Kamla: No procurement law, no UNC support

TAKING a defiant stand on Monday night, Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar threatened the government that her party will withhold support for its legislative agenda, unless the procurement legislation is proclaimed.

There have been calls for the anti-gang legislation to be brought back to Parliament, since the Opposition abstained from voting for it last Friday. But Persad-Bissessar asserted, “No procurement, no support.”

She quoted Commissioner of Police Gary Griffith's statement some time ago that Government was funding gangs through contracts, but because of covid19 not many contracts are being awarded, so there is less gang activity.

“We say bring on the procurement legislation. Let us starve the gangs of the funding by having proper processes for giving them contracts. Bring on procurement so white-collar gangs could also be dealt with – friends, families and financiers.”

At her party’s Monday night meeting, she said the procurement law is vital not just for fighting the gangs, “but fighting corruption at the highest level, in the disposal of property and with respect to hiring people for goods and services.”

Referring to the proposed sale of National Petroleum service stations, privatisation of the Port of Port of Spain and the controversial sale of the Pointe-a-Pierre refinery and port, she said without procurement legislation, it will be left to Cabinet to oversee the disposal without the proper checks and balances in place.

“We say today, and we repeat, no procurement, no support. If you do not bring the legislation, we will isolate you. 'We will isolate you': that is what you said to our government. We will isolate you. We will not support you. We will not allow for the raiding of the treasury without proper law-enforcement processes in place.

She tore into the “PNM elements in the media” who she said had a field day with the UNC abstention over extending the life of the Anti-Gang Bill, and claiming gangsters will go free as a result.

Listing that as "lie number one," she quoted DPP Roger Gaspard, who was reported as saying no one already charged under the law will go free.

She said there are laws on the statute books for which the police can charge people without triggering the anti-gang law, such as shooting, wounding, robbery with violence and aggravation, possession of arms and ammunition, and murder.

“(For) murder – whether gang or not gang-related – you can be charged if the police can find you. So what nonsense you coming with to say criminals will go free?”

She told the police, “Go out and enforce the laws.”