A mere apology isn’t enough. That’s the view of Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar, who’s demanding Port-of-Spain mayor Raymond Tim Kee be fired immediately if controversial comments attributed to him on the tragic death of Japanese pan player Asami Nagakiya are accurate.
In an Opposition statement yesterday, Persad-Bissessar strongly condemned Tim Kee’s reported statements, adding:
“Mayor Tim Kee didn’t even offer condolences on the death of Ms Nagakiya but proceeded to offer scandalous speculation in relation to the possible circumstances surrounding her death.
“It is unbelievable that in a 21st century society, the mayor of the capital city can utter such outrageous and misogynistic statements about the death of a talented young woman, given that the facts are not yet known.”
She added: “You do not even know the young lady yet you are making incredulous assumptions. If these reports are true, Mayor Tim Kee must immediately be dismissed from office as he has demonstrated a lack of sensitivity and the progressive intellectual capacity to hold a position of leadership.
“Such retrograde thinking contributes to gender inequity and the proliferation of misogyny in T&T and is especially disturbing when it is exhibited in persons in public life and is irresponsible, reckless and completely unacceptable.
“This blanket indictment on women as the enablers of their abuse has no place in a modern society and I think that the mayor must apologise to the family of Ms Nagakiya and all women for his atrocious comments. No one deserves to be abused.”