Kamla Persad takes a dig at PM Rowley, calls him "Mama Guy"

Trinidad and Tobago: Leader of opposition in Trinidad and Tobago called on the government to legalize "pepper spray" as she listed down the cases of homicide and sexual assault against women in the country. Kamla Persad-Bissessar stated that a 70-year-old was raped in the country. Citing examples, she asked the Trinidad and Tobago government being led by Prime Minister Keith Rowley to take not and legalize the usage of pepper spray to let women use it for self-protection. She stated that pepper spray might not kill the attacker; however, it can delay the attack. "If you are serious about women's protection, then bring the pepper spray law," stated Kamla Persad.

Besides this, she also stated that the current government's anti-gang bill debate was initiated because the ruling party's "back is on the wall".

She added that the proposed legislation would break down the constitutional provisions on liberty, property deprivation, and due process.

The opposition leader using metaphors, stated that the government is "mamaguy people crying crocodile tears in the senate,"

Besides this, she stated that women's protection is not the government's priority, so they are failing at bringing the pepper spray law, which is being demanded even by the larger community of women.

Speaking on the policies of sexual harassment at the workplace, she stated that the government must start to work on it, and it is also required for the protection of men.

She also took a dig at Prime Minister Keith Rowley for his women's day speech and stated that he referred to women in terms of "grooming" and "golf courses."

Furthermore, she also called ruling party PNM the "pandemic of Trinidad and Tobago,"

Earlier, Kamla Persad had requested the government of India for coronavirus vaccines; she stated that Trinidad and Tobago share historic ties with India. She thrashed local newspaper editors for their recent editorial against India over vaccines.

She stated that the arrival of 33,600 vaccines for Trinidad and Tobago will only be sufficient for 15,000 people. She noted that the speed with which the country is moving ahead with shows that it will take more than 14 years for Trinidad and Tobago to immunize its entire population.