The Women’s Arm of the United National Congress (UNC), has taken Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley to task, following recent statements he made concerning the Opposition Leader’s move to have a tribunal set up to determine whether the President should be removed from office.
According to the UNC Women’s Arm, the Prime Minister’s comments against Mrs Persad-Bissessar amount to “verbal abuse”, and he is acting the hypocrite when not long after those statements, he reportedly urged women to "stand up and support their female counterparts instead of bringing each other down".
The following is the full text of the release issued by the UNC Women’s Arm…
UNC WOMEN’S ARM CONDEMNS PRIME MINISTER KEITH ROWLEY’S VIOLENT AND DEGRADING LANGUAGE AGAINST WOMEN AND CALLS OUT HIS HYPOCRISY
The UNC National Women's Arm notes with disgust that hours after criticising Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar for filing a motion under Section 36 of the Constitution for the establishment of a tribunal to investigate and potentially remove President Paula-Mae Weekes from office over the Police Commissioner appointment imbroglio, Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley urged women to "stand up and support their female counterparts instead of bringing each other down".
There is a culture of impunity, of accepting violent and degrading language against women, and an entire structure of power that supports that! The Prime Minister Keith Rowley is the perfect example of that!
The Prime Minister in his most derogatory and race-baiting performance in the presence of the Media has clearly signalled that he has given permission to use that language against his wife, his daughters, women in his community, and the UNC National Women's Arm is here to stand up to say that is not ACCEPTABLE!
We stand with all women who have experienced verbal abuse not just once, but since they were little girls by men such as the Prime Minister! This behaviour by Keith Rowley and so many others will not be tolerated! All women deserve respect and fundamental equality. Period!