Dear Editor,

Vagrancy is a health and socio-economic problem, not something to be making flippant and condescending comments to score cheap, political points.

Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Keith Rowley has made some very derogatory statements in the past, but he really outdid himself when he suggested that some Caricom nationals are vagrants. His remark was both an embarrassment and an insult.

This was no slip of the tongue. He knew exactly what he was saying as he did on the numerous occasions when he used similar language. I believe there is a pattern of uncouth conduct.

Rowley has been accused of sexism in relation to comments he made about cassava and the role of women. He was criticised for calling children hyenas from an African jungle. And, as Opposition leader, he also described the nation’s children as dunces. And how can anyone forget the crude “dog and cyat” language and sad behaviour that came from Rowley on political platforms.

His recent “vagrant” remark was in relation to Caricom nationals coming to Trinidad and Tobago. He is reported to have said they must be able to prove they can look after themselves because Trinidad and Tobago has “enough vagrants”.

A vagrant is “a person without a settled home or regular work who wanders from place to place and lives by begging”. That definition does not fit a visitor who might be a little short to funds on entering the country. And who exactly was he talking about when he said, “we have enough vagrants in Trinidad and Tobago”?

Perhaps he is looking into the future and seeing that his Administration’s lack of fiscal policy may well create a nation of vagrants.

Instead of displaying his usual arrogance, he should understand that he is the head of the Government and if we have too many vagrants, it is his problem and he should find a solution instead of speaking contemptuously about his own citizens.

Rowley owes our citizens and our Caricom neighbours an apology. But don’t expect one. He doesn’t apologise, and neither does he understand the objective of politics is to defend and preserve the dignity of one’s fellow citizens in the tireless and demanding pursuit of the common good.

Capil Bissoon

Trinidad and Tobago

capil_bissoon@hotmail.com