Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar says there will be no rescinding of the state of emergency (SoE) regulations on no-protest zones across the country, even as she emphasised citizens remained free to protest.The Prime Minister also said yesterday she did not feel pressured by ongoing protests and industrial action.She said her Government remains focused on governance.The Express contacted Persad-Bissessar yesterday for comment on several national issues, including unions calling for the Government to remove SoE regulations which prohibit protests within 500 metres of 15 designated State institutions, a call for a shutdown of the country on Friday, and maxi-taxi protests.“Citizens are free to protest, free to shut down the country or free to turn up to work on any day. In our society citizens are allowed to pursue their individual choices within the law. At the end of each month, every individual has to pay their bills and therefore they should make choices that best suit them,” she said.Asked about unions, including the Joint Trade Union Movement (JTUM), calling for the SoE regulations to be rescinded on the grounds that they were a “massive overreach” by the authorities and the police, Persad-Bissessar made it clear the regulations will remain in force.“I suggest that the unions should focus on working with the Government on issues that would actually benefit their members. Every citizen can protest anywhere in the country besides these 15 places.“The (Director of Public Prosecutions’) office, the two airports, the Port, Defence Force headquarters, TTPS headquarters, Ministry of Finance, President’s House, etc, are high-security areas so you can’t have large gatherings in front of these places that gangs may infiltrate. It’s just common sense,” she said.Citizens have access to the entire country to protest, except for the 15 designated buildings, she stated.“I’m not going to allow gang members to infiltrate legitimate protests and congregate in front high-security buildings like the airports and DPP offices,” she said.Asked if the SoE will be extended, Persad-Bissessar said the National Security Council will make a decision shortly based on the available data.Public frustrationThe Express noted that in recent months there have been protests and dissatisfaction among various groups, including teachers, nurses, maxi-taxi operators and people calling for justice on a range of matters.Asked if she felt pressured by what appeared to be growing public discontent, the Prime Minister responded: “No.”She added: “There is always public frustration in some sectors every day. That’s not new. The Government will always act to make citizens’ lives better with the resources available to us.”She said some groups were bona fide and had legitimate concerns that can realistically be addressed in the short term.“However, there are many groups that have been created or infiltrated by political and race grifters, concern trolls and engagement farmers who seek to use issues to rage bait, race hustle, publicity farm, etc. These groups are generally ignored,” she said.Persad-Bissessar said her Government was prioritising all areas.Asked about the strike action taken by maxi-taxi operators, Persad-Bissessar urged them to continue communicating with Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation Eli Zakour, as she believed some of their concerns are legitimate.“The vast majority of maxi operators are decent, hard-working people who ensure that our loved ones get to work or school and back home safely. I have nothing negative to say about them because they provide a service that is generally efficient and safe. In fact, a number of them have provided transportation services to the UNC over the years and still do,” she said.“I do think that they have some legitimate complaints that can be solved easily, and some not so legitimate which may take more work. I’m informed the minister has been working on these issues for a while. I encourage them to keep engaging with the minister after they have completed their three-day strike. At the end of the day, they are good, law-abiding people and the Government will assist them in any way possible to make their lives easier,” she said.The Prime Minister said as a precautionary measure, the bus route will remain open to light motor vehicles today, while national security vehicles will remain on standby to transport commuters.