(Trinidad Express) Auto businessman Kumar Boodram apologised to the country yesterday and took down the highway billboard which had displayed images of Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and Minister of National Security Jack Warner on the National Flag.
Boodram, owner of Boodram and Sons Ltd in Freeport, said he did not intend to offend anyone nor was he aware his billboard had defaced the National Flag or was illegal.
The billboard, placed on Boodram’s businessplace near the Solomon Hochoy Highway, was heavily criticised on social networking site Facebook.
Persons commenting on the billboard termed it shameful, disrespectful and unlawful.
Boodram said he was not influenced by any politicians to put up the billboard nor did he intend to glorify the United National Congress (UNC), of which Persad-Bissessar is the political leader and Warner is chairman.
“I felt so patriotic and under the influence of excitement to put up the billboard,” the businessman said.
“Jack is the man who inspired me to put it up. And because of protocol, you cannot put Jack and not the Prime Minister. I didn’t look at it as a UNC thing; I looked at it as a patriotic thing. Recognising people who are serving the country.
“I did something from my own personal point of view (and) just wanted to highlight Jack as the best performing minister.”
Boodram added, “I think (Warner) goes about his work fearlessly. He makes me so proud of my nation. So I thought I couldn’t just big up Jack, so I’ll put the PM. But then it turned out to make it look political. And that was not my intention to sound or look political. I think I jumped the gun there.”
Boodram said he only learned how offensive the billboard was when it was highlighted in yesterday’s edition of the Express.
“I do have knowledge of how sacred the flag is. But I really saw it as a banner,” he said.
The billboard cost Boodram TT$10,000, but he said the expense was to highlight his patriotism.
“That is why I wrote ‘love of country’. I feel I love my country extremely. I will do anything for my country,” he said.
Boodram said he also usually decorated the roundabout at Freeport, near the Freeport Police Station, and for the last 30 years, he has assisted financially in community events for Carnival, Christmas, Indian Arrival Day and other public holidays, as well as community sporting activities.
“I would like to apologise to the nation. I was probably extra-exuberant,” he said.
“The mistake I made, I hope it will sensitise all citizens about the flag and its importance. I hope we can all learn how sacred the flag is and we shouldn’t disrespect it. Honour the flag for what it is.”
Boodram, 61, said he remembered when Trinidad and Tobago was declared independent in 1962, and then prime minister Eric Williams came to his hometown of Barrackpore and planted a tree in commemoration of the event.
