Opposition Leader Kamla Persad Bissessar has called for police protection for her supporters and candidates contesting the local government elections following statements by Public Utilities Minister Ftizgerald Hinds, which she said could promote violence.
Hinds statements, “to kill the UNC dead,” on a political platform in Mayaro, had drawn the ire of Persad-Bissessar, who said the statements were ill-timed and frightening, given the volatile crime situation existing in the country.
UNC chairman David Lee, also called on Hinds to renounce and retract the unfortunate sentiments as they come at a time when the nation was already plagued with violence and poses a further threat to the peace, security and unity among our citizens.
Speaking on a United National Congress (UNC) political platform in San Fernando on Wednesday night, Persad-Bissessar read excerpts of the article published in the Guardian Newspaper in which Hinds was quoted as saying that the UNC was badly wounded and, “we need to finish them out. Kill them dead.”
She said this came at a highly volatile time, given the crime statistics in the country which has placed the number of murders at over 400 for the year.
Lee also described the statements as being “divisive and derogatory,” and accused the PNM of using violent language to gain electoral momentum. He said these statements have also degraded and demeaned the office which Hinds holds.
The Opposition Leader called on Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley to mount a response to Hinds statements and also called for protection.
“I am call on the Commissioner of Police (Stephen Williams) to offer protection to candidates and supporters. I call on the CoP to provide safety and security to UNC supporters and UNC candidates in this election.”
She cautioned supporters to be on high alert, “because you have a minister people telling PNM people to kill you dead. Shocking , shocking for a minister of government and then the PM want so say we are fear mongers.”