00:00Nearly one year after the meeting office, former Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley returned
00:05to the public spotlight, hosting a media conference from his Karanash home. But what
00:10began as a reflection on his time in office quickly ignited into controversy. During the
00:16briefing, Dr Rowley used a colloquial term widely regarded as derogatory to describe
00:21sitting Prime Minister Cameron Passat-Bissasse. The colloquial term of French etymology often
00:27connotes with promiscuous, loud or disrespectful women. The remark drew swift condemnation from
00:34members of the United National Congress, with several MPs denouncing the language
00:38as disrespectful and inappropriate. However, response from within the opposition has been
00:45largely muted, except for Member of Parliament for Trinity Maloney, Camille Robinson-Regis,
00:51who defended Dr Rowley and accused the government of hypocrisy. She argued that political discourse
00:57in Trinidad and Tobago has long included similar exchanges from both sides. But what about the
01:04target of the remarks? In response to TV6 News, Prime Minister Passat-Bissasse dismissed the comments.
01:11She said, quote, It may seem on the surface that I am unbothered when Rowley and the PNM trolls say
01:18these
01:18nasty things about me. But the truth is that deep down inside, I am very, very, very unbothered." The
01:27Prime Minister also confirmed she is not considering legal action against Dr Rowley or any media houses that
01:34carried the statement. Meanwhile, the Telecommunications Authority of Trinidad and Tobago says it is reviewing
01:40the broadcast of the remarks and has cautioned stations to adhere to content standards,
01:46warning that regulatory action may follow.
01:48Urvishi Tiwari Rupnarein, TV6 News.
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