PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, Aug 28, CMC – Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley Wednesday defended the decision to replace the three ships of the Spanish explorer, Christopher Columbus on the Trinidad and Tobago Coat of Arms and replace them with the national instrument, the steelpan.
Addressing a special convention of the ruling People’s National Movement (PNM) earlier this month, Rowley said that the change is expected to be finalised before Republic Day on September 24, with a six-month transition period to facilitate changes to stationery and other official materials.
But his announcement has met with division n the public with some politicians and historians indicating that it was being done without proper consultation and is designed to help the government win the 2025 general election.
Speaking at the weekly post Cabinet news conference, Prime Minister Rowley defended also making the statement at a PNM convention, saying “if the government tells party members that the government intends to do this and do that, why is it offensive.
“They cannot do it in secret,” he added.
(Details in Politics section)
CMC/2024