83 thoughts on “Voting ‘Indian’?”

1. First of all, we all have to realize that everyone contesting the coming general election are trinidadians, not Indians or Africans or Chines and so on. And above all, only citizens of Trinidad are eligible to vote … not the Indians or trinidadians can vote in the election. Being a trinidadian, in the best interest of the nation, you have to vote and elect the best among the available candidates! That is it. Forget about the racism man! Remember we have elected Patric Manning, who is 100% Trinidadian, as a Prime Minister- He is not an African!

2. I think that Trinis are more educated now.People have to vote for the party that can do what is best for the country.Politics are a nasty game and the politicians know how to play it well.We are the people who put them in power and they should listen to the people who put them there or vote them out.Some of the questions that should be asked are “What are you going to do for the people when elected”?”When are the people going to get jobs?”When will the people have water flowing continulously in the pipes?When are you going to build new hospitals?These are some of the promises the leaders have to make and follow through with them or come next election vote them out?

3. In a perfect world what you guys are saying is true,however in the afro trinidadian community,especially in lower class communities….indians are perceived as evil….i dont support this being a black guy…but it is a perception that exists and must be addressed especially on the uncop team

   1. I really hate veiled comments like this…..i suppose indians, particularly hindus are not tribal voters as well

   2. You’re a LIAR, I have NEVER heard my relatives discribe Indians as “evil” and I find your ethnic self idenification very suspect indeed.

4. Why whenever an attempt is made to have a frank discussion about race , such is considered racism?
   Do you think Mr Winston Peters, Senator Wade,Ato Boldon , Jack Warner, Makandal Dagga, and Mcloud where chosen without any consideration as to the benefits that could accrue due their race,by the UNC hierarchy, in similar fashion to which Kamal Mohammed, Winston Mahabir , and the myriad of Indo politicians were chosen by the more historically successful PNM ,from Dada Eric ,to Uncle Manning ,since 1956?
   Big brother America can idly boast about having a melting pot ,in post Jim Crow, “why can’t we not just get along,” Rodney King America, as they historically attempt to sweep race under the carpet.
   Is it fine for those phony Europeans ,that created South Africa, Zimbabwe, Middle Eastern tribal craziness, Asian divisive , class based elitism, and Latin American destruction of indigenous folks via colonialism , to benefit their later Mestizos raped products creations? We in Sweet T&T aka Rainbow Country, enjoys our ‘toss salad,’ loving shenanigans, chrissmartin. As someone once said,we like it so.
   Speaking about honesty , or rather dishonesty, when it comes to thinking on race by characters such as ‘keeping it real,’ tell us good fellow , does this alleged animosity you referred to , limited to ‘evil’ indian males , or their women as well?
   Promise us someday when you have time to recover from your drunken stupor,that you’ll give us your professional , or learned opinions on the reasons for the fastest growing demographics in the entire Caribbean outside of Guyana , in our Dougla population. Are they principally the results of rapes by these savage , good for nothing lower class Afro Trinis, my good friend ?
   Just keeping it real.
   Listen folks, the individuals that can make me not love and appreciate my wonderful democratic country , with it’s mosaic of people, and what that represents , ‘ain’t’ born yet, ah tell you dat for sure!’
   Sing Brother Aloes.

   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRQrdiA0jr4&feature=related

5. I will reply here so that i can show my approval with what chrissmartin has stated.

   You are quite correct. What is needed in Trinidad is for persons, especially those who were born in Trinidad and Tobago to stop with this talk about being African, and Indian.

   You were born in Trinidad you are a Trinidadian full stop. Those who have special interest use these terms to divide the masses for their own gains.

   If a survey was carried out on that society for those who would prefer to live in India, and Africa very few would want to leave Trinidad. Even the rich who have the wherewithal to easily move to Africa, or India won’t do it. They might visit, but will not stay.

   I am a black person and i first visited Trinidad in 1998 and i could sense the tremendous potential that place has, but what holds it back is the racism.

   If persons vote on what is morally correct then and only then will politicians take the masses seriously, and realize that they credibility counts, and equals votes at the polls.

