Former prime minister Dr Keith Rowley has fired back at Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, refuting any knowledge of a Trinidad and Tobago Electricity Commission (T&TEC) “protected” list of people whose electricity cannot be disconnected.However, former public utilities Minister Marvin Gonzales stated that T&TEC does maintain a list of some high-profile customers with the sole intention of reaching out once their accounts are red-flagged for disconnection or any other unusual activity, but those persons are not aware their accounts have been flagged for this purpose.
Rowley shared a photograph of his electricity bill for his Goodwood Park residence.
In a statement to Parliament on Monday, Persad-Bissessar shared some of the names on this list which included Rowley, Opposition Leader Pennelope Beckles, several former PNM government members and the PNM Tobago Council, among others.Persad-Bissessar said the matter came to the Government’s attention during its review of issues surrounding Flavorite Foods Ltd, the company chaired by former PNM treasurer Andre Monteil.
‘Grasping at straws’: Opposition Leader Pennelope Beckles.
In the face of criticism and insults from Rowley yesterday, the Prime Minister, in response to questions from the Express, said: “Marvin (Opposition Chief Whip Marvin Gonzales) has already acknowledged the list. Interestingly there are no UNC politicians on the list so clearly someone affiliated with the PNM managed this list. Maybe the PNM could create a GoFundMe account to clear their bills. Just a suggestion, trying to be helpful.”
