PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad and Tobago — Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has vowed to dismantle what she describes as a “swine culture” fostered by the opposition People’s National Movement (PNM), accusing the former governing party of encouraging dishonesty, lawlessness and dependence on state assistance.
In a social media statement, Persad-Bissessar said the alleged practices had undermined the country’s working and middle classes, arguing that government resources should benefit citizens who work honestly, pay their taxes and obey the law.
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“For T&T’s working and middle classes to prosper, the swine culture entrenched by the PNM must be uprooted from our society,” she said.
The Prime Minister accused previous PNM administrations of allowing temporary welfare programmes, state contracts, government assistance and public-sector employment to become avenues for generating personal income dishonestly. She said her administration would continue to cut what it considers corrupt employment programmes, ineffective state agencies and welfare arrangements that fail to serve their intended purpose.
Persad-Bissessar argued that many citizens have spent years believing that opportunities in Trinidad and Tobago are reserved for people with money, influence or personal connections. She said her government intended to change that perception and ensure that hardworking citizens receive a fairer share of national resources.
“The working and middle classes of Trinidad and Tobago are not asking for miracles. They are asking for a fair chance,” she said.
The Prime Minister also linked the term “swine culture” to the late politician Dr Morgan Job, whom she credited with using the phrase to describe what he viewed as a decline in the country’s social, political and moral standards.
Persad-Bissessar maintained that opportunities should be based on honest contributions to society rather than personal connections or political influence. She said government revenue would be directed towards citizens who take responsibility for themselves and their families and contribute to the country’s development.
Her remarks form part of the administration’s stated intention to review welfare schemes, employment programmes and the performance of state agencies. The proposed cuts, however, raise questions about how programmes will be assessed and how the government will distinguish between alleged abuse and legitimate assistance for citizens who need support.
The PNM had not provided a response in the report to the Prime Minister’s latest accusations.
