In a fiery response to parliamentary accusations, former Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley has publicly condemned current Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar for what he characterizes as baseless criminal allegations against his political party. The confrontation emerged following Persad-Bissessar’s statements in Parliament on Friday, where she insinuated that the People’s National Movement (PNM) had constructed its headquarters using narco-trafficking proceeds and maintained connections to pedophile networks.
Rowley, addressing journalists at his Glencoe residence during a press conference, delivered a scathing rebuttal to these claims. He emphasized his long-standing tenure with the PNM since 1974, including fifteen years of leadership, and challenged the Prime Minister to produce substantiating evidence for her serious allegations. Employing the culturally charged term ‘jamette’—a local derogatory expression implying promiscuity and lack of integrity—Rowley asserted that only someone with such characteristics would level grave accusations without proof.
The former Prime Minister referenced historical contexts, including the murder of businessman Danny Guerra in Sangre Grande, suggesting possible connections to previous states of emergency and political tensions. Additionally, Rowley revived allegations concerning human trafficking within the United National Congress (UNC), claiming that Persad-Bissessar had prior knowledge of such activities yet appointed the accused individual to a ministerial position.
Rowley further cautioned about the international ramifications of unsubstantiated claims, arguing that they tarnish the nation’s reputation globally. He criticized the Prime Minister for allegedly prioritizing political maneuvering over evidential accountability and called for thorough police investigations into the matters he raised.