PRIME Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has dismissed criticism from Opposition Leader and PNM political leader Pennelope Beckles about her non-attendance at a national day of prayer event hosted by Inter-Religious Organisation (IRO) at the Divali Nagar site in Chaguanas on August 31 (Independence Day)

The day of prayer was held to replace the traditional military parade at the Queens Park Savannah for Independence Day. The government cited security concerns, arising from the state of emergency (SoE) declared on July 18, as the reason for cancelling the parade.

The government also cancelled the state-sponsored fireworks.