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Budget debate turns into duel…<\/big><\/p>\n
By Kyle Jeremiah
\nOctober 1, 2008 – guardian.co.tt<\/i> <\/p>\n
The 2008-2009 budget debate took a dramatic turn last night in Parliament, after a war of words erupted between Prime Minister Patrick Manning and Diego Martin-West MP Dr Keith Rowley whom Manning dismissed in April.
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\nThe heated exchange between the two most senior PNM officials in the House unfolded in the presence of only PNM members, after the UNC MPs had walked out of the chamber in protest of Manning\u2019s special request to have an extension of time to give his contribution to the 2009 budget debate. <\/p>\n
Detouring from commenting on the budget, Manning fired back at the political tongue-lashing he received from Rowley on Monday, by asking Rowley to account for $10 million that disappeared from the Cleaver Heights Housing Project. <\/p>\n
On Monday, Rowley took Manning and the Government to task on various issues. <\/p>\n
Last night in Parliament, Manning quoted from a May 3, 2005, letter, which claimed that the cost of the residential units amounted to $92,649,000, with the infrastructure costs at $40,800,000. <\/p>\n
\u201cWhen you add these two figures,\u201d Manning said, \u201cYou get $133,449,000, but the contract is for $143,449,000.\u201d <\/p>\n
At that point, Rowley\u2014then the Housing Minister at the time of the project\u2014intervened to ask whether Manning was impugning improper motives against him. <\/p>\n
Manning shot back: \u201cI ascribe no motive to the Member for Diego Martin West. All I am saying is that the Member was the minister of housing on whose recommendation that the Cabinet took a decision for $143 million. <\/p>\n
\u201cAnd therefore I cannot get an answer anywhere else perhaps he (Rowley is in a position to assist me and I am asking him\u2014\u201cWhere d money gone?\u201d <\/p>\n
Rowley immediately denied any involvement in any of the details of the awarding of the contract and put that on record without \u201cfear of contradiction.\u201d <\/p>\n
In turn, Manning said he was not \u201cpursuing it\u201d but said rather, that the matter would be the subject of inquiry. <\/p>\n
\u201cBecause I will now officially ask about it. Because I would like to know what has happened here,\u201d Manning said. <\/p>\n
He added that since the budget debate started, numerous Members of the House had \u201cimpugned\u201d his integrity. <\/p>\n
Rowley barked from across the room, \u201cSo now you impugn mine!\u201d <\/p>\n
\u201cI had two strikes against me before, and this is the third,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n
Manning quipped, \u201cDo so eh like so.\u201d <\/p>\n
Manning had also previously focused on the allegations levelled against him in the previous days of the budget debate, particularly allegations made by Rowley about Manning Woodford Square statement: \u201cIf the leader falls, all fall down.\u201d <\/p>\n
The statement was made by Manning during the no-confidence motion against him two weeks ago, which Manning said was essentially a no-confidence motion against the Government. <\/p>\n
He reflected on the \u201cNAR juggernaut\u201d that was in Government from 1986-1991, which had the majority of Members, whereas the PNM only had three. <\/p>\n
Rowley, Manning recounted, was the person who suggested that they target the NAR\u2019s leader because if the leader fell, all would also fall. <\/p>\n
Manning then claimed it was a strategy that Rowley was now using within the PNM. <\/p>\n
\u201cHave no assurance that your strategy will work,\u201d Manning advised. <\/p>\n
Manning also spoke about an article published in the Trinidad Guardian in June. This reported on an article in a foreign newspaper concerning Udecott chairman Calder Hart. Manning said this was a \u201cdiabolical\u201d plot. <\/p>\n
He said that when the foreign newspaper was contacted by Hart\u2019s attorneys, the foreign paper indicated that no such story was printed. <\/p>\n
\u201cWho has such a diabolical mind in this country to do such a thing?\u201d Manning asked. <\/p>\n
Manning also made allegations about UNC deputy leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar. <\/p>\n
http:\/\/www.guardian.co.tt\/archives\/2008-10-01\/news8.html<\/p>\n
NEWS: SEPTEMBER 30, 2008<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n
