00:00Opposition MP Marvin Gonzalez, in his capacity as the chairman of the PNM, says the opposition party will not accept
00:07attempts to tarnish their movement, their membership or their legacy on race relations by ascribing the alleged private statements of
00:15individuals to their party and neither will they respond by descending into the politics of race themselves.
00:21In a statement on Sunday, the PNM's chairman spoke, quote, directly to every PNM member and supporter, do not take
00:29the bait, do not respond to racial provocation with racial provocation, do not engage in racial attacks against UNC members
00:37or supporters, whether online, on social media, at political meetings or anywhere else, end quote.
00:43MP Gonzalez said the PNM can disagree strongly on politics, can challenge policies, expose hypocrisy and vigorously defend their party
00:52and its record, but added that race must never become a political weapon.
00:58In apparent reference to an intercepted telephone conversation that has been widely circulated online in which the prime minister was
01:05referred to in a derogatory manner, MP Gonzalez said, quote,
01:09quote, recent attempts to attribute alleged racial slurs and statements arising from a private conversation between two private citizens to
01:17the PNM are deeply troubling.
01:19Whatever views may have been expressed by private individuals are theirs to answer for.
01:25They cannot honestly or responsibly be transformed into the policy, philosophy or position of an entire political movement and its
01:33thousands of members and supporters, end quote.
01:35Last week, Prime Minister Kamala Passat-Bassassar said in a social media post that, quote,
01:41sadly, PNM MPs and their supporters are so full of hatred and racism, they would prefer their stronghold areas and
01:48children's future continue to be destroyed by the local drug mafia than to cooperate with the security services, end quote.
01:55MP Gonzalez said the office of the prime minister must be a symbol of national unity.
02:00The PNM's chairman further said, quote,
02:03if a PNM leader engages in racial rhetoric, hold that leader accountable.
02:08If a UNC leader does so, hold that leader equally accountable.
02:12But collective blame must never become a substitute for individual accountability, end quote.
02:18Jewel Brown, TV6 News.
Comments