Pearce Robinson

Pearce Robinson
1st President of PNM Abroad
In office 6 August 2009 – 12 April 2013
Personal details
Born	Pearce Carlyle Mark Robinson (1990-01-11) 11 January 1990 St Joseph, Trinidad & Tobago
Political party	Moderate Conservative
Residence	Port of Spain
Alma mater	The Ravensbourne School University of Kent
Profession	Community Organizer Political Scientist Public Speaking
Religion	Christian
Signature
Website	pearcerobinson.com

Pearce Carlyle Mark Robinson (ⁱ/ˈpɪrs ˈroʊbənsən/; born 11 January 1990) is a notable figure in Trinidad & Tobago for his socio-political commentary and his community based national youth empowerment programme. He currently serves as head of an organization known as Speak Out T&T^[1]

He is most notable for his political work as President of PNM Abroad during the period 2009–13. He commented on controversial issues such as the appointment of Former Fifa Vice President, Jack Warner as Minister of National Security in Trinidad^[2] the 21 Day Hunger Strike^[3] by the Highway Re-Route Movement Leader Dr Wayne Kublalsingh^[4]

Family and early life

Born in St Joseph Trinidad, on 11 January 1990. He is the third child of four siblings. Robinson also lived in Campinas, São Paulo and Jaragua do Sul in Brasil from the period 1997-2000. His mother, Tessa is a lay-preacher pursuing her professional doctorate at Cambridge Theological Federation,^[5] while his father, Mark is a Reverend of the United Reformed Church in West Yorkshire.

Early political career

Pearce Robinson meets with Political Leader of the People's National Movement (PNM)

Robinson gained public recognition from being the founder and 1st President of PNM Abroad. He recently stepped down from the position referencing the need to change direction.^[6] He also strongly advocated for the right of Trinidad & Tobago citizens living overseas to be given the right to vote in the electoral process, he drafted, prepared and proposed a bill entitled the "Intention to Vote in Absentia (I.V.V.A) Act 2012".^[7]

At key political moments in Trinidad & Tobago, Robinson wrote letters to politicians such as Foreign Secretary William Hague^[8] and U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton over the section 34 matter as well as the undemocratic State of Emergency. He has been criticised by other bloggers.^[9]

Robinson is an Honours graduate of the University of Kent with a degree in Politics and International Relations.

Political and cultural image

On Tuesday, 18 February 2014, The Senate debated the Libel and Defamation (Amendment) Bill 2013. Robinson attended this sitting, where he would actively become part of a Government Minister's contribution to the house. The Minister of Food Production, Sen. The Honourable. Devant Maharaj rose to make his contribution on the proposed amendments to the 167-year-old law.^[10]

Sen. Maharaj made the point that his government wanted to remove criminal libel and preferred civil remedies against journalists who pursue stories that may be deemed libellous or defamatory, further stating that if the bill was not amended then "criminal defamation remains a threat of retribution that remains forever looming."^[11]

Maharaj pointed out that the media is forever evolving in the society and that now compared to the past when the law was enacted, we have new media that is instantaneous, "as something happens we get it on our blackberry, we get it on our smartphone". At this point the Minister acknowledged Robinson for his part in the new media era, saying: "In fact, we are very pleased to have in our audience here, the representative of the former PNM Abroad, who is now Speak Out,[Desk thumping] promoting an online—he could tell you that it happens instantly. But criminal defamation is not the solution to censor them or to impose some sort of threat to somehow rein in freedom of expression."^[12]

Missional journey to Asia/Pacific Region

Robinson can also be described as a missionary. A participant of the Council for World Mission's 2015 Training in Mission (TIM) programme, he traveled to several countries, such as; Taiwan, Fiji, Kiribati and New Zealand.^[13] He along with a team of 11 others would do work in the communities, volunteering and offering to serve. He looked at issues of culture, climate change, has done research and presented papers and reflections on how God can be seen in new contexts.^[14] Most recently these perspectives have been shared through columns in the Taiwan Church News.^[15] The programme lasts for 10 months (7/03/15 – 5/12/15). His most recently published article looks at how the Kiribati Uniting Church (KUC) responds to the reality of Climate Change.^[16] In 2014, right upon his return to the UK from Trinidad on 2 October,^[17] Robinson was invited by The United Reformed Church (URC) almost immediately to attend a five-day CWM Europe Assembly in Sheffield, UK as a delegate. He took an active part in the plenary sessions and committee stages of the forum, which broadly looked at the challenges to Church in the 21st century.^[18] In January 2015, he was sent to FURY Youth Assembly asheld at Whitemoor Lakes, Staffordshire, as the regional representative for the Spen, Calder and Enterprise (SPACE) Group of Churches in the West Yorkshire Synod, as a delegate with voting power he participated and shared his views on various topics and voted to ratify standing orders, which governed the very conduct of the advisory board.^[19]

Controversial issues

Section 34 protest

An investigative report by Denyse Renee of the Trinidad Guardian, discussed serious allegations of Government conspiracy, corruption and misconduct in relation to the early proclamation of Section 34 of The Administration of Justice (Indictable Proceedings) Act, 2011, in Trinidad & Tobago.^[20] This prompted protests from trade unions, civil society organisations, and political movements. The Prime Minister said: "It should never have happened."^[21] PNM Abroad organised a protest against the controversy. It was said that Nine people picketed the High Commission of the Republic of Trinidad & Tobago^[22][23] in London against the government of Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar for alleged corruption, mismanagement of the economy and the secret and early proclamation of section 34^[24] The former Minister of National Security Jack Warner responded: "They could not fill half of a maxi-taxi ... as long as they don’t illegally disturb the peace, TT nationals are free to protest wherever they live".^[25]'

Robinson responded to Jack Warner in a telephone interview with the Trinidad Express, saying that there were as many as 15 protesters outside the High Commission between 9.50 a.m.and 10 a.m. He conceded that it was a smaller protest than the one in Port of Spain, but said it was a success^[26] "I think it was beginning to be very embarrassing to the High Commissioner and he came out to speak with us. He invited us in for tea which I believe was more PR than anything, and we talked about how we viewed the Section 34 issue as a blight on our nation's democracy and several other issues including Jack Warner. What we asked the High Commissioner is that he relay all these issues to the Prime Minister (Kamla Persad-Bissessar) and the government."

