PNM, UNC clash over Kamla's criticism of Joe Biden

EVEN as Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar doubled down on her criticism of the Joe Biden administration, the Government and Opposition lined up respectively to criticise and applaud her controversial claims, in various media statements on January 21.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Amery Browne basically said her remarks were brash and rash, but Opposition Senator Anil Roberts said President's Trump's inauguration had served to press a major re-set button on international affairs. Opposition Senator Damian Lyder supported Persad-Bissessar's support for Trump, by saying many problems arising in the US under Biden – such as low business confidence and unchecked illegal immigration – were also now taking place in Trinidad and Tobago.

In praising US President Donald Trump after his inauguration speech on January 20, Persad-Bissessar had charged that the Biden government "a disaster for the American people and the world."

She said, “They focused on pushing a woke, extreme left-wing agenda that offended basic common sense and morality, overturned the norms of civilised public life, disoriented and mutilated children, censored and cancelled dissenting views, disparaged religious and conservative values, fuelled wars around the world, weaponised the judicial system against political opponents and increased nepotism, corruption, crime, poverty, homelessness and wealth inequality.”

Browne, in a Twitter post later on January 20, sharply condemned her remarks as "her most inappropriate, injudicious, inept, imprudent, fawning, tactless, reckless, obsequious, intemperate, and ill-advised utterance to date."

He elaborated to reporters on January 21, at the Red House ahead of a Senate sitting, saying Persad-Bissessar's phrase "disaster" had described her own press release.

"If fact she has really been on a downward spiral in some of the official public utterances.

"It is very disappointing, even by her already low standards.

"Some of the language and phrasing being used is at best undiplomatic and at worst completely ill-advised and actually dangerous to the interests of Caricom and of TT."

He said some of her statements were "completely inappropriate to the level of discourse" expected from participants in the national process.

"If you look at the output of government and opposition parties right across the region and hemisphere, no one has descended to that low level of phrasing, of discourse, of blatant partisanship, and really just ill-advised public communications output.

"I am hoping the Leader of the Opposition, if she is able to take good advice, would change course and would make a complete sea-change in the tone and content of her public utterances, particularly when making reference to the sovereign countries with whom we have important relations. We do not get involved in the domestic political affairs of other countries to the degree that she seems to feel might be advantageous to her political prospects."

Browne did not think Persad-Bissessar's remarks would benefit her in practice.

"But I am even more concerned about the implications to the good short-term, medium-term and long-term relations that are important for nations like TT.

"We don't have a big army, we don't have huge resources. We depend on prudent and responsible and wise diplomatic engagements which are conveyed in many ways – summits, meetings, ambassadorial interactions etcetera – but also via our media releases and public utterances.

"Hopefully wiser heads would prevail. We can only hope."

Government Senator Ancel Dennis, former head of the Tobago House of Assembly, briefly told reporters, "Her comments were unfortunate and an embarrassment to the people of Trinidad and Tobago."

Labour Minister Stephen McClashie, who is La Brea MP, told reporters, "I think it is unfortunate and I think for a seasoned politician, those comments have no place in a nation that is not under the protectorate of the US, to make those kinds of statements.

"In my opinion, it is undignified and completely lacking in political wisdom."

Independent Senator Sunity Maharaj told reporters outside the Red House, "I think all political parties in Trinidad need to really consider what international relations means in the interest of TT." Independent Senators Prof Gerald Hutchinson and Anthony Vieira opted not to comment to reporters.

Cumuto/Manzanilla MP Dr Rai Ragbir, a UNC MP whose opinions often vary from those of the UNC leadership, in an online post expressed "disappointment" at Persad-Bissessar's statement.

He said, "While I respect the right of any leader to share their perspectives, such remarks must be measured, diplomatic and aligned with TT’s national interests."

Ragbir said the US was TT's top trading partner, critical ally and a big player in the region's economy and security.

He said to keep strong and balanced relationships with the US required TT to foster goodwill with the sitting president and the US Congress, which help shape US foreign policy.

"Statements that single out specific political figures in the US, particularly when phrased in a way that could be perceived as partial or inflammatory, risk undermining our long-standing relationship with the US."

He said this relationship rests upon decades of mutual respect and co-operation, whichever administration was in power.

