Young slams UNC race talk

Addressing a news conference at the Ministry of the Attorney General and Legal Affairs Tower in Portof- Spain, Young noted Oropouche East MP Dr Roodal Moonilal’s call to UNC supporters to throw roti at Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley. He also noted Princes Town MP Barry Padarath’s claim that Rowley’s exposure of wastage in expenditure at a October 2014 Divali function hosted by former prime minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, had undertones similar to the 2013 Tobago House of Assembly (THA) election.

Young said Bisnath alerted the PNM yesterday to threats with respect to him and the St James East district. Saying the party is treating these matters “very, very seriously,” Young said the, “racial undertone is being proffered squarely by members of the Opposition and that is not going to be tolerated by the PNM administration.” Declaring the PNM believes firmly in the words of this country’s national anthem, Young said, “There is absolutely no suggestion or reference whatsoever to any racial conversation by the PNM.” He added this is reflected in the composition of the Government’s benches in both houses of Parliament.

Regarding the threats against Bisnath, Young said the PNM has also been informed there is an attempt to intimidate persons wanting to vote in next Monday’s Local Government elections. He said the PNM is also being informed, that persons of a particular race are being told, “not to vote for the PNM.” Asked if additional security has been provided to Bisnath and Ramkissoon, Young said the PNM is heartened by the assurance from Acting Police Commissioner Stephen Williams that the police are investigating the threats against both of its candidates. He was confident that if the police find anything out of the ordinary, “they will provide the necessary support.”

Young said the PNM continues with its campaign and, “we certainly do not encourage our supporters at all to engage in anything other than peaceful canvassing.” Saying all of the PNM’s interactions with the electorate have been “very peaceful,” Young reiterated, “We do not encourage any divisiveness whatsoever on the part of any citizen of TT.” He also said none of the party’s supporters have interpreted statements made by Public Utilities Minister Fitzgerald Hinds on a political platform in Mayaro to, “to do harm to anybody.”

He said Hinds’ statement was “very different” to Moonilal’s call to throw roti at Rowley.