   1. Well said Visus. It is fairly obvious that politicians try to divide us by our race. Why do we allow them to do so? We should be proud of our rainbow people and vote based on policy not race. There are somethings which you will probably side with the PNM on and some things which you will side with UNCOP. Weigh these and come to an educated decision. The mentality of choosing one party til you die regardless of their policies and intentions for our country is nonsense.

6. The author of this article specifically speaks to what he believes is a segment of people who are dis-enchanted with the PNM and ponders what a vote for Kamla would mean for them. Such a thought by itself is NOT racism. Racism is not a thought it is an act which follows the thought. There is nothing wrong in wondering what life would be like before casting a vote especially where drastic ‘change’ might occur. As long as the candidate is Trinidadian why should one care about ethnicity. But we should care about what we think such ‘change’ might entail. When we look around the world and see the destruction and chaos caused by racism, we can be assured that racism does not exist in Trinidad.

   1. We become what we think about. As a man think in his heart so is he. Amen!

7. Crying racism because a particular segment of the population, as a cop out and lame brain excuse for lazy, non creative politicians ,that are unable to sell their policies effectively to the majority of the voting public.
   The next rediculous idea I expect to see put forward is that the occasins in which PNM loose their respective elections ,was when they decided to rig the polls,and engaged in other electorial fradulent actions to ensure the opposition win.
   Rediculous , and stupid, yes? Kamla stands an excellent chance to win,not because she is a woman,Indo trini or such nonesense.Get real people and show respect to the other.

8. I belive Trinidadians have come a long way from believing that the PNM is a Afro-Trinidad party and the UNC an Indian party. I live in Canada and there is more cooperation from Indians and Africans of Trinidadian nationality in many festivals like Caribana and even in our daily lives. We are all called Trini-Canadians.
   Trinidadians should look at the issues at stake like crime,jobs corruption snd the ability of a country with so much oil money that the people believe it is not spent for development of the country wisely. We need new leadership as the old Patrick Manning PNM is no longer the future the people need for the improvement of this country. Don’t be fooled by gifts and make work projects and false promises in election time.We need a new and Dynamic leader such as Kamala that can bring the people closer and improve the health welfare and productivity of this island paradise that has lost its ability to be a success. Manning has lost his role as been the leader to lead this country forward and give its citizen hopes for a good future for the young and old alike.

   1. Agreed fuller…

   2. I also live in Canada and I am very very wary of Indo trinis/guyanese who have a solid reputation for telling big whopping LIES to whites and other races about the nature of blacks in T&T, about how we like killing whites or anyone with light skin etc, how we hate working and love robbing/kidnapping/killing Indians for a living!

      Let me try and recall some for you, “Robinson send a letter to the Canadian gov’t telling them to DEPORT the Indians” etc when these liars was fighting deportation for breaking Canadian immigation laws, this lie almost got me into a fight with a Guyanese Indo that believed it.

      “Eric Williams and Burnham is brothers in law” a well known Guyanese PPP communist lie. at work in the Post Office a Trini indian woman I always said respectfully good morning hi etc, turned around and told her white friends that I would ROB them or kill them if given the chance! we all know that a MURDERER is a LIAR and vice versa!

      NEVER AGAIN THE UNC!

9. It seems like the fools in T&T cannot reason or think properly, I’ve noticed Devant Maharaj a well known hindu fanatic have now switched from COP to UNC, and the ULTRA hindu FANATIC Sat Maharaj has basically given his blessings to the UNC, if this does NOT wake up afros in T&T to the danger of another UNC mis-govt that gave T&T the scandal of the century a FLOOD of racist Guyanese Indians vowing to keep Panday and his gang in office by trying to vote in non Indo areas!(thanks to Abu Bakh)

   The COP even has an Indian female member that once started a race riot in 92! “African men are raping Indian women” HULSIE BHAGGAN anyone recall the FAKE africans that invaed a man’s house and told the man that “we’re africans” while raping his girl child ??? anyone thinks this is NOT the work of Indian “activist” etc??

   Peter O’Connor must really want a state contract bad bad or he needs a dose of DIPRAVAN.

