PNM NWL: UNC’s attack on PM’s wife is repugnant, reprehensible and a new low


“[…] Having failed on more than one occasion to besmirch the good name of the Prime Minister, Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar has let loose Senator Anil Roberts to attack the good name and reputation of the Honourable Prime Minister’s wife. 

“[…] Whilst politicians expect to be attacked by their opponents on the issues of policy, personality, and delivery… the UNC’s current attempt to drag the name and reputation of the Prime Minister’s wife into the grime and muck-filled trenches of the UNC’s bosom, this is a new low…”

The following press statement from the PNM National Women’s League, chaired by Camille Robinson-Regis MP, was submitted in response to jibes by UNC Senator Anil Roberts regarding the personal relationship of Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley and his wife, Sharon Clark-Rowley:

Photo: Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley (centre) arrives at a function in 2018 with his wife, Sharon Rowley.
(Copyright Office of the Prime Minister)

Mrs Sharon Clark-Rowley is the wife of the Honourable Prime Minister Dr Keith Christopher Rowley. She is a mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, friend, and daughter. Mrs Clark-Rowley’s accolades do not end there, she is patron of many charitable Non-Governmental Organisations which assist women and children.


Our Prime Minister’s wife is a practicing attorney-at-law of thirty-seven years standing and is not involved in active politics. She has never mounted a political stage nor made any representations in the Parliament. Since her husband’s assumption of office in September 2015, Mrs Clark-Rowley continues to be an advocate for the well-being of women and girls in Trinidad and Tobago—despite being constantly attacked by her husband’s political opponents.

At present, Mrs Clark-Rowley avidly supports the work of the Down’s Syndrome Family Network, the WAND Foundation (Women in Action for the Needy and Destitute), the Epoch Foundation—a non-governmental organisation which is aimed at empowering young people to holistically overcome their challenges—and several other non-governmental entities which are dedicated to changing the social landscape of T&T through youth-oriented initiatives.

Photo: Prime minister Dr Keith Rowley (left) and his wife Sharon Rowley (centre) observe the Independence Day Parade on 31 August 2018.
(Copyright Ministry of National Security)

She is also patron of the Caribbean Association of Oncology and Haematology. All worthy causes supported by a woman of dignity and compassion. 

It is against this backdrop that the Women’s League of the People’s National Movement stands in solidarity with Mrs Clark-Rowley and strongly denounce Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s (the first female Prime Minister) support of the vile and absolutely disgusting discussions led by the United National Congress and, in particular, her senatorial pick Anil Roberts’ repulsive, vile and despicable attacks against the wife of the Honourable Prime Minister in the public domain. 

Having failed on more than one occasion to besmirch the good name of the Prime Minister, Opposition Leader Persad-Bissessar has let loose Roberts to attack the good name and reputation of the Honourable Prime Minister’s wife.

Photo: UNC Senator Anil Roberts.
(Copyright Office of the Parliament 2022)

Under the leadership of Persad-Bissessar, the UNC has discarded every vestige of morality and decency. Persad-Bissessar must remind her Senate pick that there is a level of decency which must be upheld and thresholds from which we should refrain when persons place themselves for public service.

Whilst politicians expect to be attacked by their opponents on the issues of policy, personality, and delivery—of which the PNM stands ever ready to defend its record in this regard—the UNC’s current attempt to drag the name and reputation of the Prime Minister’s wife into the grime and muck-filled trenches of the UNC’s bosom, this is a new low. 

UNC Senator Roberts’ colossal use of sewage-filled attacks against Mrs Clark-Rowley must be strongly deprecated by all citizens.

Additionally, this is not the first time that UNC Senator Roberts has taken aim at women on his social media platforms. He continues to debase, slander, mock, demean and disrespect us—all whilst his leader Persad-Bissessar sits on the side lines applauding. These types of repulsive, abhorrent, vile, antagonistic attacks displayed by Roberts and the UNC must stop. 

Photo: UNC political leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar (centre) has a word with fellow MPs (from left) Michelle Benjamin, Anita Haynes, Vandana Mohit and Khadijah Ameen.
(Copyright Office of the Parliament 2020)

Women are to be respected, cherished, protected, and not attacked—verbally, physically or emotionally—because of whom they have married. The very nature of UNC Senator Roberts’s continued misconduct and Persad-Bissessar’s approval of such is inimical to the national good. Politics cannot be left to become so base. 

If the leaders in our society stoop to these abhorrent levels, we cannot expect those whom we lead to aspire to anything greater.

The Women’s League abhors and condemns this debasing and disrespect of Mrs Clarke-Rowley, and we are always ready to defend the women Trinidad and Tobago. 

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4 comments

  1. Just this morning I said I was not adding my voice to the disgusting allegations made against Keith Rowley’s wife because i thought it beneath all of us, and then I read the PNM Women’s League release and have no choice but to enter the cesspool end of our politics to ask them, where was this outrage and pious chest beating when Marlene McDonald and others were having a time over the same Anil Robert’s and room 201?

    Where were they when the PNM side had a time with a video clearly showing Anil’s wife in a less than honorable position?

    But now that the horn appears to be on the other foot so to speak, they find their convenient voice?

    I notice no where in there release were the allegations denied, relying as usual on their tired penchant for attacking the messenger to silence the message.

    The ONLY respondent that should be saying anything here is Sharon Rowley herself, and as a practicing attorney of 37 years as their release states, I am sure she knows how to write one.

    A simple rejection penned in her name is all that society needs to move on. The fact that even she has not denied it seems to suggest fear as to what else Anil might have.

    No, Women’s League, sorry, your party made this bed and used every opportunity to attack and debase Anil Robert’s whether deservedly or not, and now that he has some gunpowder of his own for you to pretend to speak from the moral high ground has to be a joke.

    Anil Robert’s and I are not friends and I do not support his party, but in this case I have to support his right to be as stink and as dutty as the PNM themselves thinks our politics should be played.

    Personally I think our politics is disgusting and tiresome and we need less of this not more. But even though I may not agree with what he says, as a strong defender of free speech and fair play I have to fight for his right to say it.

    Stay in your lanes Camille and others. In this land of two wrongs equaling right, if you want better politics, you are going to have to practise it.

    Phillip Edward Alexander

  2. I am not hearing the FAT ARSE brigade addressing the latrine of words from FAILGERALD with the same ferocity about the applications for state lands ?
    https://youtu.be/MGmOiSMdr6c

  3. It’s Anal Roberts, what do you expect? He is as gutter as they come. Maybe an Alex Jones type lawsuit will make him stfu

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