A top broadcaster’s description of UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan as a ”cheeky darkie” provoked a furious row on Thursday which even drew in Prime Minister Helen Clark.
Broadcaster Paul Holmes, who dominates both state television current affairs and private radio, made his comment to a national audience on Wednesday morning after Annan’s speech to the UN General Assembly.
”That Kofi Annan, I’ve got to say to you, has been a very cheeky darkie overnight,” Holmes told his audience.
”He’s been a very cheeky darkie. It’s all very well giving a darkie that secretary-general job but we’ll only take so much. I’m sorry, we will only take so much. We’re not going to be told how to live our lives by a Ghanaian.”
Holmes commentary ran in a similar theme for the rest of the broadcast, although later in the day he apologised.
Clark distanced the country from the comments.
”That comment was completely unacceptable and demeaning of one of the world’s top civil servants,” she said.
”I would not want New Zealand in any way to be associated with such comments.”
Government Race Relations Commissioner Joris de Bres said the comments were insulting and belittling.
”The colour of his skin is hardly an issue. It is a free country but people who have positions of responsibility on the airwaves should also exercise their responsibility appropriately.”
Foreign Minister Phil Goff said Annan was one of the most respected leaders in the world.
”To make a comment that will be regarded as personally insulting to that man I think is highly regrettable.”
It was not clear on Thursday whether any of Holmes’ employers were going to take action against him and de Bres said he was limited in what action he could take by legal provisions protecting free speech. – Sapa-AFP