A quarrel over race and national unity has erupted between Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and Opposition Leader Pennelope Beckles, with both yesterday accusing each other of fuelling division in the country.Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar lambasted Opposition Beckles, describing her concerns about division in society as fake.She was responding to questions about Beckles’ concerns over growing divisions in the country and her call for greater national unity.In a Facebook post earlier yesterday titled “Unity Must Start With You, Prime Minister”, Beckles called on the Persad-Bissessar to step aside over her absence from the Emancipation Support Committee of Trinidad and Tobago’s African Emancipation 2026 celebrations.Beckles issued a strong statement, criticising the Prime Minister over her decision to not attend the Committee’s invitation to attend celebrations at the Lidj Yasu Omowale Emancipation Village in the Queen’s Park Savannah, Port of Spain.Beckles described Persad-Bissessar’s decision as “disdainful”.The Opposition Leader rejected what she said was a suggestion that Emancipation is a People’s National Movement (PNM) celebration.Beckles argued that “Emancipation is a sacred part of Trinidad and Tobago’s history and belongs to all citizens, not any political party.”“Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s petulant, knee-jerk statements and her attempts to diminish the significance of one of our nation’s most important commemorations are disrespectful in the extreme, and prove her wholly unworthy of the office she is privileged to occupy.“It is equally telling that the Prime Minister refused to acknowledge the inappropriateness of the event hosted by UTT and its current management, doubling down on the insult to the African community by her careless words,” Beckles stated.This Government is led by a Prime Minister who gaslights the population about unity, “while she is publicly and daily engaged in deepening racial and political divisions”, she continued.“Questions also remain about the Independence Day Parade. With the North Stand still in place after it visibly disrupted the flow of the Emancipation Village, where exactly does the Government intend to host the national parade? Is this an attempt to avoid boos?” Beckles asked.“The UNC accepted the outcome of the general election on April 28, 2025; and they must similarly accept that the pot of public dissatisfaction is bubbling over due to their dismal and vindictive governance style.“When a Government avoids press conferences to escape scrutiny, distances itself from public events for fear of public reaction, and seeks to silence cultural presentations because it dislikes criticism, that Government is a clear and present threat to democracy,” she said.Beckles added: “The Prime Minister cannot withstand criticism, cannot face the people, and cannot uphold the dignity of the office she holds. Kamla Persad-Bissessar has violated the tenets of her oath to serve without fear and favour, malice and ill-will: she must do the honourable thing and step aside; allowing the PNM to lead this country with unity.”PM: Fake concern, attackon my ‘daughter’ Michelle“It is the PNM MPs, owners and supporters who are calling celebrating that East Indians are stinking coolies so I don’t understand why she is faking concern about national unity,” Persad-Bissessar responded yesterday to the Express.The Prime Minister said, “The PNM and their supporters idea of celebrating emancipation day was to denigrate, humiliate and tear down Indo and Afro Trinidadians who don’t support their political party. This version of the PNM under Pennelope Beckles is the most hateful racist and divisive. What they did to (Culture Minister) Michelle Benjamin and (University of Trinidad and Tobago chairman) Selwyn Cudjoe over the Emancipation weekend is disgusting. I don’t care if the PNM MPs and supporters insult and call me a stinking coolie but Michelle Benjamin and Selwyn Cudjoe are wonderful people who were viscously attacked because the PNM believes that spreading coolie hatred and destroying Afro Trinidadians supportive of the UNC is a political strategy.”Persad-Bissessar reiterated her anger over the heckling that took place on Emancipation Day.She noted that members of the Emancipation Support Committee sat on the stage in Port of Spain and looked on, unbothered, as those she called PNM supporters “abused and humiliated Minister of Culture Michelle Benjamin, and never spoke up to stop it”.“That is how they celebrated Emancipation Day by allowing PNM political hacks to abuse a young brilliant hardworking and kind Afro-Trinidadian daughter. Michelle was allowed to be abused because they did not see her as a representative of the African community but instead saw her as my daughter. They believed that if they couldn’t attack me the next best thing was to abuse my daughter Michelle. I have no respect for that organisation anymore,” she said.Persad-Bissessar said her Government continues its work and service to the people of Trinidad and Tobago.