PM dispels talk about rift between him and ‘The Professor’ Perez

There is no rift between Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves and Leonardo “The Professor” Perez, the former consultant engineer at the construction site of the international airport.{{more}}

While addressing Parliament on Monday, Gonsalves said there were rumours going about that Perez had left the country after an argument with him. But the Prime Minister said that the Government had wanted Perez to stay.

“We were all satisfied with him,” he said.

Gonsalves explained that, based on internal rules with the Cuban state-owned company, Perez’s stay here had been prolonged.

He added that Perez was coming close to his retirement and needed to return to Cuba to finalise all the relevant retirement arrangements.

It was noted, however, that the Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez Parilla indicated to the local government that once Perez had completed what was needed to be done, he could be re-hired.

“But the way people say things and write them as if it is fact — I can’t every minute of the day respond to untruths; I can’t do that, because I will spend most of my day responding to untruths,” he said.

Gonsalves said that he was not prepared to let anyone take him off course.

Perez left the state in April this year, and according to the Prime Minister, his replacement has already been sent. (DD)