UNC Women Disappointed with PNM Disrespect
The Women’s Arm of the United National Congress wishes to express our collective disappointment with the portrayal of drunken women at the PNM Family Day on Sunday 24th May 2015.
We noted that at that Family day where many of our nation’s children were present to witness the march past involving PNM teams; women were dressed in yellow dresses and acted drunk while holding bottles of alcohol. This is such a poor example for those children present; and one now has to question what the Leader of the PNM, Keith Rowley was trying to teach these children. We believe that our children deserve to be taught better and they deserve to have leaders in society to encourage them in positive behaviour.
We are also extremely disappointed that the women present condoned this type of behaviour, when women have struggled for equality and fought to be seen as equals with our male counterparts. How can a major political party that has existed for so many decades still think that it is ok to portray women in this way? This shows a dinosaur mentality and certainly does not reflect the modern society that Trinidad and Tobago is today.
The UNC Women’s Arm strongly condemns any act which degrades our nation’s women and will continue to fight for the rights of women and continue to defend our sisters; as we believe they are to be given the respect they deserve and not be portrayed in the worst way. Coming on the heels of celebrating 5 years of the People’s Partnership Government being led by a woman; we have seen through the leadership of Kamla Persad Bissessar that women have the ability to make meaningful change. Therefore we are disheartened that women are portrayed in such a derogatory manner to score cheap political points.
We call upon the PNM to apologise to the women and children of this nation for this disrespectful and offensive display against women, which the children of this land had to witness. We also call upon the PNM Women’s League to stand up for the rights of women in this country and speak out against this type of abuse. In order to create the change that we want for women in this society, we must stand united as sisters, mothers, wives, daughters and grandmothers.
Yours in Service,
Stacy Roopnarine
Chairman, UNC Women’s Arm
26/5/2015