What’s Trending:Sir Roy says no

Thu, May 17, 2012 - 11:42 AM

The Nation’s Online Editor Carol Martindale looks at What’s Trending today.

Head of the Barbados Workers’ Union Sir Roy Trotman is in the news again today.

Sir Roy says he will not be apologizing now or in the future over his reference to an employer as an “Egyptian Jew”.

He was speaking during yesterday’s pre-lunch Senate sitting. The Independent senator said his controversial remarks on May 1 were based on his concern for discrimination against Barbadian workers who were getting $800 a month from Diamonds International while others who could hardly speak or write English were making over $2 000 for the same period.

Readers weighed in, with some agreeing with his stand, and others against it.

Julia Moseley: “Here, here Sir Roy! At least someone is standing up for the Bajan man and woman.”

Simon Gooding: “An apology for what? For defending the rights of the workers?”

Wendell Callender: “I guess there is nothing for Sir Roy to apologize about. His behaviour is par for the course, unfortunate as it is! Crudity, disrespect, and hurtful words to humble the opponent have been used for so long in this arena that it is extremely difficulty for civility to be seen as paramount. Underlying all this is the subtle inference that it is ok to beat about any vulnerable person to get what you want or what you think they should give! And we ask why our society is becoming so violent? Violence with words and violence with weapons are much the same!”

Lorna Watson Deukett: “Thank you Mr Wendell Callender. I keep repeating over and over that it wasn’t so much what he said as how he said it and the inference it made to the person involved.”

carolmartindale@nationnews.com

Share your thoughts

Please sign in or register to post your comments.

Page 1 of 1 pages

Posted by Cammie Wiggins 1 year ago: To not want to apologize is okay, but to be in the Senate on national television and saying openly I did not and I will not is totally different and uncalled for from Sir Roy. But hey I guess he can do and say as he like in this country. How will he represent the same workers he claims that he is fighting for. Because if it was left to me and I was the person that owned Diamond's I would not be sitting down at no table at no time to discuss anything with him. And these are just my views.

I Like
I Dislike

Comment Link

Posted by nesta marley 1 year ago: so if you wont sit , stand!!!!!!!!!1@ cammie.... you got the nerve after it has been disclosed that bajans are being paid 150% less.. and you still choose to focus on this issue, it only serves to show what kind of person you are.

I Like
I Dislike

Comment Link

Posted by Kay-rani Rosita 1 year ago: I am feeling so disgusted and ashamed of some of the commenter’s concerning sir Roy, it’s like a bad movie and Massa wrote the script.
Now that you have the whole story, you can at last see the real issues before it was hijacked. Are you now going to duly criticize the employer who is DISCRIMINATING against Barbadian workers? Or are you all out of ammunition after using it on Sir Roy, the Barbadian Workers’ Champion?

Some of the comments have only served to prove that some people are still mental slaves.
The same way you railed against Sir Roy, go and do it to the person who really deserves it. Wake up people!