I am noticing a frightening trend in our society that must be aired. We live in a multi-racial society that is commonly and appropriately termed a "callaloo". I do not want to be long-winded so I would get to the heart of the matter and hopefully, I will not suffer Nizam Mohammed fate nor Sgt Anand Ramesar's.
Ramesar was not nominated and hired to the position of President of the Police Social Welfare Association-he was legitimately elected (voted in) by the membership of the Police Service. As a result he has an obligation, like a duly elected Member of Parliament, to represent all constituents under in his arena without fear or favour.
The ethnic composition of the Police Service is primarily Indian and African. Ramesar is obligated to properly and faithfully represent every single member of the Police Association. If it was drawn to his attention by one person or a certain sect within the association that the ethnic composition of the Police Promotion Advisory Board was ethnically in disequilibrium, he had an obligation to address that with the relevant governing body. Similarly, I work for a large recognised establishment that is unionised and the upper hierarchy is predominantly Indo-Trinidadians. For whatever reason, I was by-passed for promotion from supervisor to the rank of assistant manager to somebody who was eight years my junior in service and only in possession of an Associates Degree, while I possessed a Bachelor's Degree in Business Management/Economics from Pace University.
The issue was brought to the attention of the shop steward, it was arbitrated upon by a promotions review committee and I was placed in the position with retro-active salary. Management acknowledged the wrong and made it right. Anand Ramesar has an outstanding track record as president of the Association. For the past nine months, the membership of the Police Service has increased in excess of 500, with an excess of 100 applications for membership flowing in during the last two weeks. Why should Ramesar follow in the footsteps of Nizam Mohammed to be placed in front of the firing squad for highlighting a fact?
Anastacia Hackett
Westmoorings