WEDNESDAY MORNING, I woke up in Trinidad to hear the news that a young woman, Asami Nagakiya, was found dead. Many thoughts suddenly ran through my head. “What if that was me?” “How will this affect Trinidad, especially Carnival?”
My curiosity and concern for the victim transformed to anger when I heard the statements of the Mayor of Port of Spain on the matter. Mayor Raymond Tim Kee allegedly said to the Press that women have a responsibility to avoid being attacked. It is reported that he further went on to chastise the “vulgarity” and “lewdness” women exhibit during Carnival with the costumes they wear and the way we behave at Carnival.
Firstly, the mayor’s comments were extremely sexist. He generalised all female masqueraders, including the deceased young woman, for lewd behaviour. Was he with Asami? Did he see how she was behaving? I personally featured the band she played with.
I saw no lewdness from masqueraders when I spent a few hours with that band. However, by his standards, perhaps I could not recognise the lewdness because I was lewd myself. After all, I too, wore a swimsuit.
Mayor Tim Kee sent no condolences in his first speech to her family. Rather, he went on to victim blame. The mayor’s thinking is the same kind that blames rape victims for enticing men with their attire. Totally unacceptable!
General practice
Asami was wearing a costume, as is the general practice. Even if Asami decided to wear a bra and thong to work and it was deemed inappropriate by her superiors, this would give nobody the right to attack her.
The final issue is the third party statement which was issued on behalf of Mayor Tim Kee when many voiced their disgust after his initial statements were made. Having a third party statement disseminated to the Press did not come across as sincere. The issued statement did not include an apology.
It supported the mayor’s original sentiments by stating that many women agreed with him that the costumes worn by women during Carnival were lewd and vulgar. Point to note, Mayor, some women are misogynists. A young woman was murdered. This was not the opportunity for you to discuss vulgarity during Carnival but rather express condolences and state that you as mayor will ensure that security is increased so that an incident such as Asami’s does not happen again.
At this point, many persons are signing a petition to have the mayor fired. I think the mayor needs to stay. He needs to go back to the drawing board and be made to understand that his actions were less than smart. He needs to sincerely address the matter, admitting that his thinking is archaic. Following this, Mayor Raymond Tim Kee should ask the family of Asami and the public of Trinidad for forgiveness.
Toni Thorne is a young entrepreneur and World Economic Forum Global Shaper who loves global youth culture, a great debate and living in paradise. Email:Tonithorne@hotmail.com