UNC Youth: Renuka using race to sing for her supper in the PNM

Akash Samaroo

Senior Reporter

akash.samaroo@cnc3.co.tt

The Youth Arm of the United National Congress has accused Government Senator Renuka Sagramsingh-Sooklal of making what it called, divisive and racially motivated comments to “sing for her supper” in order to keep her ministerial portfolio.

The group said that in doing so, Sagramsingh-Sooklal has now relegated herself to a meme and a joke.

UNC Youth Arm chairman Daniel Rasheed yesterday said the party’s young people viewed the senator’s comments during the Budget debate on Wednesday as unfortunate and polarising in such a diverse society.

During the debate, Sagramsingh-Sooklal, in seeking to defend the People’s National Movement’s diversity, said there are at least 100 brilliant, young people of East Indian descent who are waiting to defend the PNM and fill positions in the Parliament. She said this was in contrast to the UNC, which seemed to be lacking in that department, while it purports to be the premier party for people of that ethnic group.

Sagramsingh-Sooklal was responding to a comment made a day before by Opposition Senator Jearlean John, who inferred that the PNM’s base support may reject Stuart Young as political leader because he is perceived to be an “elite.”

However, yesterday, the UNC’s Youth Arm said the party is not focused on the ethnicity of its members but rather on their duty to the country.

“Everyday the UNC is attracting more and more young people with our plans and policies for the future and we are confident that we do not have to scream and shout about how many are Indians and how many are Africans etc. To us, what is more important is that they are nationals of our country interested in nation-building,” Rasheed told Guardian Media.

But Rasheed said Sagramsingh-Sooklal’s comments were not surprising, as she was seeking to cement her spot in the PNM.

“It is unfortunate and polarising that the Minister would make such a statement in a diverse society like ours. However, the minister may be attempting to overcompensate to keep her ministerial appointment, that has been the norm with her,” Rasheed added.

The UNC’s Youth Arm advised the Senator, who is also a Minister in the Office of the Attorney General and Ministry of Legal Affairs, to use her speaking time in the Senate more wisely.

“I encourage the Minister to use the 40 minutes she has in the Senate to speak on things that help people, not on lacaray and nonsense,” Rasheed suggested.

He said it may do Sagramsingh-Sooklal well to speak with Works and Transport Minister Rohan Sinanan before championing the PNM’s cause to people of Indian descent.

“Maybe she should have a chat with Minister Sinanan about being the self-proclaimed ‘only honest Indian’, since that cast aspersions on all the others she is promising to bring into the PNM fold,” Rasheed said.

In 2019, Sinanan, who is also a PNM deputy leader, told a Sangre Grande gathering that “not all East Indians in politics are thieves.”

Rasheed said the UNC is not about “race-baiting” but bringing together people committed to improving people’s quality of life regardless of race or religion.

Guardian Media sought a response from Sagramsingh-Sooklal, but she said she would not engage in a tit-for-tat with “children.”

However, she added, “But I suggest they follow closely suggestions and comments made by their leaders and determine where the divisiveness lies.”

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