MEDIA RELEASE: Charles: PNM distortions have crossed the line

File: Rodney Charles. Mr Charles is a former T&T Ambassador to the United Nations. He currently serves as both Campaign Manager and Public Relations Manager of the United National Congress (UNC)

THE habitual distortion and manipulation of facts by the Opposition PNM and its Leader, Dr Keith Rowley, have crossed the line, with the latest attempt to create doubt about the legality of the date of the 2015 general election.

A statement from the PRO and Campaign Manager of the United National Congress, Rodney Charles, took the Opposition to task over claims that His Excellency the President was not informed in writing about the date for the general election. The deliberately misleading claim was made by PNM Vice Chairman, Colm Imbert.

Imbert said PNM General Secretary Ashton Ford contacted President's House on Thursday July 02 and was told that no correspondence had been sent to President Carmona advising him of the election date as required by per Section 69 (1) of the Constitution.

“The leader and members of the Opposition have for quite some time been pushing the boundaries with clear attempts to distort the facts and cause panic. But this latest claim, especially in the face of clear facts, is an outright attempt to deceive the population and must be condemned,” Charles said. “It is reckless and deceptive, and it appears that in the absence of plans and policies to take this country forward, that this is the kind of campaign Dr Rowley and his party intend to carry on in the coming months.”

Charles said a formal statement was issued by the Office of the Prime Minister, which outlined the facts explicitly: "A letter was sent to then Acting President, Her Excellency Raziah Ahmed on June 15, 2015, indicating Monday September 7, 2015 as the date to be fixed for the General Election. The Office of the President responded by letter dated June 17, confirming Monday September 7, 2015 as the date for the General Election, and that Nomination Day would be Monday August 17, 2015," the OPM release stated.

Charles noted that the OPM release added, "The Acting President also indicated that the Chairman of the Elections and Boundaries Commission would be immediately requested to prepare the Writs of Election."

Charles said, “What this means is that Keith Rowley’s Opposition is not content to tell outright distortions to the public; they now intend to say any and everything in their desperation to hide the arrogance of their leader, and the complete absence of vision, policy and plans for the future of Trinidad & Tobago.”

“Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar respects the democratic traditions upon which our country has been built and has received global recognition for her fortitude and political will. Since taking office she has always held elections when they are due. Further, Mrs. Persad-Bissessar took the initiative in Barbados on Friday to request a Commonwealth Observer team to come to Trinidad and Tobago for the general election.”

Charles stated that the party joins citizens in condemning such open and shameless dishonesty, “especially when one considers that they would go so low as to bring the Head of State into their distortions.

Related story: PNM WRONG (Trinidad Express)