Caption: File- Minister of Energy and Energy Industries Stuart Young at the press conference at the Diplomatic Centre last year. AZP News/Azlan Mohammed
By Prior Beharry
MEMBER of Parliament for Port of Spain North/St Ann’s West and Minister of Energy Stuart Young has apologised for his “zammie” comment in Parliament last Thursday.
In a Facebook post on Wednesday, Young said, “In the Parliament last Thursday, during the recently concluded budget debate, I made comments which were carried by a live microphone which have gone viral and generated much attention.
“I accept that more is expected of me as a Representative member of parliament and I wish to record my regret that this ‘cross talk’ has unnecessarily distracted public discourse. Please accept my humblest apologies.
“I hope and trust that my record of service to our country speaks for itself. Be further assured that I will continue to serve without fear or favour, malice or ill-will.
“Humbly yours,
“Stuart R. Young, SC, MP.”
A clip of this “hot mic” incident has gone viral. In it Finance Minister Colm Imbert who was sitting next to Young began to speak and then said he was waiting for Speaker Bridgid Annisette-George to replace Deputy Speaker Esmond Forde in the chair.
Young was heard saying, “All ah allyuh go, he will run girls now for all of allyuh in the backroom. Cyah use the PTSC buses any more, though, but he will bring the girls for all of allyuh now, including Kamla.”
Imbert: “(Laughs) They going and use the bathroom.”
Young: “Yeah, she going and zammie.”
Imbert: “(Laughs) Aye, aye… what wrong with you, boy?”
Young: “Doh, doh call my name.”
Imbert: “What wrong with you?”
An expletive is heard.
Imbert: “Aye, boy, cool it, de mic on. (Laughter).”
The in-house sign-language interpreter translating for the ParlView channel on YouTube appeared to be stunned and stopped signing when Young began his “cross talk.”
Then as the debate started, Imbert said he was not sure why Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar had left the House.
“I hope it’s a bathroom break,” he said, prompting Annisette-George to tell Imbert not “go down that road. Imbert apologised.
Zammie is said to be a reference to lesbian sexual acts. The word derived from the French “les amies,” meaning a group of girl friends.
Young had refused to comment until today on his “cross talk” while many including the UNC Women’s Arm and UNC MPs have called for him to apologise for his comments.
On Tuesday, activist Wendell Eversley staged a one-man protest outside the Red House calling for both Young and Imbert to apologise for their comments.
This is not an apology of substance. He should also be directing this apology to the Opposition leader. Come Stuart you can do better than this! The eyes of your children are also upon you