Gov't slams 'racist attack' by UNC leader after 'Oreo' commentOpposition leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar has been accused of attempting to destabilise the country by “consciously and intentionally utilising race to divide and destroy Trinidad and Tobago”.
The accusation comes as Persad-Bissessar, while speaking at the United National Congress (UNC) Monday Night Forum on Monday, referred to Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley as an “Oreo”.
She suggested the Prime Minister was a puppet of the country's purported "one percent" and called him their "Oreo".
"They tried to own me but I sent them packing. They have their Oreo now, who is their guy, in Keith Christopher Rowley, and that is how the one percent friends and family of Rowley control him," she said.
Government is of the view that the comment was an attack on the Prime Minister which it says was done “in a despicable and nakedly racist manner”.
In a statement issued through the Ministry of Communications, Government slammed Persad-Bissessar’s comment.
“Whilst this Government has been guiding and leading the country in a stable, inclusive and productive way, through a number of difficult and demanding situations, including, the financial contagion effects created by Petrotrin, Mrs Kamla Persad Bissessar and the United National Congress (UNC) have once again attempted to destabilise the country by consciously and intentionally utilising race to divide and destroy Trinidad and Tobago.”
“This continued naked racial and divisive behaviour by Mrs Persad Bissessar is hereby condemned in the strongest manner.”
Government further stated that it would not stand for such tactics and rejected the brand of politics from the UNC leader.
“This Government will not condone the use of race or class to attack any citizen of Trinidad and Tobago and we reject the continued disdainful and backward politics of the Opposition being led by Mrs Kamla Persad Bissessar and her attempts to stir up racial tension in the country.”
The statement ended with a line referencing the country’s national anthem.
“May every creed and race continue to find an equal place in Trinidad and Tobago.”
Source:
http://www.looptt.com/content/govt-slam ... eo-comment