The Manicou Report

dom•i•nate - v. (also: dom•i•nat•ed, dom•i•nat•ing, dom•i•nates)

1. To control, govern, or rule by superior authority or power.
2. To exert a supreme, guiding influence on or over.

There are some people in Trinidad who would say anything that came to mind, be it intelligent or not. And Selwyn Cudjoe is not only a member of that club, he’s president. (Well he’s actually shares the presidency with other member/presidents like Basdeo Panday.)

Selwyn Cudjoe

I’m saying this because I really don’t care very much for Selwyn Cudjoe. I have never, never liked the man. I understand that his organization the National Association for the Empowerment of African People (NAEAP) is dedicated to helping people, and I am all for that. I’m in favour of any organization that will help the disadvantaged. However, my problem with Mr. Cudjoe is the manner in which he provides this service. Somehow, Mr. Cudjoe, never fails to surprise me with how foolish he can be.

My recent concern comes from a story in the Express yesterday where Dr. Cudjoe is at his best. Speaking at the NAEAP’s eighth annual Emancipation dinner at the Centre of Excellence, Mr. Cudjoe enlightened the attendees as to the reason behind the “turmoil that we see in our society today”. Said he:

So that all the turmoil that we see in our society today not only represents a relentless struggle on the part of the East Indians to dominate the society; it also suggests that the agents of their group are prepared to utilise any means-be they legal, political, academic or religious-to achieve ethnic dominance that constitutes the essence of the conflict that we see in Trinidad and Tobago today

Let me add to what Dr. Cudjoe said by writing my own speech.

The Indians are attempting to gain dominance over the Africans in Trinidad & Tobago. Africans rise up and combat the Indians who are trying to rule us. It’s because of the Indians that we are experiencing all this turmoil. (How you define the word “turmoil” is entirely up to you. The only guideline is to choose the definition that most aggravates you). If you don’t rise up you (the Africans) will lose what the great afro-Trinidadians have tried for so many years to achieve. Remember Dr. Eric Williams? Do you want to shame him? The poor guy is dead. The Indians are stomping on his grave. Rise up Africans (weeping and self-flagellation). Defeat the Indian dominance! End the turmoil in our land! Beat back the Hun Indians. Beat them back! Control the red brown mennace!

Why does it have to be that East Indians are trying to “dominate” the country? Can’t it be that two sets of people who have differing ideas on how the Government should be run, who are both trying to grab power? There are people in this country who were fitted with blinders from birth and have gone through their entire lives wearing them. When necessary, and due to the progression of age, they get re-fitted. They live out their lives paranoid, and hateful. They don’t want unity. They want indignant loyalty. They prefer to rend than to join. They want to divide and rule. And these are the people who are most dangerous.

Dr. Cudjoe is not a fool. (Well it depends on who you ask I guess). He knows why he chose the words he did. Standing at a podium on the anniversary of Emancipation, he informs the emancipated listeners of a covert plan to re-dominate them. (Read: revisit the days of Massa and slave). Dr. Cudjoe is aware of the kinds of passions he’ll awaken in alluding to afro-Trinidadians being “dominated”. Dr. Cudjoe is by no means “empowering” afro-Trinidadians, but in fact fitting them with their own blinders.

During World War II, the U.S. Government issued scores of propaganda posters in order to rouse the public into backing the war. While propaganda for the current war in Iraq is rife, the type of posters produced then, will today never see the light of day. The Germans (a.k.a. the Huns) and the Japanese were depicted as brutal, almost non-human adversaries. These inflammatory depictions had its aim: to drum up as much fear and righteous anger as possible. The foes were going to take over their lives after all. They were going to steal their freedom and rape their women. If you were not for the war, you were for the enemy, and by extrapolation, a traitor.

And while the aim of the U.S. Government is different from the aim of Dr. Cudjoe and those of his ilk, the method is the same. Convince the masses that there is imminent danger from people who are different from them. Convince them that it imperative for them to band together and to unite to deal the enemy a fatal blow. Do you think it’s that different? It much more similar than some may admit. It’s all about wining a war for your minds. People like Mr. Panday and Mr. Sat Maharaj do it too. They convince you that you have to pick sides or you will lose your freedom. Under the guise of emancipating, leaders like them re-enslave their follower with fear and suspicion. Do they really care about Trinidad & Tobago? I’m yet to be convinced. If, however, you would read between their lines, you’ll discover that neither should you.