After migrating to the USA, I found that one of the most frustrating aspects of being born on the island of Trinidad (the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago), was coming to terms with the reality that there is a misplaced arrogance afflicting too many nationals and ex-patriots. Many people from Trinidad and Tobago (TNT) walk around with the foolish notion that they are oh so much smarter than the average person in the international arena. Fact is this: the reverse might be closer to the truth.
My frustration of course comes from trying to point out those times when the TNT hubris needs to be checked, only to encounter asininities, absurdities, excuses and/or egoism. The recent unfortunate incident -which I will entitle “Nizam Mohammed’s Punishment”, is a prime example.
Trinidad people coined the phrase: “God is a Trini”. What could more arrogant than that? They even display this arrogance to those born on their smaller sister-isle (Tobago); and much more so to those born on the other tiny islands in the Caribbean Sea.
About a year ago, the Prime Minister of TNT (Mrs. Kamla Persad-Bissessar) publicly admonished various governments from some of said smaller islands, that Trinidad was not an “ATM machine”. The suggestion being that many of them were too eager in regularly coming for withdrawals from the republic’s largesse. It was an embarrassing display/demonstration of regional diplomacy at its nadir. It was a horrible example for any regional leader to set; but as I have intoned: humility is not a strong suit of TNT folks.
The fact that given the patrimony from oil and natural gas findings, TNT has been generous to many other Caribbean nations (less economically fortunate), is not something to gloat about. It is inevitable that our island neighbors will from time to time, reach for a helping hand; especially when natural disasters (hurricanes, earthquakes, etc.) hit. Even in her rookie year, Mrs. Prime Minister shouldn’t have gone there. After all, she is a seasoned parliamentarian with lots of political experience. Political veterans should understand the importance of diplomacy on every level (and area) of human endeavor.
To better understand what this column is really about, you probably have to be a resident of the twin islands or someone immersed in its daily happenings via media and internet sources. Trinidad politics is nothing short of a daily soap opera. Its political culture can be described in one word: puerile. The problem is this: whenever you try to impress upon TNT people, the need for political maturity in order to deal with pressing national issues, you either get “pushback”, “put-downs”, or “denial”.
Before I go forward let me give you some stats relative to the demographics of Trinidad and Tobago. I will grant that this may not be as scientific or as sophisticated as some may like since the 2010-11 census count hasn’t been officially released: so do note that these are not precise figures. However I believe that they are pretty close given historical census tracts and overall trends.
The population of Trinidad and Tobago can be estimated at around one million, plus three hundred thousand people. East Indians (Indos) make up anywhere between 40 and 41 per cent of the population. These are people who descended from the indentured servants brought to Trinidad from India, during a thirty year period between 1845 and 1875. Afros (negroes/blacks) make up between 38 and 39 per cent of the population. These are mostly the descendants of Negro slaves from the African continent. Indos and Afros are the two largest racial/ethnic groups.
Between 17 and 19 percent of the population is categorized as “mixed”. These are primarily people of whom one parent is either Indo or Afro (for the most part): who are generally referred to as “Douglas”. Now within this category you may also find mixes of other races, ethnicities and nationalities. Whites (Caucasians) maintain their own singular category. They make up just around one percent of the republic’s population; and the rest (somewhere between one and two per cent) can be termed “other”.
This final category includes Chinese, Syrians and Lebanese. It also includes descendants of indigenous peoples: like Amerindians, Caribs and Arawaks. This category can also include those who may refer to themselves as Hispanics: there are even local words for them -such as “pyole”.
Expectedly, there are many mixes, and many traces of mixes, when one examines the people living within this twin-island republic. It can be a fascinating study for any anthropologist, sociologist, historian, psychologist, or demographer.
About a year ago, a venerable political activist named Nizam Mohammed appeared before a Joint Select Committee of the republic’s legislative branch. Mr. Mohammed was appearing in his official capacity as then chairman of the Public Service Commission. There he stated something that is as obvious as Trinidad’s Northern Range (mountains). He essentially said that relative to the country’s demographics, the composition of the nation’s police force shows a racial imbalance, wherein East Indians (Indos) are underrepresented when compared to Negroes (Afros/blacks). He further intoned a willingness to use instruments of governmental power -granted via the legislative branch- to rectify this imbalance. He did not fully elaborate on how this racial imbalance arrived; and he was short on specifics relative to what he intended to both do and achieve (assumedly some type of alignment with the natural population count, via social/political engineering).
I would admit that there were many holes in Mr. Mohammed’s presentation but that’s not at issue really. The failure of those in that session to ask the right question s of Nizam is not a fault of his. And yet Nizam’s presentation started a societal-uproar similar to the one in the recent “Reshmi” controversy. That uproar came about when an attempt was made to promote a very young Indo-woman to a top level and highly sensitive position in the nation’s secret service. The attempt was a glaring mistake on the PM’s part. Reshmi was neither experienced enough, nor qualified enough for the post. It was a naked and ugly exhibition of nepotism, favoritism, racialism and reciprocity.
