Hindi not a practical choice

THE EDITOR: The call for making Hindi a second language in TT is asking for more trouble and division than we already have in this politically, racially and religiously divided country, where a second language will only exacerbate this division. Apart from TT, where will we be speaking this second language of Hindi and to whom? Even in vast areas of India, where the language originated, Hindi is not spoken and is unknown. Look at the vast unnecessary expense that Canada is presently experiencing with their two languages of French and English.

With the option of a second language, Trinbagonians will have the option of keeping, preparing their accounts and financial statements, and submitting their Income Tax Returns and perhaps many other Government documents in Hindi which only a few persons will be able to verify. The Customs and Excise Department will be receiving invoices and other documents in Hindi, the Auditor General, Immigration Department, and many other Government Departments will have to employ additional special staff with a knowledge of Hindi, which Supervisors who have no knowledge of Hindi will be unable to verify as the present laws demand that all accounting and other records such as statements, invoices etc must be prepared, kept and submitted in English only.

I therefore recommend that Trinbagonians may teach and learn as many languages as they wish, but that all except English must be optional subjects and never be compulsory, this should be written in our proposed revised Constitution. Spanish and French are more likely to be spoken by both students and adults in the Caribbean Region and in the Western Hemisphere than Hindi. The call for Hindi as a second language in TT should therefore be rejected by all right thinking people in TT who have the future of our country at heart.

J BRITTO
Petit Valley