Pseudo prophet of doom and gloom

THE EDITOR: No political leader in recent memory has turned ‘race’ into such an inflammable focal issue, and divisiveness into such a profound ideology, without an iota of remorse or impending culpability as Basdeo Panday. I have set out to highlight a few of his inflammable utterances: He allegedly accused the PNM Government of discrimination of State resources and also declared that the time has come to fight against racism and discrimination in the society. Along with admonitions levelled against the late Lionel Seukeran and Ashford Sinanan, whom he referred to as East Indians in the past who betrayed their own for political office. It seems apparent that all East Indians, who followed their own gut-feelings that go counter to the convictions of Basdeo Panday, are singled out and vilified and even categorised as being against the Indian cause. Here is a politician who extols the virtues of inclusion, while his mission is tied surreptitiously to dividing the two dominant races (Afros and Indos) in TT. If taken seriously, he is obviously not appealing to other segments of the society for political support, like the Afro Trinidadians, Syrians, Lebanese, Chinese or French Creoles. His focus is wholly geared to East Indians; what we say, reveals who we are. These remarks account for some of the deficiencies, as well as the lucidity of his vision. It would be fair to say that very little of consequence or relevance can be associated with his redundant rhetoric at this point in time. However, it is the duty of a few of his trusted supporters to muster their courage and let him know that the volcano has burnt out and, like everyone else, he too has already had his fifteen minutes of fame, which is allotted to all of us.

We should not be made to believe that a civil war is in the making between Afro and Indo Trinidadians, after these many years of living together, side by side, in an otherwise peaceful coexistence; in areas like St James, with a lower to middle class closely netted, integrated Afro Indo community, followed closely with places like Siparia, Rousillac, Cedros and Chaguanas, just to name a few. There unity within diversity among the races was commonplace which, sad to say, is slowly but surely being subtly ruptured by devious self-serving politicians, a trickle down strategy emanating from Basdeo Panday and his cohorts. Like the boy who cried “Wolf!” Basdeo Panday has played the race card so many times in the past that most people have grown tired of him and his tirades. We are not about to transform TT into another Guyana or Fiji which is the apparent aim of Basdeo Panday’s subliminal messages for his supporters to consider as an option. If not overtly heralded by him, surely his implications cannot be misunderstood. Most of the people of TT are at present looking ahead towards unity between the races, leaving Basdeo Panday and his supporters nothing worth salvaging. Panday’s pseudo prophetic utterances regarding the imminent destruction of TT, under the PNM Government, has not yet materialised, neither will his desire to divide the races. I would be remiss if I fail to point out the hypocrisy in Basdeo Panday’s remarks regarding rampant racism and discrimination in TT, levelled primarily against East Indians. During the 1995 general election, there was a tie and it was left to the then president of TT — ANR Robinson to free up the deadlock, which he did by proclaiming Basdeo Panday’s UNC political party as his choice to run the Government of TT. To the consternation of everyone, a few years later, Basdeo Panday allegedly accused the same President of favouring the PNM (of all things) and elaborated with aspersions against the President unfit to print.

ULRIC GUY
Point Fortin