Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has wished former government minister Winston “Gypsy” Peters all the best in his future endeavours.
The PM made the comment in response to questions surrounding Peters’ resignation from his ministerial post and the United National Congress (UNC) yesterday.
When asked to comment on Peters’ description of her as an “ungrateful ingrate,” Persad-Bissessar said: “I haven’t heard what he said but I wish Mr Peters all the best in his future endeavours.
“It is a democratic country and he is entitled to his opinions. I do not share his opinions and I think that there are thousands out there who don’t share his opinions either. We have freedom of speech here in T&T and I really want to wish him all the best in his future endeavours.”
She added, however, that she was yet to receive Peters’ resignation as she has been out of office all morning (yesterday).
Persad-Bissessar also replied to questions surrounding allegations made by Jack Warner, leader of the Independent Liberal Party (ILP), about a questionable relationship with former head of the Strategic Services Agency (SSA) Reshmi Ramnarine.
She said she had already asked her lawyers to deal with the issue.
“It is absolutely untrue. He (Warner) is on his belly now. He has lost his brain and hallucinating at this point in time,” Persad-Bissessar said.
Earlier, Port-of-Spain had come to a standstill at about midday as all traffic—vehicular and pedestrian —were halted to accommodate Persad-Bissessar as she joined a walk against violence to women and children, titled Orange Day.
There was a heavy police presence in and around the Brian Lara Promenade as the PM and the group, all wearing “Orange”, walked along Independence Square, North and South.
Persad-Bissessar, in her short speech, said she endorsed the proposals in the 2015 manifesto “A Women’s Mandate for Action”, including the implementation of a National Gender Policy.
“We will work very hard to make it happen along with other proposals and I give you my commitment,” she said.
Persad-Bissessar, along with 29 women who were nominated as candidates in the upcoming general election from all political parties, were acknowledged and given a special package bearing a copy of the manifesto and a cheque to assist them in their respective campaigns.
The PM congratulated head of the Network of NGOs, Hazel Brown, and the other women who would have worked along with her in establishing the manifesto.
The walk was hosted by the Network of NGOs of T&T for the Advancement of Women and the T&T Institute for Women in Leadership.