Persad-Bissessar issued a separate message to what she described as her UNC family as Trinidad and Tobago marked its 64th anniversary of independence Monday. She reflected on the hardships experienced by supporters and their ancestors and criticized what she described as discrimination under previous People's National Movement governments, while urging UNC members to remain confident and defend the party. Her message included combative language about peace, conflict and the need for toughness in protecting the party's membership, prompting questions about whether the remarks were appropriate for a sitting prime minister on a national holiday.

Rowley, the former PNM leader and prime minister, called on Persad-Bissessar to apologize, accusing her of using the Independence anniversary to promote racial division and undermine social cohesion. Separately, First Wave Movement leader Umar Abdullah asked Police Commissioner Allister Guevarro to investigate and potentially prosecute the prime minister under Trinidad and Tobago's Sedition Act, arguing that her remarks about “total war” and defending the UNC membership with “steeliness and savagery” crossed into incitement. The police commissioner had not responded to the request when the Guardian reported it. Persad-Bissessar has rejected the broader criticism, describing the backlash as politically motivated and maintaining that she has a responsibility to defend UNC supporters.