OPPOSITION LEADER Pennelope Beckles has slammed Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar's questioning of the integrity of the nine independent senators appointed by President Christine Kangaloo, who Persad-Bissessar described as being a "low-level PNM functionary."

At a press conference on Wednesday, at the Office of the Opposition Leader, Charles Street, Port of Spain, Beckles referenced newspaper articles which reported on comments of the prime minister who doubted the independence of the nine senators because they were appointed by Kangaloo.

Prior to being appointed President, Kangaloo at various times, served as an opposition senator, minister in the Office of the Prime Minister, minister of legal affairs and minister of science, technology and tertiary education in previous PNM governments.