"It is crucial that we adopt a consistent and non-partisan approach to our foreign policy, ensuring that our engagements are professional, constructive, and in the best interest of our citizens."

Ragbir said US foreign policy does not revolve around any one individual, but was guided by institutional frameworks, long-term strategies, and a collective approach by the President, Congress, and various agencies.

"By making remarks that appear politically biased, we could inadvertently alienate key stakeholders who are essential to preserving and strengthening this relationship."

Ragbir used the occasion to allege Persad-Bissessar, over the past five years, has rarely, if ever, consulted opposition MPs on party policy.

"Time and time again, MPs are left to learn of major party positions through press releases rather than through internal discussions. This is not right.

"Before the leader takes such a controversial stance on matters of international diplomacy, it is imperative that she consults with MPs, who represent the voice and concerns of their constituents."

Such decisions must be collaborative and reflect the collective wisdom of the party, Ragbir urged.

"In this time of global uncertainty, we need steady, mature and sober leadership in our foreign policy."

Roberts, when asked about critics of Persad-Bissessar, told Newsday everyone was entitled to their opinion.

"The world has re-set. President Trump is now President Trump. He has hit the ground running.

"Personally I am historically a Democrat, but I must say his speech yesterday re-set the world."

Speaking as the fathers of two daughters and a son, he said under Biden things had gone a bit too far.

"One thing I can say is Maduro, the despot, the dictator across there (who) has caused eight million citizens of Venezuela to flee over the past eight years, had better watch out.

"Democracy may come to Venezuela."

Roberts said under Trump the world has already got safer, noting the "coincidence" of a Gaza ceasefire and hostage-release just as Trump was coming into office.

He joined Persad-Bissessar in welcoming Trump.

Saying Marco Rubio was earlier sworn in as secretary of state, Roberts hoped he would address the Venezuelan administration and anyone who dealt with them without caring about democracy or propriety but who promoted tyranny.

"I hope the US deals with them, so our region could be safer and more democratic."

Opposition Senator Damian Lyder told Newsday, "I'd not speak about Biden, as it seems he has been quite non-existent for some time. Others in that administration were taking decisions."

He disparaged Biden's track record as president.

"We have seen businesses leave the US, we saw inflation at its highest in the US, we saw the border being breached and millions of people coming in illegally, many being criminals."

Lyder said more wars had taken place under Biden than any other recent US president.

"So I tend to agree with Mrs Persad-Bissessar in the fact that Donald Trump will bring some level of peace to this world. He intends to end the wars and we support that.

"He intends to bring business back to the US by reducing taxation and improving the ease of doing business."

Lyder hailed Trump for vowing to protect the US border.

"In many regards the reason I wholeheartedly support Mrs Persad-Bissessar is because we experienced these exact same things here in TT.

"We see our porous borders with Venezuelan boats coming in unchecked by Customs and Excise, and the national security apparatus not being used to ensure Venezuelan boats are checked for drugs, guns, ammunition and illegal immigrants, some of whom are gangsters on our streets today."

Lyder slammed the Government's performance in TT.

"We see a government trying to tax themselves out of a recession, and that is why we are seeing businesses leave our shores today.

"TT has a worsening ease of doing business, which is very similar to what we saw under the Biden administration."

He said TT did not want to be associated with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.

"It is clear the US has put a US$25 million bounty on his head, and bounties for several of his officials.

"The US is our number-one trading partner, the leader of the free world, and their president is saying they do not want an illegitimate president in Venezuela and that he is considered a narco-terrorist."

He said the Opposition could not support the Government's associating with Maduro, and just as Trump did not support wars in Ukraine and Gaza, so TT must not support dictatorship in Venezuela.

"So I fully support Mrs Persad-Bissessar when she congratulates Trump and said the Biden administration brought a lot of pain not only to the people of America, but the world.

"We see a lot of pain happening right here under this administration to the citizens of TT. We see crime, joblessness and business leaving our shores. We see a country, TT, in rack and ruin today."

Lyder thanked God the US population had voted for Trump to bring back sanity to the US.

"We hope the people of TT use that as an example when elections come to TT, to put a proper prime minister in power who is going to see not about the needs of the high and mighty but ensure all citizens, no matter their station in life, get fair treatment; proper healthcare, education and social services, and the resources of our oil and gas."