Letter of the Day | What does Mr Damion Crawford have against women?

THE EDITOR, Madam:

I listened to a recent news item on the radio regarding Senator Damion Crawford’s interview on ‘Sim Soul Sessions’. They noted he finally apologised to MP Ann-Marie Vaz for the horrendous and disrespectful statements he made about her during his failed bid for the East Rural Portland seat.

Out of curiosity, I decided to watch the full interview for myself; I was alarmed at several points.

Not only did Mr Crawford barely acknowledge and state a real apology in a meaningful way to MP Vaz, but when asked by the interviewer, he seemed to want to squirm his way out of saying straightforwardly, “I am sorry, MP Vaz”. In fact, that was never really said.

It made me wonder about Mr Crawford’s sincerity and trustworthiness since his entrance into politics; after all, he was the one who told us years ago, “tricks you!” We have seen numerous instances of him making disgusting, sexist, and disrespectful comments towards women over the years.

When he first ran for his seat in East Rural St Andrew, he referred to Mrs Joan Gordon-Webley as a “solid waste of time”. He apologised and claimed to be sincere.

Thereafter, we saw him in a public spat with Angela Brown Burke where he told her, “Angela Brown Burke, Ralph not even mention you as someone to say hello to ... ur influence nuh pass William Grant Park.”

Later, he said, “If you look at potential, the furthest this lady will go is Mrs Vaz,” regarding the now MP Ann-Marie Vaz.

The then-G2K vice-president, Daniella Allen, was correct in her statements where she described Mr Crawford’s comments as “chauvinistic and take us back to a time when the predominant belief was that a woman’s place is in home”.

Shortly thereafter, he was in the news yet again for a leaked conversation where he spent a long time mightily disrespecting and belittling MP Lisa Hanna. In one part he stated, “She has never gotten the adoration weh me get amongst regular people. Never!”

NOT LEARNT WHAT MATTERS

Mr Crawford seems to have scant respect and value for women. In fact, after so many years of seeing similar situations unfold over and over, it almost seems like disdain.

Whether we agree with their political stances or not, these women have tirelessly worked to gain and keep their seats and they deserve respect for that.

Mr Crawford has very little political wins to back up his arrogance. This man has accomplished nothing of significance in the political arena.

The other thing that struck me in the interview was when he childishly and excitedly explained that during a protest at UWI when he was a student, they kidnapped the bursar. How can a kidnapping during a mere school protest be something to be celebrated by a senator?

Based on a Google search, this man is now in his 40s, so we can no longer blame youthful exuberance. Yet, he has clearly not learned the things that matter.

JANICE T.