Have you seen a biased symbol?

This invitation was issued in a recent paid press announcement by Sandra Marchack, secretary of the National Symbols and Observances Committee recently appointed by Prime Minister Patrick Manning.

The committee, headed by historian Prof Bridget Brereton, has already submitted its report on the question of the Trinity Cross which the High Court earlier ruled discriminatory in a case brought by the Maha Sabha and Islamic Relief Centre. Members of the public should submit their ideas on other national symbols and observances by August 31, ahead of the September 30 deadline for the committee to report to Cabinet.

All submissions should be sent to Marchack at Whitehall. A spokesman for the Office of the Prime Minister said no further definitions of national symbols or observances are being supplied but that these phrases were being left open to the interpretation of the public.

“Anything that people feel is discriminatory, they are free to tell. This is the mandate the committee was given. The committee is looking for ideas, and will leave it to the input of the public.”

Meanwhile, a glance at the index of the Laws of Trinidad and Tobago, while listing the topic “National Emblems,” could provide no further definitions of national symbols or observances.