Pundit Satyanand Maharaj, no stranger to controversy, exposed the prejudices always simmering just below the surface of this ethnically diverse society this week, when he blamed “urban youth from the East-West Corridor” for crimes committed against Indo-Trinidadians in Aranguez.
His choice of words, widely interpreted as a euphemism for young Afro-Trinidadian males from impoverished communities, has sparked the latest round of uncomfortable, emotionally charged debate about race relations in T&T.
The comments by the outspoken spiritual head of the Aranguez-based Satya Anand Ashram Temple of Truth and Bliss, have been condemned in many quarters as an attempt to assign culpability for the crime problems in the country to one ethnic group.
However, Pundit Maharaj is not the first public figure to link criminality with poor, urban, Afro-Trinidadian males. Rather, he joins a growing list of individuals whose comments have stirred up deep-seated animosity between T&T’s two dominant ethnic groups.
Just as it was with all the previous racially charged declarations, the pundit’s statement reflects our unfortunate colonial legacy of divide and rule used by the ruling class to exert control and domination of enslaved Africans and East Indian indentured labourers.
In post-Independent T&T, a version of those tactics surfaces every election season, as political parties campaign for votes along lines of ethnicity. Once in office, the very same parties generally steer away from such divisive strategies.
On his historic visit to this country in 1987, South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu described T&T as “a rainbow nation.” The Nobel laureate, a powerful figure in the struggle against apartheid, saw the beauty and value of this country’s ethnic and cultural diversity.
There have been landmark moments of unity where Afro and Indo-Trinbagonians worked together to bring about important social changes, such as the Labour Riots of 1937 and the 1970 Black Power movement. In those instances, common ground was found in the dismantling of some vestiges of the old colonial rule.
The challenge now is for this nation to move past the prejudices and work to eradicate the negative stereotypes and grievances which fuel the animosity between T&T’s two main ethnic groups.
A frank but respectful discussion of race is needed to confront the fear, misinformation and bigotry that fuels the discord that divides this population.
T&T’s Constitution sets out the right of citizens to live without discrimination on the grounds of race, origin, colour, religion or sex. Citizens need to embrace that right.
Instead of acrimonious race talk, it is time for initiatives that promote racial harmony with a view to firmly establishing a national identity that celebrates the blend of traditions, physical characteristics and beliefs that make this country unique.
Children should be taught about race and equity at an early age to develop a healthy awareness and interest in harmony.
Cultural and educational programmes that celebrate racial harmony should be added to a national calendar that already includes East Indian Arrival Day, Emancipation Day and Chinese Double Ten.
In addition, leaders in various spheres should work together on constructive strategies to counter the dangerous race talk which threatens to tear apart our society.
It is time to make a reality that line in the National Anthem which states that here “every creed and race finds an equal place.”