The Congress of the People (COP) has called for newly appointed Minister of Youth and National Development, Fitzgerald Hinds, to be stripped of his portfolio, over a controversial post he made on Facebook.

In a now deleted post, Minister Hinds recounted an experience with a man who asked him for money as he exited Massy Stores, to which he declined on the basis that the man appeared young and able-bodied enough to get a job.The COP described his approach as “uncaring”.

The COP said, “While we do understand it is your money to give, why would you, a Minister who has just been given a portfolio to HELP our youth now openly decry a young man?”

Following heavy criticism online, with many users finding particular issue with the Minister’s justification for turning away the man, which read “I looked for the piper in him and could not find it”, Mr. Hinds removed the post.

Before that, however, he posted a follow-up status defending the exchange, insisting that he had practiced generosity in many other situations.

Both posts have disappeared from his feed.