00:00KUVA South MP Barry Padaroth is defending Prime Minister Kamala Pesad-Besasa's Independence Day message
00:06while taking aim at those who have criticized her remarks.
00:10Padaroth says the Prime Minister's message was intended to strengthen the UNC's political base
00:15rather than target a particular racial group.
00:19He wrote a statement saying, quote,
00:21The Honorable Prime Minister's very frank, blatantly honest and thought-provoking message to the UNC membership
00:26speaks to a reality that had existed under the PNM for decades in Trinidad and Tobago.
00:33It is meant to embolden the UNC membership and not a segment of the society based on race, end quote.
00:40But Padaroth says the reaction to the message has exposed what he describes as discomfort
00:45among some of the Prime Minister's critics, saying, quote,
00:49However, this message seems to have made many inside and outside of the PNM very uncomfortable,
00:54so much so, some of them appear to have gone mad, end quote.
00:58He goes further, accusing some critics of distancing themselves from the very communities
01:03whose experiences they now claim to represent.
01:06Padaroth pointed an accusing finger at some of those now criticizing the Prime Minister.
01:12He said, quote,
01:12Some of these very critics of the Prime Minister's independence message are engaged in backroom deals
01:17in an attempt to take over the UNC by brokering deals with the PNM ahead of the 2025 general election,
01:25end quote.
01:26He claims those alleged efforts were driven by individual political ambitions
01:30rather than the interests of the wider party or community.
01:34Padaroth says the UNC has faced similar criticism before.
01:37He said, quote,
01:38Mr. Pandey also faced these diabolical attacks if one were to reference our history with these same players, end quote.
01:46And Padaroth says the current UNC leadership intends to respond forcefully to its detractors by adding, quote,
01:52We will be there at every twister in turn to defend our leader, our party, and our policies, end quote.
01:58Padaroth's statement comes as the Prime Minister's Independence Day remarks continue to generate debate
02:03over political rhetoric, race, identity, and the country's political divisions.
02:09Arvishita Mori, Rupnarain, TV6 News.
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