Rowley on the floor ‘Come clean with Sunway’<\/a> Rowley Roars<\/a> Rowley: Inflation a threat to people<\/a> Govt praises UDeCOTT<\/a> ‘Manning’s boasting not PNM’s way’<\/a> NEWS: OCTOBER 1, 2008<\/i><\/strong><\/p>\n PM, Rowley declare war<\/a> Rowley abstains, UNC walks out<\/a> $10m mystery<\/a> Ramesh: PM using House to pressure Rowley<\/a> Rowley: What $10m Manning talking about?<\/a> The road ahead for Dr Rowley<\/a><\/p>\n NEWS: OCTOBER 2, 2008<\/i><\/strong><\/p>\n Speaker must end abuse of his office<\/a> Investigate me!<\/a> Parliament duelling ground for PM, Rowley<\/a> Rowley challenges Manning: Say it outside!<\/a> Probe PM’s Money Claim<\/a> ‘Serious questions raised on executive’<\/a> Rowley: Frightening behaviour by Manning<\/a><\/p>\n Rowley: A scandalous claim<\/a><\/p>\n Set up probe now!<\/a> Don’t duck and run<\/a> Clash worries Mayaro PNMites<\/a> Elias: I will not remain silent<\/a>
\nFormer Minister Keith Rowley is calling on Government to come clean on details of a memorandum of understanding with Malaysian company Sunway, in which Sunway is to construct highways, hotels and other infrastructural projects in T&T. <\/p>\n
\n…tears into Govt policies, wades into Manning in Budget debate<\/p>\n
\nPNM DIEGO MARTIN West MP Dr Keith Rowley yesterday de-clared that inflation and not crime “is the most serious threat being faced by the people of Trinidad and Tobago (TT) today.”<\/p>\n
\nGovernment yesterday fired back at former cabinet minister, Dr Keith Rowley, with full praise of the very enterprise that led to his firing-the Urban Development Company of Trinidad and Tobago (UDeCOTT). <\/p>\n
\nPrime Minister Patrick Manning found himself at the receiving end, yesterday, of the political wrath of the minister he fired in April–Keith Rowley.<\/p>\n
\nTHE BATTLELINES between Prime Minister Patrick Manning and his fired Trade Minister Dr Keith Rowley were drawn during last night’s Budget debate in Parliament as the bad blood between the two men for the first time boiled over publicly in the parliamentary chamber.<\/p>\n
\nDiego Martin West MP Dr Keith Rowley last night abstained from voting in favour of the House of Representatives suspending one of its Standing Orders to allow Prime Minister Patrick Manning to speak beyond the 75 minutes normally allotted to any MP during a Budget debate.<\/p>\n
\nManning and Rowley square off on ‘missing’ housing funds<\/p>\n
\nPrime Minister Patrick Manning used the Parliament for a political duel between himself and Dr Keith Rowley, Opposition Chief Whip Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj said last night. <\/p>\n
\n“I would dismiss that as an act of desperation on the part of the Prime Minister seeking to tarnish my name so as to get even or to create suspicion over my character,” Rowley said. <\/p>\n
\nTuesday night\u2019s decision to suspend Parliament\u2019s standing orders to allow Prime Minister Patrick Manning to speak for more than the 75 minutes normally allotted speakers in a budget debate turned out to be an even more egregious abuse of the office of the Speaker. <\/p>\n
\nEMBATTLED PNM Diego Martin West MP Dr Keith Rowley yesterday dared his political leader, Prime Minister Patrick Manning, to bring any evidence linking him (Rowley) to the alleged disappearance of $10M out of $144M set aside for construction of Cleaver Heights housing development in Arima, during Rowley’s tenure as Housing Minister.<\/p>\n
\nTHE Opposition kept good on its threat to walk out of the House of Representatives on Tuesday in protest over an extension in the speaking time given to Prime Minister Patrick Manning during the Budget debate.<\/p>\n
\nThe war of words continues between Diego Martin West MP Dr Keith Rowley and Prime Minister Patrick Manning. <\/p>\n
\nRowley, Elias call for forensic enquiry into $10m mystery<\/p>\n
\nSacked trade and industry minister Dr Keith Rowley has described as “frighteningly startling,” Prime Minister Patrick Manning’s revelation that he has been “monitoring” links between Siparia MP Kamla Persad-Bissessar and an employee of the Integrity Commission.<\/p>\n
\nPrime Minister Patrick Manning’s suggestion that there is a $10 million discrepancy in the cost of the Cleaver Heights Development Project in Arima has prompted Emile Elias, executive chairman of NH International Caribbean Ltd (NHIC), to join the chorus of criticism against Manning.<\/p>\n
\nCongress of the People leader Winston Dookeran is urging embattled Diego Martin West MP Dr Keith Rowley not to “duck and run” from the political fight between himself and Prime Minister Patrick Manning.<\/p>\n
\nThe “personality clash” between Prime Minister Patrick Manning and Diego Martin West MP Dr Keith Rowley on Tuesday night in Parliament is causing concern among the party’s membership.<\/p>\n
\nEmile Elias’s letter in part <\/p>\n