Kamla condemns Ashanti's murder

OPPOSITION Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar joined the Prime Minister in condemning the brutal murder of 18 year-old Ashanti Riley on Saturday.

But she parted company with Dr Rowley when she accused Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi of making derogatory and disrespectful comments against women.

After voting in the UNC internal elections at Parvati Girls High School in Debe on Sunday, Persad-Bissessar said, "Oh, most tragic. I know my MP (Saddam Hosein) visited the family. It's a very tragic thing."

She expressed sadness and outrage that other families in TT have lost loved ones because of crime. "For the younger ones, it's a really heart-wrenching situation. My condolences and prayers go out to that family."

Persad-Bissessar remained very concerned about the number of crimes being committed against women and young girls. "There has been (an upsurge) and that's why I want to condemn the Attorney General." She said in Parliament, Al-Rawi "is talking about crying like a baby and like a woman, you're getting slapped up and take two good slaps, using really inflammatory language."

Alleging that Al-Rawi was referring to an Opposition MP, Persad-Bissessar said such comments were aimed "specifically at women and girls, take your slap like a girl."

She argued that if such behaviour is being allowed at the highest level to show disrespect and contempt for women and girls "what do you expect from ordinary people."

At a news conference at the Diplomatic Centre in St Ann's on Saturday, Rowley said Ashanti's murder "pained the nation." Rowley, who is also chairman of the National Security Council, said the issue of criminals posing as PH taxi drivers would be looked at. He also did not think weapons such as tasers and pepper spray was the answer to attacks against women.