Moral victory?

Now we are to believe, in 2006 Fables, that when Christopher Columbus named the island ‘‘Trinity’’ — that was a premeditated and purposeful insult and prejudice against Indians from India (whom he never found) and who only arrived some 400 years later.

Columbus and his mariners, in thanks to the Almighty for deliverance after their arduous voyage, named the land they found ‘‘Trinity’’ in honour of our Holy Trinity — the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost.

Perhaps we are dealing only with ignorance. In Spanish Trinity is spelt T-R-I-N-I-D-A-D. In French Trinit?; in German and Austrian it is Dreieinigkeit; in Portuguese and Brazilian Trinidade; in Italian Trinita. I have not managed to find the Chinese and Japanese, but I am working on it. If it is not ignorance, what is it?

The point has already been made elsewhere, that Indians in the Armed Forces never refused the Victoria Cross or other similar emblems of rank and honour embodying the cross. So why this local furore?

Whatever it is, it is improper, and the decent majority of our nation must reject it.

We of the Christian faith have never cast aspersions or insulted the Hindu Gods — Hanuman and the others. Why now must our Holy Icon be denigrated and pulled down?

There is an Indian Arrival Day. There is no Arrival Day in recognition of the Spanish and the French and the Africans who came four or five hundred years ago. No Portuguese or Chinese Arrival Day. Only a day for those who came latest and last, only a century and a half ago.

When the sensible proposition was put — rename the day simply ‘‘Arrival Day,’’ our Government was threatened with ‘‘shutting down Port-of-Spain’’ and ‘blood running in the streets.’’

It is time for a petition — call the holiday ‘‘Arrival Day.’’ Now — I am a doctor, and what we need is a prescription, so here it is.

Prescription for Trinidad and Tobago.

In Trinidad and Tobago we want no Africans.

We want no Indians.

We want no Chinese.

We want no Syrians or others.

We want only Trinidadian and Tobagonian West Indians.

Living together in peace and harmony, supporting each other, protecting each others’ interests and rights, respecting each others’ religion, refraining from insult to each others’ Holy Icons.

All working for the betterment of our country, and the continuing development of our already rich culture. Visitors will continue to be welcome as ever.

We have been colonised once. We will not be colonised again. Not by intrusion, or machination, or force. Not by any country — not of the North, not of the South, not of the West, and not of the East.

If the decent among us do not accept this, if the young — who think there will be a place and a future here for them and their children’s children — if they do not understand, they may be cruelly disappointed.

They may find their country being stolen away from them.

Is there a solution to the awards?

Perhaps a solution may be — and I put this to the Committee that the Honourable Prime Minister Patrick Manning has proposed — to have the highest National Award in three versions or models:

1. The Trinity Cross

2. The Crescent and Star

3. The Hindu Hanuman Medallion

Each on a common background depicting the Scarlet Ibis, the Cocrico, and the Chaconia, and the three hills.

If the

1. Crescent and Star

2. Hindu Hanuman Medallion

3. Trinity Cross

and if the

1. Hindu Hanuman Medallion

2. Trinity Cross

3. Crescent and Star

should find favour with all — then the problem will be over — hopefully.

R HOYTE

Newtown