Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar has sunk to the "lowest of her lows" by referring to Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley as an "Oreo", the People's National Movement's Arouca/Maloney Constituency executive has stated.
The executive is now calling on Persad-Bissessar to publicly apologise for the "racist, vile and disgusting" comment.
The Arouca/Maloney executive is the second PNM body to condemn Persad-Bissessar's statement, which was made during the United National Congress' Monday Night Forum.
"A simple search for the meaning of this word indicates that it is a highly derogatory and offensive term used to refer to someone of African descent as being 'Black on the outside, white on the inside' including persons who speak proper English, attain high academic achievement and having a diverse group of associates," the release stated.
"The implications of the use of such a term by Mrs Kamla Persad-Bissessar, a former Prime Minister herself, are deeply troubling and speaks to someone with a mindset who only sees and judges people by the colour of their skin and ethnic background rather than the content of their character."
It added, "As such her words must be condemned by all right thinking and fair-minded citizens of Trinidad and Tobago."
The Arouca/Maloney executive said Persad-Bissessar has "demonstrated time and again her unsuitability for any position of public trust".
"While not expected, because she is not of the same mettle as Dr Rowley, we call upon Mrs Kamla Persad-Bissessar to apologise unreservedly to the Honourable PM, all persons of African descent and the country by extension for her latest racist rant and we call on her to exercise some sober judgment by resisting the urge to divide the country along racial lines.
"While many may understand her political desperation, this cannot be an acceptable reason for acting irresponsibly and uttering such divisive and polarizing words to prop up a diminishing political stock," the release stated.
The PNM Women’s League also last evening similarly condemned Persad-Bissessar for the statements.