Safety of our Children

The promise of our future is at the mercy of the merciless. Atrocities are being committed daily – buggered? 6 year old boy? With a sugar cane stalk???? Surely this demon is demented, probably not his/her own fault, poor person most likely having suffered similar indecencies throughout his/her childhood, suffered worse, as this person is alive today, walking the streets, claiming revenge on the innocent, pardoning the guilty with his/her ‘blind eye’ swivelled away from them. Again and again and again, the image of the local authorities tarnished by their lackadaisical attitude, their ineptitude, their unprofessional, irresponsible demeanour, the trust vested in them, that they are so desperately scampering to salvage, being voraciously devoured by the ire of the people who pay their wages.

So what of this murderer? Do we have the mechanisms in place, apart from ‘Golden Grove’ justice, to deal with this person when he is caught, or framed (I honestly hope caught)? Do we have at St Ann’s Hospital or possibly a more modern facility with less of a social stigma perhaps?, the psychologists, psychiatrists, priests, imams, healers, police and politicians, capable, and much more than that, willing! to help heal our ill brothers and sisters? Do we need to get the Minister of Health to stand up and address our country, to reassure us, to prove that Trinidad & Tobago’s health system is as resourceful and well-polished as the energy sector, whose coffers, as far as I can see, should be used for the betterment of our land and not the collective fattening of any pockets, local or NatWest owned? Do we need the Minister of Finance to stand up and address our people to reassure us that he is working hand in hand with the Minister of Health to ensure that all the potential revenue from the massive energy investment currently dislocating, erupting and in time, corrupting our small southern villages, is suitably injected in to our poor health infrastructure? Shall we call upon the Minister of National Security to present some insightful plan to deal with the natural cause and effect syndrome of displaced societies, in our case, villagers, who, with no where to turn, turn to survival.

Where were the police?

My heart, my tears!, as I read that article, go out to Sean Luke’s soul, to his mother’s pain and to his community’s sorrow.

Who is going to take responsibility for this one…?

Sean for The Progressive

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Race, Ethnicity, Culture and Us

I am of East Indian decent. My great, great, grand parents made the journey from India, either willingly or unwittingly, to Trinidad and Tobago. The twin islands were now their home and there was no going back. I was raised as a Hindu and indoctrinated with the mentality that went along with it and being raised in central Trinidad I had a myopic view of the country and it’s people. However, at the age of 11, I got the opportunity to go to school in Port of Spain, and my eyes were truly opened. I was surrounded by people of different races and cultures. It was a whole new world and it was hard for me to believe that a country the size of Trinidad and Tobago could be so segmented.

The racial divisions among the people of Trinidad and Tobago today are as evident as they were to me 20 years ago. I would have hoped that the new generation of citizens would have made a conscious effort to change this fact but it, sadly, seems that the propaganda from cultural and political forces still clouds our intellect. Trinidad and Tobago’s unique culture has been overshadowed by an almost fanatical drive to retain or re-discover cultural aspects of an individual’s racial ancestry. While there is nothing wrong with wanting to know one’s history there is need for the populace to also understand that their present and future culture is that of Trinidad and Tobago. The art, food, language and dress of the nation are truly unique and this needs to be embraced by all in society.

Simple things that promote racial division are the use of prefixes to reference citizens of the Trinidad and Tobago who have different racial backgrounds. Terms such as Indo-Trinidadian and Afro-Trinidad, being the most popular, only foster animosity by applying labels to the sole ethnic group of the land. The fear of ‘douglarization’ of the population is also something that needs to be addressed. The concept that people of East Indian descent are ‘pure’ and as a result should not mix with people of any other race is completely irrational. Of course, people of African descent have no problem with this mixing as long as the male in the relationship is always of African descent. A few years ago a man took a stand and sang a song about his heritage and was ridiculed by the nation. Brother Marvin’s tribute to his ancestry was debated and analyzed while Cro Cro’s blatantly racial songs receive airplay and accolades from all. The complete hypocrisy that is exhibited by the citizens of Trinidad and Tobago is what is most appalling.

Recently the national football team secured a place at the World Cup by defeating Bahrain on the second leg of the two game contest. Dennis Lawrence was lauded for his goal that put Trinidad and Tobago into the finals, however, if it was not for a man named Chris Birchall there would have been need for more than just one magnificent header. Where are the accolades for Mr. Birchall? Why is his name not synonymous with the victory? Segregation is evident in every aspect of society. Carnival, has traditionally been seen as a something that is only for the people of African descent, even though there has been support for it from all other races since the time it has emerged.

Political prowess has succeeded in keeping the country divided with the goal of centralizing power and it has worked successfully for a number of years. It is evident that there will be no change in political figure-heads until there is a fundamental shift in the mindset of the average citizen. This will not be easy to do, rolling back decades of racial dogma. Change can only be accomplished through mass consensus and unity.