Dark clouds over rainbow country

THE EDITOR: After reading that most courageous and enlightening piece by Dane Christmas of D’Abadie, I had to promptly employ my pen on paper, since I had a similar topic in mind for a very long time now. I commend him for having the fortitude, courage and forthrightness in addressing some of the nefarious and clandestine acts of certain people who are going around sowing the seeds of discord and racial disunity in my beloved “rainbow country.” Right on brother, write on. I have also recruited myself as your ‘brother-in-arms’ to fight against them and will identify and expose them for their unpatriotic acts of indiscretion against Trinbago because this land belongs to all of us and we must equally share in the national pie.

Trinidad and Tobago must remain a unitary state and must not be sub-divided into a separate state like during the turbulent recession years when some were calling for “Indesh State” in Penal after having been unceremoniously refused refugee status in Canada. They abandoned us and fled to strange lands while we remained and toiled to keep the “ship of state” afloat. They now want to interfere with the smooth running of TT by inciting civil disobedience in all forms. They now go to the big cities of New York, Toronto and London and bad talk my TT and preach their gospel of race like the group GOPIO did recently, claiming equal opportunity and discrimination against Indian people here. Well my mother is Indian and she has never experienced these things in her 75 years of life.

Just remember when you practise these types of racial intolerance in TT you would not fare any better in India with their “caste” system or in the USA with the racist Ku Klux Klan or in South Africa as it was years ago under the apartheid system or in Germany when Hitler was killing Jews like “white fowl” to create the perfect race, that is because they see us all as the same. A lot can be found writing columns in the newspaper with their poison pens, some in the legal fraternity will represent you and cry race when you don’t get promoted or selected in the Army and Police Service, some can be found in Parliament, some wading into anyone to make a mark. While ‘robin’ you of your dignity. They don’t see TT at all, they run their race in special events like the relays where the baton is passed on to generations or the marathon where they make it long, hard and enduring for others, these are the dark clouds that hang over our rainbow country.

Time to participate in the all inclusive race for TT where you could still earn a prize even if you don’t win at the polls. The NCIC is a fine example to follow as an Indian group by that highly patriotic and brotherly letter they sent to congratulate Brian Lara on his world record. They proudly identified themselves as Trinbagonians and West Indians without reservation. Time to look yourself in the mirror and say “let peace begin with me,” don’t be a lost sheep, be humble like Mary’s lamb and we will leave you alone hoping you will come home wagging your tail behind you. I eagerly await a reply from the detractors who have the audacity to dispel or refute facts, just print your name without fear so you can be identified for what you are.
I remain a humble servant of TT. Nuff said.

LESLIE CRAIGWELL
Carenage