United National Congress (UNC) leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar claims cracks within the People’s National Movement (PNM) were exposed in parliament when Port-of-Spain North/St Ann’s West MP Stuart Young was reprimanded by House Speaker Brigid Annisette-George on Thursday, for his remarks against the Opposition during a hot mic incident during last week’s Budget debate.
During the incident, Young directed offensive comments, including a homophobic slur towards Persad-Bissessar, while the Opposition was exiting the House. The clip of the incident went viral and garnered widespread condemnation.
Young was reprimanded for his behaviour by House Speaker Brigid Annisette-George on Thursday after the House passed the Budget. She noted that the matter was widely publicised and had brought the House into odium and disrepute.
Young avoided being sent to the Privileges Committee after apologising.
Responding to questions from Guardian Media yesterday, Persad-Bissessar said the division was clear in the attempt to save Young from the Privileges Committee. “House Speaker Bridgid Annisette-George reprimanded Stuart but was clearly not willing to take the instruction to spare him the Privileges Committee. Deputy Speaker Esmond Forde was readily waiting on the wing to take the Speaker’s chair. She exited the chamber and did not preside over the Opposition’s matter of privilege. Then, Young read from a prepared statement where he apologised. Following that, the Deputy Speaker made his ruling to not send Stuart to the Privileges Committee from a prepared statement.”
She added, “ It is noteworthy that the entire PNM bench did not thump their desks in unison after the Deputy Speaker’s ruling, in particular a number of female MPs.” Persad-Bissessar noted that “had Young faced the Privileges Committee, it would have given his PNM colleagues who are against his bid for PNM leadership an opportunity to cut him down, as there are deep divides in the PNM since Rowley’s anointing of Stuart as his successor.”
She said the scandal exposed what she claimed was Young’s “true colour.”
Persad-Bissessar his comments also created an uncomfortable work environment.
“This causes distress and problems for your health, job, relationships or other parts of your life. Minister Young’s comments has actually opened up a needed conversation on this type of behaviour in the workplace.”
However, PNM Lady Vice Chair Camille Robinson-Regis yesterday stood up in defence of Young.
“As far as I am aware, no division exists within our party—we leave that sort of canal politics to the Opposition.
The Women’s League stands firmly behind Minister Young and will continue to advocate for fairness and respect in our political environment,” Robinson-Regis said.
Analysts agree
all is not well
Commenting yesterday on the decision not to refer Young to the Privileges Committee, political Analyst Dr Bishnu Ragoonath said the decision also underscored fragmentation within the PNM.
“There was not full fledge support even within the PNM for that apology to be accepted in that way, also, from a gender perspective, clearly the Speaker made a strong ruling and it was left to a man to say we accept your apology and move on, so from a gender perspective, even within the PNM there may not be that degree of support and forgiveness for Stuart Young.”
Political analyst Dr Indira Rampersad meanwhile called for Young’s resignation. She labelled the utterances as inflammatory, noting they had undermined his leadership thrust in the PNM.
“He’s actually spoilt any chances of becoming the party leader with those comments and more than the Privileges Committee, which I think he should have been correctly referred to because this certainly warrants that and there were obscenities involved as well as unsavoury, unbecoming remarks which could be defamatory.”
Also contacted, political Analyst Dr Shane Mohammed said the manner in which it was handled in the Parliament was just pure politics at play.
However, he too expressed the view that all may not be well within the PNM as it relates to Minister Young.
He pointed to the fact that several MPs on the Government bench did not thump their desks in support of Young after he gave his apology.
“There are persons who are not on par and they are not on board, so to speak, with the possibility of him being hoisted on the population and the party, so there are going to be those who are going to find different ways, creative ways to give their two cents on it or their reactions,” Mohammed said.
He said others may play to the tune of the possibility of Young being party leader because it may lead to their political survival and others may be at the point where whatever happens next, they don’t care because they have already made up their minds to go into political retirement.
“So there is that justling of personalities that would be in favour, not in favour, indifferent and it will tell from how they behave, how they react to certain things...but all is not well. I can definitely assure you that all is not well in Balisier House as it pertains to this idea that the Prime Minister is showing that this is who I prefer...he’s going to have to find a different way to make this decision or to concretise this decision, if that is what he wants without a huge fallout from the party itself.”
Dr Mohammed also gave credit to House Speaker Bridgid Annisette-George for the way she admonished Young.
Pride TT troubled by decision
Co-founder of Pride TT, Kennedy Everett Maraj, told Guardian Media that while House Speaker’s admonishment of Young was necessary and appropriate, the lack of meaningful action was troubling. “What message are we sending to our youth and the broader community when we allow homophobia to be used as a weapon against someone’s character, life, and livelihood? What will it take to eliminate homophobia in our society so that we can lead not just with tolerance, but with genuine respect for the dignity and worth of every individual?”
He maintained that homophobia was not picong and had no place in the country’s Parliament.