[UPDATED] Speaker tells Young to 'take a walk' after calling UNC MPs 'racists'

MP for Port of Spain North/St Ann’s West Stuart Young took a walk – on the orders of Standing Finance Committee chairman Bridgid Annisette-George – after calling the Opposition “racists” during deliberations on Wednesday.

The incident occurred as the committee looked at the Tobago House of Assembly. While Couva North MP Ravi Ratiram was putting a question to Finance Minister Colm Imbert, Oropouche West MP Davendranath Tancoo interjected, saying that Young had suggested opposition members were making racist comments.

St Augustine MP Khadijah Ameen added: “He said, ‘Racist.’ He said it twice!”

Tancoo explained that Young, the National Security Minister, on two occasions leaned across and said the Opposition was making racist statements and “We are racists.” Ameen said: “He is repeating it.”

Annisette-George intervened to tell Young that, if he had indeed said such a thing, she was asking him to withdraw it.

Young: “Withdraw, seeing what they are?”

The Opposition protested and Young then shouted, “Withdrawn!”

Annisette-George then told Young: “Take this as a word of caution...take a little walk. Reboot yourself and come back.” Young then left the chamber. When opposition members began clapping the chairman admonished them. “I don’t want any support from anybody!”

When asked later about the incident Young told Newsday the UNC has consistently and intentionally wrongly referred to the constituency of Port of Spain North/St Ann’s West and the two Laventille/Morvant constituencies.

“The UNC members do this intentionally, as at a bare minimum the name plates of constituencies are placed clearly in front of members’ seats for correct reference,” he complained.

He also said that in the August general election campaign the UNC had posters for their candidate for Port of Spain North/St Ann’s West circulating with the wrong constituency name, “showing their clear disdain and disrespect for the constituency.

“As the elected MPfor Port of Spain North/St Ann’s West I will not permit the UNC opposition to disrespect my constituents. Today in the Parliament, the UNC members continued with this disgusting behaviour and I called them out on it. I will continue, without fear, to call out the UNC and their disrespectful treatment of the constituents of Port of Spain, Laventille and Morvant.”

NOTHING STRANGE

Leader of Government Business Camille Robinson-Regis told Newsday that the Speaker asking a member to take a walk is nothing strange.

“Also the Speaker asking Minister Young to take a walk was not for allegedly calling them racists, but to help him get over his annoyance with their conduct. He was back in the House in under ten minutes and did his best to ignore them thereafter,” she explained.

She too cited the conduct of the Opposition and their members’ “dismissive attitude” when referring to constituencies in Port of Spain and Tobago.

“The correct names of constituencies are in their faces, but repeatedly and dismissively they refer to some constituencies as ‘Laventille’ in general, although that proud constituency has two MPs who represent various parts of that geographical area.

“Not once would you hear any of us refer to the constituencies of Caroni East or Central as ‘Caroni,’ or Couva North or Couva South as ‘Couva’ or Chaguanas East or Chaguanas West as ‘Chaguanas'!

“They say ‘Morvant’ as well as ‘Laventille.’ Indeed we have heard both, not only today, but on previous occasions. They also show the same disrespect to Tobago and all issues surrounding Tobago and the Tobago House of Assembly. Minister Young has mildly corrected them before and today. They continue to do this purposely and with obvious disdain.”

Robinson-Regis said Government has also noticed the Opposition has developed a habit of calling Tobagonians “those Tobago people."

“We need to ask the question: should we be more properly be referring to them as the ‘United Congress,’ omitting the ‘National'? The disregard and disrespect is palpable, (but) they will not be allowed to get away with it even if it means any of us having to take a walk from time to time, and really you should be asking them to explain themselves.”

Newsday sent a message to UNC PRO Anita Haynes but did not receive a response up to news time.

This story has been adjusted to include additional details. See original post below.

MP for Port of Spain North/St Ann's West Stuart Young took a walk on the orders of Standing Finance Committee chairman Bridgid Annisette-George after calling the Opposition "racists."

The incident occurred on Wednesday morning as the committee looked at the Tobago House of Assembly.

While Couva North MP Ravi Ratiram was putting a question to Finance Minister Colm Imbert, Oropouche West MP Davendranath Tancoo interjected that Young had suggested opposition members were making racist comments.

St Augustine MP Khadijah Ameen added: "He said, 'Racist.' He said it twice."

Tancoo explained Young on two occasions leaned across and said the Opposition was making racist statements and "We are racists."

Ameen said: "He is repeating it."

Annisette-George intervened to tell Young that, if he had indeed said such a thing, she was asking him to withdraw it.

Young said: "Withdraw, seeing what they are?"

The Opposition protested and Young then shouted, "Withdrawn."

Annisette-George said: "Take this as a word of caution. Take a little walk. Reboot yourself and come back."

Young then left the chamber.

When opposition members began clapping the chairman admonished them.

"I don't want any support from anybody."