Physically free, mentally enslaved

THE EDITOR: Mr Khafra Kambon and his associates appear to be deeply disturbed by the choice of venue proposed for a luncheon to be held in honour of Mr Nelson Mandela during his stay in this country, namely the Trinidad Country Club. Perhaps Mr Kambon is unaware that there have in fact been several exclusive clubs in Trinidad during the past many decades, such as the Portuguese Club on Queen’s Park East, the Portuguese Association on Richmond Street, the India Club around the Savannah, the Syrian Lebanese Club and the Chinese Association in St Ann’s. In my eighty years in Trinidad, I do not recall ever hearing of the existence of an African or Afro Trinidadian Club anywhere in this country except perhaps a sporting club.

Mr Kambon appears to be also unaware that during the few past decades, there were several prominent individuals of African, Indian and other ethnic origin included in the list of members of the Trinidad Country Club. In any event and to the best of my knowledge, freedom of assembly is one of the rights that is guaranteed under the constitution of Trinidad and Tobago and not even the government of this country can tell any citizen who he or she should keep company with. By the same token, in keeping with Mr Kambon’s ideals and principles, the Prime Minister and his government should not be housed at White Hall which, was built and occupied by members of the white aristocracy and later by the United States Military during World War II and subsequently purchased by the Eric Williams government with taxpayers’ money and at great expense. Especially in view of the intense hate that Williams professed toward the British Imperialists and the American Capitalists.

It is indeed a most reprehensible fact of life that slavery did exist among many nations around the world at some point in time but it might be instructive to note that it did not relate only to individuals from the continent of Africa. It should also be instructive to note that slavery was abolished over 150 years ago and citizens of the world whose forefathers may have been slaves at some time in the past, have been able to move on with their lives and become members of the free world. What better example can we find than the present day population of Australia, some of whom are the descendants of prisoners who were banished to the then penal colony by the British for crimes committed at home. With nowhere to go they did not just throw their hands in the air in complete despair, they collectively decided to improve their circumstances in life and succeeded in making Australia one of the most advanced and productive countries in the world.

Is it too much to hope for and expect that the members of the Afro Trinidadian citizens of this country like most of the other citizens of the world, will be able to put the events of the distant past behind them and concentrate on creating a better future for themselves and their descendants? Or are they going to continue to wallow in the memory of the unfortunate circumstances which their forefathers were forced to endure, existing in a state of physical freedom but still mentally enslaved?

MARTIN KAVANAGH
La Romaine