Bring It On

PM: We will mash them up

ON the eve of today’s debate in the Parliament on a no-confidence motion brought against Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar by Opposition leader Dr Keith Rowley, Persad-Bissessar yesterday told her supporters she was not afraid of persons who wanted to take her job. 

Persad-Bissessar addressed hundreds gathered at her private residence at Phillipine, South Trinidad, in a mobilisation meeting of the People’s Partnership and United National Congress, which celebrates its third anniversary in office on Friday.

She also told reporters she feels “very energised” and the Partnership was strong and solid.

“Let them talk. I am not afraid of them anymore,” the Prime Minister said. “They want to take my job and I am not afraid of them. Tomorrow if you want to come outside the Parliament, you can come. But when we finish with them, we will really mash them up.”

The motion which is to be debated reads: Whereas the sanctity of the Parliament and lawfully constituted institutions and other authorities are fundamental to our democracy and must be protected at all times; and Whereas by a series of actions, the UNC-led Government of Trinidad and Tobago under the leadership of the Prime Minister, has attacked and conspired to undermine key institutions of State, namely: The Judiciary; The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions; The Parliamentary Opposition; and The Media; and Whereas other Members of the Cabinet of Trinidad and Tobago, specifically, the Attorney General and the Minister of Local Government have also participated in such attacks against these important institutions of our democracy: Be it resolved that this House confirms its loss of confidence in the Prime Minister and the Government of Trinidad and Tobago.

On Thursday, Communications Minister Jamal Mohammed told reporters at the post-Cabinet media briefing the debate is expected to be a “marathon one”, which is expected to last at least two days.

All Government Members of Parliament would speak, Mohammed had said, on the motion of no-confidence against Persad-Bissessar and the Government, and which also targets Attorney General Anand Ramlogan and Local Government Minister Suruj Rambachan.

Persad-Bissessar told her supporters she was not afraid of criticism. Referring to a front page picture in the Express on February 15, 2012, of her wearing a pair of gold-coloured leather and sequined “sneaker boots” by French luxury brand Louis Vuitton, she said: “They even they took a picture of my very beautiful boots and put it on the front page… I overs them long time.”

Persad-Bissessar said over the last three years as Prime Minister there were many challenges, but she thanked her supporters for keeping her strong. She called on them to remain focused within the party and the Government.

“Nothing is going to stop us now. Three years have passed, two more are to go, and then another term. Heaven help us if the PNM (People’s National Movement) gets back into office. We must make sure that they never get back into power. Nothing is wrong with wanting more. It is not for us to kick up, and beat and climb over each other. We must help others, there are those who have nothing.”

Asked about the nominations for candidates for the upcoming election of the Chaguanas West seat, Persad-Bissessar said the party had four nominees.

Asked about whether Jack Warner, who resigned as Chaguanas West MP and chairman of the UNC, will be part of the selection process, she said: “As far as I am aware, Mr Warner remains a member of the UNC. As any other member of the UNC, he is entitled to file a nomination. The party then has a process which it goes through for screening and selection of the specific seat.”

The Prime Minister said yesterday’s meeting was in celebration of the People’s Partnership third anniversary in government and to mobilise supporters for a celebration being planned for Friday at the Mid-Centre Mall in Chaguanas.
In attendance were MPs, senators, constituency executives and party activists.

Express