When Dr Rowley gave as the reason for Costaatt was it not a racial statement? When secret scholarships were given were there not racial overtones? When Dr Williams made his statement in 1962 about Indians was there not a racial over tone? When the claim of calypso and steelband being the culture of T&T is that not a racist statement? When there was an imbalance in funding for certain cultural functions was that not racism? When calypsonians make certain statements claiming that they reflect the thoughts of people, is that not racist?
In certain cities in the US as well as England and Canada where there are a large number of people other than Caucasians and they recruit minorities into their police departments, is that racism? When in the US they decided to enforce affirmative action in Universities and even in their military academies, was that racism? So why should Nizam Mohammed's statement showing the imbalance in the hierarchy in the Police Service be construed as racism? Did not the 1992 report by the two eminent professors point out the same thing? Was it construed as racism then?
We should remember that at one time there were no dark complexioned faces in our banks and in the stores in Frederick Street, and also certain night clubs did not allow dark complexioned people to enter as guests, and QPCC and Country Club were exclusives. But not now. It was only when these were brought to light did they stop. So we should not shoot the messenger but rather correct the problem.
Kwadwo Mensah
Via e-mail