By Prior Beharry
PRIME Minister Stuart Young was heard telling a woman “once you vote for me, right” in front of a mosque while giving charity on Eid-ul-Fitr.
He was handing out money to people, who came for alms outside of the San Fernando Jama Masjid on Mucurapo Street on Monday.
Young was accompanied by Minister of Agriculture Kazim Hosein.
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UNC candidate for Barataria/San Juan Saddam Hosein described the statement by Young as “utterly disgusting.”
He posted on Facebook, “Utterly disgusting and insulting, when on one of the holiest days in Islam, Stuart is making a mockery by giving out charity and openly asking for votes!”
The video showed that the prime minister came out of his Prado with his security detail to be greeted by an elderly gentleman who told him that it was the first time that he saw Young in person. “I’m seeing you in the flesh,” the elderly man said.
The video posted on the Trinidad Express Facebook site by journalist Susan Mohammed has gone viral.
He was then guided by Hosein (K) to some men and started sharing out $20 bills.
Young asked one boy if it was his birthday and the boy said no. Then he continued to give out charity and a woman began telling him something. Young replied, “You will, you will, once you vote for me right.”
The lady said, “I coming and vote for allyer too.”
Two Facebook posts by Davan Ramrattan and Darryn Dinesh Boodan defended Young.
Ramrattan said he saw the video making the rounds and slowed it down. He said the woman told Young, “I hope to see you back in power.” And, Young replied, “You will, you will once you vote for me.”
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Ramrattan said, “He (Young) responded directly to a woman who wished to see him back in office.”
Boodan posted, “This morning, the Trinidad Express recorded Stuart Young distributing Zakat, where a woman told him, ‘Hope to see you back as PM.’ Young lightheartedly replied, ‘You will, you will—once you vote for me.’ You can find this video on the Trinidad express site.”
