UNC: It is a distraction from Marlene

Alleging an “irresponsible and premeditated action”, the PNM said Persad-Bissessar’s claim was designed to cause unnecessary panic.

“The UNC’s continued fear mongering should be rejected by the population as they are on a destructive path as opposed to working towards being part of the solution.” The PNM said the Police Service denied receiving any report of a kidnapping on Monday night. However, in a response yesterday, the UNC advised the PNM administration to focus on crime and not on text messages. In a statement, the UNC said it is clear that instead of dealing with the fundamental issues plaguing the country, the PNM led by Dr Keith Rowley “has resorted to throwing out distractions to deflect from the recent revelations widely reported in the media that the PNM has been and is in bed with criminal elements.” “Instead of informing us that the killers of 13-year-old Vedesh Subar and 57-year-old Rose Mohammed have been caught or that any killer has been caught, instead of telling us of the steps taken to reduce escalating murders - now standing at more than 250, instead of telling us what strategies will be implemented to assist at-risk youth to lead them away from a life of crime, this Rowley PNM is now pre-occupied with a comment on a text message.” Earlier yesterday, MP for Oropouche East Dr Roodal Moonilal accused the government of only condemning Persad- Bissessar’s story of a kidnapping to distract the population from the “debacle” surrounding the firing of Marlene McDonald as a minister.

In a telephone interview Moonilal said, “The political leader when she spoke Monday said she had information that was not confirmed. It was not a definitive statement of the commission of an offence. I think people are making a mountain out of a molehill.” Newsday, however, found no evidence of her saying the report was “unconfirmed.” She said, “But on my phone I got a text telling me that the daughter of a businessman has been kidnapped. This is the news I have received on my phone. I will give no details on it. Cause we are back to where we are with the PNM. So why is it that every time that the PNM is in power, murder and kidnapping increase?”