00:00As the Prime Minister remains mum following allegations that two independent senators
00:05attempted to seek favours from the government in exchange for support of the Zones of Special Operations Bill,
00:11Opposition Leader Penelope Beckel says she's confident that the President will do what she must
00:17to protect the integrity of the Senate bench.
00:19It's the President, Senators, so that, I mean, I'm sure the President is going to, you know, do what is her duty
00:30because those are the independent senators.
00:34The Opposition notes that Section 81 of the Constitution states that the Prime Minister shall keep the President fully informed
00:41concerning the general conduct of the government of Trinidad and Tobago
00:45and shall furnish the President with such information as requested.
00:48with respect to any particular matter relating to the government of Trinidad and Tobago.
00:54In the meantime, the Law Association, the Criminal Bar Association and the Opposition
00:59are calling on the Prime Minister to back up her claims,
01:02which they note amount to criminal conduct on the part of those involved.
01:07And I'm calling on the Prime Minister to make herself available to the press and to the public.
01:12I'm also saying to the Prime Minister that she has a responsibility
01:16to name the persons who have done this criminal act because it's very unfortunate.
01:23The world is looking at us, the country is looking at us,
01:26and it is very irresponsible of her as a Prime Minister to make these allegations
01:30and absolutely refuse to call the names of the persons.
01:34The zones of special operations bill collapsed in the Senate on Tuesday night
01:39after it failed to get any independent backing.
01:43Days earlier, the Prime Minister had labelled the independent senators,
01:46bootlickers and brown nosers.
01:48She also previously called the President, quote,
01:51a low-level PNM functionary, end quote.
01:54It's a consistent pattern of hers, a consistent pattern of threatening people,
01:59a consistent pattern of bullying people,
02:02a consistent pattern of making individuals feel that you don't go in the direction of the government.
02:07Something is wrong with you, I mean, it's not only unfortunate,
02:10I think it is absolutely ridiculous that you as a Prime Minister
02:14will make those serious allegations which amount to criminal conduct
02:20and just leave it for the public to believe.
02:22Renasa Cutting, TV6 News.
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