Opposition Senator Camille Robinson-Regis says she is accepting Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s recent statement that she was “deeply hurt by racist remarks” as an apology to all Trinidadians and Tobagonians who, she says, were offended by the Prime Minister’s own past comments on race.
In a statement issued on Friday, Robinson-Regis responded to newspaper reports in which Persad-Bissessar said she had been deeply hurt by racist remarks directed at her.
“Poor you, Prime Minister, today I read in the newspaper that you are ‘deeply hurt by racist remarks.’ I have heard you and I accept that statement as an apology,” Robinson-Regis said.
She said she accepted it “as an apology to every Trinidadian and Tobagonian who was offended” when Persad-Bissessar publicly referred to former prime minister Dr Keith Rowley as an “Oreo” and “Blank Man”, remarks Robinson-Regis said were widely condemned.
Robinson-Regis also said she accepted it as an apology “to those who have long believed that racial rhetoric has no place in our politics” and to those offended when Persad-Bissessar contrasted the origins of their names.
“I accept it as an apology to all those who were hurt when you asserted that your name Kamla Sushilla Persad-Bissessar was a beautiful ancestral name, whereas mine, Camille RoseMarie Robinson-Regis was that of a Slave Master,” she said.
She argued that racism should be condemned regardless of who it is directed against.
“If today’s words represent a genuine recognition that racism is wrong regardless of who the target is, then that is a welcome development,” Robinson-Regis said.
“Perceptions of racism cannot be condemned only when you are of the view that it is directed at you. It must be condemned when it is directed at anyone.”
The Opposition senator also expressed hope that the Prime Minister’s remarks would mark an end to what she described as race-baiting, profiling and stereotyping in national politics.
“I therefore accept your statement as an apology and hope it signals an end to race baiting and the use of profiling and stereotyping,” she said.
Robinson-Regis further called for an end to what she described as racial insults by government ministers and political figures directed at various ethnic groups, and criticised what she claimed was the ethnic composition of boards appointed by the Government.
Concluding her statement, Robinson-Regis said, “Humanity, hurt and calls for unity cannot be principles that apply only when you may be referred to. Accountability isn’t racist. It’s called consistency, and it’s long overdue.”
She added: “I repeat, I accept your apology, on behalf of every citizen of our Twin-Island Nation who has felt marginalised, stereotyped or targeted because of race, whilst you remained silent or worse, contributed to that atmosphere.”
