Indarsingh Slams Government, Police for Arresting Peaceful Protestors
It is regrettable that today, the police executed initiative to arrest a number of protesters outside of the Parliament in a clear indication that our democracy is currently being compromised.
My understanding is that concerned citizens of this country decided to simply hold up placards while adhering to social distancing and Covid-19 protocols.
What is worse is that the placards expressed concern for the shambled, vagabond state of the education sector, and were standing for the rights of our nation’s children.
My understanding is that there was no rowdiness, no violence, no obscene language nor any aggravated behaviour on the part of the citizens arrested. They were not disturbing the peace, obstructing pedestrian traffic nor interfering with vehicular traffic.
It is an increasingly sad state of affairs when innocent, patriotic, concerned citizens can continuously be detained by the police, under the guise of maintaining order, but effectively, staining the democracy and freedom of expression in the country.
If these were pro-PNM activists, would these citizens have been arrested? Were they arrested because they were against the state of affairs under the PNM?
This Government and the Police Service must be strongly condemned need to both be and be seen as acting in the interest of democracy for all, and not the defense of political partisan interests.
RUDRANATH INDARSINGH
Member of Parliament for Couva South and SHADOW RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND TOBAGO AFFAIRS.