(Trinidad Express) Foreign Affairs and Caricom Minister Dr Amery Browne has condemned the vandalism of temples, saying these acts threaten to affect the foreign perception that Trinbagonians are loving and peaceful people.
During the budget debate in the Senate on Tuesday, Independent Senator Deoroop Teemal condemned the recent attacks on Hindu places of worship.
Temporary Opposition Senator Dr Tim Gopeesingh also joined in the condemnation.
Browne responded: “I just want to join Senator Deoroop Teemal very clearly and categorically to join with my colleague and any other member who would have spoken on this topic, and to categorically and completely condemn any attacks and all attacks of vandalism against temples and places of worship in Trinidad and Tobago, of any shape or form.”
He said in his engagement with foreign diplomats he is always told about how the people in T&T are “warm and hospitable”, adding: “We are peaceful loving people in this country and we have to preserve that and protect that.”
Browne went on to criticise the contribution of Opposition Senator David Nakhid who spoke about black youth and criminality.
Stating that he heard an assertion that “Indians are doing well and black people are suffering”, Browne asked:
“What is the basis to bring that kind of commentary into the Senate?”
He said the Government and all right-thinking senators will not allow anyone to stand here and divide the society of Trinidad and Tobago.
Browne further scoffed at Nakhid saying that the United National Congress (UNC) is the party of the poor.
He said he does not know where Nakhid was between the period 2010 and 2015 when citizens saw members of the People’s Partnership coming into office “poor” and leaving as “multi-millionaires”.
Browne said no line can be drawn between ethnicities in T&T as he noted there are many like himself who are of mixed race.
“Maybe the senator does not know, we have Indo Trinidadians living in Morvant and Laventille right now, we have Afro Trinbagonians living in Siparia, living in Chaguanas, this is a mixed society,” he said.
Noting there were criticisms from the Opposition and Independent benches with respect to international travel advisories about travelling to T&T, Browne said travel advisories are issued against even first world nations and other tourist destinations such as Jamaica.
A responsible Government engages with its international counterparts with advocacy about the language used in these advisories, he said, adding that the reality is that there is a crime challenge in this country but despite this the tourism product is still attractive and tourists are still coming.
