00:00Minister Alexander stresses that the decision was made after careful consideration of intelligence reports and consultations with national security agencies.
00:12He notes that while the parade is a cherished national tradition, the safety of citizens must take precedence.
00:19Threats do not just come with respect to particular individuals that you take particular decisions for. Information would come and if that information is enough to cause any serious injuries or deaths or along those lines to my citizens, I will have to take decisions based on that.
00:43The minister did not disclose specific details of the threats, but confirmed that government agencies had received credible warnings.
00:52He tells the morning edition these threats were serious enough to warrant immediate precautionary measures to avoid exposing citizens to potential harm.
01:02This decision was not needed as a cumul and it didn't take all of four or five seconds.
01:13The Honourable Prime Minister, after continuous deliberation for a long time, it's almost like giving a verdict in a matter in the High Court.
01:25You see, Mr. Hopkinson.
01:27But taking into consideration the safety and security of our citizens, we as a government had a decision to make.
01:35Now, persons behaving like this is the last time or there will be no more Independence Day parade, that is not the case.
01:42The minister warns that some individuals are exploiting the situation to advance their own agenda.
01:50Mr. Hopkinson, I have no problem with persons who at this time, as I continue to say, they are going through withdrawal symptoms.
01:59So often they would have made statements, sometimes I don't even know where it came from.
02:04It's like a bad dream.
02:06But you know they have to appease their audience, their base.
02:10So I have no problem with that.
02:12Go ahead and appease your base.
02:14When you appease in your base, I will protect your base.
02:18Via statement, the leader of the opposition said,
02:21This affront to our independence, democracy and national identity is yet another leg in this galloping dictatorship,
02:30as our country now sprints further away from democracy and bolts towards autocracy under this regime.
02:37Nicole M. Romany, TV6 News.
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