Trinidad and Tobago: UNC condemns use of tear gas on peaceful protestors

Trinidad and Tobago 's opposition condemned the act of violence against the general public. The United National Congress (UNC), in a press release, added that on January 16, 2021, authorities used tear gas to disperse a small gathering of peaceful protesters at the Queens Park Savannah. In a statement, UNC stated that as images and video footage emerges of the event, everybody can see the heart-wrenching reports of young children and women being tear-gassed by the Trinidad and Tobago police. "One video clip showed a young lady crying while telling her story of driving around the Savannah with her kids going about her normal business. Suddenly her vehicle was tear-gassed, and she couldn't breathe, Another video clip showed a young lady walking along the pavement with her two kids, and they were tear-gassed as well," added UNC. The party added that numerous video clips show tear gas being discharged indiscriminately among ordinary citizens just going about their daily lives. Quoting an article published by Forbes on November 27, 2018, UNC said "Tear Gas Is Especially Harmful To Children - Here's Why". Discussing the more impact of tear gases, United National Congress stated that it could harm children in their long term health. Furthermore, the opposition called Prime Minister Keith Rowley's government taking an "authoritarian" turn. "The UNC had been in government twice, 1995 – 2001, the Basdeo Panday administration faced many demonstrations, some led by Errol McLeod, former President-General of the Oilfields Workers' Trade Union (OWTU), and Jennifer Baptiste-Primus, former president of the Public Services Association (PSA) who famously said she would hot up the place "Hotter than ah chulha"," the statement further added. Besides this, the opposition claimed that under the administration of UNC's leader and Former Prime Minister Kamla Persad Bissessar, no person faced atrocities similar to what is happening now. "Keith Rowley and his government are taking us down a dangerous road that we may never return from; he must stop oppressing and provoking the people. No one elected him to tear gas them," added United National Congress.

Trinidad and Tobago: UNC condemns use of tear gas on peaceful protestors

Latest

Related Articles