The recent Calcutta remarks on the hustings in Tobago by THA assemblyman Hilton Sandy reopened wounds which have never really been properly treated. It is actually a scab that we have been picking at since this country achieved nationhood. Mr Sandy explained his remarks as a consequence of having been carried away by the moment, caught up in the tempo of political rhetoric and picong.
The unfortunate remark was followed by predictable calls from the Government that "Sandy must go." This is, of course, foolish and assumes that Mr Sandy is the only person on the island who may be harbouring feelings of resentment and suspicion towards "Indians from Trinidad." Mr Sandy ably compounded the problem by stating that he has "plenty Indian friends."
Most thinking people will appreciate that getting rid of him will not uproot the problem of racial mistrust. This politician merely reflected the way a great many Tobagonians feel. It is indeed unfortunate because Trindadians have an abiding love for the sister island and perhaps vacation there more regularly than anywhere else.
Indeed, when Tobago is pressured by the vagaries of a fickle global tourism market, fidelity can always be counted on from the Trini tourists in good times and in bad. We may not all stay in the big fancy hotels, but we patronise your guest houses, supermarkets and restaurants. When we get back home we are happy to waste two solid work hours on Monday morning telling colleagues what a wonderful time we had in Tobago.
Yet it certainly does feel like unrequited love at times. On a vacation years ago, I was approached by a number of very aggressive touts at Store Bay keen on shoving me onto a reef boat. My polite refusal triggered an avalanche of eff dis and eff dat; it was so vile I thought I might have to change my clothes. What then ensued was a lively debate about how "nasty dem Trinidadians is," all of this done within earshot and clearly for my benefit.
Last year I had a very unpleasant encounter at a tourist site in Castara. As I wallowed in the embarrassment of having been barked at like a cap-in-hand street dweller, a group of tourists from Germany was treated to the very same ignominy by the same recalcitrant wretch who had run me off!
For the many Tobagonians with whom I have very cordial relations, I have encountered an equal number who are either unpleasant or indifferent towards Trinidadians.
But this isn't about Tobago, it is about Trinidad and Tobago and the way in which we have allowed politicians to manipulate us. We are a society of PNM vs UNC, Indian vs African, Trinidad vs Tobago. We live and breathe these toxic handed-down philosophies.
We take our cues from politicians, believing ourselves to be suppressed and subjugated by "dem." In our hearts and homes we foment racial hatred, seething enmity for those who do not share our political ideologies and we dedicate our lives to passing those cancerous genes down to our children.
While we cuss each other back and forth online and segregate ourselves, thus impoverishing our souls, do you think the politicians burden themselves with such troubles? How many of you ordinary Joes out there get complimentary tickets to the most exclusive all-inclusives? How many of you are mugged for the cameras at the UWI fete with your designer clothes and smiles which you had bleached in Miami?
In Tobago, as TOP and PNM supporters draw swords, when the fighting is done and you are left to scramble for space on the reputed lone ambulance on the island, do you think that Orville London and Ashworth Jack have to worry about where their medical care is coming from?
When you have to wash your clothes in muddy water because WASA simply cannot get its act together, your politicians are living off ten tanks and they will never know a day of dry taps. UNC, PNM or TOP, supporters genuflect at the feet of their leaders in the hopes that one day their loyalty will be rewarded.
You forever make yourselves subjects of feudal kings, happily taking up arms to fight wars in their names while they toast each other with the privileges you have bestowed upon them.
Who is to blame for your suffering? It have to be de Indian or de African or dem Trinidadyan. All the while, the politicians will be chipping down the street for J'Ouvert or laffin' and havin' ah time with each other at the fetes. When their term in office is up and their business fix, you are left clutching your hate.
Trouble is, though, we have to live together and never should we allow politicians to capitalise on our flaws to catapult themselves above us. T&T is very fortunate in that we haven't had the sort of turmoil threatening to tear other countries apart, and while politicians are determined to drive a wedge between us, we have far more in common than not.