MINISTER of National Security Stuart Young is the last person who should be accused of racism and his cabinet colleagues have called for the vilification against him to cease immediately.
A release issued by Lady Vice Chairman of the People’s National Movement (PNM) Robinson-Regis, made reference to a Guardian editorial titled “Stop the Race Rant” which made mention of a medical doctor whose recording went viral with him verbally abusing a female employee.
Robinson-Regis stated that as lady vice chairman she would not condone such behaviour and commended the Medical Association of Trinidad and Tobago for their stance taken in the incident.
However she added, “Whilst many of the article’s observations and examples of the systemic racial behaviours which plague this nation were sited (sic), I find it extremely unfortunate that you chose to lump an isolated incident involving the Minister of National Security, with others of a racist ilk. As Leader of the House I take grave offense to the article’s reference to the National Security Minister, the Honourable Stuart Young being asked to leave the House of Representatives for a few minutes, citing incorrectly ‘after throwing race’ comments across the floor at the opposition.”
She stated she was obligated to ensure Young would “not be lumped with the likes of that doctor or the other many examples on the list of guilty offenders to this illness that has plagued our world from time immemorial.”
She stated that MPs being asked by the House Speaker to take a walk was nothing new and that Young did not throw any race comments within the House of Representatives but in fact was infuriated by the constant systemic practice of taunts and race innuendoes from the other side.
“Due to the very apparent and clear disgust expressed by the Honourable Member the Speaker saw it fit and extremely prudent for him to take a walk, with a genuine aim to help him get over his annoyance with the opposition’s conduct. In fact, let the record show that the Honourable Member was back in the House in under 10 minutes and did his best to ignore them thereafter.”
She said the Opposition members were actually more divisive in their speech labeling people based on their geographic location.
Robinson-Regis said, “The vilification of Stuart Young must stop. I call for an apology because as a multicultural son of a multicultural nation he is the last person you can accuse of racism.”
The PNM’s National Women’s League in another release stated, “The League wishes to remind the country and the media that the PNM has always stood strongly on the side of racial equality and has always adhered to the principles embedded in our national anthem ‘Here every creed and race find an equal place.’”