   NEVER AGAIN THE UNC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

   1. This is exactly why I see this article as suspect….no mention of how tribal voting goes on on both sides..apparently only the disenchanted afro-trini PNM supported dumb enough to do such a thing….

      1. According to this and the other “articles” in T&T’s media Not controlled by afros, Afro trinis are fed up of the PNM because of UDECOTT spending? or the Two new Universities? the Higher positive profile of T&T on the International stage? the 19 BILLION $ heritage fund? The high level of Foreign investments in T&T? (we have seen Indian hindu activists chase away ALCOA!!!!!) we all know if Panday was in power black ppl wouldn’t be lying down in front of bulldozers and Indians would NOT tolerate FAKE newspaper “stories” planted by the PNM or anybody else.

         NEVER AGAIN THE UNC!

10. yes, many afro trinis are inhibited, this was planted into their sub-conscious by the PNM a long time ago to divide the nation and win elections. Then there is the false perception planted by Manning and other religious heads, for the same reasons, hindus worship demons/idols. This is dangerous, and illegal coming from heads of the nation. Of course such statements are directed at the ppl who never question or elevate their minds. Together with handouts, their minds are imprisoned and they they cannot see the bigger picture. The same can be said about dieheart UNC´c of the lower and illiterate class. Its going to take some doing, learning to trust someone of another race. First these pple need to be given reasons to trust, they cannot be fooled. Its a big job but not impossible. We are getting there, but due to politicians it is taking too long.

    1. finally somebody looking at both sides of the coin….

11. It is a fact that PNM is African-based and UNC is Indian-based although there are people of other races who are involved in these parties.

    It is clear that Peter O’Connor does not ‘get’ racial issues. He is certainly not going to convert those Africans whom he is challenging with his rhetoric.

    Folks in the mainstream media and political parties do not care to address racial concerns but around election time, some expect these concerns to be brushed aside. If they truly wanted to build a real, broad coalition, they would do so outside of election season. The truth of the matter is that they generally do not care about the wellbeing of ordinary folks, but around election time they know they need the votes of ordinary folks to swing the elections in their favour. So around this time, while some people try to manipulate racial prejudices for their political advantage, others are calling on people to put aside the prejudices. All sides are really exploiting racial issues.

    Without addressing racial issues, there is no way for people to reach an elevated consciousness of race relations. Does O’Conner and others who call on people to put aside race and vote on issues actually believe that they themselves are above racism? Do they see the average African or Indian as noble people with legacies that must be shared and respected or do they remain with unfounded feelings of superiority over common folks? What makes them feel that their concerns are more important than racial issues?

    Presently, we are seeing more Africans at UNC rallies and this is partly as a result of disenchantment with the PNM, curiosity, and their hoping to be preferred in programs like the URP if the UNC wins. Under the previous UNC administration jobs were doled out to build support for UNC much the same as URP is used by the PNM. Then we have the presence of Jack Warner whose involvement with the UNC has done much to remove the hard stigma of it being an all-Indian party. I believe though that if it were not for Warner’s wealth, many Indians would not tolerate him. He came at a time when UNC’s stocks were low, both politically and financially, and he was able to prop up both. By his personal and financial presence, he has thus encouraged poor Indians to see him as a type of saviour. For now, they see him as an asset, of course, this could easily change. He has also encouraged some Africans to join the UNC. This does not appear to be a conscious decision on Jack Warner’s part – he himself may not be aware of the tremendous difference he has made to the political climate in Trinidad and Tobago.

    It also appears that O’Connor does not understand how Obama became president. Obama’s victory at the US polls certainly did not mean that any group of people rose above racial fears or prejudices. It was about desperation among those who were fed-up with Bush wrecking the economy (for many of them it was not even about the murderous wars in Iraq and Afghanistan). Of course, the very expensive marketing campaign to sell Obama as a bit of everything to everyone also assisted in pulling support in his favour.

    If the media and political powers do not see merit in allowing Africans and Indians to express their racial concerns and share history and other pertinent information, then this society would not reach that elevated consciousness which would allow all issues to be properly addressed as true national concerns.