Now you would think that TNT people would seize these opportunities to debate and analyze the imbedded issues at hand: but they didn’t. These very issues which have stubbornly refused to resolve themselves over time. You see, racism is the relic buried in the political “LaPerouse” of the twin-islands’ history: buried beneath the island’s political carpet so to speak. And despite this glaring fact, many TNT people continue to deny its very existence
Instead of being complimented (and complemented) for his political courage, Mr. Mohammed was pilloried, criticized, ridiculed and eventually fired from his position -by the republic’s president. Even the Prime Minister and key members of her cabinet failed to embellish the debate. And this is the nature of TNT’s politics: the perpetual failure to utilize opportunities for nation-building, problem-solving, and for resolutions/resolve.
The fact that two previous Prime Ministers of the republic (Williams and Manning) saw fit to appoint commissioners to look into the racial imbalance of the police service, seems to have been lost on the republic’s first female prime minister and most other members of her posse.
To me this new PM seems mostly interested in jet-setting to various international venues; attending regional and international conferences, celebrations, festivals and the like; hobnobbing with big wigs and dignitaries; and being a fashion icon of sorts. It would be preferable if she would actually deal with the many pressing issues facing the nation; beyond lip-service and sound bites. People are hungry for new ideas and creative-thinking. She is ostensibly about fashion, glamour and show, more than about leadership and example. She is a celebrity, and her newly found status as an international star is where her head is at right now. Hopefully she will get down from her high horse soon enough.
Mrs. Prime Minister is yet to deliver a speech so profound that her words leave you excited, bewildered, in awe, inspired and motivated: all at the same time. In fact -after listening to her- you are left longing for the days of Dr. Eric Williams. It is very possible that Ms. Persad- Bissessar is an intellectual midget when compared to all our previous five Prime Ministers. And by now most objective folks in TNT must have concluded that Patrick Manning was definitely no rocket-scientist (what took you all so long?). Plus, they must have come around to the realization that George Chambers was no dunce: fact is some folks at the United Nations seem to think Chambers was our best Finance Minister ever. We know that A.N.R. Robinson was no fool; neither was Basdeo Panday -despite his drunkenness, some questionable personal decisions, contradictory positions, and apparent corrupt dispensation (cronies/ et al). Ms. Bissessar has to make her mark in very difficult times. Calling for a state of emergency to deal with crime was a good start: finally. She has, however, made quite a few mistakes I her short span as PM.
Mrs. Persad- Bissessar has offered no real long term vision for the nation. Even Patrick Manning -as intellectually challenged as he was- tried to offer one. Her speeches offer no real insights into her leadership-skills either. She and most of her ministers appear to be more concerned with the reactions of motley crowds in the political-gallery rather than really solving prolific national ills. They keep looking over their shoulder at the old PNM regime(s) instead of seizing the bull by the horns and moving the country forward. I am hopeful that she will eventually attain a stature that appeases the people’s need for messianic-delivery, but I am not optimistic after observing her as PM for heading on two years now.
This particular issue that Nizam regurgitated and resurrected had been on the political back-burner long before independence (1962). East Indians have always complained about under-representation on the police force. They have also subsequently complained about under-representation in the army, coast guard, fire service, corrections service, and the customs branches. Blacks on the other hand have complained about being systematically shut out of legal and medical areas. They claim the selection process at the local universities favor Indos in legal, engineering, technological and medical fields.
From 1952, East Indians have moved from around two per cent of the police officers to about thirty per cent today. That’s over a fifteen fold increase in the last 60 years: so why do Afros insist on saying that Indos don’t want to work in the police service?
You see, if you repeat a lie over and over, eventually some people take it as truth: even though the objective evidence tells you better (and differently). It is obvious that significant numbers of Indos have applied to the force over the last 60 years. Why can’t the Afros who try to defend the perpetual imbalance come up with true figures to show the racial composition of applicants over time?
In the last quarter-century Indos have moved from less than twenty per cent to slightly over thirty per cent of the police service. This shows close to a fifty per cent increase in their numbers. In 1992 there were three Indo applicants to the police service for every four Afro applicants; does that suggest that Indos don’t want to work in the police service? It suggests that both Afros and Indos were similarly predisposed (relatively speaking) to seek jobs within the service. And yet today, Afros still maintain an overwhelming two to one (plus) advantage in terms of police officers -when compared to Indos. Afros still make up around two-thirds of the police force. Consider all this while considering the overall population count.
Today you will find less than ten per cent of the top jobs (upper hierarchy) in the police department filled by East Indians. Some Afros argue that many Indos left the service for greener pastures, but they offer no hard statistics to prove this: none. They also refuse to acknowledge that many blacks left for greener pastures too.
Blacks also suggest that there is no racism behind all this: but that is typical denial Trini-style. All the statistical evidence -grudgingly allowed- suggests that racism was one of many factors playing a hand in this poker game. Even one report from a study done at the University of the West Indies (UWI) suggests that of those taking the police entrance exam, Indos (in general) appeared to outperform Afros. The report was co-authored by a black man (Professor Selwyn Ryan) who many perceive to be one with PNM- leanings.
