United National Congress (UNC) Women’s Arm chairman Stacy Roopnarine says Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley did the right thing by apologising for his “cat and dog” comment against Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar.
Speaking at Powergen’s 23rd annual special children’s fun day in Penal yesterday, Roopnarine said she felt the comment was not only disrespectful to Persad-Bissessar, but to every women in T&T.
“I think he did the right thing by apologising to every woman of this land. When we made our call as UNC women, we asked for an apology not only to the honourable Prime Minister but to every woman of this land.
“I personally felt that it was disrespectful to every women, those comments that he made and therefore I think he certainly did the right thing by apologising to every woman of the land. I think those comments were uncalled for and I know many women indicated that they took offence to it and certainly we appreciate that apology,” Roopnarine said.
While responding to allegations made by Persad-Bissessar at a PNM meeting in Brazil on March 17, Rowley said, “She could jump high, she could jump low. She could drink this, she could drink that, she could bark at my dog because I will ignore she cat.”
His comment was criticised by Roopnarine, politicians and several women’s group, but instead of acceding to their requests for an apology he said the UNC was creating a furore as a distraction from issues of corruption.
But at Tuesday’s cottage meeting in St Joseph, Rowley said, “I’m in the service of the people of this country and I’m not in the business of offending anyone. So therefore I have regret on that. That wasn’t my intention of offending anyone.”
Asked about public criticism over insulting comments being made by both the PNM and UNC on the election campaign trail, she said it was important the politicians set a good example for the youths of T&T. She said as parties progress toward the general elections, she hopes that issues are brought to the forefront and children can see politicians as exemplars.
Both Roopnarine and Sports Minister Brent Sancho walked around the Powergen Penal Sports Ground and greeted differently abled students from around T&T and Barbados. At the fun day, 1,343 students from 129 schools gathered for the event which is sponsered by Powergen, but organised by its staff.