Opposition Leader Pennelope Beckles has challenged the Government to take any proof it has implicating the People’s National Movement (PNM) in illegal activities to the police.
She was responding to allegations made against the PNM on Wednesday in Parliament, during a debate to extend the state of emergency (SoE).
During that debate, Attorney General John Jeremie announced that the United States government had revoked the visas of certain members of the “1%” in Trinidad and Tobago.
Beckles responded: “I want to say to the Prime Minister and the Attorney General, it’s one thing to get up here and make accusations about us here, the Opposition, but if you have the evidence, take it to the police. Take it to the police!
“Don’t come and use parliamentary privilege to make all kinds of accusations when you know you have no evidence. Because if you have any evidence against me, take it to the police.”
She told Government MPs: “Allyuh obsessed with the 1%. That is what you all are, obsessed. But if you have any evidence in relation to me being a pawn or if you have any evidence in relation to any kinds of illegal activities, specifically as it relates to me or any member on this side, take it to the police.”
She said Government had repeatedly made such allegations under the protection of parliamentary privilege and challenged it to produce any report implicating the PNM.
“Make the information public. If there’s any one of us here named that exists in that report, make it public,” said Beckles.
She said: “If there’s a link between that, because I’m assuming there’s a link between all of that information and the state of emergency and the gangs and the 1% and all of that.”
Beckles added: “If that is the case, and you specify that you have the information, then deal with it. Deal with it.
“But it cannot be that you consistently come to the Parliament and make all these kinds of allegations and you’re not making it outside. You’re making it inside of the Parliament. And there’s a reason for that.”
Trinidad Express
