Jose Cuisia Jr., the Philippine’s Ambassador to America wants Washinton D.C. councilmember, Marion Shepilov Barry, Jr. to apologize over the recent racist remark  of the latter against Filipino nurses in US.

The negative remark made by Barry criticized US hospitals that hire the services of Filipino nurses. The comment was caught on WRC-TV cameras and this is what he said, “We’ve got to do something about these Asians coming in, opening up businesses, those dirty shops. They ought to go, I’ll just say that right now, you know. But we need African-American businesspeople to be able to take their places, too.”

Washington Post reported that Barry sends his apology via Twitter by saying: "I admit, I could and should have said it differently. But the facts are still very present in our daily lives here."

In a statement posted on the embassy website on Tuesday, Cuisia said: "The remarks of District of Columbia Councilmember Marion Barry criticizing local hospitals for hiring Filipino nurses are deplorable."
 

"This is not the first time such intolerant and narrow-minded comments came from him. Just three weeks ago, he made the prejudiced observation that Asian-owned businesses were 'dirty shops,'" Cuisia added.

The ambassador said Barry owed Filipino nurses an apology for his "recent tirade."

"Councilmember Barry’s penchant for blaming Asians, who only want to work for their American dream, fuels racism, discrimination, and violence," Cuisia said.

"Such rhetoric does nothing but harm relations among community members, when the times call for developing relationships and finding solutions to common challenges," Cuisia added.

Cuisa said that the "Philippine nursing profession grew to become a major player in the global healthcare market when it became the biggest supplier of registered nurses due to the global nursing shortage."


"Filipino nurses are known to be competent, hardworking, caring, and possess good work ethic. These are some of the reasons why most patients prefer and trust them. Like many good citizens, they pay their taxes and contribute to the American economy," Cuisia said.

Barry is the first prominent civil-rights activist to become chief executive of a major American city. He has served as mayor of the District of Columbia, and later as a representative of Washinton D.C.'s Ward 8.

His name was featured in news headlines during the 90's when Federal Bureau of Investigation agents arrested him over drug charges.