October 18, 2020
PM: I Never Held Meeting About British MP
Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley on Sunday condemned a newspaper report which claimed he had talks with British High Commissioner Harriet Cross regarding an MP in the British Parliament, Steven Baker.
Describing the report as erroneous, a brief statement from the Office of the Prime Minister stated on Sunday:
“Prime Minister Dr the Hon Keith Rowley indicated recently that he met with the newly-appointed British High Commissioner to the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, Her Excellency Harriet Cross at Whitehall on (Tuesday 13th October, 2020). Contrary to media reports Prime Minister Rowley never indicated the subject of this meeting. Please note Dr Rowley also did not say that the meeting included a discussion on British Member of Parliament Steven Baker.”
Last week, MP Baker made a call on behalf of T&T citizens stranded in his constituency, calling for government to make a concerted effort to have them repatriated.
In response, Dr. Rowley, during a PNM Post Budget meeting, accused the British MP of being an “itinerant UK MP,” whom he said the United National Congress had found to raise the issue in the UK Parliament.
He added that Baker should “try to get back the money that they (the UNC) thief” if he had a sincere interest in the wellbeing of T&T citizens.
One day later, MP Baker, in a Facebook comment posted without any direct reference to the PM, said “I would never have imagined that showing some simple compassion for people stuck away from home would generate so much controversy. God bless you all.”