00:00Prime Minister Kamala Passat-Bissessa says her relationship with the National Emancipation Support Committee has been irreparably damaged.
00:08Asked about reports that the committee's Asha Kambon believed the Prime Minister had committed to attending the Emancipation Day function,
00:15the Prime Minister instead turned her attention to the treatment of MP and Minister of Culture Michelle Benjamin during the
00:24launch of Emancipation Day earlier in that day at which the committee was present.
00:30The PM said, quote, I have no respect for that organization anymore, end quote.
00:35She accused the committee of failing to intervene as Michelle Benjamin was subjected to verbal attacks, arguing organizers remained silent
00:44because of Benjamin's perceived political affiliation.
00:48Passat-Bissessa said, quote, Michelle was allowed to be abused because they did not see her as a representative of
00:55the African community.
00:56They saw her as my daughter, end quote.
00:59The Prime Minister also rejected concerns raised by opposition leader Penelope Beckles about growing national division.
01:06Instead, she accused the PNM and its supporters of promoting racial hatred over the Emancipation Weekend.
01:14Passat-Bissessa said, quote, this version of the PNM under Penelope Beckles is the most hateful, racist and divisive, end
01:21quote.
01:21She claimed the attacks extended beyond herself to others, she said, were perceived to support the UNC.
01:28Adding, quote, what they did to Michelle Benjamin and Selwyn Kujo over the Emancipation Weekend is disgusting, end quote.
01:36On the economy, the Prime Minister defended the government's employment record despite CSO data showing roughly 6,000 job losses
01:45in the first quarter of this year.
01:47She argued the figures reflected the dismantling of criminal networks rather than a weakening of the labor market.
01:54She said, quote, people are continuing to be employed in actual jobs, end quote.
01:59And she added, quote, many drug trafficking business fronts have closed and others have been forced to downscale, end quote.
02:07And she had a blunt response for those who believe their concerns are being ignored.
02:13Passat-Bissessa said, quote, all that freeness for PNM supporters that hardworking people had to pay for with their taxes
02:20is over.
02:21The opposition People's National Movement had previously called for greater national unity.
02:26It had not responded to the Prime Minister's latest comments up to Newstime.
02:31Ravashita Wari Rupnarein, TV6 News.
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