PM Kamla pledges to protect citizens, won't let nation be held to ransom

JYOTI has published below the full text of a statement made Friday by PM Kamla Persad-Bissessar in Port of Spain:

I wish to congratulate the members of the Police Service whom I interacted with today and who represent thousands of officers in the Service that understand the critical importance of their oath to protect and serve the citizens of this country.

We all share a high regard and appreciation for our dedicated police officers and the work they carry out everyday.

I make this point to emphasise that the offer by the CPO in the labour negotiations isn't a measure of the value placed on the work of the courageous and self sacrificing policemen and policewomen in Trinidad and Tobago but it is a question of what the country can afford at this time and our need to be prudent in the way we manage our financial affairs.

I wish to also assure the national community that the government has not taken lightly the threat that members of the Police Service may fail to carry out their duties to protect the lives of innocent men, women and children.

We will not stand idly by and witness this wanton act of abandonment and dereliction of duty take place without an appropriate measured response. Please be assured that the Ministry of National Security has taken every measure necessary to deal with any eventuality in the protection of the citizens of this nation.

We are all in this together. The deployment of all the necessary resources available to the state stand ready, willing and able to be deployed in ensuring that the nation is not held to ransom.

This is a time for reasonableness not irresponsibility. But if the voice of reason fails to be heard and the threats of irresponsibility are carried out, we will meet it with all the resolve in the world in defense and interest of the very people those who advocate and perpetrate these acts proclaim to represent.

I am proud of those who have come forward as true patriots in defense of the nation; those who understand that there is no divide in a situation where the country loses.

So let the nation know, the government is on everyone's side. We're open to continuing dialogue but we close ranks and protect the interests of Trinidad and Tobago whenever it becomes necessary to do so.