Caroni Lands and Race
Speaking at the Waterloo High School on Saturday Prime Minister Patrick Manning has stated that the Caroni Lands programme will be expanded to 18,000
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| Basdeo Panday |
lots with the intention of creating mixed communities in Caroni so as to avoid ethnic confrontations that plague other countries around the world.
Now I am all for integration, but I have to worry about a man who proposes a measure that seems so incredibly childish - just make people live together and they’ll start liking each other.
If this government really wanted to avoid ethnic confrontation they could start by avoiding some of the blatant instances of prejudice that have plagued them in the past. For example, how could Mr. Manning reconcile the fact Maha Sabha radio licence debacle with their new stance on integrated communities? I don’t think the Maha Sabha was discriminated against particularly because of race, but because of the character of Sat Maharaj. However, if at all this government is to foster a spirit of integration it must begin by treating all fairly - no matter how retarded their views may be.
Of course this has reignited the topic of race in T&T (like it ever went away) and since race is one of Basdeo Panday’s favourite subject’s hes’ been running with it ever since Manning broached the topic. I do agree with him where he said that although a mixed community is a great idea, it is not something that “should be forced” upon people. You just can’t force people to get along no matter what you try.
But then here comes Bas to inform the world of the racism and discrimination that he and other Indo-Trinidadians experience everyday under the hands of an oppressive government. Citing Martin Luther King, Nelson Mandela and Gandhi as examples he remarked that when these gentlemen cried out about the discrimination taking place in their countries no one told them they were wrong or crazy.
This is one of the areas where I have a problem with Bas. Pre-Independence India, 1950s Deep South USA and Apartheid-era South Africa in my view are all completely different to T&T today. Are there really parallels to be drawn between our society and theirs? In those countries and at those times racism was a very tangible thing. There were signs telling you what washrooms you could use, where to sit in a bus and what lines to stand in. You didn’t dare ask for a job in some companies. You didn’t dare go into certain neighbourhoods at any time of the day. Is that anything like Trinbago today?
I’m not stupid. I know that discrimination takes place in every country on the face of the earth and Trinidad is no exception. But can T&T really be compared to these countries the way Kamla and Bas would have us?
I would especially like some of my Indo-Trini readers to help me out on that one.
10 Responses to “Caroni Lands and Race”
By eemanee on Nov 23, 2006 | Reply
just passing through.
great read and thanks for your glimpse into all things T&T.
By ed on Nov 23, 2006 | Reply
I’m confused. Isn’t Panday supposed to be in jail? What is the damn hold up?
By Mani on Nov 24, 2006 | Reply
Hi eemanee, well thanks for stopping by. Although I never commented, I’ve visited you quite a few times also.
Ed, I think I’ve heard talk about an appeal or something…..crazy talk.
By Chennette on Nov 24, 2006 | Reply
Mani - sorry for not commenting on this before. I hate the race talk in T&T because I think have only ever experienced racism in the US, UK (from white children - and not when I was necessarily a child either!) and sadly in Barbados and The Bahamas (by fellow Caribbean nationals in the tourism sector). Never in Trinidad have I felt that because I look or am mostly Indian (most people will assume I am Indo-trinidadian) there are inherent impediments to my success. Never. I apply for jobs, may be interviewed by a panel with no Indians, but I get the job. And this does not surprise me. Jobs I have been rejected from were because I didn’t have the right qualifications and in once case, because they already knew who they wanted, but he was Indian anyway! I do not walk the streets in fear.
That being said, I do know many people who still talk about how Indians may be kept down - but these are people who grew up in a time, where maybe they did face discrimination for public service jobs, or in schools as being village Indians. I cannot discount their history, but I do not believe things are exactly the same now. The worst thing that has ever happened to be because of my ethnic background and racial generalisations, is when a UNC activist called me up to try to persuade me to go up for some election - WITHOUT EVER ASKING IF I SUPPORT THE UNC!!!!!!!!!
By Mani on Nov 24, 2006 | Reply
Oh that’s ok Chennette, I really wanted to hear what you had to say so I’m glad you commented.
I believe that discrimination was rife back in the old day, but it’s so hard for me to believe the picture that Bas and Kamla have painted for us. They want us to believe that T&T now is like S. Africa, India and the American Deep South during their race trouble. And I just cannot accept that.
Bas and Kamla would have us believe that his prosecution and the CJ’s impending prosecution has to do with racial victimization. At best it’s political persecution, but race?
I would really like to ask someone who believes that if they think that had there been an afro-Trinidadian politician who was just as much a fierce rival of the PNM as Bas is, would he have been prosecuted as enthusiastically? I think the answer is yes.
So I’m not sure exactly how Race comes into the issue.
I do think it’s a little funny that you were tagged as a UNC supporter by a UNC supporter without being asked.
Chennette, I know people always compare Guyana to Trinidad, is it really warranted with regards to race?
By Chennette on Nov 25, 2006 | Reply
Mani - sadly, you have to be more aware of race in Guyana than you do in Trinidad. There’s a country where all during the lead up to an election, you can feel the “tribes” separating almost. It isn’t always overt, and it was certainly better this election year than previous times, but you do notice people being watchful of each other, expecting retaliation against Indian businesses when the “Indian” party wins (and there was retaliation).
I had also visited Guyanajust after the second-to-last election, and was told by Indo-Guyanese “try to get a Indian taxi driver”. That was shocking to me, either that there would be need to say that, or the fact that it was said at all.
That’s not to say that the land of six peoples isn’t integrated normally; it is, it’s just that their possible divisions are much closer to the surface than ours. T&T is NOT like that. We do NOT want to BE like that and to incite ethnic groups against each other for political mileage is in my view reprehensible.
By Mani on Nov 29, 2006 | Reply
Oh gosh Chennette, sorry for taking so long to respond.
I’m sure it’s a very sad thing to be in Guyana during their elections. I hear the sentiments being expressed on the newscasts sometimes and it always depresses me. I would really hate for T&T to move in that direction, although a lot of our politicians seem intent on taking us there.
By but u serious on Dec 1, 2006 | Reply
http://www.guardian.co.tt/archives/2006-11-12/ramlogan.html
I don’t think its as bad as Panday or Kamala paints it, but its there and to bury our head in the sand will not solve it. The aritcle above was insightful.
Mani can’t wait for your views on constitutional reform.
By Anonymous on Dec 1, 2006 | Reply
But u serious, I guess you did not read the heading of this thread, ‘Caroni Lands and Race’.
Anand Ramlogan’s column is a perfect example of ‘if the shoe was on the other foot’ scenario.
[ The call for greater racial balance in these “services” in the context of our racial politics cannot be ignored. It is a matter of principle.]
Now, Let us try and apply Mr. Ramlogan statement to fit this Caroni land issue.
No wonder Anand did not give his opinion on the Caroni/Race issue this week in his column.
By but u serious on Dec 2, 2006 | Reply
Anonymous said…
But u serious, I guess you did not read the heading of this thread, ‘Caroni Lands and Race’.
Anand Ramlogan’s column is a perfect example of ‘if the shoe was on the other foot’ scenario.
[ The call for greater racial balance in these “services” in the context of our racial politics cannot be ignored. It is a matter of principle.]
Now, Let us try and apply Mr. Ramlogan statement to fit this Caroni land issue.
No wonder Anand did not give his opinion on the Caroni/Race issue this week in his column.
5:08 PM
Oh I was suppose to comment on the Caroni lands thing.
That statement by Manning is just another red herring distraction to divert attention from the problems of the day. In the eyes of a government all citizens should be equal…..who qualify for it should be given it. A government should not pick and choose persons because of race.