By Prior Beharry
THE Women’s League of the People’s National Movement (PNM) has come out in support of Sharon Clark-Rowley, slamming United National Congress (UNC) Senator Anil Roberts for “repulsive” and “vile” attacks on her.
In a release on Sunday, the Women’s League stated that Clark-Rowley, the wife of Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley, has been a practising attorney for 37 years and was not involved in active politics.
It stated that her accolades included being a mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, friend and daughter and added that Clark-Rowley was a patron of many charitable non-governmental organisations which assist women and children.
In a three minutes and 46 seconds Facebook post on Friday, Roberts spoke about the marriage of Rowley and Clark-Rowley, attacking him and praising her.
The release stated, “She has never mounted a political stage nor made any representations in the Parliament.
“Since her husband’s assumption of office in September 2015, Mrs Clark-Rowley continues to be an advocate for the well-being of women and girls in Trinidad and Tobago, despite being constantly attacked by her husband’s political opponents.”
It noted that Clark-Rowley avidly supported the work of the Down’s Syndrome Family Network, the Women in Action for the Needy and Destitute (WAND Foundation), the Epoch Foundation, a non-governmental organisation which is aimed at empowering young people to holistically overcome their challenges and several other non-governmental entities which are dedicated to changing the social landscape of T&T through youth-oriented initiatives.
She is also Patron of the Caribbean Association of Oncology and Haematology, the release added.
It stated, “The very nature of UNC Senator Roberts’s continued misconduct and (UNC leader Kamla) Persad-Bissessar’s approval of such is inimical to the national good. Politics cannot be left to become so base.
“If the leaders in our society stoop to these abhorrent levels, we cannot expect those whom we lead to aspire to anything greater.
“The Women’s League abhors and condemns this debasing and disrespect of Mrs Clarke-Rowley and we are always ready to defend the women Trinidad and Tobago.”
The release stated that Women’s League stands in solidarity with Clark-Rowley, and “strongly denounce Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s, the first female prime minister, support of the vile and absolutely disgusting discussions led by the United National Congress and in particular her senatorial pick of Anil Roberts’ repulsive, vile and despicable attacks against the wife of the Honourable Prime Minister in the public domain.”
It added, “Having failed on more than one occasion to besmirch the good name of the Prime Minister, Opposition Leader Persad-Bissessar has let loose Roberts to attack the good name and reputation of the Honourable Prime Minister’s wife.”
The release stated that under the leadership of Persad-Bissessar, the UNC has discarded every vestige of morality and decency.
It stated, “Persad-Bissessar must remind her Senate pick that there is a level of decency which must be upheld and thresholds from which we should refrain when persons place themselves for public service.
“Whilst politicians expect to be attacked by their opponents on the issues of policy, personality, and delivery, of which the PNM stands ever ready to defend its record in this regard, the UNC’s current attempt to drag the name and reputation of the Prime Minister’s wife into the grime and muck filled trenches of the UNC’s bosom, this is a new low.”
It stated, “UNC Senator Roberts’ colossal use of sewage-filled attacks against Mrs Clark-Rowley must be strongly deprecated by all citizens.
“Additionally, this is not the first time that UNC Senator Roberts has taken aim at women on his social media platforms. He continues to debase, slander, mock, demean and disrespect us, all whilst his leader- Persad-Bissessar sits on the sidelines applauding.”
It stated, “These types of repulsive, abhorrent, vile, antagonistic attacks displayed by Roberts and the UNC must stop.”
