The United Progressive Party (UPP) and its Women’s Forum affirm their support for Senator Malaka Parker and condemn the prejudicial words and actions of Prime Minister Gaston Browne, whose social media posts, on Sunday, June 14, attempted to link her to an alleged criminal offense.

Law-enforcement authorities had not announced any involvement by Senator Parker. Therefore, the prime minister’s actions can be construed only as a deliberate effort to influence the Police and to taint Senator Parker’s character in the most abhorrent way.

That the prime minister gave no such commentary when, just recently, two cases of drug trafficking were dismissed by the director of public prosecutions speaks volumes about his political malice. No similar remarks were posted when one of his ministers was alleged to be associated with a drug bust at the Post Office.

Even more egregious, when there was a public call for an inquiry into the $15 million Vehicle-gate Scandal allegedly uncovered by the minister of Public Works, the prime minister unilaterally decided that no transparent inquiry would take place, effectively shielding his wife from scrutiny.

His double standard and hypocrisy are egregious and odious.

We call upon all right-thinking women and men to condemn the prime minister’s prejudicial actions and his attempt to up-end the principle of “innocent until proven guilty.”

We stand with Senator Parker.