00:00Opposition leader Penelope Beckel says the United National Congress, after one year in office,
00:05has failed to deliver on many of its promises inclusive of managing crime.
00:10She indicates that despite the states of emergencies, the creation of three ministries,
00:15that of Homeland Security, Defense and Justice,
00:18as well as the passing of the Stand Your Ground legislation, citizens continue to live in fear.
00:23The evidence shows that the passage of the Stand Your Ground legislation has been followed
00:30by the same amount of invasions, robberies and every single thing.
00:36The question we must ask ourselves is whether that piece of legislation is successful.
00:44The fact is that the statistics of crime, we all know, you would have some decline during the state of
00:53emergency.
00:54But she says the absence of an anti-crime plan reflects the government's inability to rule without the SOE.
01:01The opposition leader is also refuting claims that the country has experienced economic growth in the past year.
01:07The UNC-appointed central bank governor has been brave enough to confirm a slowdown in economy
01:14for the first nine months of 2025 with a minimal growth of 0.2%.
01:19The IMF World Economic Outlook, which looks at the economies across the globe,
01:25just one week ago on April 22, 2026,
01:30downgraded its estimated economic growth for Trinidad and Tobago from 2.3% to 0.8%.
01:38Let them come now and tell you that that is not true.
01:43As she notes, the over 50,000 jobs lost through the closing down of programs like CPEP and URP
01:49over allegations of corruption by the government,
01:53Beckles is of the view that the position was taken simply on the basis of them being PNM programs.
01:59When we turn to power, we will reinstate the CPEP program.
02:05We will reopen all the youth programs.
02:15With which this government has callously shut down,
02:19such as the youth agriculture program, the HOIS program.
02:23Added to the list of programs is the Civilian Conservation Corps.
02:27Beckles says the PNM's legacy of building and being a leader in CARICOM is being squandered.
02:34This is another area that she vows to address.
02:38We will repair the damage this government has done to our international standing, starting with CARICOM.
02:50One of our team's first mission will be to meet with regional leaders to recommit this country's efforts towards regional
02:57cooperation and integration.
02:59The opposition leader states that more will be revealed in the future on the PNM's vision, mission and plans for
03:05TNT.
03:05However, at this time, she states that the party has commenced inviting local government elections nominations in areas where they
03:13do not have sitting MPs.
03:16Beckles is anticipating more promises from the government.
03:19They're going to come and offer you again ham, lamb and jam.
03:26And I'm telling you, make sure and take it.
03:30Take all of it and vote against them and vote for the People's National Movement.
03:36Alicia Boucher, TV6 News.
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