Reject Watson Duke, He Is Being Charged For Rape And Sexual Assault: PNM Women League

Reject Watson Duke As Candidate, He is Currently On Charges For Rape And Sexual Assault: PNM Women League

The 2020 General election fever is in full swing in Trinidad and Tobago, and today the PNM National Women's League is calling for PDP leader and Tobago East candidate Watson Duke to be rejected as a candidate for the upcoming general election as he is currently before the courts on charges of rape and sexual assault. As published on PNM's Facebook page, the league said several other candidates being offered by parties opposed to the PNM are either facing criminal charges or had serious allegations made against them. They said these candidates include the UNC’s Cumuto Dr Rai Ragbir, who had to be removed from the Community Improvement Services Ltd Co (CISL) due to controversy, while UNC candidates Ravi Ratiram and Arnold Ram were mentioned in "serious scandal" during their tenure at the UWI’s Students Guild.

The League said Duke has indicated to the national community that he has nothing to prove to anyone.
“…flippantly dismissing the concerns of the news anchor by citing in part, that even with the charges the people of his electoral district had elected him and would do so again especially since he is an ‘attractive’ man. We see this as disgusting, disturbing and taking the electorate’s intelligence for granted. Crime against women is not a joke and this is no laughing matter! 

The League cautioned Duke to keep the name of the Prime Minister out of discussions about Duke’s criminal charges, as they said the PNM promotes women in society whilst Duke is making a mockery. It said the PNM is held to a higher standard both within the party as well as throughout the nation, so former Port of Spain South MP Marlene McDonald was not screened while former chairman for Mayaro/Rio Claro Glen Ram was screened by the UNC despite his criminal charges, and former chairman Franklin Khan and former Port of Spain South MP Eric Williams both resigned as PNM ministers when criminal charges were pressed against them.

The League said while it believes anyone charged with a criminal offence has the right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty, it also stands firmly in its belief that one should clear one’s name before one aspires for public office. Trinbagonians will go to the poll next month August 10th to cast their ballots for the general election.