Tracy Taegar-Panton has condemned what she describes as a "cowardly act" by the Prime Minister, accusing him of launching a defamatory and politically motivated attack over the weekend in a speech he made at the NPC meeting.
She says she intends to pursue a defamation suit over the statements:
Tracy Panton, Leader of the Opposition
"My reaction was to the irresponsible, libelous, defamatory statements that the Prime Minister made at his National Party Council meeting on Sunday in Dangriga. You are the head of state. You are the Prime Minister of a free and sovereign nation who is clearly cracking under the pressure of an executive that has gone rogue, cracking under the pressure of rampant and blatant corruption in your administration. And the way you react to that, as the prime minister believes, is to launch a baseless against a member of parliament. Worse, a baseless attack against the leader of the opposition who has given 40 years of unblemished service to this country. I would prefer if we can address the issues at hand. And the issue at hand is that there is blatant corruption within the Briceño-led administration. But when you can't address the issues, and when you are compromised yourself, the fallback plan is to launch these attacks. I am grossly disappointed. Perhaps I had a different view of the Prime Minister, but he is unable to manage the pressure he obviously feels. But he does not and will not get away with make any attempt to tarnish my reputation or my stellar record as a public servant and a servant of the people."
"Since you are saying that he crossed a legal line, do you plan to press any charges?"
"The matter is under review by my attorney, for sure. He has to be held to account. You don't get on a platform and not held to account."
