I was not forced to withdraw statement

THE EDITOR: Reference is made to two articles published in today’s Newsday under the captions Senator ask UNC: What about sexual discrimination, on page eight and UNC backs Rahael on Health Insurance on page nine. With regard to the first story on page 8, the article states that I was forced to withdraw remarks made about a certain religious leader.

This is inaccurate. The fact of the matter is that an objection was raised by Senator Joan Yuille-Williams in respect of a comment made by me and in keeping with good Parliamentary practice, I voluntarily withdrew that comment. The same newspaper report also quoted me as saying that the UNC had erred with respect to making provision in the Equal Opportunity Act for protection against discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation. What I actually said was, “We know that the members of Government have difficulty in terms of wanting to have included in the Act some question of the sexist aspect - whether it is homosexuality or lesbianism - but I want to proffer that we have not reached that degree of sophistication in Trinidad and Tobago at the moment to debate that matter. When that matter comes up at some subsequent time, it could be added as an amendment to the Act.”

In the case of the second article, I am quoted by the Newsday as “hailing the Government for taking the first step to create the National Health Insurance Plan.” A study of my Hansard from the said debate would indicate that this too is highly inaccurate reporting. What I actually said was, “We need to have the national health insurance system brought in. The employer would pay a certain amount and the employee would also put a certain amount.” I have attached a copy of my Hansard for your perusal and study. Please make all efforts to correct these misrepresentations as early as possible.

SENATOR DR TIM GOPEESINGH
Port-of-Spain