Kamla Persad-Bissessar. Photo: Internet Source

These words from Opposition leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar, during a United National Congress (UNC) political meeting in Princes Town on Thursday night, have brought her condemnation from some sectors of the public for its race baiting.

At the time, Persad-Bissessar was referring to Planning and Development Minister Camille Robinson-Regis, who had disparaged her (Persad-Bissessar) during a People’s National Movement (PNM) meeting on May 26.

Robinson-Regis began her contribution to the PNM meeting by focusing on Persad-Bissessar.

“There comes a time when we have to call out Kamla Sushilla Persad-Bissessar for the cowardly, deceptive, dishonest, disingenuous individual that she takes, revels and takes time in being,” Robinson-Regis said.

She repeated Persad-Bissessar’s name several times to the loud cheers and laughter from the PNM supporters who were gathered.

But it was Persad-Bissessar’s response on Thursday that had citizens calling for her removal from Parliament and the UNC leadership position.

“You have WPC Camille, credit-card-Camille, wigs … wiggies and there’s another one, Camille you think we forget? Using the Government credit card when you were in office before to buy fertility treatment…girl don’t let me start on you, so stop calling my name on your platform!” Persad-Bissessar said.

As she went on, Persad-Bissessar questioned why Robinson-Regis was “vexed” over her name, then delivered her now divisive statement.

A 25-second-long video clip with Persad-Bissessar’s statement went viral on social media, drawing scathing commentary from some persons.

The PNM’s Women’s League also issued a statement in response.

The league also accused Persad-Bissessar of mocking their African ancestors and denigrating their advancements. It said unlike Persad-Bissessar, Robinson-Regis was “not a slave to certain predilections.”

“Kamla Sushilla Persad-Bissessar, your given name is not ‘more beautiful’ than Camille RoseMarie Robinson-Regis’. Instead of comparing names, examine your character!” the statement said.

Guardian Media reached out to the Emancipation Support Committee’s (ESCTT) executive chair Zakiya Uzoma-Wadada yesterday for comment on the issue.

In a statement, Uzoma-Wadada said the committee did not understand how Robinson-Regis’ repeated calling of Persad-Bissessar’s name led to the UNC head disparaging Robinson-Regis for not having a name that reflected her African heritage. The committee called for sensitive cultural issues to be left out of the political arena. 

“In an environment of racial division and sensitivities forged in the cauldron of colonial divide and rule, it is advisable that highly sensitive cultural issues not be reduced to political jabs by persons who are seen as leaders, and more so when they are seen as leaders of ethnic groups,” the ESCTT said.

The committee said Indian indentured labourers did not suffer the centuries of forced deculturization that Africans suffered.

“In fact, the minority whites who colonised and exploited us both saw advantage in using cultural differences to maintain their control. The after-effects of the process that forced us to abandon our names, languages, spiritual beliefs and even our positive emotional connection to the African continent are still with us,” the ESCTT said.

Calling for all leaders to take care and responsibility for the statements they make, the committee said T&T’s multi-ethnic society has become too accustomed to racial and cultural innuendos that create hurt in one or the other of the majority groups. 

Guardian Media contacted Council for Responsible Political Behaviour chair Dr Bishnu Ragoonath. He said he could not give a response in his council capacity, as the council only operates during election seasons.

However, Ragoonath, who is also a political analyst, weighed in on the public outcry over Persad-Bissessar’s statements.

“The Opposition Leader, just coming out of the Indian Arrival celebration, she was in a way pushing forward that her name came from her ancestors, whereas persons of other racial heritage may have lost their names and would have been given names by the British and the colonisers and in that regard, the slave traders and slave masters. From that perspective, I think it’s a historical issue that we have. As to whether or not it is racist, I would not say it is racist but I would say that the leader of the Opposition should have been a little bit more diplomatic in how she refers to persons of other ethnic heritage,” Ragoonath said.

But Ragoonath said he was concerned about recent statements being made on political platforms.

“I am overly concerned about some of those statements that come from the political platform, when they could be generalised in one way or another, In the same way we would criticise other politicians, politicians have to be mindful of their role in society and the importance that their words would carry to their listeners thereafter,” Ragoonath said.

Asked to comment on a petition started by economist Marla Dukharan for Persad-Bissessar’s removal from Parliament, Ragoonath said he does not believe it will have the desired outcome.

“People could make their calls for her to be removed but the fact is that she is an elected Member of Parliament and if you are using the politics of the day, you will note that there is no room in the Constitution, or even within the context of the Parliament, that can discipline her by removing her from the Parliament. The statement was not made in Parliament in the first instance, so she cannot be brought before the Parliament Privileges Committee,” Ragoonath said.

Two former UNC ministers also lent their voices to the outcry over Persad-Bissessar’s statements.

Former minister Devant Maharaj said her statements underscored why the UNC would remain in Opposition.

“Just as the selection of Ramesh Persad Maharaj as chairman of the Internal Elections Committee continues to highlight Kamla’s poor decision making, so too is the latest calling of Camille’s name as a slave name,” Maharaj said.

He said Persad-Bissessar’s statement was “reckless” in T&T’s multicultural society.

“This is the same Kamla that spoke about a “blackman” not “blankman” in the 2020 General Elections and aired a number of racist advertisements that depict Afro-Trinidadians in a derogatory manner. How can Kamla’s UNC hope to attract any substantial potential voter when there is this continuous racial undertone on the platform of the UNC?” Maharaj asked.

He called on Persad-Bissessar to issue an immediate and “unrepentant” apology and for every “Indian-based” organisation to join in condemning her statements.

Former UNC Senator Rabindra Moonan also criticised Persad-Bissessar, calling her statement “callous, reckless and mindlessly irresponsible.”

He said she had destroyed whatever goodwill the “fledgling” UNC had. “Kamla’s reference to persons carrying the names of their slave masters is misplaced and lacks decorum and any common sense. It is an affront to all people, who are victims of colonial times through no fault of their own. The fact that during slavery African people were stripped of their names, religions, and culture is not something to be diminished on the altar of cheap politics,” Moonan said.

He said the Opposition leader caused embarrassment to her supporters, adding T&T has prided itself in its multi-ethnic, multi-cultural and multi-religious people.

“Sadly, the drums of racial and cultural hatred have started to beat loudly as these inflammatory statements are devoid of any logic and are likely to inflame passions among the mindless masses,” he said.