Senior Reporter
jensen.lavende@guardian.co.tt
Political activist Wendell Eversley is calling on Energy Minister Stuart Young and Finance Minister Colm Imbert to apologise after Young accused Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar of engaging in lesbian activities.
During a one-man protest outside the Red House yesterday, Eversley said the hot mic comments were not in keeping with the standards befitting Parliament.
“I’m calling on Stuart Young this morning to apologise to the people of Trinidad and Tobago. Apologise to Parliament. And I’m calling also on the Minister of Finance, who was cheering him on, to also apologise to the people of Trinidad and Tobago.”
Last Thursday, Young accused Persad-Bissessar of going to the bathroom to “zammi” while Imbert chuckled in the background. In creole, the word refers to a woman who is sexually oriented to women. The comment was made while the men assumed the microphones were off.
Eversley said he left any disciplinary action up to the political party—PNM—as he could not speak on its behalf, since he was not a member.
He, however, chastised others for remaining silent on the matter as he asked: “Are we seeing today people more concerned about power and perks instead of good governance?”
Guardian Media called and messaged Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley and head of the PNM’s Women League Camille Robinson-Regis on whether they believed Young should apologise, but up to late yesterday evening there was no response.
Young too, did not respond to a WhatsApp message while Imbert has blocked this reporter from contacting him.
While Persad-Bissessar is yet to respond to the comment, the deputy political leader of the UNC Jearlean John said she was not surprised by the remark. She believes nothing will come out of it and accused the Prime Minister of condoning the behaviour.
“If you had noticed Stuart Young for a while, you will notice that he is vile, he is vulgar and he is very cruel. He says worse things about people. That is normal behaviour for him. Even in the civil environment of the Parliament, Stuart Young is most uncivil as far as I am concerned and as the UNC is concerned,” she said.
John also accused Young of having a “brown tongue” adding that nothing good comes from his mouth. She said she doubts that Rowley will take any action against him.
“He has been enabled by his lord and master Dr Rowley. He has gotten progressively worse” she said adding that the comment was unprovoked.
Like Eversley, the UNC’s Women’s Arm, in a media release, also called for Young to apologise as it strongly condemned the “offensive and disrespectful remarks.”
“The remarks, targeting Persad-Bissessar, reflect a disturbing lack of decorum and professionalism in the Parliament, which should be a place of dignity and respect for all representatives.”
And while he may be at odds with his political party, the UNC, Mayaro MP Rushton Paray also chastised Young for his comments.
“I firmly believe that Minister Young’s behaviour should not go unchecked. It is imperative that he faces public accountability for his actions to uphold the standards of our Parliament and set a positive example for our society.”
Meanwhile, Queer Corner Caribbean condemned the comments labelling it bullying.
“It is saddening to see our leaders engage in bullying while the nation mourns the death of a minor who died by suicide as a result of being bullied.”
The organisation also called on Young to apologise.
“Using salacious accusations for picong perpetuates harassment and discrimination against LGBTQIA Trinbagonians. We outrightly condemn this language and call for accountability, starting with an immediate apology.”
House Speaker won’t tolerate disrespect
House Speaker Bridgid Annisette-George said she will not be tolerating disrespect in the Parliament.
Interrupting cross-talk between Labour Minister Stephen McClashie and Opposition MPs Rudy Indarsingh and Ravi Ratiram during a Standing Finance Committee (SFC) yesterday, Annisette-George employed members to manage their behaviours.
“What I am going to ask everyone here, for the past two days that we’ve been at this exercise, we’ve all been trying to practice tolerance, patience and containing our volting enthusiasm and it has worked well. While the composition of the meeting has changed from time to time I am going to ask all of you member here today to also bind themselves to the successful modus operandi that we employed for the past two days.
“So I don’t expect to get any complaints from either side about being disrespectful, intolerant, rude, or obnoxious. We have business to do, okay? Let’s proceed.” —with reporting by Kay-Marie Fletcher