(Trinidad Express) Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar denied yesterday that the People’s Partnership Government had engaged in “ethnic stocking” of public offices as alleged in an editorial last week in the Jamaica Observer newspaper.
Persad-Bissessar challenged the newspaper to prove the allegation.
She spoke to reporters after handing out presents to children in her Christmas Gift Outreach at the Ato Boldon Stadium in Couva.
The Prime Minster said of the newspaper editorial: “Total foolishness in my respectful view. I have been there, done that. I have heard all the comments. I am still very strong, I intend to stay strong and keep strong.”
She said the claim of ethnic stocking was a “major allegation”, since there was diversity in her government.
“I would really challenge those who are of that view to prove the ethnic stocking that they speak of. I totally reject that observation from them or anyone else. I ask anyone who has eyes to see that this has been the most diverse government that this country has ever had,” said Persad-Bissessar. “That is a major allegation to be made against the government, which for the first time we see the diversity in the government on the benches and out of the benches.”
The editorial suggested there could be “ethnic stocking in public offices”, and there was need for the country to conduct a parliamentary review of appointees to local and overseas posts. It also said that individuals were rewarded with positions even though they were not qualified.
Last week, Government Ministers Suruj Rambachan and Roodal Moonilal called on the Jamaican newspaper to issue an apology to Government.
Yesterday, the Prime Minister took issue with the newspaper editorial, published last Tuesday.
“I don’t know what may have led them to conclude that and this is why I say show us the evidence to say ethnic stocking is happening. This is a serious allegation against the Government, constitutionally elected as a majority Government of a country. If you are saying I am mismanaging then fine, but when you talk about ethnic stocking it is engendered to inflame the passions of people who may not know better or may not want to know better,” said Persad-Bissessar.
The Prime Minister said it was “strange” that the editorial was published weeks away from the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) elections in January.
“The main allegation being made by the Opposition party in the THA election is that of race at this point in time. In my life I expect nothing and I expect everything,” said Persad-Bissessar.
Asked for a comment on the editorial last week, secretary seneral of the Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha Sat Maharaj said yesterday Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar was “too damn pretty”.
This, he said, was what accounted for the number of attacks on her.
“Everything she wears is commented on-down to her shoes, her lifestyle, who she hangs out with. Everything around her receives comment except her performance,” he told the Sunday Express.
