Mandela’s visit can transform TT

THE EDITOR: As a citizen of this country, I eagerly looked forward to Mr Nelson Mandela’s presence in our beloved island. Indeed, the visit of this living legend and freedom fighter was a momentous, symbolic event in our nation’s history. The former President of South Africa has been hailed worldwide for his significant accomplishments. He championed  the cause of the marginalised and oppressed in his country. Mr Mandela fought discrimination courageously and vehemently in all its forms. He influenced the lives of millions worldwide for many decades. His many forms of recognition have made him one of the world’s most highly acclaimed figures still living. Personally I admire his freedom of 27 years imprisonment and his renowned struggle and eventual success in dismantling the evil of apartheid in South Africa.

I commend CONCACAF, specifically Mr Jack Warner for his laudable initiative in inviting Mr Mandela to Trinidad and Tobago. Though this auspicious occasion was preceded by two controversies involving protocol and the venue for a planned luncheon, I commend the Government and CONCACAF sincerely for putting their differences aside in ensuring that Mr Mandela’s trip was not further overshadowed by verbal wrangling. Mr Mandela’s visit brought with it major challenges for us citizens. At a time when instances of racial discrimination still prevail in our society, our religious and political leaders must rise to the challenge of leading the way in eliminating racial discrimination. Here’s an incentive to embrace each other, rekindle the true harmony in diversity that forms an integral part of TT.

Through the ideals of Mr Mandela, I trust that those among us with tendencies to divide our people and bring brother against brother will be converted. Mr Mandela’s visit presents us with an urgent need to emancipate our poverty-stricken brothers and sisters from economic and social depression. Even as the politicians and financial technocrats continuously boast of Trinidad and Tobago as an economically developing country, a significant portion of society still lives below the poverty line, along with  homeless families, vagrants in distress, the increasing number of street children and a generation of young people succumbing to the deadly AIDS virus. What are Mr Manning and the non-governmental organisations doing to address effectively these persistent social ills? Mr Mandela stood for the principle of Social Justice.

As a tribute to Mr Mandela’s triumph, more importantly, I am suggesting that the Ministry of Education explore ways of educating our nation’s children to a greater extent on the life of Nelson Mandela, the circumstances that led to his imprisonment as well as how his freedom was achieved. Moreover, how is South Africa different today as opposed to during apartheid, vital information which should form part of the Social Studies and History curricula in the primary and secondary school systems respectively. Many would agree that this initiative would be beneficial to our future leaders.

There are many lessons to be learnt from Mr Mandela’s trials and tribulations. We can reward this renowned and respected gentleman for his show of justice and equality for all in the manner we portray Trinidad and Tobago as a rainbow country. Every man his brother’s keeper, every creed and race having an equal place, every person’s democratic right respected. Individually, achieving true development requires a daily commitment to discipline, tolerance and total equality in all that we do.

A ROMANY
Santa Cruz