Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar says she wants to meet with the 14-year-old Cocorite girl who posted threatening statements about her on Facebook. The Prime Minister said she had read about the matter in the newspapers and had heard that the teen had apologised. In remarks during commissioning of a street-lighting project in Penal yesterday afternoon, Persad-Bissessar said:
"I am a mother and a grandmother and this is a teenager, a child. I am sure that you will agree with me when I say that I should meet with her and accept her apology. "We should also find out why she felt it necessary to do this. "I am not of the view, given the circumstances, that she should not be punished in any way. I think first we should talk to her.
"Do you all agree? We must see what kind of assistance and help we can provide for her." Even as the Prime Minister made those comments, officers of the Port-of-Spain CID were awaiting the arrival of a teenage girl who was supposed to give herself up after making threatening statements on Facebook to the Prime Minister. In the video, the teenager was critical of Persad-Bissessar's decision to declare the state of emergency and curfew restrictions. The video which was posted last week on Facebook has been generating controversy. Attorney General Anand Ramlogan said it included racial statements and the teenager should turn herself in to the police to let them deal with the matter.
The teen in turn apologised for her actions and pleaded with persons to stop posting the video.
She claimed the video was deleted and re-posted another video begging others to stop sharing her videos and she never "meant to do it again." The teenager has met with her Member of Parliament Dr Amery Browne. Yesterday, police officers said they were told the teen and her relatives would surrender to them. Senior officers have been given directives on how to treat the investigation. Police said attorneys Theodore Guerra and Senator Fitzgerald Hinds visited the Central Police Station to inquire about the matter.
CAMILLE CLARKE and RADHICA SOOKRAJ