‘We make errors, too’

PRIME MINISTER Patrick Manning warned that Trinidad and Tobago’s diversity must never be used as a weapon to create discord within the national community.

Addressing a Divali function at the Prime Minister’s residence at La Fantasie, St Ann’s on Saturday night, Manning said: “The conduct of our daily affairs must try to recognise and respect the country’s diversity and ensure that the society is integrated more than anything else. We are human beings and sometimes we will err as human beings do. Whenever we do, I hope that such errors are not used to completely negate the other good acts that we may have done in the interest of integrating our society and we view these errors as just that, as errors.”

Last week, the Opposition UNC was in uproar over an alleged report that COSTAATT had identified Afro-Trinidadian males, ages 17 to 24, for assistance given that group’s educational deficiencies. Speaking in Parliament Monday, Planning Minister Dr Keith Rowley said educational problems in the Afro-Trinidadian community were well known and Government had a duty to address the concerns of all groups in the society. Rowley slammed UNC allegations that the PNM was discriminating against other ethnic groups in the process. House Speaker Barry Sinanan blasted PNM and UNC MPs alike, declaring it was “high time” to end all race talk in Parliament.

At Thursday’s post-Cabinet news conference at Whitehall, the Prime Minister said Government had no plans to target Afro-Trinidadian males for special treatment and referred to a copy of last year’s Social and Economic Policy to show that these words were placed in error in this year’s policy report. Manning said, “People from all walks of life and people from all over the country” are always welcome to attend events at the Prime Minister’s residence and “the invitation list was not designed on the basis of political considerations.” He said the PNM was the Government of all the people of TT and the composition of the audience reflects “the diversity of which we are very proud, that has already taken us to heights and will take us to even greater heights as long as we do not allow that diversity to act in a discordant manner.” While noting that politicians had an inherent weakness to a free microphone and large gathering, Manning said he could have spoken for “another hour” but thought it best to show “mercy” to the assembled dignitaries. In delivering his greetings, Pundit Uttam Maharaj urged the national community to ensure that TT remains a “Heaven on Earth.”