    People that are of the view that racial concerns should be discussed and dealt with are believed to be backward, racist and inciting hate and distrust. However, those who ascribe to this belief, that absence of racial discussions is better for society, are the real problem. Quite often when racial information is being shared, they pick on those who are sharing the information – accusing them of fueling the problem – instead of acknowledging the issues as legitimate concerns to be addressed. Most of all, they do not encourage this sharing.

    Ignorance and corruption all around allow ordinary folks and politicians to exploit these unaddressed racial concerns for their own political and financial benefits. The politicians who appear to be operating across racial lines are also mostly doing so for their personal economic gain. They are certainly not above the issues. When people (generally speaking) believe they will financially benefit from working with other races, they do. However, the racism does not go away; it will still be there to be exploited economically and politically.

    It would be to everyone’s advantage if people are not limited by racial distrust, but those who keep calling on Africans to put aside race are quite often part of the problem. They want the support of Africans to advance their position without even caring to understand their concerns.

    Ordinary Indians and Africans who are not working out racial issues remain victims of their ignorance; they will continue to be exploited by the same political misleaders whom they support.

    Despite all the issues to be addressed, Patrick Manning must go!

    1. Bravo by friend Bravo!!!! Well said. I just love how apparently only Africans have racial issues. Interesting that this for the people coalition will have divisive people such as Devant and Volney. Endorsements by the likes of Sat Maharaj…
       I can’t wait to see what’s going to happen after the coalition win, because it is clear to me that everyone in that coalition just want power.

       1. New problem at PM?s residence

          Manning unsure about Hindu stone

          PRIME Minister Patrick Manning is reportedly unsure about how he should deal with a three-tonne Shiva Lingum that was placed on the grounds of the Prime Minister?s official St Ann?s residence while the property was occupied by former prime minister Basdeo Panday.

          Panday announced the presence of the sacred stone during his address at the Indian Arrival Day Pooja 2002 hosted by the Maha Sabha at the Divali Nagaar yesterday. Panday criticised Manning, asking how the Prime Minister intended to remove the stone after his controversial removal of Panday?s jhandis earlier in the month.

          Manning has said that he removed the jhandis because they were not condoned by his Anglican religion.

          According to a TV6 report Maha Sabha Secretary General Sat Maharaj is urging Manning to leave the Lingum at the property and to complement its presence with the construction of monuments to Christian and Muslim spirituality.

          This, he said, is the perfect opportunity for Manning to promote the country?s spiritually plural society.

          The Shiva Lingum is an oval stone that symbolises the shapelessness of God as prescribed by the Hindu faith. It is used in poojas and other Hindu prayer ceremonies and the very earth where it lies is considered sacred.

          Kayode James (Trinidad Express June 1 st 2002)

          We don’t need this kinda crap again, blatant atempts to curry favour with the illiterates in central.

          1. I can understand mike samuel’s predjudices being planted by people like basdeo panday. But we are looking at an organisation that saw the shortcomings of panday and put him out because of this.
             Anyhow it is a well observed phenomenon that election time brings out this ugly monster of race. For five year periods we live work and play in harmony. But come election we are a different animal altogether.
             Amen, amen I say to you my fellow trinis, what soca, chutney, carnival and doubles has brought together, let no politician put asunder.

12. How many so-called AfroTrinis living in Victoria Gardens ever been to a lime across the street in Powder Magazine, much less to one in John-John or heaven forbid they should venture quite-quite to Cap de Ville? How many so-called IndoTrinis living in Valsyn ever seen inside a shack in Bangladesh? Steups!

    Allyuh ent know the overwhelming majority of ‘douglas’ in Trinidad are the children of working class, NOT upper class or middle class, parents?

    Look, we know racial division is part of the colonial legacy but the evidence shows that the people of this country have fought long and hard to overcome that legacy on many levels including the political arena, from Butler and Rienzi to the 1970 Rebellion to the NAR ‘one love’ victory in 1986.

    Ah mean allyuh behaving like yuh have political amnesia. African voting Indian is NOT A NEW TING. Panday won re-election in 2000 with an absolute majority AFTER 5 years in office, because the UNC succeeded in increasing its vote totals in traditional PNM polling divisions. After 5 years under the “Indian” prime minister, MORE, not less, “Africans” voted for UNC. Explain dat!

