Hosein: No hidden agenda behind parade cancellation

Akash Samaroo

Legal Affairs Minister Saddam Hosein is accusing the People’s National Movement of “creating mischief” regarding the cancellation of the Independence Day Parade. He claims the Opposition is looking for a hidden motive behind the decision that simply does not exist.

Accusing the Opposition Leader of being asleep over the past two days, Hosein reiterated that security concerns, as expressed in their news conference, were the sole reason for cancelling the annual military parade and emphasised that there is no hidden agenda behind the controversial directive.

Hosein added that calls for a “scaled-down” event were entertained by the Government in its deliberations. However, he stressed that the best way forward, based on the information before them, was to cancel the entire event.

Since the announcement was made last Friday by the Government, the Opposition has called for “the real reason” for the cancellation of the parade and fireworks show.

Opposition Leader Pennelope Beckles said the Government gave a “multiplicity of reasons” for the cancellation, which included finances and security, and she called for clarity.

Speaking with Guardian Media yesterday, Hosein said, “I was very clear in the media conference, and it seems as though the Opposition Leader was sleeping during that press conference, because it was very clearly stated that it would be unwise to have the President, the Judiciary, members of the Government, members of the Opposition, and law enforcement officers in the same venue at the same time.”

Hosein said financial concerns were never a reason for the directive.

“We never indicated that we cancelled the Independence Day function for the sake of saving money. It was a direct consequence. If the functions and the parade had been cancelled, then that money, instead of being used for those functions, would have gone towards law enforcement and so on,” he posited.

Hosein called the PNM’s refusal to accept the Government’s word nothing more than “pure mischief.” The minister added that it also reeks of hypocrisy.

“They themselves accepted that the threat continues to exist, because when we went to the Parliament to extend the State of Emergency, they gave the Government the support for the extension of the State of Emergency,” he said.

In response to Beckles’ claim that there must be something the Government was hiding from the people, Hosein said, “It would be reckless and irresponsible for the Government to place on the public record matters of national security. I think that call by the Opposition Leader is quite reckless and irresponsible.”