PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC) – The former leader of Trinidad and Tobago’s People’s National Movement (PNM) party, Dr Keith Rowley, on Tuesday dismissed accusations that the headquarters of the country’s main Opposition had been financed by drug funds.

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar last Friday alleged in the Trinidad and Tobago Parliament that the headquarters, known as Balisier House, had been financed with drug money and that the party is in “cahoots with criminals” while alleging also that they are protecting “drug-mafia financiers”.

The parliamentary statement followed previous accusations made by the prime minister in October 2025, where she alleged the PNM was a “narco-party” funded by a “local drug mafia”.

Speaking at a news conference, Rowley, who had stepped down as prime minister prior to last April’s general elections that the PNM lost to Persad-Bissessar’s United National Congress (UNC) led coalition, said he was disappointed with her remarks.

He said for 70 years, the PNM had been involved in the politics of the country both in government and in opposition “and the prime minister, who has converted our nation into a vassal state, gives a notification that she has an important statement to make in the Parliament”.

He said he had to pay attention “because my prime minister is making an important statement.

“I’m still literally a news junkie. And that is what the prime minister goes to the Parliament to say. Well, today, I want to tell Mrs Kamala Prasad-Bissessar, …I joined the PNM in 1974, I held high office in the PNM from 1987. I served the PNM in opposition, in government, as a minister of government, and I led the party for 15 years.

“The last 15 years before this statement, I led this party. And today, when the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago goes to the Parliament and says that work that took place in Balisier House under my stewardship was funded by narco-terrorists…,” Rowley said, saying her accusations were made without “an iota of evidence”.

Rowley said that given Persad-Bissessar’s close relationship with United States President Donald Trump and his so-called war on narco-trafficking he has “to expect now that they’ll come and pick me up here and carry me away like (former Venezuelan president Nicolas) Maduro too.

“Because that’s what he was accused of. So far, I have not seen the evidence. There’s a court matter in the United States if it ever comes to that. And we expect that if judicial processes prevail in Washington or wherever else in New York, that evidence will be brought forward.

“But to be accused of narco-trafficking? And you know who was beating that pan behind the Maduro story? Kamala Persad-Bissessar,” Rowley told reporters, adding that she does not care if her behaviour is damaging the country’s image.

“… you don’t care that you’re damaging the country’s image with this lie…the prime minister is telling the Parliament that the previous prime minister was engaged with narcotraffickers,” Rowley said, describing narcotrafficking as “big business in some countries in South America”.

Rowley also took issue with the decision of the Trinidad and Tobago government to be part of the Shield of Americas project, a multinational security and military initiative established by Trump in March 2026 to strengthen regional cooperation against transnational crime, narco-terrorist networks, and illegal immigration, while countering Chinese influence. It focuses on intelligence-sharing and right-wing allied partnerships.

Rowley said that the project is also well known for the countries not involved such as Mexico, Brazil, Colombia, and Canada. Guyana is the only Caribbean Community (Caricom) involved in the project.

Rowley wondered aloud as to whether those involved were consolidating their position regarding extra judicial killings that have been taking place under the guise of dealing with narco-trafficking.

“… if you have to believe what the US President …is saying is that this means that the countries who signed on are now going to go harder. That’s the term they use. Harder against these cartels. Agree to use lethal force.

“And I think the President would have said, just point them out to us and we will deal with them. And a big question we had for the prime minister and the defence minister…what does this mean for the due process?

“What does this mean for evidence gathering, prosecution? …and that is precisely why I took time out in the earlier part of this conversation to dwell on this issue of the government of Trinidad and Tobago from the mouth of the prime minister, saying, I support your policy.

“And the policy that is being supported is one of acting outside of the judicial process. And don’t fool yourself. Our prime minister made statements to that effect before the Secretary of War (Pete Hegseth) talk about that.

“Who said kill them violently? Who told our Coast Guard here before this thing blew up the way it blew up to shoot, I can’t remember the exact words, but literally take no prisoners, blow them out the water.”

Rowley told reporters that it all ties into a conversation inside the country where Persad-Bissessar has been telling law abiding citizens to empty the gun on persons involved in house invasions and other criminal activities.

“So if you are a fisherman anywhere around this territory, Trinidad or Tobago, and the Coast Guard of Trinidad and Tobago decide to say that they suspect you are involved in narco-trafficking, all they have to do is to wipe you out.

“And that is justified in the war against narco-trafficking. They don’t have to bring you in. They don’t have to bring in any evidence. They suspect and they act. That is what we have signed on to.”

Rowley said he is also astonished that the Attorney General, John Jeremie has informed the country that he has advice from a British-based legal counsel “that it is okay to kill people on the waters around us without a shred of evidence.

“So the answer to your question is, yes, I expect them to do that because that is now the policy. hat’s what I’m objecting to,” he said, warning of a “destruction of our society and a damage to the standing of Trinidad and Tobago in the world”.