    And it’s a two way street. We know “Indians” have long voted PNM so I don’t need to dwell on that part. But just to remind folks that the PNM swept so-called Indian seats, including Caroni, way back in 1976, reducing the ULF to only 10 seats.

    Watch meh nuh. Peter O’Connor don’t have to worry. Enough Africans will vote Indian again in two weeks and most of the whites and French creoles will stay in the corner with their beloved PNM.

    I’m predicting that the opposition go win 24-26 seats. If they really had their act together it would have been a landslide. Who knows, maybe the song Sundar Popo promised Stalin so long ago will finally be sung, by Sundar’s and Stalin’s children (metaphorically speaking).

13. this is not true!! im mixed and my mom is an indian and my dad is negro. yea im voting PNM. yea we all once was gonna vote UNC but kamala not showing she is strong. yea we all no patrick messed up but the way kamla is not presenting her self as a strong leader. its no racism cause majority of trinidadians are mixed!!1

14. I WOULD NOT VOTE FOR AN INDIAN NOR AN AFRICAN BASED PARTY. I WILL HOWEVER VOTE FOR ANY PARTY THAT CAN DEAL WITH THE ISSUES AND SHOW POSITIVE SIGNS OF SOLVING THEM . SO FAR I HAVE NOT SEEN ANYONE THAT COULD PRESENT A PROGRAMME THAT WOULD SOLVE ALL THE MAJOR ISSUES AFFECTING TRINIDADIANS ON A DAILY BASIS. INFRASTRUCTURE .. WATER ,LIGHTS ,ROADS ,DRAINAGE, HOSPITALS( OLD AGE ) , VAGRANTS, SCHOOLS (SECURITY). tHE CRIME RATE , KIDNAPING , TRANSPORT ….JUST TO NAME A FEW. MY BET IS THEY WILL PROMISE US THAT ALL THESE THINGS WILL BE TAKEN CARE OF … JUST PROMISES . GOD ALONE KNOWS WHIVH PARTY IS BETTER TI FULLFILL SOME OF THEIR PROMISES.

15. There is a spiritual baptist leader who lives in the country, in the southeast. This is the story he tells: Politicians, sick people and troubled in marriage people of all races come to see him. The big-shots come at night, when many would not see them. He was talking with an old woman of East Indian ancestry, whom he knew quite well. He asked her how she planned to vote.(past election) She said she would have voted for the PNM,because of the education and so on, voting for her grandchildren; but at the mandir, they were made to swear on a lotah(Did I spell that right)its a sacred brass bowl,that they would vote for the UNC candidate, no matter who he/she was.She could not break her oath, no matter what; as dire things would happen to her family if she did.(not physical,but spiritual fear)

    Now, if temples and mandirs are being used, or has been used to keep people voting for a specific party, what are the English-speaking churches doing? Busy condemning Manning by statements and innuendoes. Does any Christian clergy urge voting for a specific political party? No, I never heard anything of that sort, but maybe you have. In Christian churches, there are people of all races.In the mandir and temple there are people of one race, speaking a language the “others” do not understand.

    Now, what does Peter O’Connor make of this? Other readers? The sons and daughters of this family consists of a number of trinis of mixed race. A brother and a sister married people of Indian ancestry. These young people may choose based on issues, but what if they are the only ones doing this?The business community which is mostly the third race that O’Connor did not mention, would play honest broker, and jump back and forth, tacking in the wind. The Express newspaper has already added a lot of yellow, where once the online front page was mostly red. What to make of that? Hedging bets or endorsement by implication?

16. I hope that one day we can get past this racism. We all want what’s best for our country. If the current government cannot lead the country, then it’s time for change. I thought Trini’s were educated people with good sense. Don’t vote INDIAN. VOTE for change and hope for a brighter future without government scandals

17. It would be helpful, in straight political terms, if there was a manifesto put out by the ANTI group.

    What do they stand for?

18. One would never see such a disrespectful columm penned towards Indians in T&T’s newspapers (voting Africans), and the author is not even a member
    Voting is a personal decision Peter, you are out-of-line.

