By Sue-Ann Wayow
DECLARING she is indeed a dangerous woman, Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar says there are too many weak men in leadership.
She told supporters that she had to be a dangerous woman to protect families because Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley and his government were failing to protect citizens.
Persad-Bissessar speaking at a United National Congress (UNC) political meeting in Penal on Monday said all the comments about her “gun talk” were hypocritical as those people seemed to be quiet about the dehumanising treatment of victims of crime whose families were destroyed and children scarred for life.
She said, “They call me a dangerous woman. Well, yes, I am a dangerous woman because there are many weak men and weak women in positions of influence. They do nothing to protect you, do not stand up and the weakest of all is the dictator himself. I have to be a dangerous woman to protect you and your family from the criminals.”
Persad-Bissessar ignored all criticisms from Dr Rowley who said her words on crime from recent political meetings were not useful and she was only inciting fear in the population by showing videos and photos of crimes.
On Monday night, more photos and videos were shown.
Persad-Bissessar told the crowd, “Ask yourself when you read the opinions of these weak men and women, do they actually see you? The ordinary people of Trinidad and Tobago.?”
Listing out the plights of ordinary citizens including flooding, fuel and food prices, she said, “I Kamla Persad-Bissessar, I see you….I have always loved you and I will always love you and I and we will always fight for you.”
Integrity Commission gets legal letter
Persad-Bissessar also referred to reports in which the Integrity Commission has found Dr Rowley to be in breach of the Integrity in Public Life Act by failing to disclose that he and his family purchased two luxury townhouses in Inezgate in Tobago. But no action will be taken against him.
She said while the Opposition had no problem with him purchasing a property, they had a problem with the price.
Persad-Bissessar said that UNC activist, Ravi Balgobin-Maharaj has taken legal action against the Integrity Commission on the ground of political bias.
Dr Rowley posted on his Facebook page on Monday, “Imagine the UNC is the undisputed champions of corruption but they are taking issue with the Integrity Commission which investigated and could find no evidence of corruption. In other words, they are angry because the Integrity Commission was unable to confirm their lies. So they will now take the Integrity Commission to Court!”
In December 2021, Member of Parliament for Barataria/San Juan Saddam Hosein wrote to the Integrity Commission with the complaint that Dr Rowley failed to disclose the purchase of this townhouse in his Form B.
The Integrity Commission by letter dated June 29, 2023 responded saying the investigation was terminated although according to the Integrity Commission, “Dr. Rowley did omit to disclose the purchase of the Townhouse in his Statement of Registrable Interests (Form B), filed for the year 2019, contrary to Section 14 of the IPLA”.
However, the Commission also said that there was no criminal offence and therefore, no action can be taken by the Commission on that breach.
She questioned why the letter posted on Facebook on Monday by Hosein “on the eve of an election” was now sent to say that Dr Rowley has been cleared of all wrongdoing.
Persad-Bissessar had questions for the Integrity Commission chairman Rajendra Ramlogan whose term she said ends in 2024.
“When is your office coming up for renewal? Will you tell the country? Are you doing the government’s bidding to get back your job and eat ah food?” she asked.
To Deputy Chairman Frederick Gilkes, she asked if he recused himself from the deliberation in that matter because he had applied for senior counsel (silk) status as Dr Rowley was the final decision maker to sign off on the silk applications and there would have been a conflict of interest.
To the chairman and deputy chairman, she asked why the complaint was dismissed when there was evidence against him and was it because they were promised to be made senior counsels.
