Jack hits President on ‘rumshop logic’
Monday, July 6 2015 (T&T Newsday)
STICK WITH ME: ILP Political Leader Jack Warner greets residents of the Chaguanas East
Constituency during a walkabout on Thursday. Author: Vashti SinghIndependent Liberal Party (ILP) leader, Jack Warner, has launched a frontal attack on President Anthony Carmona describing him of being unworthy of office for rejecting criticisms of his handling of the Integrity Commission (IC) as “rum-shop logic”.
At an ILP cottage meeting at Enterprise in Chaguanas West constituency last Thursday night, Warner alleged that Carmona was the country’s worst-ever President and must exit office along with Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar.
After the IC said it was ending its Emailgate probe, IC member Justice Sebastien Ventour resigned in dissent saying outstanding emails remain to be investigated, while Dr Shelly Anne Lalchan resigned citing “personal reasons”.
In last May’s impasse, Opposition Leader, Dr Keith Rowley, had urged the whole IC be reconstituted, but on July 1 President Carmona opted to just swear in new members to fill the two IC slots, attorney Rajeev Persad and retired educator, Angela Young Lai.
“I became very incensed when the President of this country could refer to those persons who oppose him as having ‘rumshop logic’. If he has rumshop friends, that is his business. If he was appointed by a rumshop government, that is his business. But it is wrong for him to lump all those persons who sensibly oppose him as ‘rumshop logic’.” Warner gave his view of what really was “rumshop logic.” “When he decides to appoint two persons to a Commission that has been tainted, that is rumshop logic. When he decides to appoint two persons to a Commission 67 days before a general election, when you know you have to consult the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition and (that) Kamla would be neither, he appointed them all the same — 67 days to go — that is rumshop logic.
“If anything today is a national embarrassment, that President is,” Warner said.
“It’s not possible but if it were possible, he and Kamla should leave together.” Warner vowed to do an editorial on Carmona in this week’s Sunshine.
Talking to reporters later, he criticised Carmona as lacking moral authority due to his $28,000 housing allowance received when living in State-supplied housing at Flagstaff Hill.
Saying all TT’s institutions are falling to pieces including education and the family, Warner alleged that Carmona has destroyed the Presidency. “He’s a one-term President”. Newsday asked if Warner risked public chiding by attacking the Head of State?
“The Head of State has no concern about doing that to the public. He has no concern about alienating the public (so) why should I have any concern about him.
Talking about the public, I am the grassroots; I am the man in the street, and therefore since he has lost the common touch and I have not, I have to remind him about that.”
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