19. This topic seemed to have generated a great deal of interest that I’m sure the author meant to stir. We must always be careful of ‘intent’. The author does not belongto either of the groups that he is writing about and does not really care if there is harmony or not but all one has to do is take note on how ‘news’ are carefully crafted so as to put the PNM in a negative light and portray all of our people as victims of the administration. We have to be careful on how we absorb the news they way it is presented to us.

20. “The fundamental delusion of humanity is to suppose that I am here and you are out there.”
    Yasutani Roshi
    I beg to contradict the view that the writer is out of place in presenting this article, due to the fact that he is not a member of the two competing desperate tribes for the spoils of our country .
    It is his perceptions of prevailing realities in our country, and whether correct or not , it gives one an opportunity to address an issue that is firmly centered on the mind of every citizen in our country, even if many are not honest enough to admit it. The importance of race, and it’s implications for the economic and political situation from 1962 to present.
    It is obvious by now to even the very blind , that it does not really matter who wins the right to run this country comes May 25th. Nothing much can change across our country unless the will, and discipline exist to shift the meter one way or the other.
    Firstly, we must know who we are , appreciate were we are , and know what we want collectively . Secondly, we must develop a sense of love, respect , and understanding for the other.This must be coupled by an overwhelming love for our country.
    Unfortunately it’s not the type of things that can suddenly happen in a matter of days , one year ,or four . These habits cannot be learned in college, skillful manipulation by foreign handlers, and a heart ladened with envy, and hatred.
    Time for deep reflections Rainbow Nation. Only you individually,can decide in the deep recesses of your heart what you think is best for you as an individual along with your family, but only through prudent collective efforts , can we all come close to building a wonderful nation.
    I for one have faith in our people that they’ll make the right choices , and whatever such is down the road, that would be the correct one.
    Hopefully, and we will live with it, yes?
    Love country over tribe!

21. The article, “Voting Indian” by Peter O’Connor, despite its possibilities for good, is unfortunately suspect. It may not have been what he intended, that is writing an article that is half-sided if not one-sided, but that is what occurred. It would have been encouraging and helpful, and even honest if he had concentrated, not only on ‘Afro Trinidadians’, but on the wider issue of racism in Trinidad; and not that Trinidad is more racist than other places, but because it has in my opinion and from observation the greater potential to overcome this deadly social virus and killer. For example, are there Indians in Trinidad, ‘Indo Trinidadians’ who do not hold similar views about voting PNM? Or are racist against Blacks? While neither group colonised the other and our arrivals here were as victims, this condition of inherent racism is an historic problem, and blaming Black Trinis is more than unfortunate. It plays into the hands of social and racial divisions. And, by the way, I live in Canada. Here, we have newspapers which are owned by Black Caribbean people, and some by East Indians. In the Black newspapers you can find stories of East Indians accomplishing good things, and while, for most of the East Indian newspapers a similar situation exists, yet there is one whose portrayals of Black Canadians are only of those involved in crime, or facing hardships as in Haiti. Also, no Black personm, Trini or otherwise has ever spoken on national news like the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, accusing East Indians of the systematic raping of African women. East Indians, especially from from Guyana, and some from Trinidad have done this time and again, and no East Indian organization has ever come forward to condemn such blatant, and iniquitous lies. In addition, an Ontario Provincial politician who was black, on retiring successfully from politics chose to replace him, an East Indian. Can anyone imagine an East Indian doing the same in Canada for a Black person? I am a Black Trini with Indian nephews, nieces et al; and a human being fundamentally opposed to racism in all colours and sorts, but I am not a fool, and Mr. O’Connor’s article rankles because its contents and premise unfortunately implies that Black Trinis are either racist or stupid, or both!

