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“[…] Dennise Demming, like many others, highlights Dr Keith Rowley’s TT$87,847 pension while juxtaposing it against the TT$3,000 pension of senior citizens. This comparison is both disingenuous and misleading.
“The salaries and benefits of public officials, including the prime minister, are determined by the Salaries Review Commission—an independent body tasked with ensuring fair remuneration.
“The attempt to equate these figures as some moral failing of Dr Rowley is nothing more than an emotional appeal designed to stoke resentment rather than foster constructive discourse…”
(Copyright Office of the Parliament.)
The following Letter to Editor from ex-Point Fortin mayor Abdon Mason responds to an op-ed by Dennise Demming on the legacy of outgoing Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley:
Dennise Demming’s commentary on the tenure of Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley paints a bleak and one-sided picture of his leadership. While critique is necessary in any democratic society, it must be balanced, factual, and free from the kind of selective outrage that distorts reality.
Dr Rowley’s legacy is not one of failure but of resilience, national pride, and tangible achievements that have strengthened Trinidad and Tobago.
Photo: OPM.
One of the most persistent and misleading narratives involves the Prime Minister’s pension. Demming, like many others, highlights Dr Rowley’s TT$87,847 pension while juxtaposing it against the TT$3,000 pension of senior citizens. This comparison is both disingenuous and misleading.
The salaries and benefits of public officials, including the prime minister, are determined by the Salaries Review Commission—an independent body tasked with ensuring fair remuneration.
The attempt to equate these figures as some moral failing of Dr Rowley is nothing more than an emotional appeal designed to stoke resentment rather than foster constructive discourse.
Demming’s assertion that Dr Rowley’s administration failed to diversify the economy ignores historical context and the systemic barriers that have long hampered diversification efforts.
It is precisely individuals with such myopic views who resisted initiatives like the aluminum smelter and the development of an aluminum downstream sector—projects that could have significantly bolstered our economy.
Similarly, the rejection of the Sandals project, driven by misinformation and fearmongering, represented another missed opportunity. How can one lament the lack of diversification while simultaneously championing movements that sabotage efforts to achieve it?
Efforts to modernize and digitize the public sector have also faced relentless opposition. While Demming criticizes inefficiencies, she fails to acknowledge the role of entrenched bureaucracy and resistance to change within the public service itself.
(Copyright Office of the Prime Minister.)
Trinidad and Tobago’s public sector remains a stronghold of bureaucratic red tape, slowing progress despite the government’s best efforts. This is not an attack on public servants but a statement of reality.
Foreign exchange challenges have been paraded as evidence of economic collapse, but are we truly facing an existential crisis? While businesses may struggle with forex allocation, is this an issue that significantly impacts the average citizen?
The reality on the ground suggests otherwise. Despite the purported economic hardship, Carnival fetes were sold out, and mas bands were oversubscribed—clear indicators that disposable income still exists within the economy.
(Copyright NCC.)
Those pushing the economic doom narrative seem more intent on manufacturing despair than reflecting the true state of affairs.
Dr Rowley’s legacy extends far beyond the criticisms of his detractors. He has been instrumental in restoring and preserving national heritage sites that were neglected for over five years under the previous administration.
The restoration of the Magnificent Seven buildings, the Parliament Building, and the President’s House stands as a testament to his commitment to national pride and architectural heritage. These projects are not merely symbolic; they represent the preservation of Trinidad and Tobago’s history and identity.
(Copyright Office of the President.)
Under his leadership, critical infrastructure projects have been realized, including the soon-to-be-opened new Tobago Airport terminal—an achievement that should be celebrated rather than dismissed.
Additionally, his steadfast leadership during the Covid-19 pandemic safeguarded the lives of thousands of Trinbagonians, a fact that even his harshest critics should acknowledge.
Dr Rowley’s tenure has been one of perseverance in the face of adversity. He has battled for Trinidad and Tobago, not just against economic challenges but against forces that would see progress undone for political gain.
Photo: OPM
His leadership has restored dignity to the Office of the Prime Minister, ensured the preservation of national institutions, and fought to protect the lives of citizens.
Dennise Demming and others may seek to diminish his contributions, but history will remember the truth. His legacy is not one of economic ruin, inefficiency, or failure—it is one of standing firm for the people of Trinidad and Tobago.
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Miss Demming article did seem one sided but this rebuttal is absolute bullocks. A disrespect to neutral people intelligence. Two terms with a majority government and then blame red tape and public servants for failure to diversify the economy !
Another loyalist trying to defend yet another failed legacy.
ChatGPT, impartial as always, agrees Rowley is perhaps the best prime minister at mismanaging Trinidad and Tobago.
Well penned Abdon…