Kamla warns PNM against race politics

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar blasted Opposition Leader Pennelope Beckles yesterday, declaring that she only secured the leadership of the People’s National Movement (PNM) because sections of the party’s base could not “stomach” Stuart Young, a man of Chinese and Indian ancestry, as their leader.

In her contribution to the budget debate in Parliament, Persad-Bissessar accused Beckles and the Opposition of exploiting race to mobilise their political base, warning that any attempt to spread civil disorder beyond the western peninsula would be met with swift and brutal action.

“This is not the Kamla and UNC you all got accustomed to. I will call you all out! I will drag you out! I will beat you to a frazzle politically and then I will beat the frazzle!” she said.