Parliamentarians should set an example for the country and not engage in bullying, even towards other Members of Parliament.
This was the view given by a number of activists who condemned the actions of Government MPs for statements made in and outside of Parliament.
This weekend, social media was crowded with screen caps and videos of statements attributed to Colm Imbert and Darryl Smith referring to statements that were perceived to be homophobic.
Yesterday in Parliament, Opposition Chief Whip Roodal Moonilal, told Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi to “shut his stink mouth.” He later withdrew the statement and apologised saying it was made in the heat of the moment and had been taunted by Government Minister Fitzgerald Hinds.
Smith addressed Princes Town MP Barry Padarath by using what sounded like a play on the word “princess.” Later that day on Facebook, a comment coming from a profile attributed to Imbert stated, “Please don’t use the words “bull”, Padarrraaaath, and me in the same sentence. I fraid.”
Imbert later came out and said his profile was hacked. However, that statement has been screen shot, saved and circulated around Facebook a number of times.
Jeremy Edwards, head of the Silver Lining Project which is a youth-based organisation that advocates against bullying particularly in the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community told T&T Guardian that politicians must be the ones to set the standard for younger people to follow.
“It is very disappointing and shameful to know that it is coming from a group who promised from day one that they would be a government for everyone,” Edwards said.
He noted that Smith, as the Youth Minister, was setting a bad example for younger people in school by engaging in homophobic bullying.
“So many young people are listening to the Parliament. If they are not seeing it live on TV, they are watching it on social media when the clips go viral. They are not setting the example particularly since we have seen a lot of issues of bullying going on in schools,” Edwards said.
He noted that many school boys were labelled as princesses and other derogatory names in school.
Luke Sinnette, the director of Friends for Life, which is the oldest LGBT organisation in the country, said actions by politicians in Parliament set the example for other people to bully and victimise people in the LGBT community.
Sinnette said he has had worked with many people who have been kicked out of their homes, had stones thrown at them and assaulted because their attackers genuinely believed they were doing the right thing by harming people in the LGBT community.
A statement from Allies for Justice and Diversity is now calling for the PNM to have a discussion on homophobia.
“The nation is growing up. The party in power needs to as well. The nation does appear to be growing up, however. The NGOs extend thanks to members of the national community for the outpouring on social media of condemnations of the MPs’ behaviour; and joined in calls made for all three to show contrition and evidence they are committed to Dr (Keith) Rowley’s election night words that he is the Prime Minister of all Trinidadians and Tobagonians,” the release stated.
Even the Movement for Social Justice called for the Parliamentarians to treat each other with respect describing what Smith said as “an example of homophobia.”
“The MSJ says that every single human being must be respected and treated with dignity. To do otherwise is to perpetuate injustice and discrimination,” a release from the MSJ stated.
T&T Guardian spoke to PNM General Secretary Ashton Ford who stated that he could not speak for the PNM on their position on the matter. He said when the party’s General Council met on Saturday they would have a discussion on the issues raised.