US election and lessons for TT

While the scenes of Donald Trump’s victory are still careening through my mind, to be relegated to the status of the world’s worst night, I am forced to consider that I am the luckiest woman in the world, lucky because I know that I can elect a Trinidadian of any race to be my Prime Minister, lucky because I can also elect a woman to lead me.

I am however mindful of the manifestation of race in our own politics. The American experience has shown us the dangers of exploiting race for political gain.

As Trinidadians and Tobagonians we must strive to be race blind. What this means is that the equality of races must be replaced with equality of opportunity, because if the opportunities are equally available we will see no race.

Political appointments should be made on the basis of merit and our Cabinet compositions should not be judged on the basis (as they have recently been) of race but on the basis of their performance.

Election candidates should not be judged on their race but on the quality of their character and their past performance.

And finally a party should not be elected because it is representative of a race with whom you have an affinity, but by the quality of its ideas and its perceived competence and integrity in handling the affairs of state.

Yes, today I am proud to be a Trinidadian because I have for better or worse experienced what others only dream of.

SATU-ANN INDIRA RAMCHARAN Maraval