00:00A call for respect and national unity from former Prime Minister Stuart Young, who says the country must reject attempts
00:07to divide citizens along racial, religious and cultural lines.
00:12Quite frankly, the most disgusting, the robbery statements that I'm seeing coming from leadership in our Twin Islands state. And
00:24today, I just want to say, tone it down, calm it down.
00:28Young says the country can only progress if political leaders reject divisiveness and show respect for people of different races,
00:36religions, cultures and beliefs.
00:38So before you go to read law books or read whatever books, maybe you should reflect all leaders and in
00:46particular, those who are using race to divide Trinidad and Tobago, reflect on the words of our national anthem.
00:55May every creed and race find an equal place and may God bless our Trinidad and Tobago.
01:02He went on to call out political leaders.
01:05So please, let us make it clear to all leaders in Trinidad and Tobago, and in particular those in the
01:14political arena, who insist on using race as a method to divide us.
01:21That we reject it, we don't condone it, and you should rock so with your racism.
01:28And may God continue to bless our Trinidad and Tobago.
01:34But Prime Minister Kamala Vizan-Basasa responded with a sharply worded statement directed at Young, recalling that she had previously
01:41urged him to stop being so angry and nasty to both UNC and PNM MPs.
01:47She said he instead spent nine years bullying, intimidating, and insulting his PNM and UNC colleagues.
01:55The Prime Minister went on to attack Young's reputation among fellow parliamentarians, saying,
02:01This is why no one likes Stuart. Everyone on both sides of the house who has worked alongside him know
02:07him as an abhorrent person.
02:10End quote.
02:11Vizan-Basasa contrasted Young's conduct with her own interactions with opposition figures, saying,
02:26She then described Young in even stronger terms and called on him to leave the political arena.
02:31Pesan-Basasa said,
02:32Stewart will always be remembered as a detestable person by all of us who has ever had the unpleasant experience
02:40of interacting with him.
02:41For the sake of both the PNM and country, he should move on with his life and leave politics.
02:47End quote.
02:48The Prime Minister ended her response by criticizing Young's conduct and dismissing his video as public relations.
02:54She said,
02:55He will continue being a failure as long as his terrible, spoiled-child attitude remains and no amount of PR
03:03videos would change that.
03:05I hope he has a great week. End quote.
03:08The exchange adds to the public debate over political rhetoric, race, and the responsibility of leaders to promote national unity.
