Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar believes unknown people have hatched a “nefarious and diabolical plot” to “damage and scandalise” her name and to bring the office of the prime minister and the People’s Partnership Government into “odium, hatred and disrepute.” Persad-Bissessar wrote this in a three-page statement to the police on June 10. The statement was requested by Deputy Police Commissioner Mervyn Richardson.
The T&T Guardian obtained a copy of the statement, which Persad-Bissessar initialled on the first two pages and signed on the last page. Saying she has been a lawyer for the past 26 years, Persad-Bissessar said during this time her character has been “impeccable” and she had always maintained a strong commitment to “honesty, fair play and justice for all.” Persad-Bissessar said from the inception of the People’s Partnership Government, Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley wanted the Government’s demise.
“I wish to place on record that from the very inception of my government, the leader of the Opposition Dr Keith Rowley had been predicting the downfall of the duly elected government. “Several unfounded criticisms have been levelled in Parliament against the Government and in particular the prime minister and the attorney general in various ‘no-confidence’ motions,” Persad-Bissessar said.
She also said, however, that she viewed the unfounded criticisms as the “normal cut and thrust” of politics. Persad-Bissessar said she immediately welcomed the investigation, adding that she reported the matter to the police “within hours.” While saying she had no problem with the police examining her computer and other electronic devices, Persad-Bissessar warned they contained sensitive data relating to national security matters.
She said her attorney, Israel Khan, SC, was of the opinion that inspecting the devices in front of him and an IT expert would not only protect the integrity of the devices, but also the police investigation. “Such an exercise in Senior Counsel’s view will ensure that the inspection and examination of the said electronic devices remain transparent and above board for all concerned,” Persad-Bissessar added.
Maintaining she would co-operate fully with the police, Persad-Bissessar urged the police to get to the bottom of the matter. “I offer my full co-operation in the police investigation into this matter and hope and pray the police will soon discover the perpetrators of these wicked and malicious falsehoods made by leader of the Opposition Dr Keith Rowley.”