POLITICAL leader of the United National Congress (UNC) Kamla Persad-Bissessar is vowing to use whatever means necessary to protect citizen’s rights.
The UNC in a press release on Wednesday stated that rights and democracy were currently under threat from the present regime with the pandemic being used as a cover.
Referring to the International Day of Democracy on the theme: “Strengthening democratic resilience in the face of future crises,” Persad-Bissessar said she was extremely concerned over the state of democracy under the People’s National Movement (PNM).
Persad-Bissessar said, “Even as we face the impacts of the ongoing pandemic, Trinidad and Tobago is facing a direct threat from a Government intent on trampling on citizens’ rights and freedoms, using the health crisis as cover.”
The Government led by Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley has taken steps to avoid transparency and accountability in every area of governance, and has gone so far as to try to push through unconstitutional legislation through the Parliament, by removing special majority clauses, as is the case with the Revenue Authority Bill, she added.
The proposed amendment to the Tobago electoral boundaries was also another attack on the democracy, she claimed.
And Persad-Bissessar said, “Furthermore, this PNM Government has failed to provide a single explanation for the extension of the State of Emergency, which curtails citizens’ rights. The party I lead, the United National Congress, will use every tool at our disposal to stop this trampling of our rights by this Rowley regime.”
