Racial profiling not to be emulated

I continued to follow his commentaries, all the while waiting for some policy recommendation or suggestion which would be of value to the population as a whole.

I was totally surprised on Sunday April 30 when I read Sudama’s view that the government of Trinidad and Tobago should make further expenditures to fund separate festivities for those who feel aggrieved by the sums being utilised to promote carnival and such cultural expositions as the music festival.

Even more shocking was his references to Canada and the USA as models of diversity and cultural pluralism. He has definitely confused formal laws and bogus declarations of equality with the realities facing ethnic and racial groups in North America. Discrimination and prejudice are alive and well. Racial profiling — a more gentle euphemism for racism — is rampant and the immigration policies of these nations make it clear that non-whites are hardly greeted with open arms.

These are not examples to be emulated and cannot be the course for Trinidad and Tobago if we are genuinely committed to all facets of equality.