Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar SC has dismissed Friday’s protest against her Government as a “failed” demonstration, taking aim at the turnout and accusing those behind the march of being driven by racial and political hatred.
In a social media statement on Friday afternoon, hours after the march involving some unions and Opposition MPs had ended, the Prime Minister shared an aerial photograph of an area near the Red House in Port of Spain showing a relatively small group of protesters.
She claimed that those she accused of benefiting from the previous PNM administration had failed to turn out in significant numbers.
“The fake eat a food elite, local drug mafia, and the rich Indians, Chinese and middle easterners who the PNM MPs enriched at the expense of the working and middle classes during their time in government failed to show up in their numbers in POS.”
The Prime Minister went on to state that today’s “failed” protest was an indication that the population had rejected what she described as racial and political hatred.
“Anything done because of racial and political hatred towards others will always fail. Hopefully the few persons involved got the opportunity to ask PNM MPs about their failure to pay back pay, increase salaries and offer more than zero per cent increases over the last ten years.”
Mrs Persad-Bissessar commended the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service for maintaining order throughout the march, saying officers ensured there was no violence against law-abiding citizens along the route who were not involved in the protest.
She also thanked the unions and union leaders who did not participate, adding that they continued to work with the Government to address outstanding matters.
“We appreciate your patience, and we will work to ensure that all your outstanding issues are resolved as soon as possible.”
The Prime Minister closed her statement by revisiting a message from her political campaign last year, declaring that while Trinidad and Tobago may have leaders before and after her, none would love the country more than she does.