[UPDATED] Kamla: 'Get rid of sedition laws'

JUST as colonial masters used sedition laws to silence anyone who opposed them, so too is the Prime Minister said the Opposition Leader who accused him of using "massa laws" to lock up people for expressing themselves.

Kamla Persad-Bissessar was speaking at the UNC’s Monday Night Forum at Preysal High School in Couva where she called for the law to be repealed. This law has no place in a democratic society and has been abolished in other countries including England and New Zealand, she said.

She told supporters: "There is no question that this Government shows all signs of dictatorship. They try to pass laws to allow them to seize your property if they accused you of a crime. They just have to accuse you of a crime."

Referring to the Cybercrime Bill, the political leader warned citizens including the media saying the Government wanted to pass it to criminalise people’s freedom of speech— whether on social or mainstream media.

Persad-Bissessar expressed fears that Dr Keith Rowley and his Government intended to misuse the Sedition Act to target all those whom they though were speaking against them. She urged citizens not to be afraid to speak out against what she called a wicked and corrupt Government.

"Soon the whole country would be condemning your Government and I want to see you lock up all the good right-thinking citizens of TT."

Another threat is outrage culture. This is where people "play the victim card and bend over backwards to feel offended as much as they could."

"So, they pretend to play the victim. They are not offended really. People on social and mainstream media constantly rage against one another. They enjoy taking offence to everything to the detriment of our society. This causes outrage culture. This has become a serious self-inflicted impediment to free speech."

She said the original intent for outrage culture was to call out the oppressors and bring serious issues to light. But it is instead being used to commit covert racism, she told supporters.

"It is being used in our country to silence dissenting opinions. This should not happen no matter how disagreeable their different perspectives seem. So, through the weapons of outrage culture and silencing they will attempt to smear me and the UNC."

She also called on the UNC family and citizens to think about and pray for the people in the Bahamas where Hurricane Dorian was causing havoc and claiming lives. She thanked the TT Manufacturers Association for preparing to send supplies to the Bahamas and urged supporters to join and help the people. She urged them to use the constituencies and councillors’ offices to drop off items.

"In the meantime, I hope the Government of TT will get its act together to help them. It could have been us. Let us put our hands together and help them."

Central MP Dr Bhoendradatt Tewarie also addressed supporters and said the values of a nation striving to be better were being assaulted every day.

Tewarie accused the Prime Minister of buffing people and praised the Opposition Leader whom he referred to as the next prime minister.

"Kamla ever buff you up or disrespect you? Is Rowley buffing up everybody and has no respect for anybody. Kamla take away your job? Is Rowley do that."

This story has been adjusted to include additional details. See original post below.

JUST as colonial masters used sedition laws to silent anyone who opposed them, so too is the Prime Minister said the Opposition Leader who accused him of using “massa laws" to lock up people for expressing themselves.

Kamla Persad-Bissessar was speaking last night at the United National Congress’ Monday Night Forum at Preysal High School in Couva where she called for the law to be repealed. The law has been abolished in other countries including England.

She told supporters: “There is no question that this Government shows all signs of dictatorship. They try to pass laws to allow them to seize your property, if they accused you of a crime. They just have to accuse you of a crime.”

Referring to the Cybercrime Bill, the political leader warned citizens including the media saying the Government wants to pass it to criminalise people’s freedom of speech― whether on social or mainstream media.

Persad-Bissessar expressed fears that Dr Keith Rowley and his Government intend misuse the Sedition Act to target all those whom they think are speaking against them. She urged citizens not be afraid to speak out against what she called a wicked and corrupt Government.

“Soon the whole country would be condemning your Government and I want to see you lock up all the good right-thinking citizens of TT.”

Another threat is outrage culture. This is where people “play the victim card and bend over backward to feel offended as much as they could.”

“So, they pretend to play the victim. They are not offended really. People on social and mainstream media constantly rage against one another. They enjoy taking offence to everything to the determent of our society. This causes outrage culture. This has become a serious self-inflicted impediment to free speech.”

She also called on the UNC family and citizens to think about and prayed for the people in Bahamas where Hurricane Dorian is causing havoc and claiming lives.

Also addressing supporters was Central MP Dr Bhoendradatt Tewarie who said the values of a nation striving to be better are being assaulted every day.

Tewarie accused the Prime Minister of bouffing people and praised the Opposition Leader whom he referred to as the next prime minister.

“Kamla ever bouff you up or disrespect you? Is Rowley bouffing up everybody and has no respect for anybody. Kamla take away your job? Is Rowley do that,” he said.