Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar is questioning how soon the government plans to introduce legislation to permit the regulated use of pepper spray-something which was promised by Attorney General Faris Al Rawi following last month’s kidnapping and murder of Andrea Bharatt.

In her message for International Women’s Day, Persad Bissessar reflected on the issue of gender based violence, noting the spike in crimes against women during the pandemic.

“We recently learned that despite public pressure to make non-lethal weapons available, and a promise by the government to enact the necessary legislation, there is still no word on when this will be done,” Persad-Bissessar said.

“It is painfully clear that the current administration has no coherent plan to take us out of the economic crisis we are currently facing – a crisis that began long before COVID-19, and therefore it is up to us to work together to effect change” she added. 

Noting that “the road ahead would be difficult” the Opposition Leader called on girls and women across the nation to “step up and claim your space. Continue to break barriers, continue to shatter the glass ceiling, and continue to stand proud in all your achievements.”