By Sue-Ann Wayow
HOW many more women must die before they are allowed to legally have and use pepper spray?
This was the question asked by United National Congress (UNC) political leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar.
On Monday night, she chastised the People’s National Movement (PNM) Women’s League for commenting on Opposition Senator Anil Roberts’ remarks about Sharon Clarke-Rowley, the wife of Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley.
She said the league had no authority to speak about morality and decency as the PNM’s own leader has vilified women on many occasions and should instead focus on putting food on tables, reducing crimes against women and other more important issues.
“Focus on the destruction that your leader is wrecking on our country. You should focus on the fact that our women and girls continue to live in fear for their lives. And as I say today, not a squeak out of them. You cannot get access to things like pepper spray for the women,” Persad-Bissessar said.
She said, “How long they passed this piece of law? How many more must die before you give women that right to be able to protect themselves and their children and their families. All the boast you boasted. Why will you not make that pepper spray come into effect?”
The opposition leader suggested that one of the reasons why there is a delay with the acquisition of pepper spray was because the Government wanted to give a contract to a friend or family member.
“The way you operate in Government, it must be because you waiting to give some friend or family a contract. It might well be that. You are waiting for them to set up a business to import the pepper spray and then put a new name on it and sell it,” she added.
On July 13, the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) stated that the processing of applications for Import Permits for pepper spray began that day and that retailers can also begin submitting applications from August 1.
Applications for permits for individual ‘use and carry’ will begin on August 30.
Persad-Bissessar told the PNM’s Women League, “Leave me out of your bacchanal. And leave me out of your comess. That women’s league has nothing to do. When so many people we see for the year are missing, when so many women are murdered, when so many children… Have they come out to say a word on a Monday morning?”
She said, “Not a single day, have they lifted their voices in support of the women and children of this country, but you want to call Kamla name. Leave my name out of your mouth!”
