PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC) — Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago Dr Keith Rowley says he will resign from office on March 16.
He was speaking during a ceremony on Wednesday morning to rename the D’Abadie/O’Meara Road the Lisa Morris-Julian Boulevard.
“As prime minister, I too am ending my tenure of public service — thankfully, not sadly — but with a certain amount of satisfaction that I have been able to have colleagues around me and been given the responsibility to chart a course of development for this country for some time,” he said.
He stated that many people in public life do not believe or forget that service in public life is for a period — no matter how good or important they are.
“As I conclude several assignments in these weeks, I do so with some satisfaction that my presence among my colleagues and the national community would have contributed to national development and that I would have done something good with you and for you,” he said.
He noted that, just like in a household, the national budgetary process is never sufficient to accomplish everything that is desired, especially when multiple projects need to be undertaken simultaneously.
“So, we have to accept that it is not feasible to do all that we want to do at the same time such things are required. We have to plan, we have to execute, we have to prioritise,” he said.
The prime minister also reflected on his Government’s achievements and pointed to roadworks across the country, citing projects in the east in Toco, the west with the Diego Martin Highway and the creation of a new town center, the south-west with the completion of the Point Fortin Highway, and ongoing works in Chaguanas.
He said the projects have enhanced mobility and ease of transportation, saving time and fuel, and contributing to national efficiency.
Rowley added that before demitting office, on March 10, he will inaugurate the Central Block of the Port of Spain General Hospital.
He also said that on March 15, he will open the new ANR Robinson Airport terminal building.
“As we do that, I leave you on the 16th of March as prime minister of Trinidad and Tobago,” he said.