UNC criticizes House Speaker for non-response to urgent letter

Trinidad and Tobago: The United National Congress, UNC slammed the Speaker of the House Bridgid Annissette-George for her non-response to their letter last week, asking about the safety protocols to protect the members of the Parliament and staff in the light of the Prime Minister’s testing positive for Covid-19.

In a statement yesterday, the UNC examined why the Speaker of the House has not yet even recognised or answered the letter of 7 April sent by Chief Whip, David Lee.

UNC stated, Even the Queen of England follows the rules. In Britain, funeral ceremonies must have no more than 30 people attending, whether indoors or outdoors. For the funeral of Prince Phillip, the Royal Household cut their list from the original 800 guests to the required 30. 

Further statement of UNC:

Over and above this requirement, all 30 names have been published. But here, PNM big shot financiers allegedly organized a wedding party with over 250 guests over the weekend. 

Yet there are no media records, no names of attendees have been revealed, no one has been arrested.

Our local PNM ruling class apparently believe they are less accountable to the people of Trinidad and Tobago than the British aristocracy that they are more elite than actual Royalty.

Have we moved from a Parliamentary democracy to the Secret Kingdom of King Rowley I and his friends?

In this context, the United National Congress is asking why the Speaker of the House has not yet even acknowledged or answered the letter of 7 April sent by Chief Whip, David Lee.

While some have foolishly blamed the Opposition for not doing the “people’s business” in Parliament, they have neglected the fact that Speaker has not done her business by simply responding to the Opposition’s urgent letter.

This is contempt of the highest order. Does the Speaker feel no need to respond to the Parliamentary Opposition?

The Opposition has been forced to absent itself from Parliament on three occasions so far, holding media briefings, raising concerns, and yet there has not been even an acknowledgement from the Speaker of the House?

Subsequent to the Opposition’s letter, it was revealed that 35 persons had been quarantined due to contact with the Prime Minister. 

Are any of these public officials? Are any of them the Prime Minister’s security officers? Was the Prime Minister infected by one of them? Did the Prime Minister infect them?

But we hear nothing. We are in an information blackout. Yet after the Prime Minister contracted covid, ordinary citizens must lock down further. Businesses must close down. Workers must lose their jobs and their incomes. In Tobago, it has been estimated that 65 percent of restaurants may never reopen. The nation is paying a horrible price for Keith Rowley’s covid malpractice.

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