UNC NATIONAL WOMEN’S ARM : A LITTLE RESPECT!

United National Congress

The Prime Minister has once again shown Trinidad and Tobago why he is not fit to lead. In yet another rant to the nation yesterday, Keith Rowley, dismissed critical issues of blatant Government corruption and incompetence and resorted to his now familiar crass misogyny.

This is the latest in a series of sordid comments which have been made by Keith Rowley during his tenure as Prime Minister. We would recall in response to rising food prices under his Government, the Prime Minister’s solution was that women should learn how to “peel cassava”; he referred to our children
as hyenas and monsters; in response to high levels of crime he told women he is not in our bedrooms and we should choose our men wisely; he showed us his listening skills when he said, “She could bark at meh dog, because I go ignore she cat”. We all remember his ‘jammetry’ comments and disgusting comparison of women to golf courses. This pattern of blatant disrespect is clear.

So it is not surprising that the Keith Rowley, at the helm of his collapsed government, has resorted to this same kind of attack on the Leader of the Opposition Mrs Kamla Persad Bissessar. What does it say about a country when its Prime Minister gives voice to the ugliest forms of sexism? What does it say about us as a progressive society that our “Leader” can time and time again resort to this kind of rhetoric while we look on in silent horror?

“It is clear this is not the first time and there is no indication that it would be the last, Rowley in the past has remained unapologetic and unrepentant in his misogyny and crassness.”

It is time for us to say enough is enough. This is no laughing matter, neither is it a time to be silent. It is a serious crisis in the leadership of the PNM and the country must not tolerate them attempting to defend the indefensible.

Every day on social media we are seeing videos of school violence and our citizens engaging in almost open combat and it is largely understood as lack of respect for our fellowmen. When we are forced to accept the Prime Minister, using his national platform to once again show that he has no respect for his Parliamentary colleague, Mrs Persad Bissessar, and no respect for the nation. How do we expect the nation to progress with this kind of leadership?

The UNC National Women’s Arm strongly condemns these vicious attacks on our Political Leader Mrs Kamla Persad Bissessar. We call on the PNM Women’s League to be your sister’s keeper and to stand against the constant displays of sexism from their Leader.
Prime Minister Keith Rowley must apologize immediately. The women of Trinidad and Tobago will not sit idly by we demand and deserve respect!

Marisa V Ramlogan
Public Relations Officer
UNC National Women’s Arm