Minister responsible for Crime Prevention and Persons with Disabilities, Jeremiah Norbert, has strongly condemned the mockery of persons with disabilities following remarks by his Cabinet colleague, Housing Minister Richard Frederick.
During Monday’s pre-Cabinet press briefing, Norbert, who is an amputee, was asked about remarks Frederick made on his talk show, Can I Help You, which many have deemed insensitive.
In an ongoing war of words, Frederick referred to Dominic Fedee, a former tourism minister in the United Workers Party (UWP) government, as “fighting autism and dwarfism”.
Claiming that in 2011, Fedee sought his support as a candidate for the UWP, of which they were both members at the time, Frederick said on his show last Thursday: “Mate not even from here. Mate look like he fighting autism and dwarfism and I will push mate for the electorate? So I dismissed him.”
Responding to the comments, Norbert said while he did not hear them, he strongly opposed any form of ridicule related to disabilities.
“A disability is a very sensitive issue, so it doesn’t matter who it is, including myself. I take full responsibility for the things that I say and the things that I do.
“No way, no day will I ever promote or agree with any individual, no matter who the person is. I am not even going to think of who made the comment. It does not matter if it is the Honourable Prime Minister… it doesn’t matter who it is. It’s just that the position is that we never ridicule any individual, especially if we believe they have a disability, and we never try to use disability terminology to make a mockery of anybody,” asserted Norbert, whose right leg was amputated after a motorcycle accident in 2021.
He made it clear that this stance was not only his personal belief but also the position of his ministry, adding that he would stand by it.
Frederick and Fedee have been engaged in a public feud across various talk shows, with Fedee making several accusations against Frederick.
Frederick, a former UWP member who was expelled in 2014, ran as an independent in the 2021 general elections and was later appointed a minister in the Saint Lucia Labour Party-led government.
Some of you in St. Lucia need to stop making fun of those with impairments and/or disabilities. The truth is no one knows what could befall them today or tomorrow…there is ABSOLUTELY no guarantee. I have realised that some of you are cold and callous. God help you all —-
Norbert you only felt that one because you’re a disabled person
Many people in St Lucia lack empathy; they do not feel compassion nor respect people’s feelings. Minister Norbert knew life as an able-bodied person before his injury/amputation. It could happen to anyone – remember that, and ask yourself how you would feel if people ridiculed you, or used offensive language such as Minister Frederick… I think the way people mistreat animals on this island is also very indicative of how they mistreat people verbally and physically. It’s time to start showing some human decency and respect for all living beings.
Fedee, as far as can be determined, doesn’t have any disability, he’s not very tall, but so are many other people, that’s not an impediment. The comments, it seems, was just banter and should not be taken otherwise.
Do we really expect better from RF? RF only knows one thing and that’s self glory and undulation. The day someone stops calling him king, he turns on them. Don’t believe me? Ask kkrr
How short do you have to be to be a certified midget in St Lucia ….does Fedee meet that criteria ….asking for a friend.
THIS MINISTER RF TIME WILL AND MUST COME. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH ! WE LIKE TO PUT POLITICIANS IN POSITIONS BY REMOVING OTHER POLITIICIANS THEN AFTER REGRETING . EXAMPLE LIKE DONALD TRUMP EXAMPLE.