Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar last night encouraged all police officers “if criminals point a gun at you, shoot at you or attack you, return fire with full force, defend yourselves, do not be hesitant. Being hesitant can cost you your life”.
She added that she is in full support of police officers standing their ground against violent criminals and warned citizens “if you point a gun at or attack a police officer to endanger his or her life, the police have a right to defend themselves with lethal force”.
Speaking at the launch of the Star slate for the June 15 United National Congress’ (UNC) internal elections at the Couva South Multipurpose Hall, Persad-Bissessar said where “there are hundreds of murders, we can never get any eyewitnesses. As soon as there is a police involved shooting, everyone is a witness against the police. I am warning this country, that we cannot tie our police officers’ hands when they respond in pursuit of violent criminals. Officers only have a split second to respond to attacks, we cannot have our officers doubting our support, this can cost them their lives.”
She also promised all police and prison officers that “under my next government, I will ensure personal FULs and personal legal firearms for each one of you paid for by the State. You will be protected.”
Easy access to legal firearms
Persad-Bissessar also reiterated that she supports Stand Your Ground laws, adding that the PNM and the Rushton Paray led United Patriots slate do not support Stand Your Ground laws but the Star team does.
“I support Home Invasion laws. The PNM and the other slate (United Patriots) do not support Home Invasion laws but the Star Team does. I support easy access to legal firearms for law abiding citizens. The PNM and the other slate do not support access to legal firearms for law abiding citizens but the Star Team does.
“I call on you to support the Star Team who want to give you the legal firearms and the lawful rights to defend yourself and your family in your homes.
The Star Team supports State-provided legal personal firearms for all police and prison officers. Officers must have legal firearms to protect themselves when they are off duty. We can’t have officers walking out the police station unprotected after work,” she said.
Persad-Bissessar also told her supporters that since assuming leadership of the UNC on May 24, 2010, internal elections under her watch were held every single time they were constitutionally due on: March 24, 2012; December 5, 2015; November 26, 2017; December 6, 2020; June 26, 2022, and now on June 15, 2024 which will be the sixth internal election.
When it comes to adhering to the UNC’s constitution regarding the calling of internal elections, she said her track record speaks volumes for itself, adding that it was total dishonesty and malicious propaganda meant to assist the destructive PNM for the dissident MPs to mislead and out-rightly deceive the party’s membership into believing that she had sought to disenfranchise the membership by not adhering to the UNC Constitution regarding the calling of internal elections when they are due.
“Up to today no one can provide any evidence of me saying that the internal elections would not be held,” she said.
Referring to the “other slate”, the United Patriots, she said that slate is spreading the same tired elitist PNM propaganda that it is a stain to be associated with the UNC and the UNC members.
“The other slate is quoted in the Trinidad Express ‘for some reason there is an apparent stain that if you feel you associate with the UNC then you are diminished in your portfolio’ and said ‘this man’ wants to be deputy political leader but he is parroting PNM propaganda and is saying it is a stain to associate with the UNC membership.
“They don’t want to associate with rank-and-file UNC supporters but want your vote.
For them none of you are bright, for them none of you are respected, for them none of you are valuable, but they want your vote,” she said.
STAR TEAM Slate of Candidates:
1. Deputy Political Leader……………………………..Senator Jearlean John2. Deputy Political Leader…………………………….MP Dr Roodal Moonilal3. Deputy Political Leader…………………………………………MP David Lee4. Chairman…………………………MP Davendranath Tancoo5. Deputy Chair………………………………………….Hamlin Jailal6. Treasurer……………..Alderman Viliana Ramoutarsingh7. Policy & Strategy Officer………………………………….MP Saddam Hosein8. Elections Officer………………………………………MP Arnold Ram9. Education Officer……………………………………..MP Ravi Ratiram10. Research Officer……………………..Former Senator Sean Sobers11. Party Organiser………………………………….MP Barry Padarath12. International Relations Officer………………………………………..Nicolas Morris13. North West Regional Representative……………………………………………….Eli Zakour14. Central Regional Representative………………………………….MP Vandana Mohit15. North East Regional Representative………………………………..MP Khadijah Ameen16. South Regional Representative………………………Councillor Shanty Boodram17. Tobago Regional Representative…………………………Councillor Kenwyn Phillip
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