Trinidad and Tobago PM’s remarks prompt call for sedition probe

The First Wave Movement has called on the Commissioner of Police to initiate an investigation into Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s statements in her Independence Day message to United National Congress (UNC) supporters.

In a letter dated September 1, the Movement’s founder and leader, Umar Abdullah, asked the Commissioner to determine whether the Prime Minister’s remarks warranted proceedings under the Sedition Act.

Abdullah referred to statements in which Persad-Bissessar told supporters, “Do not crawl on your belly for anyone. It’s either peace or total war, nothing in between,” and said “finesse and diplomacy must be backed up with steeliness and savagery when required to defend the UNC membership”.

He argued that the statements went beyond political rhetoric and amounted to incitement.

He said the references to “total war” and “savagery” framed political differences as confrontation and could encourage hostility and violence.

The letter referred to provisions of the Sedition Act which, according to the Movement, criminalised speech that brought the Government into hatred or contempt, excited disaffection against the Government, encouraged hostility between different classes of citizens, or incited violence, disorder or breaches of the peace.

Abdullah said the Prime Minister’s statements should be examined against those provisions, and called on the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) to act without fear or favour.

The Movement also cited previous sedition matters and argued that previous cases demonstrated that statements by individuals had resulted in police and court action.

The Movement said the Prime Minister had addressed her party supporters on Independence Day rather than using the occasion to unite the country. It also said describing political differences in terms of war could encourage supporters to regard political opponents as enemies.

Abdullah called on the Commissioner to initiate a formal investigation.

(Trinidad Express)