Laventille West MP Kareem Marcelle is standing by remarks he made at a political meeting on Thursday night that sparked a social media backlash, insisting his comments were directed at the United National Congress (UNC) and not at any ethnic group.

Speaking to reporters as he arrived at the Red House in Port of Spain for Friday's sitting of Parliament, Marcelle defended his address to supporters in his constituency and rejected claims circulating online that he had made anti-Indian remarks.

Earlier, in a statement posted on social media, Marcelle said anyone who listened to his speech would know that "at NO TIME did I ever say that 'Indian people do not like us... we do not like them.'"