Wake-up call for Afro-Trinidadians

THE EDITOR: Intra Afro-Trinidadian race relations is probably a bigger problem than inter-race relations that most of us care to admit. It seems that the Afro-Trinidadian is prepared to blame all but himself for the poor state of social and economic affairs this racial group has found itself today in modern Trinidad and Tobago. Even with a so-called afro-Trinidadian based Government which presi-ded over the governance of the country for well over three decades, the Afro-Trinidadian is faced with an unprecedented deterioration as a group and sub-group of cosmopolitan Trinbago. If Laventille is to be used as the yardstick to measure success, progress or the sate of affairs of the African racial subset, then the argument that something is radically wrong becomes more apparent. The fact of the matter is that communities such as Caroni were at one time the microcosm of poverty stricken Trinidad, an appellation we begrudgedly must now supplant with the more realistic description of “progressively developing a growth rate of phenomenal dimension.” Note this area of land is physically occupied by the Indian sub racial group.

At the same time we have witnessed to our chagrin a decline in the vertical and horizontal social-class movement of the Afro-Trinidadian subgroup, with very few exceptions. The measurement for arriving at this conclusion lies largely with a comparative analysis which unambiguously demonstrates that not only is the Afro-Trinidadian stultified in progress, but has actually retrogressed. The Afro-subset once occupied and dominated all areas of academia, the public service, the professions, the artisans bases and, save for an intervening seven years, the political arena. Yet the writing is on the wall for a excruciating furtherance of decline of this group as compared to both the other major race and the minor ethnic groupings in the country have managed to forge past this once enviable position held by Afro-Trinidadians. Laventille therefore cannot be viewed as the exception to this trend, but the typification thereof of the Afro-Trini’s plight, since this area is dominated by Afro-Trinidadian residents.

The issue of discrimination resulting from race is simply a facade and “crying wolf situation” to obfuscate the responsibility that Afro-Trinbago as a sub racial group must seriously engage in deliberate introspection and re-evaluation. The deliberate objective of which is raising the bar for concerted development strategies in every facet of national life. The role of the emerging and existing leaders are crucial to this conscientious disposition; for it requires that every Afro-Trinbagonian realise firstly that on the progress index, we are at the bottom. To this end the role of leadership at the government, community, institutional and family levels is an indispensable parameter for any realisation of a collective forward surge as a group. Children must be once again taught to go to school and learn well. Persons in positions of influence, whether in Government, the civil service and private sector must not see their African brothers and sisters as enemies or free loaders, but as one of theirs for whom the opportunity is given to provide a helping hand towards progressive independence. Too often we have Afro-civil servants, those in banking, business and Government predisposed to slighting based on an ingrained stereotyping that Afro-Trinidadians are indolent, unprogressive, self-destructive and have no grasp for business. There are many daily encounters and research to support this position, although we prefer to pretend that it does not exist.

However, the situation cannot be the fault of those exceptions who have worked hard and assiduously and achieved a level of socio-economic comfort that is considered acceptable by society. There is however, an intrinsic responsibility on the part of all Afro-Trinis to conduct themselves responsibly whenever they are the beneficiaries of assistance or opportunities engineered by conscientious individuals who are in a position so to do. Work ethics, gratitude, building interpersonal relations and being ever conscious that one’s performance will be the determining factor as to whether another break is afforded another of his or her kind are powerful imperatives that must criss-cross the mind on a daily basis. There is too much “pure hate and act normal” attitude among Afro-Trinidadians. There is too much unwanted envy and incessant preconceived self-imposed failure complex. There are too many who are in positions to deliver a philosophical chorus which can assist their fellow Afro-Trinidadian, but choose to ignore this responsibility. It is as if we have developed a generic proclivity to “hate our own kind.”

Slavery is long behind us, and the psychological bondage can no longer be the excuse in a liberal, democratic and equal-opportunity society. Our people must learn to perform and compete again. They must learn that to win is commendable. To be the best is gratifying. To accept failure without question is self-defeating. If Laventille is the microcosm in which the dismal performance of Afro-Trinidadians repose, then it is to Laventille we must look to engender the phoenix that will rise to begin the forward journey of Afro-Trinidadians that, as a community, has remained dormant for far too long. So let the renaissance begin Patrick Manning, Lennox Smith, Selwyn Cudjoe, Lloyd Best, David Abdullah, Errol Mc Leod, kafra kambon, Theodore Guerra, Dr Ralph Henry, Dr Brian Harry, Fitzgerald Hinds, The Gladiator, Hazel Brown, Archbishop Gray Burke and all those prominent Afro-Trinbagonians. Of course the place to start is with a massive sensitisation programme dealing with mind-changing attitude and a conscientious responsibility of all concerned, less we perish as a social and / or racial subset that make-up Trinidad and Tobago. We can no longer afford the banality of lip service!

ALFRED GEORGE
Tru Maque, Laventille