Stuart blasts 'ironic' Roberts in Senate

MINISTER of National Security Stuart Young made a verbal jab at Opposition Senator Anil Roberts, who claimed there are several videos showing Venezuelan fishermen disembarking in Trinidad.

Young said he found it ironic Roberts would comment on videos circulating on social media and take them as gospel.

Roberts was asking a question in the Senate on Tuesday morning. His question was directed to Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh, who was absent.

Roberts asked for the number of unique covid19 tests done on Venezuelan fishermen entering Trinidad and Tobago waters to do business between March 31 and August 31, and names of the labs that did these tests.

But Young, speaking on Deyalsingh's behalf, said the fishermen's vessels classify as cargo vessels, so they do not require an exemption to enter TT waters.

He said, "Based on information provided by the Immigration Division, the crew members of these Venezuelan fishing vessels or any other legitimate cargo vessel boats who arrive at legal ports of entry were not granted shore leave and not allowed to disembark and come ashore. Therefore, no unique covid19 tests were conducted on these Venezuelan fishermen...

"Accordingly, part two of the question does not arise."

But in his follow-up questions, Roberts claimed "countless videos" exist showing these fishermen coming ashore and "going into Massy Stores and buying goods and so on.

"Is the minister aware of this?" he asked.

But Senate president Christine Kangaloo interjected, saying Roberts had given a speech and not asked a question. She asked him to"tighten up his questions and just ask the question."

Young began his response by saying, "The irony doesn't escape me of Senator Roberts talking about videos on social media. I'll start with that."

In 2014, Roberts was implicated in a video on social media that showed a man resembling him appearing to roll a marijuana spliff. To date, he has denied that it was him in the video.

Young continued, "Videos appearing on social media, as I'm sure the senator knows, are not date-stamped, etc."

He said while he has not received word this has been happening, it is something he will ask the police to look into as: "It is something to be looked at very seriously."

Roberts continued, saying he is a fisherman and has witnessed these incidents first-hand, but Kangaloo interjected again, saying, "Senator Roberts...number one, you just made another speech, (and) that question, if it was a question, is not allowed. Can we move on to the next question?"