General secretary of the People's National Movement (PNM) Ashton Ford said the party was standing in support of Senator Fitzgerald Hinds in his on-going battle with Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar. Ford issued a statement to the media yesterday. He said the Opposition party noted with "grave concern" moves by Persad-Bissessar to initiate legal action against Hinds if he failed to apologise to her for statements he made recently. Hinds told a news conference at the Office of the Leader of the Opposition last week, the Prime Minister did not tell the truth when she claimed one week earlier she was cleared of all matters being investigated by the Integrity Commission. Hinds quoted a letter from the commission to him, dated August 3, which said in part: "However the other aspect of your complaint has been considered and is being investigated by the Integrity Commission. You will be informed of the decision of the commission in due course."
Ford said yesterday: "The PNM strongly condemns the Prime Minister's, and leading members of the UNC's (United National Congress) vile language in response to Senator Hinds' legitimate claims on the matter." Ford said Hinds was not served with any pre-action protocol letter from Persad-Bissessar. "The PNM stands behind Senator Hinds' continued courage as a guardian of democracy and in ensuring that no one is above the law," Ford stressed. He said the PNM "supports" Hinds in his response to all related matters.