Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar yesterday sharply criticised Opposition MP Stuart Young and said the former government placed a burden on the necks of thousands of former Petrotrin workers.
The Prime Minister criticised the People’s National Movement (PNM) for union-busting and being anti-worker.
She was speaking in Parliament during the debate on the Miscellaneous Provisions (Heritage Petroleum, Paria Fuel Trading and Guaracara Refining Vesting) (Amendment) Bill, 2026, which was passed in the Senate on June 17, 2026.
The bill was passed in the House yesterday, with 26 members voting in favour, and 13 Opposition members abstaining.
The Prime Minister, who spoke immediately after Young, referenced calypsonian Lord Nelson and his song “King Liar”.
She said Young engaged in many untruths as she accused the former PNM administration of crashing the economy and calling the general election because it could no longer manage and govern the country.
She noted that Young spoke about the debt-to-GDP ratio and Petrotrin’s challenges in remaining operational.
Persad-Bissessar said the PNM doubled the country’s debt, reminding Parliament that when the UNC Government demitted office in 2015, the national debt stood at $75.4 billion.
She said when the PNM left office, the debt had risen to $144.8 billion—the highest ever recorded.
She said the debt-to-GDP ratio moved from 42.9% in March 2015 to 82.8% when the PNM demitted office.
She said this placed a burden on the necks of citizens.
Persad-Bissessar paused her contribution and said, “Don’t run away, you know!” referring to Young, adding that “they want to be in the kitchen but they can’t take the heat!”
She continued to refer to Young as “King Liar”, prompting an objection from him over what he described as insulting and offensive language.
Deputy House Speaker Dr Aiyna Ali overruled the objection.
The Prime Minister recalled that those who live in South Trinidad would know they were almost home when they saw the flame from the refinery.
“Never ever forget who put out that flame, that flare at Petrotrin,” she said as Government members pummelled their desks.
She quoted from the 2018 annual report of Trinidad Petroleum Holdings, noting that in its last year of operations, as of September 2018, the company recorded profits of $1.697 billion.
She said the former administration gutted the entire company and fired thousands of workers.
She questioned why, if the Government had to restructure the company, it did not take care of the workers.
She said there was already precedent for workers’ succession rights to be carried over, citing the Regional Health Authorities (RHAs).
“I say the truth will come to light one day we want to know why did you bust the union,” she said.
‘Powerful’ legislation
The Prime Minister said her Government had come, on the eve of Labour Day, to correct a grave injustice.
Persad-Bissessar noted that when the refinery was closed in 2018, livelihoods were disrupted, communities and hard-working families were plunged into uncertainty, and those effects are still being felt across the country today.
She said while this was happening, the voices of workers were being removed, the continuity of collective bargaining was broken, and the rights of organised labour were being extinguished.
She said the “powerful” bill was designed to restore what should never have been taken away from workers.
She said the former government had engaged in clear union-busting and that this anti-worker action left workers at Heritage Petroleum and Paria Fuel Trading without protection because there was no express clause identifying a successor recognised union.
Persad-Bissessar said she was the child of oilfield workers, noting that her father worked at Texaco.
She said her first job in Trinidad after returning home from university was as an intern at Texaco.
She said her mother ran a roti shop in Siparia that was patronised by oilfield workers.
The Prime Minister went on to commend labour leaders, saying, “We stand here on your shoulders and enjoy the fruits of your labour.”
She quoted from the Constitution of Trinidad and Tobago, which speaks to the principles of social justice and equality.
She said the bill before Parliament seeks to protect collective bargaining rights and preserve hard-earned negotiated benefits.
She said it was her Government’s responsibility to ensure equitable laws and social safety nets for all citizens, regardless of background or creed.
Persad-Bissessar said the former Government breached constitutional provisions as she criticised Young for having the temerity to suggest the Government was trespassing on the jurisdiction of the Industrial Court.
“What kind of lawyer is that?” she asked, as she noted the Industrial Court upheld successor rights.
