Kamla says no one will intimidate her government; pledges to complete 5-year mandate

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar celebrated Divali with the Siparia Women’s Association at her constituency office in Penal on Saturday night and assured them that her People's Partnership government is stable and doing well.

"Let not your hearts be troubled," she said, the day after the People's National Movement (PNM) and its supporters marched in Port-of-Spain demanding that she fire Attorney General Anand Ramlogan and National Security Minister Jack Warner.

Persad-Bissessar did not comment on the march but she praised the ministers who were the targets of the opposition.

And as she wished Mother Lakshmi's blessing on everyone she made it clear that she won't let anyone intimidate her or her government. 

"May you continue to grow from strength to strength and know this always, you gave us a mandate for five years and we of the government will make sure to honour that mandate for the full five years. We are not afraid. We will not be deterred. We will not be intimidated. We will do what is right when it is right,” she said.

She said the "divine light" would always guide her government. "I give you this assurance when wrong comes to light I will deal with it and when right comes to light I will praise it."

She added, "So my members of my government here tonight, I praise each and every one of them who have come and those who had other engagements...give them a good Siparia/Penal round of applause,” she said. 

“And may I repeat, let not your hearts be troubled. We have gone through some rough pathways and some rough waters but the ship sails smoothly on. The sails are very strong.”

Ramlogan, who was present at the celbration, spoke briefly at the event, reinforcing the Prime Minister's sentiments. “I want to say that the ship is in safe and very strong and capable hands,” he said. 

"The light of deya to me symbolises the light of justice and that light of justice will shine brightly under leadership of Kamla Persad-Bissessar and all those who are guilty of injustice, Lakshmi Mata will give us the strength to bring them to justice.”