Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar launched a scathing rebuke of the Opposition People’s National Movement (PNM), accusing elements within the party of promoting lawlessness and endangering law enforcement.In a statement issued yesterday, the Prime Minister claimed that sections of the PNM, along with criminal elements and their supporters, were engaged in a campaign aimed at undermining confidence in the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS), the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and the country’s justice system.“The PNM’s promotion of lawlessness, hostility towards law enforcement, racist invective, criminal gang propaganda and mob intimidation tactics seriously endangers the safety and security of law-abiding citizens,” she stated.Persad-Bissessar has been a strong defender of the police and law enforcement as controversy continues to rage over the January 20 police killing of Joshua Samaroo and the charges levelled against his common-law wife, Kaia Sealy, including manslaughter.The matter has sparked protests and heated debate across the country. At the latest of a series of protests on Wednesday near the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, organiser Alyssa Phillip and blogger/influencer Jason De Silva were both detained by police.The Prime Minister on Wednesday dismissed the protests as “victim gimmickry” and yesterday said they were politically motivated.“Today, criminal elements, their enablers and sections of the PNM hierarchy continue to foment contempt, hostility, violent rhetoric and racist invective against law enforcement officers, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and law-abiding citizens,” she said.The Prime Minister went further, suggesting that recent rhetoric surrounding the matter could place members of the protective services at risk.“It appears that the PNM and those who seek to defend criminal gangs are doing everything possible to incite hostility towards law enforcement in the hope that it results in violence against police officers and prosecutors.”She then posed a pointed question: “Will they be satisfied if TTPS officers and prosecutorial officials are gunned down in our streets?”Persad-Bissessar argued that the country’s long struggle with violent crime was partly the result of a culture that excused criminality and attacked those responsible for enforcing the law.“The PNM’s attempts to normalise racist invective, criminal behaviour and hostility towards law enforcement, seek to create nationally the same destructive mindset that allowed violent criminal gangs to gain influence and control in communities across the country.”She maintained that for years criminal elements were allowed to flourish because too many citizens were reluctant to challenge individuals who sought to undermine public institutions.“The unfortunate reality is that Trinidad and Tobago descended into criminality and disorder because too many law-abiding citizens were fearful of confronting political opportunists, racial provocateurs and criminal grifters.“These individuals promoted false narratives against law enforcement, allowing criminal elements to operate with boldness while ordinary citizens lived in fear.”Persad-Bissessar also accused critics of engaging in political grandstanding while ignoring the wider impact of criminality on society.She also issued a warning against any attempts to target officials within the DPP’s Office.“Attempts to intimidate, harass or interfere with the Director of Public Prosecutions and members of his staff will not be tolerated.”In her statement, Persad-Bissessar referenced the killing of special State prosecutor Randall Hector, who was murdered in December 2024 while involved in the prosecution of an alleged gang leader.Persad-Bissessar also praised the TTPS for its handling of events outside the DPP’s Office on Wednesday, where officers prevented a planned protest from taking place and arrested three individuals.“I commend the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) for moving swiftly to secure the Office of the DPP yesterday and for protecting its staff from intimidation, harassment and potential harm.”