Minister for Youth Development and Sports, Kenson Casimir, is retracting a statement he made while introducing Julien Alfred at the mural unveiling in her honour on September 26 at Ciceron Primary School.
Casimir’s use of the Kweyol phrase “Met B***h yo tout!” to describe Alfred’s prowess did not go down well with some members of the public, who argued that such language should not be condoned, particularly in the presence of children.
At Monday’s pre-cabinet press briefing, the Minister acknowledged his mistake in using coarse language and apologised.
“I want to issue a formal apology for my pronouncement in my introduction to Julien Alfred at the Ciceron Primary School,” Casimir said.
“I think we all have had brief moments of lapses and in my three years in politics, I think this was the first. As a human being, I do not expect that it will be my last. [It was] a moment of just levity and fun and just the excitement of a long week of Julien Alfred celebrations and I really chose the wrong time and place to say what I said. I really want to apologise to everybody, every single Saint Lucian, and anybody that was offended by what I said.”
Despite this error in judgment, Casimir emphasised that his mistake should not detract from the significance and beauty of last week’s proceedings.
“I don’t think that should drown out what the day meant for Julien Alfred and Saint Lucia and what the week meant for everybody. As I said, human beings make mistakes. I think you have to own your mistakes as a human being and I have no problem doing that,” the Minister noted.
PHOTO: Stock image.