Following the Section 34 protest outside the High Commission of the Republic of Trinidad & Tobago in London on 2 November, prime minister Persad-Bissessar addressed hundreds of her party supporters at the UNC Monday Night Forum on 3 December 2012. At that meeting, she lashed out at the organizer saying: "no one will be allowed to neither derail the government nor detract it from its purpose of delivering..." She went on to slam all those who participated in the protest action, charging that they were 'Enemies of this Nation'.^[27] The Prime Minister insisted that the protest action in London was merely an attempt to attack her character as prime minister and those of her fellow government ministers. She suggested that issues are being specifically designed to create the perception of instability and that the government was not stable. The following are her words: "They have mounted protests outside our Embassy in London hoping to sell this country short and to scare away investors. They, more than any others, are enemies of this nation."^[28]

Partap affair

Prime Minister of Trinidad & Tobago, Kamla Persad-Bissessar fired Colin Partap after it was reported that he refused to take the initial breathalyser demanded by the police on the scene.^[29] He was later taken to the Belmont Police Station where he was made to do the test, after his alleged attempts to use his office to get out of his challenges. The PM stated: "I have decided to advise the President of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, His Excellency Prof George Maxwell Richards, to revoke the appointment of Minister Collin Partap with immediate effect."^[30]

In August 2012 PNM Abroad caused a political stir when they exclusively uploaded a picture purporting to be that of the Former Minister in the Ministry of National Security, Colin Partap being breathalysed at the Belmont Police Station.^[31] This caused widespread condemnation and debate about the validity of the photograph and how the organization was able to obtain such a photograph within the compound of the police station, particularly when it is commonly understood that police stations have strict security regulations.

The Deputy Commissioner of Police Mervyn Richardson, who holds the second highest position in the country's police service waded into the controversy and stated that "an investigation would be launched to determine the validity of the photograph and how it was obtained."^[31]

Having seen this newspaper report from the Trinidad Express written on 27 August 2012. TV6 Morning Edition host Fazeer Mohammed took to the TV screens and launched what appeared to be a scathing attack on the PNM Abroad organisation and PNM supporters in general. He was subsequently forced to apologise after making the following statement: "I suppose you could says the classic PNM - All Indians look the same to them, so they figure someone with straight hair, you just put it up, and it has to be Colin Partap, why not?"^[32] Robinson penned a letter from his office in London to the Express House, headquarters and studio of CCN TV6 demanding that they issue an immediate apology. TV6 host Fazeer Mohammed subsequently issued a full apology to PNM Abroad, the People's National Movement and his television viewers, while reading out the entire letter sent to him from Robinson live as soon as his segment began.^[33]

Highway Re-Route Movement (HRRM)

Pearce Robinson has supported Environmental Activist and Leader of the Highway Re-Route Movement Dr. Wayne Kublalsingh during his 21-day hunger strike. The HRRM's fight is to reroute the section of the Debe to Mon Desir segment of the Highway; a controversial project which would cost the state $7.5 Billion. During the Kulblalsingh hunger strike Robinson wrote a letter to Amnesty asking them to support him.^[34] He was also interviewed by The Hindu newspaper and described the strike as "Penance".^[35]

A project that the Leader of the Opposition, Dr. Keith Rowley describes as "a bit of a disaster". It currently stands as the largest single project in terms of infrastructure and cost ever recorded in the history of Trinidad & Tobago.^[36] In an interview with reporter Rai Ricomas of Ietv News on 23 November 2012, Robinson called for a resolution and an end to the Hunger Strike, he called on the then President of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, George Maxwell Richards to intervene and break his deafening silence on the matter. Issuing a warning to pro-government supporters to stop taunting and confronting the visually ailing environmental activist.^[37]

300 families are said to be affected by the construction of the controversial Highway.^[38] While there are some who argue that the People's Partnership Coalition Government is right to go ahead and pursue infrastructural development which reaches areas of the country that don't have easy access to and from the capital city of Port of Spain, Trinidad.

Youth and community empowerment programme

His youth group, Scarlet41 has been featured on local television stations, such as CNC3 Early Morning Show with Hema Ramkissoon and TV6 Morning Edition with Fazeer Mohammed as well as regional editorials.^[39][40] There was some speculation as to whether or not this was a closet politically affiliated youth organization due to the apparent subliminals associated with the name, at least this was the view expressed by Host Mohammed during the interview.^[41]

On 30 August 2013, Robinson launched something he termed the "Kitchen Table Conversation", a national discussion of sorts. An initiative that some say resembles some kind of campaigning for the 21 October Local Government Election,^[42] except he is not a candidate.

Despite the speculations, he hopes this initiative would organize communities into socio-political blocs of common interests. It is a form of Community Organizing that he claims would enable ordinary people to think more about kitchen table issues as a community, rather than separate from each other.

References