00:00The Prime Minister is making it clear wealth, status and connections will not place anyone above the law.
00:08Responding to questions from the Express about Attorney General John Jeremy, Senior Counsel,
00:13recent statements concerning the so-called 1% and reports that some individuals have had their United States visas revoked,
00:22Kamala Passant-Bissessa defended government's position.
00:25She said, quote, my government's position is clear pursuant to the maxim, justice is blind.
00:33The law applies equally to every citizen, regardless of their financial status, social standing, political connections or influence, end quote.
00:43The Prime Minister said what the Attorney General outlined is that every individual remains subject to the laws of Trinidad
00:50and Tobago.
00:51Passant-Bissessa reiterated, quote, whether criminal elements identify themselves as the 6, the 7, the 1%, or by any other
01:00name,
01:01they are all subject to the laws of Trinidad and Tobago and will be treated accordingly by the justice system,
01:07end quote.
01:08She said there will be no special treatment and no immunity from legal consequences based on wealth, social standings or
01:16association.
01:17The Prime Minister stressed that Trinidad and Tobago plays no role in decisions made by the United States regarding visa
01:24applications and revocations.
01:26According to the Prime Minister, law enforcement agencies remain focused on ensuring that the country's laws are applied fairly and
01:34equally,
01:36explaining, quote, we will review the data to make appropriate decisions.
01:39It's too early to speculate. All law-abiding citizens have nothing to fear, end quote.
01:45The Prime Minister also sought to address concerns surrounding references to the 1% community.
01:51She said the group is not compromised of a single ethnic background, but includes people from many ethnic groups across
01:58society.
02:00Passant-Bissessa also revealed that the state is receiving international assistance in tracing billions of U.S. dollars
02:07that she says left Trinidad and Tobago over the past two decades.
02:11She alleged, quote,
02:13some current and former high-ranking officials of local banks facilitated the sale of massive amounts of foreign currency to
02:21local businesses,
02:22which was then transferred to foreign accounts linked to cartels and also used to purchase real estate holdings and businesses
02:30in collaboration with cartels, end quote.
02:33The Prime Minister also said billions of dollars' worth of illegal drugs have passed through Trinidad and Tobago over the
02:40last 25 years,
02:41raising questions about how those operations were financed.
02:45She said, quote,
02:46The state is finally getting assistance to deal with drug trafficking and money laundering,
02:51and we will let the chips fall where they may, end quote.
02:55Passant-Bissessa also delivered a sharp political message,
02:58accusing the former administration and criminal financiers of underestimating public frustration,
03:04saying, quote,
03:05If you kick someone when they are down, make sure they don't get back up.
03:10That's the lesson the PNM and the local drug mafia financiers forgot
03:14when they were kicking law-abiding citizens for the past 10 years, end quote.
03:19You can read more on this story in Tomorrow's Express by Anna Ramdas.
03:23Arvishita Wari Rubnarain, TV6 News.
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