[UPDATED] PM blasts Kamla's "civil unrest" virus statement

THE PRIME Minister has blasted Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar for statements attributed to her in a press release from her office relating to Government’s handling of the covid19 pandemic.

On Saturday, Persad-Bissessar said the seeds of civil unrest were being planted and watered, as she warned there should not be a repeat of 1990, referring to the Government’s vaccination plan and pandemic measures.

Almost immediately her statements were denounced.

On a post on its Facebook page, the Women’s League of the People’s National Movement said it rebuked the Opposition Leader’s “coded language” and said the statements were seditious in nature.

In a separate lengthier statement, Dr Rowley said Persad-Bissessar’s utterances, “appealing for a 1990-style insurrection to be the response of those citizens who are undergoing the hardships that many are currently experiencing,” was a “most dangerous, damaging and unpatriotic obstruction in this time of our national struggle in these pandemic times.”

The post said such a statement could easily be misunderstood or viewed as acceptable encouragement.

“The Opposition Leader clearly believes that she could benefit from such a development but any such actions would be very costly and detrimental to the entire nation.

“Clearly that is not any of her concerns.”

Dr Rowley said the Opposition Leader should be condemned for her “relentless attack on the professional public servants in the healthcare sector whom she identified, by name, and subjected them to her warped and disgusting analysis.

“These public officers are the cream of our professionals who have come to our defence in this moment of great need, in a pandemic and as Prime Minister, charged with the responsibility of steering this nation to a safe place in this storm, I appeal to the Opposition Leader to search within herself for any modicum of decency which would direct her to leave the public professionals out of her political desperation.”

Also trouncing the Opposition Leader for her statements was Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi. He said he was gravely concerned by her "very dangerous, reckless and inflammatory statements," as her utterances were an "open call to fear - statements relying upon very dark and calculated references to the brutalisations of our democracy, society and economy in the failed attempted coup in 1990 - which some have likened to calculated ‘don’t loot’ statements.

"It is fair to say that the Leader of the Opposition should actively seek to condemn any sentiments of invitation for unrest calculatedly planted in the minds of our population and should immediately subject herself to clarification in open forum, where she can apologise to the nation for any harm caused."

Al-Rawi said equally alarming was Persad-Bissessar had failed to publicly take any steps to "stop the savagery and defamation of hard-working professionals in the public service at the Ministry of Health.

"It is reprehensible and cowardly for Mrs. Persad Bissessar to witness the UNC talking heads and masses alike make and spread libellous and damaging statements of our heath experts and to do absolutely nothing to publicly stop it."

He said since the Opposition Leader has not subjected her self, in recent times, to open questions and answers, he had one message for her,"Stop it now! It’s just plainly wrong!"

Energy Minister Stuart Young issued a statement of condemnation of the "dog whistling and disgusting low level attacks."

He said the opposition leader's statement was "distasteful and designed to, inter alia, encourage criminal activity."

"...I recognise that in the fight against the pandemic we have citizens who are struggling and under immense pressure. This is a painful fact and one that we should all rally to provide any assistance and alleviation towards.

"But for Kamla Persad Bissessar to dog whistle and refer to 1990’s events is an all time low, even for her in her abyss of darkness."

He also condemned her statements on the public health care professionals.

"I stand resolutely in protection and support of the CMO and his team of health care professionals who have sought to protect this nation during the pandemic."

Several other ministers and PNM MPs also issued statements condemning the Opposition Leader's comments.

This story was originally published with the title "PM blasts Kamla for "civil unrest" virus statement" and has been adjusted to include additional details. See original post below.

THE PRIME Minister has blasted Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar for statements attributed to her in a press release from her office relating to Government’s handling of the covid19 pandemic.

On Saturday, Persad-Bissessar said the seeds of civil unrest were being planted and watered, as she warned there should not be a repeat of 1990, referring to the Government’s vaccination plan and pandemic measures.

Almost immediately her statements were denounced.

On a post on its Facebook page, the Women’s League of the People’s National Movement said it rebuked the opposition leader’s “coded language” and said the statements were seditious in nature.

In a separate lengthier post, on the Office of the Prime Minister’s page, Dr Rowley said Persad-Bissessar’s utterances, “appealing for a 1990-style insurrection to be the response of those citizens who are undergoing the hardships that many are currently experiencing,” was a “most dangerous, damaging and unpatriotic obstruction in this time of our national struggle in these pandemic times.”

The post said such a statement could easily be misunderstood or viewed as acceptable encouragement.

“The Opposition Leader clearly believes that she could benefit from such a development but any such actions would be very costly and detrimental to the entire nation.

“Clearly that is not any of her concerns.”

Dr Rowley said the Opposition Leader should be condemned for her “relentless attack on the professional public servants in the healthcare sector whom she identified, by name, and subjected them to her warped and disgusting analysis.

“These public officers are the cream of our professionals who have come to our defence in this moment of great need, in a pandemic and as Prime Minister, charged with the responsibility of steering this nation to a safe place in this storm, I appeal to the Opposition Leader to search within herself for any modicum of decency which would direct her to leave the public professionals out of her political desperation.”