FORMER prime minister Stuart Young has condemned the “political persecution” of the PNM, yesterday calling on the Government to act via the rule of law.Young accused the UNC-led Government of an “orchestrated attack on the PNM”, which he said “should be of concern to all citizens as an attack on the only stable political institution that has been at the forefront of democracy and the development of Trinidad and Tobago”.
‘grossly exaggerated’: PNM treasurer Robert Le Hunte.
In a release shared with the media, he endorsed a statement Saturday by PNM chairman Marvin Gonzales, on “political attacks being launched on the PNM”.“I condemn these attacks,” Young stated.He argued if there was any wrongdoing or criminality anywhere, it must be addressed via the rule of law and proper due process “without political interference”.“It is an attack on democracy—make no mistake about it,” Young said.He said it was clear the UNC Government was “engaging in targeted political persecution and victimisation and has been doing so for sometime now”.Young cited the “firing of tens of thousands of our most vulnerable citizens in CEPEP, URP, reforestation and persons across all of the State sector including ministries, Heritage, Paria, National Gas Company, National Energy, Phoenix Park Gas Processors Ltd, WASA, HDC, T&TEC and many other entities”.He said the UNC was focused on changing a narrative and distracting the population with smoke and mirrors, adding: “We are in a very dangerous place in our history.”Burden of debtYoung also raised an alarm over Government’s withdrawals of over US$500 million from the Heritage and Stabilisation Fund (HSF) in the past year.Stating that “we were told nothing”, Young noted borrowings of over US$1.8 billion at high interest rates, to be repaid in US dollars where “we have lower forex earnings”.“Our indebtedness is at a dangerously high level with the risk that a single late payment or inability to repay any State loans will push us over the fiscal precipice,” Young asserted.The former energy minister further stated that Trinidad and Tobago’s energy sector was in crisis, with two of the country’s largest petrochemical producers-Nutrien and Methanex-now shut down.“We are not at the negotiation tables in Caracas, Venezuela with respect to discussions on cross-border gas and there are many more examples of red flags of concern,” he stated.Cost exaggeratedMeanwhile, PNM treasurer Robert Le Hunte said yesterday figures being bandied about as to the cost of the new Balisier House in Port of Spain had been “grossly exaggerated”.In a telephone interview, the former minister rejected claims by the Government that some $118 million had been spent on the new structure.Le Hunte said it was his professional opinion that the figure was an exaggeration for the size of the building in question.Le Hunte said he had not had sight of any documents which were being referenced by the State, in its pursuit of the source of funding behind the construction of Balisier House.
