Caption: Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar and Professor Selwyn Cudjoe at the Anti-Crime talks in Chaguanas on Monday. Photo UNC/Facebook
By Prior Beharry
IN a statement on the proposed Salary Review Commission (SRC) increases, United National Congress (UNC) leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar has called for public servants to receive the benefits instead.
Speaking at the UNC Anti-Crime Town Hall Meeting in Chaguanas on Monday, Persad-Bissessar emphasised that the salary adjustments should be directed towards hardworking individuals in the public sector.
The former prime minister said, “You see people only looking at the parliamentarians and they work hard, these guys work very hard. But it also covers people like councillors, senior public servants, who work very, very hard. It’s about a few hundred people! They should benefit from it. You could leave us at the top. Rowley—no, Kamla—no, the President—no. But give the rest of public servants, give it to them!”
Persad-Bissessar said the decision ultimately lies with the government, acknowledging that the opposition has no authority in the matter. Referencing the recent SRC recommendations presented in a parliamentary report, she stressed the need for the government to make a thoughtful choice.
Addressing broader concerns, Persad-Bissessar highlighted the alarming crime rate in Trinidad and Tobago, revealing that there have been 64 murders in the year so far, surpassing the number of days in the year.
Expressing dissatisfaction with Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley’s response to the crisis, she urged citizens to actively participate in the fight against crime.
Persad-Bissessar framed the UNC’s consultations as platforms for participatory democracy, allowing individuals to voice their concerns and share experiences related to crime. She encouraged attendees to become change-makers by not only attending consultations but also by organizing their own community crime discussions and brainstorming sessions.
Concluding the event, Persad-Bissessar introduced a new slogan recommended by Prof Selwyn Cudjoe: “Great is the truth and it shall prevail.”
