A slap in the face of all women in T&T.
That’s the way Couva South MP Rudranath Indarsingh described theappointment of former Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs Darryl Smith as a commercial officer in the Ministry of Trade and Industry.
The ministry revealed that Smith was one of three commercial officers appointed to develop overseas markets and boost exports to key strategic trading partners.
Speaking at UNC’s weekly media briefing on Sunday, Indarsingh said Minister of Trade and Industry Paula Gopee-Scoon should be ashamed as a woman to carry the note to Cabinet to facilitate the appointment of Smith.
During Smith’s tenure in 2018, there were reports of sexual misconduct and subsequent payment of $150,000 to the alleged victim with a confidentiality agreement.
Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley fired Smith from his ministerial portfolio for interfering improperly in the public service, resulting in financial costs to taxpayers.
Indarsingh said: “This appointment is a slap in the face for all women in the country and all victims of sexual harassment in and out of the workplace and is sending a very dangerous signal to all men in this country that you can violate women, and you can abuse them in the workplace.”
Indarsingh said the UNC wanted to know Smith’s compensation package, experience in trade facilitation, and terms and conditions of his contract.