Caption: Prakash Ramadhar
By Alicia Chamely
POLITICAL Leader of the Congress of the People (COP) Prakash Ramadhar is standing in solidarity and praising Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s support of the United States of America’s operation to disrupt and dismantle the drug trade in Latin America.
In a media release on Friday, Ramadhar stated, “I respectfully endorse and support the Honourable Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar in her embracing the opportunity to work with the U.S. and other nations who have together, the resources and capacity to fight and win against the enemies of peace and prosperity for all our peoples.”
“We must always align with those with whom we share common values of freedom, liberty, law and order, independent institutions, the pursuit of happiness and peaceful existence,” he continued.
He further praised US President Donald Trump for addressing the seriousness of the criminal activities that disrupt much of the Western Hemisphere.
Ramadhar said, “I applaud the efforts of President Donald Trump and his administration to confront these international evils, this hydra-headed monster that no individual country can defeat.”
Praising coalition efforts between the US and T&T, he said, “Working together in a coalition of the willing and able is far better than going alone and Secretary of State Marco Rubio must be supported in his efforts. A coalition brings together different points of view, resources and insights that may not be readily apparent, but together the likelihood of success in the short and long-term are deeply enhanced.”
Address recent criticisms from other CARICOM members, who have called for the Caribbean to be a “zone of peace” in any conflict between the US and Venezuela, Ramadhar stated that T & T and the Caribbean cannot be a “zone of peace” when we are not in fact at peace ourselves.
He said, “Many speak of a “zone of peace”, all law abiding, God loving people want and need that. Are we in Trinidad and Tobago at peace? Or are we in a slow but escalating war, with murders, home invasions, extortion, kidnappings, drug dealing, gun running, money laundering, and every type of criminality one can imagine? What of our neighbours, are they immune and comfortable with the status quo?”
Ramadhar stated now was the time for the Caribbean to join with outside forces greater than themselves “in an effort to reset and disrupt the trajectory of ever-increasing control by criminality and corruption.”
He reaffirmed his support for the government’s decision and congratulated Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar for choosing to stand behind efforts to end criminality in the region.
Ramadhar said, “I congratulate our government and our Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar for her foresight and vision to note this moment in our history and her having the strength and clarity of purpose to support the joint effort to restore law and order, peace and prosperity; not only for Trinidad and Tobago, but for the region, and ultimately set a new world order against international criminality for humanity’s sake.”
