ENERGY Minister and prime minister-in-waiting Stuart Young yesterday showcased his mixed East Indian/Chinese heritage as he also celebrated his 50th birthday.
The Prime Minister’s chosen successor yesterday acknowledged his birthday and thanked well-wishers in a Facebook post, where he included photos of his parents and grandparents.
Young’s birthday post highlighting his maternal grandparents of East Indian descent, and paternal grandparents of Chinese heritage, came amidst political and national conversation about Young’s ethnicity.
Responding to critics, Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley had stated that the Energy Minister had roots in Penal.
Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar then accused Young of previously shunning his East Indian roots, and of using that aspect of his heritage conveniently ahead of the 2025 general election.
National conversation about Young’s heritage and the statements about it was mixed, as some agreed with Persad-Bissessar while others cried down any “race talk” in a multicultural society.
Young yesterday thanked all four grandparents and his parents, stating:
“Thank you for everything Ma, Pa, Apoor, Agoong, Mum and Dad. You all gave me the foundation, love and support to make it to 50 today.”
Young also thanked “everyone who has played a role in getting me to this milestone”, completing his post with the hashtags “#50notout #blessed #grateful #StuartRYoung”.
Unity welcome
Young’s Facebook post attracted only positive comments and well-wishes on the occasion.
Several commenters also bashed any talk of Young’s race and said they welcomed him as a future prime minister.
“Happy Birthday to the next Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago,” one person wrote, going on to say that “I absolutely hate the idea that PNM = African and UNC = Indian”.
“We are a multicultural nation and every creed and race finds an equal place,” the poster stated.
Another well-wisher stated it was “refreshing to see that you have acknowledged the wind beneath your wings, the shoulders on which you stand and the hands that have held you up throughout your years”.
One person wished Young “greatest blessing on your birthday”, stating “may your journey continue to be successful, peaceful, fruitful and most importantly, filled with a national togetherness never experienced before”.
Young was also called a “true Trini” by one poster, who stated, “Be proud of your ancestry.”
