Information Minister Neil Parsanlal yesterday appeared to have conceded that the installation of a $2 million flag at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Port of Spain, was a mistake.
Parsanlal was asked to reflect on Government’s achievements and mistakes over the past two years during the post-Cabinet press conference at the Diplomatic Centre in St Ann’s.
He was at ease answering its achievements, reciting a number of its measures and programmes.
Government’s biggest mistake?
’I am yet to decide which one,’ he said.
Asked whether it was the $2 million flag, he said: ’As I have said, we have made mistakes and mistakes remain mistakes if you don’t learn the lesson from them. We have learnt from our mistakes.
’The Government of Trinidad and Tobago is not the repository of wisdom and knowledge in the country. We are quite willing to acknowledge that we have made mistakes over the past two years, but we have learnt from them. Wisdom comes when we learn the lessons.’
Parsanlal’s response appeared to be in stark contrast with that of Sport Minister Gary Hunt, who has strenuously defended the expenditure, saying the flag would instill national pride for generations to come.
He added that the most humbling experiences have come from listening and interacting with the people in the constituency.
Parsanlal said the learning curve of all ministers, including those who were not new, has been steep because, he noted, there was no manual on being a Cabinet minister.
He said significant achievements which have impacted on the quality of people’s lives in Trinidad and Tobago included water taxi, fast ferry, opening of the Interchange, expansion of PTSC fleet and routes, opening of Early Childhood Care Education centres, increase in health care centres and increases in pension and other social services grants.
Parsanlal was not prepared to comment on statements made about him by Independent Senator Dana Seetahal.
However, on suggestions that Seetahal implied that he was a ’bush lawyer’, Parsanlal said he was sure she did not do that.
’Honourable senators don’t call Government ministers ’bush lawyers’,’ he said, perhaps tongue-in-cheek.
He said Government had asked that the matter be referred to the Privileges Committee and he would leave it to the Deputy Speaker, Pennelope Beckles, ’a competent attorney, not a bush lawyer’, to make a determination.
Beckles is expected to rule on the matter at today’s sitting of the House of Representatives.