22. MIKE SAMUEL IS SPEAKING THE TRUTH LIKE TOO FEW PEOPLE PREFER NOT TOO. MOST WANT TO FOCUS IN ON MANNING. YES HE SHOULD GOOD, HE’S NOT DOING THE PARTY ANY FAVOURS. THE TRUTH IS THE PN, AND IT’S KEY FOLLOWERS ARE IN A DIFFICULT POSITION NOW. WE ALL WANT CHANGE, BUT NOT JUST ANY CHANGE. WHY PRETEND THAT EVERYBODY IN T’DAD IS YUH FRIEND? NOT ALL SKIN TEET IS YUH FRIEND. YOUR PRECIOUS VOTES ARE WHAT IS WANTED NOT YOU.
    I REMEMBER THOSE LIES ONLY TOO WELL, AND WHEN BACK IN THE DAY, THEY BOOED THE INDIES CRICKET TEAM OVER THE VISITING INDIANS. MANY COMPLAIN THAT TOO MANY PEOPLE FROM OTHER ISLANDS ARE LIVING IN T’DAD! UH UH, BUT WHEN THE WHOLE OF CALCUTTA WAS INVITED NOBODY COMPLAINED!!
    A FEW YEAR AGO T’DAD AND INTER- ISLAND NURSES TRIED TO OPEN A NURSING HOME WHERE ALL WOULD BE WELCOMED. THEY KEEP GETTING TURNED DOWN ONE SOME REGULATION OR SO. WHEN THEY GAVE UP, AND STARTED TO PACK, ONLY TO LEARN THAT THE VERY PLACE WAS NOW GOING TO BE OPENED AS A NURSING HOME, BY AN INDIAN WHO HADN’T EVEN LEFT CANANDA AS YET!
    EVERYBODY WANT TO SAY THAT “ALL AH WE IS TRINI- FRIENDS IN CANADA, IN ENGLAND ETC ETC”. YES LIVE DEY, BUT IS THE PEOPLE HERE, WHO’S VOTES MATTER.

23. Linda Edwards et al who criticize east indians, can i just say one thing? You’re all a bunch of damn hypocrites and you’re not what a true christian should be either. You people really call yourselves educated? I didnt respond to Linda Edwards “imaginative thinking” in a previous article about Hindus throwing away their utensils if a non christian ate from them because i didnt believe there existed such level of stupidity in Trinidad. Now she came with a lota issue and she got buddies like Mike Samuels to back her up too!

    Look, I’m not here to insult anybody’s intelligence but I beg to differ from most of your views. And dont get me wrong. I’m an Afro-Christian and I live in Central (no, I’m not illiterate Mike Samuel, I think you are) and I’ve been around Hindus and East Indians all my life. Half of my neighbours are Hindus. They invite us to their Ramayan, poojas, Sat sangs, Divali celebrations, Christmas lime or whatever occasion they have and I must say the experience is always enlightening and wonderful. We eat their food and parsad (I never saw them throwing away my plates unless it was styrofoam), they place ‘tika’ on our foreheads and I even help them with their jhandis. I dont think it killed me. It felt a bit different the first time, but everytime I go I learnt something about their religion and practices, so this helped me to understand and appreciate them even better. I really admire their no meat policy when they have prayers and I always tell my mother we should do the same whenever we have thanksgiving and it’s not only because I’m vegetarian but I personally love animals and I do not see any relation with praying and eating meat. I dont care who thinks otherwise.

    Likewise, we invite them to our celebrations and they learn a thing or two from my religion. In fact, some of my med school buddies have been friends with me since primary school! They’re hindus and they attended a Roman Catholic school with me. They sang our hymns, said our grace before meals and participated in everything. The priest even allowed non-Christians to take holy communion. We lit deyas for Divali (and our school was a church-even Obama celebrated Divali for the first time in the White House last year-he even lit deyas), ate sawine for Eid and nothing mattered to us and that’s the way we grew up: like brothers and sisters regardless of race, creed, colour or religion. We understood how to appreciate each other and i’m not saying there are ignorant people just like yourselves on both sides who have misconceptions about other people’s religion and culture, but you have to be the ones to educate yourselves. Knowledge is power and if you continue believing ignorance is bliss, then never should you seek knowledge.

    Politics is a nasty, nasty world, and it brainwashes a lot of people, but you have to learn to be thick skinned and understand that we still have to live with each other after may 24th. I find too many people who make comments about religion are very narrow minded in their responses and that’s sad, really sad, when people can use a forum and instead of dealing with real issues like how to deal with crime, poverty, domestic violence, poor health care, education etc they get stuck in race talk. I guess that’s the way you all like it!

