The Prime Minister on Friday gave a robust defence of Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi against consistent attacks by Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar as an attempt by her to derail white-collar crime investigations involving members of the former UNC led-People's Partnership coalition government.
Addressing a virtual PNM post-budget meeting in Belmont on Friday night, Dr Rowley said Persad-Bissessar spent an hour out of her two-hour contribution, earlier that day, attacking Al-Rawi and then "talking inanities and talking lies for the other hour."
Referring to her questions about an alleged indemnity agreement regarding British Queens Counsel Vincent Nelson, Rowley said, "I noticed the Opposition Leader has launched an attack on the Government and Office of the AG with respect to its efforts to fight white-collar crime."
He continued, "I am putting you all on notice. It is not by accident...that the Opposition Leader is now like a dog with a rag..attacking the Attorney General and asking questions about what deal he made with Nelson."
Rowley said Nelson is no ordinary person but someone "who in the hands of the lawyers turned state witness to extricate facts and figures..date and time...telling Trinidad and Tobago...cooperating with us..so the police could put in handcuffs members of the cabinet of Kamla Persad-Bissessar...for public money that has gone missing in their racket."
He added there is nothing new about people becoming state witnesses and providing evidence which could lead to people being convicted of crimes.
Recalling the murders of Gale Ann Benson and Joseph Skeritt in Christina Gardens, Arima in 1972, Rowley said one of the suspects in the murders (Adolphus Parmesar) turned state witness, leading to the conviction of Abdul Malik (aka Michael de Freitas, Michael X), Stanley Abbott and Edward Chadee for the murders. Benson was the daughter of an English Conservative MP.
Rowley supported the statements that Al-Rawi made in his budget contribution hours earlier that Persad-Bissessar should be afraid of the matters now engaging the attention of British authorities.
"There is a lot that we in the Government know...that we're not talking about.
"They want us to talk about it because that will make up their defence...they're looking for a defence..to say publicity or political. So we kept our silence... last election and now. We genuinely believe that the wheels of justice..they turn slowly but they do turn."
Rowley said Al-Rawi raised the issue of witness tampering in his contribution because Persad-Bissessar introduced it into the debate.
"They are attempting to tamper with the witnesses. Kamla Persad-Bissessar is making statements to cast doubt on the prosecution of people who have questions to answer in white collar crime situations." Rowley assured the public that TT's cooperation with its international partners on white-collar crime matters will continue. He reiterated that "the wheels of justice will turn and grind them into the dust."
Rowley was not surprised that Persa
