PM slams PNM and Manning, calls them "hypocrites"

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar on Sunday called the opposition People's National Movement (PNM) "hypocrites" and questioned their loyalty to the Trinidad & Tobago's security agencies.

Persad-Bissessar was speaking at the launch of the People's Bridge of Hope Christmas campaign in Penal, where she handed out hampers to her constituents.

She used the opportunity to respond to former Prime Minister Patrick Manning who said on Saturday he had doubts about the credibility of the government's statement that there was a threat to assassinate the prime minister and top members of her cabinet.

He also accused the government of creating the issue to have an excuse for prolonging the State of Emergency, which is supposed to end on December 5. Persad-Bissessar has said more than once that at the present time the government doesn't have any plan to extend the emergency.

Reponding to the PNM and especially Manning, she said: "They should be the last persons to speak. You will recall that it was the PNM who created a private army to protect Mr. Manning.

"TT $18 million per year of tax payers' money on a private security force; it's a private army (of) over 100 persons. They had no faith or confidence in our police service, our Defence Force and therefore they created this private army around them," she aded.

Persad-Bissessar also dismissed Manning's statement that the country's image would be tarnished by news reports about the assassination plot.

"I think if the country is safer, the country feels safer," she said. "The crime statistics are very clear that crime is down and therefore that can only redound to our benefit. I do not see a negative impact toward tourism."

She added, "Certainly around the world there is heightened security in many, many nations. There is evil in the world that has to be countered.

"We would continue to fight evil and to fight the criminals. I am not deterred, I am not of the view that the country will suffer. In fact, investments are coming in faster than you can count."

Persad-Bissessar said she would continue to act on the instructions of the security forces. “Any threat to the security of the nation is my concern,” she said.

“We are following the advice given by the security forces and we are putting the control mechanisms to ensure there is safety and security, law and order and this is the best we can do.” 

She said she had no reason to fabricate the threat, nor was she about to prematurely divulge details of the plot. 

“I will take no chances and no risks because it will be reckless, foolhardy and ‘dotish’ for us to divulge any further details on this assassination plot,” she said. “A threat to assassinate might be personal in some respects, but it is a threat to the State to destabilise the nation and that is dangerous to the entire nation.”

Persad-Bissessar took issue with the Opposition. “It is very saddening in a way that here is someone who purports to be an alternative Prime Minister and he is saying should the security forces advise him of a matter and make recommendations, he will not act on those recommendations.” 

She also dismissed Manning and his call for a new election. “The population will have an opportunity to vote on our credibility in due course...I believe we do have the support of the majority of population and we will do the best we can to serve the population,” she said.