A GROUP of conscientious nationals is planning a protest against Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley’s support of $3 billion in loans from an African bank to local elites.
The local citizens say they are upset over the funding from the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) being diverted to the Caribbean Public Sector Organisation (CPSO).
The CPSO is made up of billionaire Caribbean businessmen who lead successful organisations.
The Afreximbank funds are meant to assist small businesses to grow, and to develop public infrastructure.
CPSO operatives are all involved in big private sector entrepreneurship.
The financing is being made available in light of the African Union’s declaration of the Caribbean Diaspora as Africa’s sixth region.
News of the funds being allocated to business elites was reported exclusively here.
“This is outrageous,” one organiser of the planned public protest said.
“The Prime Minister must be exposed.
“This is immoral and a violation of the spirit of the financial support.”
He said the issue will be ventilated leading to the public demonstration.
The organiser said international organisations will be alerted to what he termed “serious injustice and discrimination.”
Rowley referred to the funding in a speech during his recent visit to Ghana but has not discussed the matter locally.
This has led to speculation that the Government is handling the matter with secrecy and will not account for its support of allotments to big business.
Afreximbank opened a Caricom office in Barbados last year, and its President Benedict Oramah called for “mutually identified priorities” to be identified.
Policies of the Rowley Government have generally been seen as favouring the privileged class.
During the administration’s tenure, the wealth gap has increased, with conglomerates reporting historic profits.
Rowley has been accused by certain national commentators, including Professor Selwyn Cudjoe, of bias against people of African ancestry.
Cudjoe has criticised the administration for its “treatment of Black people.”
Interestingly, Rowley said five years ago that “African people not doing well as expected.”
He said that Afro-Trinidadians are “under-performing.”
Afreximbank is 31 years old and has funded major developmental projects on the African continent and other areas of the world.
The bank’s assets and guarantees were valued 18 months ago at US $31 billion.
Rowley recently announced that Emancipation Day will carry the prefix “African.”
But commentators on the Afreximbank-CPSO matter say the Prime Minister is not introducing measures to empower the Afro-T&T community.
