00:00A more subdued Prime Minister Kamala Pissat-Bissasa today as she fielded questions on some of the contentious issues facing
00:08her administration.
00:09On whether the President was being lobbied not to assent to the special operations bill and the procurement legislation,
00:17and whether she had any indication the President was considering withholding assent, the Prime Minister was brief.
00:24Pissat-Bissasa said, quote, that issue does not arise, end quote.
00:30She was then asked about the President's concerns recently over the increasingly harsh and inflammatory nature of public discourse,
00:40comments which came amid heightened political exchanges.
00:44Asked whether she viewed the President's remarks as a call for her to temper her own language,
00:49the Prime Minister struck a conciliatory note.
00:53She said, quote, everyone could be a bit better.
00:56So, there's always room for improvement in all of us, including both her and I, end quote.
01:02And on opposition leader Penelope Beckles' call for government to show greater respect for the opposition
01:08and not abuse its parliamentary majority,
01:12Pissat-Bissasa acknowledged their long-standing relationship, saying, quote,
01:16If you give respect, you will get respect.
01:19I consider Penelope a friend since our days at law school, end quote.
01:24But the PM made it clear that friendship will not change her responsibility to advance the government's legislative agenda.
01:31She said, quote,
01:40Questions were also put to the Prime Minister about the decision to allow King's Council Antony Sturman
01:46to practice in Trinidad and Tobago in the Gerald Ramdean and Anand Ramlogan matter,
01:52following criticism from former Minister Randall Mitchell.
01:56She did not respond.
01:58Our Vashita Mwari, Rupanarayan, TV6 News.
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