“Unacceptable, undemocratic and hostile to the principle of freedom of expression”.

That is how the Opposition People’s National Movement (PNM) labelled the Government’s proposal to introduce laws in Trinidad and Tobago targeting social media bloggers, who are deemed to be threats to national security.

A statement signed by Opposition Leader Pennelope Beckles stated: “We strongly condemn this attempt to weaponise State power against private citizens exercising their constitutional rights. Any government that fears criticism, has abandoned its commitment to democratic values. We call on the Minister (of Homeland Security Roger Alexander) to immediately retract these threats, affirm respect for free expression, and focus instead on the real issues facing the nation—issues which cannot be solved by silencing critics. The misuse of social media by anyone, can be adequately prosecuted under our criminal and civil laws. The invocation of emergency powers to do so as well as the introduction of new laws to suppress dissent is a blatant attack against our democracy”.