00:00And I want to ask the Prime Minister, why do you want to govern a lawless dump?
00:07Why have you offered yourself to lead a country if you feel that the people of this country are lawless?
00:16Opposition leader Penelope Beckles is not budging from her party's position
00:19against Prime Minister Kamla Prasad-Basasa's very recent description of Trinidad and Tobago.
00:25So, do you really expect investors to want to come to Trinidad and Tobago
00:30when you describe this country as a lawless dump?
00:34And I say shame on the Prime Minister, but on the one hand,
00:39on the day that you are being sworn in, you talk about love and love and love of your people.
00:46And within months, you are giving to the people of Trinidad and Tobago no hope, absolutely no hope.
00:55Laventine East Mova MP Christian Birchwood, who spent part of his birthday at the opposition media's press conference,
01:03said he took great offense at the Prime Minister's comments.
01:06This Prime Minister even went on to describe this great nation, this wonderful nation,
01:15this prideful nation, as a lawless dump.
01:20Well, I'm saying here, today, Madam Prime Minister, on behalf of my constituents as well,
01:26on behalf of the People's National Movement, if you believe that this place is truly a dump,
01:33then I beg you, relinquish your position as Prime Minister.
01:39And go where you believe a palace exists.
01:42MP Birchwood was also critical of the government's doubling of the fines for many traffic offenses.
01:49Digo Martin, North East MP, and the former Finance Minister, Colm Inbert,
01:53spoke about the landlord business surcharge set to take effect at the start of the new year.
01:57This law says that once the agreement between the landlord and the tenant terminates by agreement,
02:06well, we've agreed because we're signing a lease with me,
02:08you agree to pay the rent, I agree to rent you the place,
02:11I agree I rent you for one year,
02:13at the end it comes to an end by agreement.
02:16It says your registration is cancelled.
02:18But you have to go and register again.
02:20Pay our next $2,500.
02:21He expects there will be amendments to the landlord tax.
02:28In response to a statement from the opposition leader on Monday,
02:31Prime Minister Pesad-Basasa told TV6 News that
02:33all these changes were presented first in the budget and second in the finance bill,
02:38and that she doesn't think the opposition leader actually knows
02:41what's going on in parliamentary or legislative matters.
02:44The people of Trinidad and Tobago were not aware about what is the consequences
02:50of those taxes.
02:53So to come and tell me about, I am aware.
02:55The Prime Minister missed the whole debate, the whole budget debate.
02:58She came at the end and talk about this is the first Prime Minister in the history
03:04and making some kind, you missed the whole debate, you wouldn't aware.
03:07In response to questions from the Express newspaper on Tuesday,
03:10Prime Minister Pesad-Basasa said it was the opposition leader
03:13who left her MPs without guidance during the budget debate.
03:16The Prime Minister also told the Express that she is, quote,
03:19not engaging in a popularity contest to win elections
03:23while the country becomes a bigger lawless dump, end quote.
03:27Jewel Brown, TV6 News.
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