PM DEFENDS DIPLOMATIC PASSPORT REVIEW

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar is defending her government's decision to review diplomatic passports, insisting the exercise is aimed at correcting irregularities—not punishing former office holders. The Prime Minister says an investigation found hundreds of people in possession of diplomatic passports despite not meeting the criteria, and announced that several current and former officials, including former Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley and Opposition Leader Stuart Young, will instead receive official passports.