on that day and agreed to send it to the President for proclamation, has any moral authority for attacking any citizen who insists on answers.
"It is a sad indictment of our politics that in a matter of such gravity, senior political figures, inside the government no less, are willing to defend themselves by any means necessary, including by playing the race card. Shame."
Warner signed the release as chairman of his party, the United National Congress (UNC), stating that "the affairs of government will not be dictated or directed by the PNM or its band of propagandists". He asked the media to publish his statement in its entirety "so that the public would have the benefit of my full response, as a matter of fairness".
JYOTI has published the statement below:"Which right-thinking person would ever expect the PNM to agree with or be satisfied by anything done by its political rival, whether with regard to the Section 34 issue or any other matter?
"Because the PNM and a group of individuals who have declared war on the government admit to being predictably dissatisfied, does that mean that the explanation given is incomplete?
"That some persons are dissatisfied does not mean that everyone else is.
"The Cabinet was not apprised of all the facts regarding the proclamation of the Administration of Justice (Indictable Offences) Act, which included the early proclamation of Section 34 and therefore the Cabinet’s decision was the result of this situation.
"The Cabinet was not apprised of all the facts regarding the proclamation of the Administration of Justice (Indictable Offences) Act, which included the early proclamation of Section 34 and therefore the Cabinet’s decision was the result of this situation.
"The Minister of Justice was subsequently relieved of his post and it seems to me to be unjust for anyone else to be so treated.
"The question remains, what can one do if many persons and organizations refuse to accept the truth, especially when those persons and organizations are of a political persuasion that will never bring them in line with the government's thinking?
"On behalf of the government of the People’s Partnership and the United National Congress, of the latter of which I am Chairman, I wish to reiterate that the affairs of government will not be dictated or directed by the PNM or its band of propagandists.
"Further, I maintain the view that the PNM, by its history, does not represent a wide enough cross section of the population. History shows that it has alienated and marginalized half of the population of Trinidad and Tobago. To demonstrate this, one just had to look at the records.
"For 30 years, not a single Hindu sat in the PNM Cabinet. This is a fact. Past PNM Cabinets had a ceiling of 15 to 25 per cent of East Indians. This is a fact.
"Similarly, PNM State Boards had only 21 per cent East Indians. This is a fact. Since 1962 there has not been a single Attorney General under the PNM of East Indian heritage. This is a fact. The PNM distributed $53 million in scholarships and only 10 per cent of recipients were of East Indian origin. This is a fact.
"Similarly, PNM State Boards had only 21 per cent East Indians. This is a fact. Since 1962 there has not been a single Attorney General under the PNM of East Indian heritage. This is a fact. The PNM distributed $53 million in scholarships and only 10 per cent of recipients were of East Indian origin. This is a fact.
"The PNM also waged a relentless campaign against East Indians in this country; the Maha Sabha was denied a radio license for 10 years while Louis Lee Sing received his in 48 hours.
"East Indians in the public service and State Enterprises such as Feroza Ramjohn, Ganga Persad Kissoon and Devant Maharaj were discriminated against; over 10,000 families were plunged into hardship when the PNM closed down Caroni Limited, and the PNM, through its agents, pursues a racist agenda on certain radio programmes. All of these are facts.
"The PNM is presently conducting its campaign in Tobago for the Tobago House of Assembly Elections using scare-tactics of “Indian-phobia”. This is a fact.
"East Indians in the public service and State Enterprises such as Feroza Ramjohn, Ganga Persad Kissoon and Devant Maharaj were discriminated against; over 10,000 families were plunged into hardship when the PNM closed down Caroni Limited, and the PNM, through its agents, pursues a racist agenda on certain radio programmes. All of these are facts.
"The PNM is presently conducting its campaign in Tobago for the Tobago House of Assembly Elections using scare-tactics of “Indian-phobia”. This is a fact.
"I call on those who are offended by these statements to disprove them with hard data. They can start by naming any PNM Attorney General of East Indian origin since 1962.
"I have nothing to be ashamed about. Who the cap fits, let them wear it!"
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