Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar said people who oppose the zone of special operations bill are weak men and women whose only goal appears to be the defence of violent criminals, rather than the victims of violent crimes.

In a statement on social media on January 21, Persad-Bissessar said it was amazing how the PNM and pseudo "independent" groups have suddenly found their fake sense of humanity to defend criminals and gangsters.

“They say nothing about the crime, robberies, rapes, murders, and brutal home invasions that have plagued the country for the past decade. They also keep quiet about the dehumanising treatment of victims of crime.