President: Keep race debate public

President George Maxwell Richards has long been worried about race relations in Trinidad and Tobago, he told a symposium of the President’s Committee for National Self Discovery on Tuesday at the National Library. “The issues involving the perceived emergence of discord in our nation have been on my mind for some time.” He recalled announcing last May the setting up of the committee which he had said would help us to get to know ourselves and one another better.

“The committee which I installed in June was asked to find ways of encouraging the populace to become interested in learning or rediscovering the history of the various ethnicities that make up the people of Trinidad and Tobago.” He was glad all persons approached to serve on the committee had accepted, and that the group had been meeting regularly. He congratulated the committee for its intention to hold dialogue throughout the country.

“Too often well-intentioned groups get together for just and noble causes and indeed produce very good work. However they are cloistered for whatever reason, and do not have quite the public impact that may be necessary to boost their efforts. I hope this committee will continue to have a public face.” Committee chairman, Prof Ken Ramchand, disclosed the group would be taking discussion into various schools. Four committee members gave presentations — Ivan Laughlin, Kirk Meighoo, Gabrielle Hosein and Marsha Massiah. Those attending the talks included St Augustine MP, Winston Dookeran; Inter Religious Organisation president, Rev Cyril Paul; Indian High Commissioner, Virendra Gupta; and Independent Senator, Parvatee Anmolsingh-Mahabir.