Squaring off the Makandal Daaga account

Secondly,promptly upon Daaga’s interment there, the site must be officially renamed as he first acclaimed it forty-five years ago ---the People’s Parliament--- for such a change would sanctify and signify the watershed struggle Daaga led in 1969/1970 to obliterate the bigoted setup firmly entrenched by Woodford way back in the early 1800s, ie, the colourof- skin mind games still dividing and stifling us.

Thirdly, April 21 ought to be declared a national holiday called The Day of Atonement and dedicated to ensuring the role of those who fought against slavery/oppression is rescued, revived, retold and remembered; for we, the parents who know it, have miscued badly in such matters, causing an entire generation to wander aimlessly rather than focus towards unleashing Trinbago’s full creativity in a positive manner.

May Makangal Daaga rest in peace! May he be forgiven for whatever errors he knowingly or unknowingly committed! May the Heavens welcome him into the place of eternal honour reserved for the genuine heroes of the Earth! And, may we, whom he has left in the struggle, realise we’re all in one boat! Don’t bash it! None of us can swim these treacherous waters alone! Uhuru ni nguvu! (Freedom is power!) Uhuru, Makandal! (Be free, Makandal!) Uhuru, Trinbago!

Richard Wm Thomas, Arouca