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| UNC Political Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar holds hands with her spouse, Dr Gregory Bissessar and UNC Chairman Jack Warner at the launch of the UNC's Learning Academy |
She said on Friday that is the only reason she has decided to the country for a day during the State of Emergency. She added that she would have preferred to stay at home but the meetings are too critical to regional development to miss.
She was speaking at the launch of a Learning Academy for her political party - the United National Congress at the party’s Rienzi Complex, Couva headquarters.
Persad-Bissessar is scheduled to deliver a statement on the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) at the 66th Session of the United Nations General Assembly.
Later that day, she will also participate in an interactive panel discussion on the achievements and challenges in the prevention and control of NCDs, which is being hosted by Heads of State and Governments of the Caribbean Community (Caricom) in collaboration with the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) and the World Health Organisation (WHO).
“I am advised by the Minister of Foreign Affairs that the Caricom has requested and chosen for Trinidad and Tobago, your Prime Minister, to lead that debate,” she explained.
“I really prefer to stay at home, I love Trinidad and Tobago and its people, but with that request and the importance of it to lead this debate, I go for one day only,” she said.
“I leave on Sunday night and will come back on Monday night, so forgive me for going for one day. I would like to stay, I really would, but I think these two events are very important for Trinidad and Tobago and for the Caricom and so I ask for your permission to go for one day.”
Persad-Bissessar used the opportunity to comment on the State of Emergency, saying “something good” is happening.
“I am advised by the Minister of Foreign Affairs that the Caricom has requested and chosen for Trinidad and Tobago, your Prime Minister, to lead that debate,” she explained.
“I really prefer to stay at home, I love Trinidad and Tobago and its people, but with that request and the importance of it to lead this debate, I go for one day only,” she said.
“I leave on Sunday night and will come back on Monday night, so forgive me for going for one day. I would like to stay, I really would, but I think these two events are very important for Trinidad and Tobago and for the Caricom and so I ask for your permission to go for one day.”
Persad-Bissessar used the opportunity to comment on the State of Emergency, saying “something good” is happening.
"Yesterday (Thursday) we had one of the largest drug busts in the history of this country, 30 million dollars worth of ganja, found in a container at Plipdeco...Something good, God is good, something good is happening,” she said.
She also made reference to a speech made earlier in the day by Chief Justice Ivor Archie at the ceremonial opening of the law term. Archie made the point that contrary to"uninformed" opinion the Constitution had not been suspended during the State of Emergency.
She also made reference to a speech made earlier in the day by Chief Justice Ivor Archie at the ceremonial opening of the law term. Archie made the point that contrary to"uninformed" opinion the Constitution had not been suspended during the State of Emergency.
She agreed, noting that citizens still able to access the courts.
“So while you are under a state of emergency, and while some of your freedoms are restricted, as the CJ said restricted temporarily, I think it is well worth it,” she said.
With respect to the UNC Academy, Persad-Bissessar said it would train its future leaders, as well as strengthen the party’s institutional mechanisms and election machinery.
“So while you are under a state of emergency, and while some of your freedoms are restricted, as the CJ said restricted temporarily, I think it is well worth it,” she said.
With respect to the UNC Academy, Persad-Bissessar said it would train its future leaders, as well as strengthen the party’s institutional mechanisms and election machinery.
“This UNC Academy launch tonight is a visionary institution which will propel our party and our people into a future of politics. Through this initiative, the UNC will pioneer the development of a modern, disciplined and innovate party,” she said.
“Based on efficient structure and policies, we will continue the development of people-centered politics and people centered government. This UNC Academy we launch today is designed to teach our members, and learn from them as well," she said adding that "through it we will improve our structure, improve our campaign methods, election day machinery and party organisation.”
She acknowledged the need for succession planning. “Now I am very young, at heart, but I will not be here with you forever and so we must nurture, we must educate and we must lift up those of you of this party that will be the future leaders and so this academy will produce the future leaders.
“This is not a training ground for only the youths, many of our street captains, executives of constituencies, activists, they can and they must come in and receive training in one area or the other. There is something for everyone in this UNC Academy.”
“Based on efficient structure and policies, we will continue the development of people-centered politics and people centered government. This UNC Academy we launch today is designed to teach our members, and learn from them as well," she said adding that "through it we will improve our structure, improve our campaign methods, election day machinery and party organisation.”
She acknowledged the need for succession planning. “Now I am very young, at heart, but I will not be here with you forever and so we must nurture, we must educate and we must lift up those of you of this party that will be the future leaders and so this academy will produce the future leaders.
“This is not a training ground for only the youths, many of our street captains, executives of constituencies, activists, they can and they must come in and receive training in one area or the other. There is something for everyone in this UNC Academy.”
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