UNC Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar has defended her recent statement urging citizens to stand up against criminals who invade their homes.

Speaking last night at a cottage meeting in San Fernando, Mrs Persad-Bissessar referred to her call for homeowners confronted by bandits to “light them up” with their licensed firearms.

The UNC Leader noted that a newspaper has since dubbed her as reckless.

Mrs Persad-Bissessar reiterated the UNC’s intention to introduce stand-your-ground laws to protect homeowners and to make it easier to access legal firearms.