[UPDATED] UNC to Speaker: Young in contempt, send him to Privileges Committee

UNC Whip David Lee has written to Speaker Bridgid Annisette-George asking for MP for Port of Spain North/St Ann’s West Stuart Young to be referred to the Committee of Privileges of the House for consideration and report.

The letter, dated October 16, said remarks Young made during the budget debate last Thursday directed toward the Opposition Leader had brought the House into odium, contempt and ridicule. It said Young had also used obscene, offensive and insulting language, all of which amounted to contempt of the House. It said these fulfilled established precedent for a member of the House to be brought before the Privileges committee.

The UNC said Young’s words were taken to mean that opposition MPs and the Opposition Leader were "engaged in illegal and/or immoral and/or unethical conduct, in particular acts of prostitution.

"The member, therefore, went so far as to suggest that the Opposition Leader was going to the bathroom to engage in acts of lesbianism.

"Further, the member exclaimed, 'Don’t call my name,' and then uttered an expletive. The expletive was obscene language."

The letter said in 2007, then speaker Barry Sinanan was reported as stating that cross-talk was part of the Parliament’s record and covered by privilege. It said cross-talk had boundaries, and cited a previous ruling of privilege.

"Cross-talk, which was previously the subject of a matter of privilege against the Member for Oropouche East in the Fourth Parliament, where the Committee of Privileges in the Report laid in the House on June 18 2019 at paragraph 52 determined:

"In the main, your committee agreed that while cross-talk and picong will take place in the House, the House of Representatives must be careful to protect its dignity if it is to be respected by the people it serves, especially the young and impressionable. Your committee believes that one way the House can do this is by being steadfast in rejecting unparliamentary words and conduct."

It said Erskine May's Treatise on the Law, Privileges, Proceedings and Usage of Parliament, 25th edition, said, "Other acts, besides words spoken or writings published reflecting upon either House or its proceedings which, though they do not tend directly to obstruct or impede either House in the performance of its functions, yet have a tendency to produce this result indirectly by bringing such House into odium, contempt or ridicule or by lowering its authority, may constitute contempts."

The letter said the statements were broadcast live on the Parliament channel, the Parliament radio station and the Parliament's YouTube channel, went viral on social media and were also broadcast widely in the electronic and print media.

The UNC said Young’s statements were used intentionally, deliberately and maliciously to insult, ridicule and degrade opposition MPs and were offensive and insulting to them. It said obscene language in the Chamber is unparliamentary, prohibited, in breach of the parliamentary privilege and contemptuous.

The letter said, "Degrading and disparaging the character of an elected member of the House of Representatives to the point that it has been broadcast to the national public, leading to significant disrespect and disdain towards our nation’s women, cannot be protected by Parliamentary privilege as it demonstrates contempt for our democratic principles."

It said this was underscored by a previous pronouncement by Annisette-George on October 8 on a distasteful and disgraceful statement made by a woman against a sitting member of the House.

The Speaker reminded members "while members enjoy the right of freedom of speech in this House, this right comes with a level of responsibility and as parliamentarians we must hold ourselves to an even higher standard."

The UNC said Young’s statements had no place in Trinidad and Tobago society and definitely not in the civility of the House.

"This conduct must not go unpunished, and no one should turn a blind eye to such reprehensible conduct. If it does, it will set a dangerous precedent for the future conduct of MPs. The dignity of the House must be upheld.

"In a society where many are falling victims to acts of violence intimidation and bullying, our Parliament cannot facilitate these acts of contempt as perpetrated by the member."

Earlier on October 16, Young issued a statement in relation to the remarks he made in Parliament, which have elicited much controversy.

In a post on his Facebook page, Young said, "In the Parliament last Thursday, during the recently concluded budget debate, I made comments which were carried by a live microphone which have gone viral and generated much attention.

"I accept that more is expected of me as a representative MP and I wish to record my regret that this 'cross-talk' has unnecessarily distracted public discourse. Please accept my humblest apologies."

Young said he hoped and trusted his record of service to the country spoke for itself.

"Be further assured that I will continue to serve without fear or favour, malice or ill-will."

National Transformation Alliance political leader Gary Griffith, who initially said Young should not face disciplinary action, said Young should take responsibility for his statements.

"Having listened to the recording in its entirety, I can state the full comments were indeed disrespectful and crass, and require an unequivocal apology from Minister Young. Taking accountability requires humility.

"His comments, whether intended to be heard or not, reflect poorly on the standards of conduct that we expect from our leaders. It is deeply disappointing that such language would be used in Parliament, a place where serious national matters are debated."

Griffith said it is imperative that those in positions of power hold themselves to a higher standard, as their words and actions shape the tone of the national discourse and the national landscape.

"We can do better and we must do better. It is time to rise above petty politics and simply do what is good and right for the country."

This story was originally published with the title "Stuart Young apologises for remarks in Parliament" and has been adjusted to include additional details. See original post below.

ENERGY and Energy Industries Minister Stuart Young has issued an apology for remarks made in Parliament which have elicited much controversy.

In a post on his Facebook page, Young said, "In the Parliament last Thursday, during the recently concluded budget debate, I made comments which were carried by a live microphone which have gone viral and generated much attention.

"I accept that more is expected of me as a representative MP and I wish to record my regret that this "cross talk" has unnecessarily distracted public discourse. Please accept my humblest apologies."

Young said he hoped and trusted his record of service to the country spoke for itself.

"Be further assured that I will continue to serve without fear or favour, malice or ill-will."

The remarks, which were aimed at the Opposition Leader, drew condemnation from citizens, the UNC Women's Arm, Queer Corner Caribbean, an LGBTQIA (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual) advocacy organisation and activist Wendell Eversley.