By Stephen Kangal
December 31, 2007
The print media has a critical role to play in hosting the political and institutional memory of T&T that is noted for its traditional forgetfulness. The media must also serve as an archive documenting political position and conduct to deter politicians from manipulating us conveniently at their whims and fancies.
As an Indo-Trinbagonian I have agonised since June 2004 from being ethnically stigmatised by Senate President Danny Montano as being an automatic member of “the natural UNC constituency”. He made this allegation during a Senate debate with reference to both the location and the ethnicity of the graduates of the Trinidad and Tobago Institute of Technology (TTIT) that was located in Brechin Castle, Couva by the UNC Administration. He pretended not to know where Couva was. He also spoke of “the cane-fields of Caroni” in the most demeaning terms. During that debate Senator Dana Seetahal queried this racist accusation. She pressed Senator Montano to explain his statement without success.
Senator Montano had exulted in dividing T&T along two differing ethnic lines consisting of natural PNM (African) and UNC (Indian) constituencies to score political points.
Now at this season of Yuletide in his Xmas message, Senate President Danny Montano speaks of “…unity among people and wish we would see the similarities between us rather than the differences. We are all brothers and sisters”. That is a hypocritical political statement that is being foisted on us by the Senate President. He deceives himself into believing that short-memory Trinbagonians will not remember that Senate statement in which he politically exploited our ethnic differences as stated above.
Senator Montano will act as President of T&T. His political and ethnic branding of all Indo-Trinbagonians including those Indians within the PNM fold in a most negative manner was evidence enough to constitute compelling grounds to disqualify him from assuming the Presidency of the Senate. Will he regard Indians as legitimate and bona fides citizens of T&T during his interface with us while undertaking acting Presidential duties and community visits?
The silence is deafening! Those who like to slam Panday, Sat et al for perceived racial rhetoric and their actions (recent handshake comes to mind)are always so bloody quick on the draw.
The way I see it, racism is wrong, in any form, manner, thought – any damned way you want to cut it. It is especially unfortunate when it flows from public officials. I think that we should all concur, regardless of political peruation.
This was not a silly handshake, and there definitely was no room for interpretation for Mr. Montano’s words, and from what I recall he was not taken to task at all from anyone that mattersin society , with the exception of Ms. Seetahal. What does that say about T&T as a society?
Give me a break Kerry. The alacrity with which you jumped on this proves my point. The manner in which you attempt to morph this non African’s bigotry which he exhibits for all sections of the population different from him with Pandays legendary anti-black diatribes more than substantiates my claim that you guys would move heaven and earth to avoid scrutiny of Indian prejudice against blacks.
Yes it is a silly handshake to you. Indian racism is always something of no consequence. Indian racism is always something else, something silly, something that does not fit the rules in terms of how that exact racist actions is practiced. Real cute but utterly deceitful, utterly dishonest.
What are Montano’s words that are worse than Panday’s actions. That an Indian is a natural constituent of the UNC and an African the natural constituent of the PNM. That is something than can be construed from the voting patterns. What are these other bloody words you are sideways alluding to in order to justify racist behaviour you are reluctant to discard as a facet of your interaction of “them”.
You guys are bloody cute you really are. But regardless of the frippery banalities you put out here about one people, close examination of your reasoning always brings to light reality. That you could not be balanced if you tried, if they took a forklift and attempted to move you in such direction. You can fool many of the people for much of the time, but you darn well cannot fool every African for all of the blasted time. Yes, and the same to you too.
Where did tis halfwit spring from?
Danny Montano is oblivious to racism and to suggest he resign his Senate Presidency is southern matter dropped from a northbound bull.
To write this verbal tripe only depicts the author to be suffering from chronic mushroom syndrome.
Go to it Danny – you are a winner.
Like I said: IT IS RACIALSISM STUPID
Like I siad :IT IS RACIALISM STUPID.
At every turn in TNT life racialism screams at you from every area and every nook an cranny and when it comes to crime: It is the root cause.
A simple Statement by this montano fellow and wham…racialism raises its ugly head.
I have known and respected Danny Montano for 30 years.
Danny believes that there is only one race – the human race.
His appoitment as senate president is both sound and pragmatic for Danny will engender both reason and logic in to this fine assemblence of people.
Let’s face facts – Indians feel the PNM will not do anything for them and gives away anything for free to the Africans. And Africans feel Indians too “high class” in their own eyes but likes them anyway. It probably stems from early years when we both had to get whatever we could put in our hands during the colonial years. And – let’s be honest – that distrust or envy was handed down generation to generation.
But let’s ask a question – is the concept of “freeness” alive and well in T&T or is it a lie? And by “freeness” I do mean getting whatever you could from the Gov’t for no charge – like house and land.
I had an Uncle who I respected and loved to the utmost. He was a cop in NYC but was born and raised in TT. He was African. And he said to me back when he was still alive that Africans in T&T like freeness. “They want everything for free!” were his words.
As a young man I make my duty to think thru these things. Because TT will never grow or progress otherwise. So I thought back thru my life in the country up till I was 15 when we moved to NYC, some 20 years ago. My conclusion was, the 2 men who had the most impact on my life, to whom I owe more than I could ever repay are my Std 4 and 5 teachers – Mr. Cuffy and Mr. Orosco in Rosary Boys RC. They taught me about hardwork and merit. And they were Black.
And then I thought of family members who had cushy PoS city council jobs. They did nothing all day – in fact one in particular would go to the office, sign in, then go home. In the evening go back and sign out, like he worked all day. And was paid good money. Freeness.
So in the end freeness is true. But I think it’s more globally inherent then what we’re lead to believe. And it is a fact that this is the underlying philosophy to the trend of racism in T&T.
T&T needs to be honest with itself. I’m an Indian.