(Trinidad Guardian) Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar says it isn’t easy being the leader of the People’s Partnership. She said, “I am in command as your PM.” She said in the last 30 months her Government was tested, vilified, scrutinised, questioned and praised. Despite the criticisms, she said she and her Government continued to have a favourable rating from the citizenry.
Persad-Bissessar said, “It has not been easy to be leader of the Partnership but with the strength I derive from you, with the promise I have made to make life better for you and your children, with the knowledge of how much faith and trust you have in me, with the vision for a secure and prosperous future for all, I persevere for you and for my country, our country.”
She was speaking at the meeting of the United National Congress (UNC) at Rienzi Complex, Couva, yesterday. She said she belonged to the people and nation while holding the position of political leader and Prime Minister. She had a message for those within the partnership who felt there was no togetherness and who did not think “we are one—we sink or float together.”
The electorate, she said, would chew and spit out such individuals or political groups who were seen trying to betray the trust placed in the partnership. “This is why sometimes contrary to your own desires as members of the UNC, I have borne the pains of insults, the stress of threats and sometimes what amounts to blackmail of my leadership,” the PM said.
She said the partnership was voted into office on the promise of ensuring wider participation in political decision-making and that her Government virtually encouraged citizens to express their views on all matters without fear. She said, “Show me one person who has been sacked from his/her position for criticising the Government.
“This attitude of protecting the right to freedom of speech and association on our part is what has placed the Government under the microscope. “We do not believe that criticism of the Government is a vote against the Government.”