Look; I am not here to tell you that racism (TNT style) doesn’t cut both ways. It does. Both sides can be convicted of regularly playing race-games. It gets even more intense around election time. Presently, Afros have been grumbling that Indos are picking up the best appointments to boards and statutory agencies; plus plum positions in government. Some even claim that the most prestigious ministries are nearly all in the hands of Indos. They further claim that this has been systematically done since last year May, when the People’s Partnership (UNC-Led) came into office.
In this latest imbroglio/ brouhaha -beyond ascertaining the veracity of Mr. Mohammed’s statement/perceptions- the top ten list of questions for academics were always these:
(a) Was the under-representation something deliberately maintained by forces favoring Afros?
(b) Is nepotism and tampering (if found) a structural aspect within governmental entities?
(c) Did these imbalances hamper crime prevention, crime-fighting and crime-solving; especially when the top domestic issue facing this republic over the last quarter-century has been prolific and appalling criminal activities?
(d) Should this racial imbalance be allowed to persist given the ideals of nation-building, equal opportunity, distrust, and the political realities of the Afro vs. Indo racial divide?
(e) Shouldn’t the membership of the police-selection committee(s) reflect a multi-racial composition, if only for transparency (and perception) sake? Given that for most of its history there have been few Indos in the make-up (at some points none at all).
(f) Shouldn’t there be a sweeping reorganization of the police department, given that the pervasive perception in the nation (and abroad) is that the upper-echelon is inept; and that the lower echelons are even worse in terms of their ineptitude, incompetence, and inconsistency, in their approaches to crime-fighting and public relations.
(g) Shouldn’t the opportunity be seized whereby the police service can be now thoroughly scrutinized /investigated for corruption and the like -given that there are widespread perceptions of violations of this nature?
(h) Should some type of affirmative action program(s) be developed to deal with perceived racial, ethnic and religious imbalances; especially in pursuit of the ideal: “here every creed and race finds an equal place” (National Anthem)?
(i) Should these and similar issues be taken to other avenues of the nation’s professional endeavors, in search of similar discrepancies, perceptions and imbalances?
(j)Should outside help (regional or international) be sought in dealing with issues of this ilk?
Look; there are many more questions to be both asked and answered here; but as usual, the TNT mentality is to ignore or deny. The lackadaisical approach to problem-solving and nation-building will continue to hurt this republic in more ways than any one person can imagine: every day we see it with the crime reports alone.
We are slowly becoming a nation of murderers and fools. Only fools allow men to run around fathering children (plural) they take no responsibility for. Only a nation of fools will allow both women and men, to not accept the consequences of their sexual proclivities. And when you cannot solve more than three-quarters of the annual murders that take place in the country, then you are letting too many killers walk freely among you. So you see why I use the term: murderers and fools?
It is time for Trinidad and Tobago to grow up as a nation with UN membership. In ten months time the nation will celebrate fifty years of independence from Great Britain. No more excuses please. Sensible public policy requires a certain type of political maturity that has been lacking since before independence. Procrastination not only causes heartache and pain; in many instances it causes death.
In less than a half-century, there have been numerous conspiracies to overthrow duly elected governments of TNT; these conspiracies didn’t develop in cocoons. They incubated on corners of political frustration, where thinkers hatched up plans to correct the many mistakes made by those in power. Too many of the nation’s elected officials (and their cronies) see the twin-islands as little fiefdoms for their abuses, greed, extravagances, indiscretions and proclivities. This must change: and soon. Otherwise, more attempts will be made to overthrow the people’s collective vote by force and/or violence. It’s time to do the right things that strengthen our democracy. It’s time to stop doing things that undermine it: continuing to sweep things under the rug isn’t the way to go.
Any Prime Minister of this nation has to understand this: simmering beneath the surface of socio-politico-economic relations are racial tensions, envy, fear and distrust, which possess the potential for a major explosion if ignited. Given this as a backdrop, decisions/actions which can ease such tensions and fears, are always welcomed.
Recently, it was formally uncovered in parliament -after months of rumors- that the former negro Prime Minister (Patrick Manning) had kept a secretive education-slush-fund for many years. Through this fund, he and his cronies arbitrarily awarded scholarships to needy and deserving (hic) scholars. These (supposed) scholars used the money for studies at local, regional and foreign universities (and educational institutions). Deeper examination has uncovered that at least $60 million TNT dollars were spent via this arbitrary funding mechanism: steeped in nepotism, favoritism and discrimination. Further forensic examination by the Equal Opportunity Council has uncovered that ostensibly less than ten per cent of these recipients were of East Indian ethnicity. The vast majority of the recipients were black. Was this incidental? Or was it systematically and deliberately done? Go figure.
Just for full-disclosure purposes: I am a Negro who was born in Trinidad before 1962.
“Truth must out”.
Stay tuned-in folks.