Thanks to Cudjoe and Maharaj we must now look at ourselves

THE EDITOR: The discussions between Dr Selwyn Cudjoe and Mr Sat Maharaj are very important. The discussions are unique and should be encouraged. From them, each ethnic group will have an opportunity to express its suspicions and fears. We are now forced to take a critical look at ourselves — the Indo and the Afro but let us not forget the Lebanese, Chinese, French Creole, Coco panyol, and Portuguese. I think there were Caribs, Arawaks and English too.

Thank you Dr Selwyn Cudjoe and Mr Sat Maharaj for giving us an opportunity to take a critical look at this question of relationships. It starts in the home. Does one partner feel that gender, religion, colour, money, status in society and sheer ignorance give him or her the right to cheat the other emotionally and physically? It starts in the home. Do we set standards, are we taught to value and appreciate the things our parents have worked for, are there clear rules as to what is expected of us as individuals in our home environment, is the sense of right and wrong inculcated in us in childhood and what about mom and dad being good exemplars?

Mr Sat Maharaj and Dr Selwyn Cudjoe have invited us to discuss the type of society that we as Trinbagonians would like to live in. In these discussions we must look out for cheats, spin merchants and others who will put forward ideas that are not in the best interest of Trinidad and Tobago. We have the intellectual capacity to do the job. Please permit me to end with two lines from one of my poems:  I will be transparent in all I do, Accountability is a discipline I’ll share with you

AUGUSTUS LEWIS
 (The Minister of Quarrel)
Marabella