UNC: Probe sexual harassment allegation against San Fernando councillor

SEXUAL harassment allegations have been made against a San Fernando councillor by St Augustine MP Khadijah Ameen, who made the statement at the UNC's virtual report forum on Monday.

In calling on Rural Development and Local Government Minister Kazim Hosein to investigate the conduct of this councillor, Ameen also lamented the fact that the long-promised sexual harassment in the workplace policy is yet to be brought by government.

Ameen claimed a female worker of the corporation had not only been sexually harassed but was also being exploited, in that she was ordered to not spend her salary which must be used instead to purchase furniture for the councillor's office.

Calls and WhatsApp messages by Newsday to Hosein on Tuesday were not answered. When contacted on Ameen's claims, San Fernando Mayor Junia Regrello claimed this was the first time he was hearing of such claims. He subsequently told Newsday that no such claims were made known to the corporation's CEO and other senior official.

Ameen said that the woman has since made a report to Mon Repos police but no one has as yet been arrested.

She said the councillor is accused of locking the woman in his office and “rubbing himself on her” on numerous occasions.

“It is further alleged that this employee is also being exploited of her salary.”

Ameen said during the early days of the pandemic, when councillors' offices were closed and staff were working from home, government employees continued to receive their salaries. But, she said, this particular worker was instructed not to spend her salary but put it aside to buy furniture and stationery for the councillor’s office because she did not really work for it.

She said under a Kamla Persad-Bissessar government, approval was granted for councillors to receive a stipend, which is budgeted, for furniture and stationery.

Ameen said that this incident must not be swept under the carpet.

“Maybe if the PNM was serious about preventing sexual harassment in the workplace there wouldn’t be a police report presently in the Mon Repos police station on a public official of the PNM in San Fernando.

“If the PNM cares anything about sexual harassment in the workplace, if government ministers who are aware of this situation are condoning it, then you are as guilty as the perpetrators,” she charged.

Ameen again called on Government to bring legislation for pepper spray and other non-lethal devices, saying the women of Trinidad and Tobago are under attack. She criticised the government for its failure to populate the sex-offenders' registry.

“What is the purpose of a sex-offenders' registry without names?” she asked.