00:00By early next year, there will be new age limits governing four activities, alcohol, tobacco, cannabis and gambling.
00:08Having cleared the Senate, Prime Minister Kamala Fasan-Basasa says,
00:12The legislation will now be sent to the President to be proclaimed and operationalized in early 2027.
00:20The new thresholds will see the legal age for alcohol and tobacco increase to 21,
00:26while cannabis and gambling were moved to 25.
00:30But the legislation passed without support from the opposition or independent senators.
00:36The Prime Minister has strongly criticized those who voted against the bill or abstaining,
00:42saying,
00:43The PNM's answer to protecting our youth is giving them marijuana to smoke, paying menial welfare jobs.
00:51She also took aim at the independent senators,
00:54pointing to their previous position on legislation involving the Children's Life Fund.
00:59Fasan-Basasa says,
01:00Their vote against protecting young people was consistent with the hateful behavior
01:05that this loathsome and grotesque group of persons has shown towards legislation
01:11intended to benefit our children.
01:14Fasan-Basasa says,
01:16The government remains committed to what she describes as measures aimed at protecting young people.
01:21Also, a question about the Special Operations Act,
01:24which was proclaimed this week,
01:26the PM had a warning for those who break the law.
01:29She said,
01:30The government has indicated that special operations will be organized
01:48through the country's seven police districts.
01:51The PM would only say the special operations heads will be in place, soon.
01:57But the questions remain over the geographical reach of the new law.
02:02The Prime Minister says she will not force the security measures on communities that do not want them.
02:08She said,
02:09If the PNM doesn't want the brave men and women of the security services to protect their constituents
02:16and prefer violent criminals to terrorize them, that's fine by me.
02:20However, I will ensure that criminals are treated to hard policing in UNC areas.
02:26The UNC supports are TTPS and TTDF.
02:31The Prime Minister was also asked about the opposition's decision to boycott Prime Minister's questions.
02:37The opposition has described the process as a charade
02:40and is seeking a meeting of the Standing Orders Committee,
02:43including to address the issue of supplemental questions.
02:47The Prime Minister says she has no objection to the opposition's decision,
02:51adding,
02:52They have to be the dumbest version of the PNM ever.
02:55Why would I be bothered if they don't want to ask me questions?
02:59I fully support them not asking me questions.
03:03I love it.
03:04I wish you to worry.
03:06Rob Narayan, TV6 News.