    1. James,
       Ditto, Ditto, Ditto.
       I totally agree with you views, this population needs to mature. I see signs of this from many people like you and I hope this trend continues after the election. This is the first election where I see signs of maturity by many people of all races.

    2. Amen brother. Amen.

24. The article is more than suspect. It is typical of a well known strategy to pawn prejudice off on black people in order to obfuscate the rabid anti black cultural predispositions of others.

    This argument is so damn facetious it is stupid to even give it credence. Black people had no historical cultural belief system that parcels people out based on pigmentation. The origin of Racial prejudice does not reside in any cultural predisposition of one group not liking another. The origin of racial prejucice reside in cultural and religious belief systems that people are superior and inferior based on how they look. If you wish to examine prejudice, trace its origins.

25. Wait until the UNC get back into power and the deluded negros who never learn will get a reality check. Look at the slate. It appears like an election slate from Sri Lanka or India.

    About the only time these racist zealots in this room talk about everyone being Trinidadian is when they anticipate getting “pon tap”. Its is no wonder black people all over this world always end up at the back of the pack. We continue to fall for these racist ponzi schemes by people who would slaughter their young for cohabitting with a black. My God!!!!!

26. I don’t give a rats patudi what anyone says. I will not counsel voting for a racist organization like the UNC, regardless of how many token negros it parades about the place. Check the republican party in the US and you will see the kin of the negros on the UNC band wagon.

27. While it is enlightening to know how you live James, all of us are not as fortunate as you! Quite contrary to what you know, I do know of Indians who throw away utensils used by those of other races. This “level of stupidity ” does exist. I am an Indian, and I have no reason to lie on those of my own race. This is reality whether or not you choose to believe it. At election time in this country, even educated people turn into monsters. I came upon this website while doing election research, and I feel sick in my stomach at some of the things I have read via the internet on the last election and this present one. You should visit some facebook pages. It amazes me that people can be so unkind to each other, even univesity students.
    I do not live in a predominantly Indian area, yet I have neighbours who will say that they are Indians and therefore will vote for the UNC, issues does not matter.

28. This election will herald the Guyanaization of T&T. Wait and see. Two years down the line you will witness those who spent all the time pointing out the faults of the PNM ignoring or rationalizing similar happenings under the UNC.

    Black people have a history of joining the vanguard of any struggle on behalf of others, but there is never any like response. Guyana went through exactly what is occuring in T&T today, when Walter Rodney and the WPA joined the bandwagon of the INdian PPP political party. When that party got into power it kicked those members of the WPA that confronted Burnham on its behalf to the curb. I predict a similar happening in T&T down the line, and I eagerly await the opportunity to point it out to the deluded negros and their “massa we sick” emulations.

29. My father was an Indian, my mother a Negro/ Spanish, my brothers and sisters are all different in appearance. One of my sisters look Negro and the other Spanish, same with my brothers. I can never forget when I was a child, my father’s brothers and sisters referring to us as being N^%%*r children. Now if you look at me, you will think I am pure Indian. I am now an adult and these people are still the same way. I know I will never ” vote indian.”

30. Etwarria Dwikarran,(my spelling of the last name may be off)now about 69 if still alive in Cumuto, was my friend whose parents threw out the dishes.(Tin cups made from condensed milk tins, really) Some people still have two sets- one for company and one for Hindus.Marmit Singh, mother of Deo, who was my mother’s friend, and babysat us, had two sets of dishes.

    I do not make this stuff up. The only family in whose house I ate and used the identical set of dishes was the late Fanny Roopchand.(We sat at table and had a formal meal.Basdeo’s “knife and fork Indian”. She was a Presbyterian, and educated partly in Canada.

    When I found out how the bathroom practices of some people differed from ours, I wondered who was really unclean. When I dine with my Indian friends in the US, they use only paper plates in their homes, so that the throwing away seems quite normal.
    We can be blind to what goes or around us, but, please do not say it does not happen. That is to be a fool.

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