Let me at the outset state that I do not agree with the view held by many that discussions of race and ethnicity have no place in the society and merely serve to invoke antagonistic sentiments and divisive tendencies. To adopt such an ostrich-like position is to ignore the fact that, in T&T, consciousness of race and its perceived implications and consequences are an ever-present reality and grievances, real or imagined, based on racial discontent are held with conviction and are not easily eradicated. If not addressed, they would be left to fester in the consciousness of people as an unattended mental sore. The most entrenched of these grievances, if not all, should, therefore, be investigated to determine whether they have merit and legitimacy or whether they are emotive and unsubstantiated perceptions.
The issue, therefore, is through what mechanism and process and in what conducive environment should allegations of racial and ethnic discrimination be raised, explored and dissipated. My view is that such an investigation requires sober and objective analysis based on available credible evidence. For example, many years ago, in response to consistent allegations of racial bias against Indo-Trinidadians in recruitment to the Police Service, a study by Professors John La Guerre and Selwyn Ryan which examined data and submissions on the subject confirmed that such bias existed. However, the emotionally charged atmosphere of a political platform is neither the place nor avenue to constructively address issues of racial discrimination. If they are raised at all, they should be supported by incontrovertible evidence.
Politicians have from time to time succumbed to what they perceive as securing political advantage in bringing up the issue of race in the rousing and combative environment of the hustings. A well-known example was when Dr Eric Williams, as leader of the PNM Government and party, in a speech at a public meeting after the 1958 Federal Elections, excoriated the Indo-Trinidadian community as “a hostile and recalcitrant minority” which his party pledged to bulldoze into the hills for the sin of not voting for the progressive, patriotic and enlightened PNM. Dr Williams calculated that his attack would galvanise the combined support of the Afro-Trinidadian, mixed and other groups while demonising a minority element whose support he could dispense with. Thus, early in the day, Dr Williams contributed to the expression of racial acrimony in society.
Recently, a former Director of the Strategic Services Agency mounted a UNC platform to claim that he was instructed to assist in removing all Indo-Trinidadians from that agency. His intervention raised several issues which would question the judgment of the Political Leader of the UNC in permitting Carlton Dennie to address the meeting in the first place. He is neither a member, ranking officer, nor parliamentary representative of the party. On what basis, therefore, was such an outsider allowed to speak on a national UNC platform?
If he was interrogated by the Political Leader, did she enquire about the content of his speech? If she did not, then surely it was a grave dereliction of duty in that the perception among non-committed voters is that the UNC platform is not a responsible and disciplined forum but a free for all. If, however, she was informed of the significant racial discrimination issue that was going to be raised and that “bussing a mark” would put the PNM and its leadership on the defensive, then Mrs Persad-Bissessar exercised poor judgment for many reasons.
This accusation of ethnic cleansing at the SSA was made before and seemed to have little impact. The allegation of anti-Indo-Trinidadian discrimination by the PNM is old hat to the core support base of the party and is unlikely to have any further galvanising effect on them. If the charge was intended to alter political perspectives and leanings of non Indo-Trinidadians and induce some of them to vote for the UNC, it is the presumption of a politically naive mind. Discrimination against Indo-Trinidadians is hardly an issue over which non Indo-Trinidadians lose any sleep.
In the aftermath of the statement, the credibility of Dennie has come into question, especially his avowed motive of wanting to get involved in politics at the parliamentary level. The electoral gambit by Mrs Persad-Bissessar has therefore backfired. All she has achieved was gratuitously giving ammunition to her political opponents and those in the establishment and media.