Opposition Leader Pennelope Beckles has condemned the arrest of protesters outside the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), warning that citizens’ voices must not be silenced by the State.

In a statement issued overnight following Wednesday’s protest in Port of Spain, Beckles opened with the words shouted by protester Alyssa Phillip moments before she was detained by police.

“‘The only weapon we have are our voices. And that is the weapon that they are afraid of the most.’ These were the words of Alyssa Phillip moments before she was arrested yesterday near the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions,” Beckles stated.