Sat and Cudjoe: It’s not over

DESPITE meeting cordially behind closed doors at Whitehall yesterday as part of the Committee on Race Relations, Santan Dharma Maha Sabha (SDMS) General-Secretary Sat Maharaj and National Association for the Empowerment of African People (NAEAP) President, Professor Selwyn Cudjoe remain oceans apart on several race issues in Trinidad and Tobago. Last week, Maharaj vowed to resist any attempt by Cudjoe to change the system of entry into the University of the West Indies (UWI) from one of meritocracy to one based on race quota. Tertiary Education Minister Danny Montano and UWI Principal Bhoe Tewarie have dismissed allegations of racial bias regarding entry to the university.

“This does not bring an end to it,” Maharaj told Newsday in a subsequent telephone interview. He said that while there was “no explosion” between himself and Cudjoe, nobody should take that to mean that they kissed and made up. Maharaj said the SDMS has certain viewpoints regarding race relations in TT and some of these differ from those held by Cudjoe’s NAEAP. He also denied that Prime Minister Patrick Manning played the role of peacemaker between himself and Cudjoe during his (Manning’s) brief presence there. Maharaj said all Manning did was welcome the Committee members to yesterday’s meeting. When contacted, Cudjoe was just as tight-lipped about what transpired but also said that areas of disagreement still existed between himself and Maharaj on several issues.