PRIME Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has dismissed Opposition Leader Pennelope Beckles’ criticisms with a scathing rebuke.

She doubled down on her commitment to take firm action to address what she described as the “lawless dump” Trinidad and Tobago had become under the former People’s National Movement (PNM) administration.

Beckles issued a release yesterday accusing the Prime Minister of “gaslighting” the population by imposing measures that will bring hardship and “bleed” the pockets of citizens through “secret” revenue-generating initiatives. She said the Prime Minister must reverse these measures.