Time for real Trinbagonians to come forward

THE EDITOR: It  seems that Hurricane Ivan has done more than damage our Caricom  neighbours. It has exposed some of our country’s people for what they really are and has clearly shown what is really wrong with our society. The hurricane has had the effect of peeling off the whitewash off many of our so-called leaders, activists and rabble rousers. Firstly, I must congratulate the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Mr Christian Moutet of the Chamber of Industry and Commerce and the many others who first jumped at the opportunity to organise relief for Grenada. One look at those who are doing the work revealed why our society is so divided. I refuse to go into the sordid details but I had to shake my head and wonder — what is going on? Don’t these people understand that people are dying from  hunger, exposure to the elements, thirst? Where is our human spirit?

Does  “the right government” have to be in place for us to help someone of another race/country? Even the people of storm-ravaged Tobago have forgotten about  themselves and are sending food to Grenada. Listen, those who have been  flooded out in Central need help too and help is already on the way. But has  anyone in Central lost their home, job, limb, life? Even if they want monetary  compensation, that could be organised. But how can some of them, especially their leaders, justify that whatever aid was given to Grenada should have  been given to them? Is there a shortage of money that both the flood victims and Grenada’s victims cannot each have their problems helped? Even the USA has pledged to help and it is in a recession right now. Added to that it has been hit three times this month by hurricanes.

But then, I realise that we are dealing with a group of people with “special needs” and for too long Trinbagonians have neglected this. Some time ago  a call was made by these people for a state within this country so that they  could have their own government to represent their own needs. I think serious consideration should be given to this by the government of the  day. Let them solve their own flooding problems, make their own Constitution, print their own money etc. After all we are a democratic  society and these people are a legitimate group, right, Chandradesh and Kelvin? I think that it’s time for real Trinbagonians to come forward, the real Indians, Afros, Douglas, Syrians, Chinese and even those who consider themselves as none of the above. The reality is that  “Much more unites us  than divides us....”

DANE CHRISTMAS
D’Abadie