Trevor, just remember who you betrayed and who betrayed you!
I seldom respond to accusations and allegations of racial discrimination in our society knowing only too well how explosive and destructive racial conflicts can destroy a society/nation. However, when public personalities, like former government minister Trevor Sudama make public statements like “I have maintained over the years that discrimination against Indo-Trinidadians has been institutionalised in state policy, public sector operations and access to resources”, Mr Sudama regularly accuses Dr Williams and the PNM of discriminating against Indo-Trinbagonians. His mantra and chorus continues to be Dr Winston Mahabir comments on Dr Williams’ statement on the “recalcitrant minority after the PNM’s defeat at the Federal Elections in 1958.”
He ignores Albert Gomes’ comments in his autobiography “Through a Maze of Colour”. He ignores Dr Brinsley Samaroo’s comments on Dr Williams and Racism. He prefers Dr Mahabir’s assessment of the “recalcitrant minority”. This is his right as the saying goes. Trevor, you are entitled to your own opinions you are not entitled to your own facts. Having read most of these critics on Dr Williams and the PNM discrimination of Indo-Trinbagonians, I am tempted to ask:
1. “Is this the same Trevor Sudama who was violently abused by the late Bhadase Sagan Maharaj?”
2. Is this the same Trevor Sudama who betrayed Basdeo Panday and brought a premature end to the first Indian Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago?
3. Is this the infamous/former Minister of “Bhagi and Pumpkin?”
Well Trevor, I have some news for you, but before doing so I want to refer you to the following, I am sure you have read “The Failure of Indian Leadership in the Caribbean” by Dr Vishnu Bisram (Vol 3 #1 of 2002) “It appears “that Indian leaders are more attracted to the trappings of cocktail parties, first class travel, five star hotels etc) of being in office rather than in bringing about meaningful change in society or genuinely representing the interest of their supporters, appeasing the other side and neglecting their own supporters became the hallmark of their policy, filling their own pockets through kickbacks awarding government contracts became their number 1 priority. They did everything to make a quick buck for themselves and they set up close relatives in business rather than doing something to ameliorate poverty and suffering of their supporters or the society as a whole; loyalty rather than competence was rewarded. The Indian Party became the party of One Man Rule.”
These are not the words of Dr Eric Williams, Albert Gomes, Brinsley Samaroo, Winston Mahabir or Professor Cudjoe. You claimed “I have drawn from my experience as a Parliamentary representative of a rural constituency and from my interaction with the political directorate and the public bureaucracy”.
“I affirm that I portray the reality as I see it. I do not engage in intellectual sophistry, reverse denial or discrimination, political correctness or fraudulent praise to endear myself to any group or individual.” Strong words, Trevor.
Like you, I will try to portray reality, present facts and political correctness. Your serious and dangerous allegations of Dr Williams and the PNM of instituationalising racial discrimination against Indo-Trinbagonians are misguided incorrectness and misinformation. You consistently demonised Dr Williams and the PNM identifying him and them as racists but this is also misleading and inconsistent with the following unquestionable facts which I now draw to your attention and leave the national community to draw their own conclusions
1. It was the PNM government under its first minister of Heath, Dr Winston Mahabir that eliminated the deadly hookworm disease in the sugar belt in 1956.
2. It was the PNM government that extended the Highway from Chaguanas to Golconda making it easier for you to get from the Red House to Oropouche.
3. It was the discriminative PNM government that gave sugar workers 100 per cent pay increase, a guaranteed 40 hour work week, a pension plan after 300 years of Indentureship and slavery thanks to the PNM government and the leader you betrayed—Basdeo Panday.
4. It was a PNM government that gave the same sugar workers over $8 billion dollars of state lands for housing and agriculture—the best retrenchment package in the history of the Commonwealth—if not the world: almost every retrenched sugar worker is today worth over $1 million dollars.
5. It was the PNM government under Minister of Agriculture, Dr Keith Rowley that wrote off billions of dollars in bad debt to Caroni Limited.
6. It was the discriminative PNM government under Dr Williams that purchased Caroni Limited to save the jobs of the five thousand odd sugar workers; traditionally you and your party supporters.
7. It was the discriminative PNM government that invested our oil boom dollars in the Point Lisas Estate in the process converting thousands of our Indo-Trinbagonian citizens in central and south Trinidad into millionaires—some multi-millionaires overnight. Not only increasing the value of their real estate but providing them with opportunities to engage in business activities that made them extremely wealthy. Today Central Trinidad is the shopping capital of T&T.
8. The two largest poultry producers Nutramix (Saheed Mohammed) and Arawak previously owned by Jai Ramkissoon were heavily subsidised by successive PNM governments making us self-sufficient in poultry.
9. Between 1970–1984, 23 secondary schools were built south of the Caroni River and two Teachers’ Training Colleges most of them in geographic political areas traditionally opposed to the PNM government.
10. It was the discriminative Dr Eric Williams and the PNM government that rescued and legitimised the Cane Farmers Association from the colonial oppressive Sugar Manufacturers Association.
11. Most of our super contractors today from Junior Sammy, Coosals, Raguhnanan, Ramhit etc are products of successive PNM government’s policy of localisation and control of the commanding heights of the economy.
Where are Wimpey, Ash and Watson, Cubits, PP Collins, Sanders and Fosters? All owned by expatriates and nationals of Caucasian origin.
Lest you forget, over 50 per cent of the first oil boom dollars, was spent in the development of the Point Lisas Estate. Who benefited most?
Trevor, “take care you get what you want and lose what you have”.
via email