OPPOSITION MP for Naparima Rodney Charles and the UNC Women’s Arm have defended Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar who has come under fire for referring to Camille Robinson-Regis’ name as that of a slave master, during a UNC forum last Thursday.
The statement has been heavily criticised by the PNM and some members of the public who deem it as racist. Economist Marla Dukharan, in condemning Persad-Bissessar, created an online petition on Friday to have her removed as Opposition Leader. It has garnered 1,168 signatures up to Sunday afternoon.
However, Charles, during a press conference on Sunday, said as someone whose names doesn't derive from his African heritage, he found no issue with Persad-Bissessar’s comment.
He feels the statement was taken out of context and is now being used to distract the public from pertinent lingering issues.
He disagreed that her comment was racist and said Persad-Bissessar has nothing to apologise for.
The name-calling spat started after Robinson-Regis, while addressing at a PNM rally in Arima on May 24, called out Persad-Bissessar’s full name, including her middle name, Susheila.
Persad-Bissessar retorted telling Robinson-Regis to “Stop calling my name."
She went on to say, “What you so vex about my name for? This lady went on a platform last week and three or four times 'Kamla Susheila Persad-Bissessar.' Isn’t that a beautiful name?
“What problem you have with my name? Camille, at least I have a name from my ancestors, where you got yours from? Your name is that of a slave master.”
The video clip of Persad-Bissessar quickly circulated on social media with many people expressing shock by what was said.
IT'S A DISTRACTION
Charles used the first five minutes of UNC’s weekly press conference to “clear the air” on the backlash the party has been getting for the comment.
He accused the PNM of grasping at straws to divert the public from other important matters. “The context and motive is to distract from the nonsense and idiocy that is taking place. You have accusations of a fundamental paedophile ring – what is a name compared to that?
“They're good at distractions and we as a population have to see what is our concern...and I want Trinidad and Tobago to be the best country in the Western Hemisphere.
[caption id="attachment_958323" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar. [/caption]
“The issues now in the public domain that the PNM is trying to distract from are things as the paedophile ring allegations, the OAS fiasco, the AG matter, the myriad of issues bedevilling our once-prosperous TT.”
By the PNM’s response to Persad-Bissessar's comments, Charles said it appears that the PNM has also purposefully chosen to ignore issues of unemployment and underemployment, social disintegration, poverty, retrenchment, social inequality and escalating crime.
Charles said from a young age he understood and accepted that his name
