(Trinidad Guardian) Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar said yesterday that the assassination plot against her and three cabinet ministers might have been “personal in some respect,” but it was aimed at totally destabilising T&T. The Prime Minister was speaking with reporters at her constituency office in Penal yesterday afternoon, after the launch of a Ministry of the People charity project. There was tight security at the office during the launch. Everyone entering the compound was subject to a scan and search by security staff. Soldiers with guns and communication gear were stationed at strategic points around the constituency office, while undercover officers patrolled the SS Erin Road.
Persad-Bissessar said despite the assassination plot, her Government had no intention of continuing the state of emergency beyond December 5. “At this moment, the security forces have not advised for a continuation of the state of emergency,” she said. “As we speak, there is no intention of extending the state of emergency or imposing a curfew…We will be advised on a day-to-day basis. “Should we have to do that, we would have to go back to Parliament for approval.” Persad-Bissessar said she would continue to act on the instructions of the security forces. “Any threat to the security of the nation is my concern,” she said.
“We are following the advice given by the security forces and we are putting the control mechanisms to ensure there is safety and security, law and order and this is the best we can do.” Persad-Bissessar criticised former prime minister Patrick Manning, insisting she had no reason to fabricate the threat, nor was she about to prematurely divulge details of the plot. “I will take no chances and no risks because it will be reckless, foolhardy and ‘dotish’ for us to divulge any further details on this assassination plot,” she said. “A threat to assassinate might be personal in some respects, but it is a threat to the State to destabilise the nation and that is dangerous to the entire nation.”
Persad-Bissessar also accused the Opposition of creating panic and hysteria “by creating falsehoods in order to gain their own political ends.” Referring to Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley, she said: “It is very saddening in a way that here is someone who purports to be an alternative Prime Minister and he is saying should the security forces advise him of a matter and make recommendations, he will not act on those recommendations.” She also said Manning’s claims that she had lost credibility showed that the San Fernando East MP was “grasping at straws.” Persad-Bissessar said: “Mr Manning wants to be where I am…He wants to be the Prime Minister and he will grab at any straw.
“His credibility was totally lost and the population voted on that matter,” she added. “The population will have an opportunity to vote on our credibility in due course.” Persad-Bissessar contended that while Manning had listed ten mishaps of her governance, she could list a thousand missteps of his governance. “I believe we do have the support of the majority of population and we will do the best we can to serve the population,” she said. The PM said her health was excellent and she had full confidence in the security arrangements made for her and some members of her Cabinet. She also said she had no information about two Israelis who were on the run, but was due to meet with National Security Minister John Sandy last night.
