The UNC has slammed the Prime Minister’s recent statement that his Government has put things in place to “save the day and the future of Trinidad and Tobago”.

The PM’s comments followed a statement from Energy Minister Stuart Young, as he accused a predecessor, Kevin Ramnarine of attempting to shift the blame for non-negotiation of gas supply contracts to the National Gas Company.

In a Facebook post, Dr Keith Rowley listed six matters:

• Resuscitating, revitalizing and saving the Energy sector, including the restructuring of Petrotrin.
• Managing the society and economy during the COVID, pandemic.
• ⁠Responding to an escalating crisis of violent crime and widespread criminality.
• Local Government Reform.
• ⁠Modernization of the tax collection systems.
• Reduction of waste in the budgeting process and elimination of corruption.

He went on to say “We have had significant successes in these priority areas but there is a lot more to be done.”

In a statement issued in response, the UNC accused the PM of a “cruel April Fool’s joke” by boasting about the economy while ignoring other issues such as the murder rate.

The party also contended that the local economy is not better off, as it continued criticism of the decision to close the Petrotrin refinery.

It maintained that Petrotrin, in fact, contributed to the Treasury, contributed to foreign exchange reserves, and conserved foreign exchange by producing fuel, by-products, and bitumen for the domestic market.