By Andre Bagoo Monday, September 14 2009

DIEGO MARTIN West MP Dr Keith Rowley is today expected to speak during the Budget debate, setting the stage for what could be a repeat of last year’s debate which saw fireworks between him and his political leader Prime Minister Patrick Manning.

Rowley is expected to be the second Government speaker during today’s debate which will kick-off at 10am and will also see Siparia MP Kamla Persad-Bissessar speak from the Opposition benches.

Rowley, a former Housing Minister, will speak about the Prime Minister’s announcement on Friday that the Government has now returned to its target of delivering 8,000 houses per year as well as other issues. He is also expected to discuss Udecott and the Uff Commission of Inquiry.

The Diego Martin MP yesterday warned that this year could very well see a repeat of the events of September 30, 2008 when he last spoke in a Budget debate.

“You saw what happened last year. Let’s see what happens this year. I got myself almost skinned alive then. But I am just going to do what I am supposed to do according to my oath in office,” he said.

Rowley was stripped of his Cabinet post of Trade and Industry Minister by Manning in April last year. That incident triggered a series of exchanges between himself and Manning and which saw Rowley publically bringing into question the operations of the State-owned Urban Development Corporation (Udecott). Rowley led the call for a commission of inquiry into Udecott, but this was resisted at first by the Government.

However, an inquiry was established in September last year. During the Budget debate later that month, Rowley criticised the Office of the Prime Minister for holding a meeting with officials of Sunway Construction Caribbean Limited, notwithstanding concerns over links between that company and the Udecott executive chairman Calder Hart.

After Rowley did this, Manning, setting a precedent, requested a special extension of the Standing Orders from House Speaker Barry Sinanan in order for him to have unlimited speaking time.

When Manning’s initial speaking time of 45 minutes was nearly up, Leader of Government Business Colm Imbert moved that the Speaker suspend the standing orders in relation to speaking time (Standing Order 41) under Standing Order 90. The bold move was described by Speaker Barry Sinanan as “extraordinary”. But the speaker granted the request.

However, Manning went on to use the time to present a sustained attack against Rowley, raising questions over a $10 million discrepancy in the Cleaver Heights housing project. The Prime Minister famously asked, “Where the money gone?” But the $10 million claim was later dismissed by a series of reports.