Dr Rowley ‘unreservedly apologised’ for sari skit—don’t mangle facts to make racism point

“[Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley] unreservedly apologised for the skit on his own behalf, on behalf of his party and all PNM supporters… [Letter writer Sanjay Dhalla] seemed to have missed all of that.

“[…] More than 70-75% of the students [at Presentation College, Chaguanas] were Indians. If some of them changed their religion in order to be admitted to these prestige schools, how is that the fault of black people, or the PNM?

“Those colleges and convents were and are still run by mainly Catholic and Presbyterian churches. Afro students who were Moravian, Methodist and Spiritual Baptists also changed their religion for the same reason…”

The following Letter to the Editor, which disputes some of the assertions made by Sanjay Dhalla in his case of discrimination suffered by Indo-Trinbagonians, was submitted to Wired868 by ‘Zigalo’:

Photo: PNM gorillas disrobe a female UNC supporter during the infamous sari skit at the party’s 2018 Family Day.

I am a lifelong supporter of the PNM and lived nearly all of my 64 years in Chaguanas. Firstly, Mr [Sanjay] Dhalla is distorting history. I don’t know if this is deliberate or just poor research on his part.

When at a PNM sports day a skit put on by a party group turned out to be offensive outside of the politics, he claimed that Dr Keith Rowley doubled down and refused to apologise for the religious insult.

Dr Rowley spent more than 30 minutes in a speech on the political platform educating the PNM massive on his own ignorance and subsequent understanding of the hurt that was caused by the skit. He delved into the religious significance of the disrobing of the woman and sought to educate us all.

He then unreservedly apologised for the skit on his own behalf, on behalf of his party and all PNM supporters. He didn’t apologise generically for ‘hurts caused in the past’; he directly addressed the particular issue. Sanjay seemed to have missed all of that.

I attended Presentation college. The one in Chaguanas. The best one. More than 70-75% of the students were Indians.

Photo: A Presentation College (Chaguanas) swim team.
(via Proud To Be Pres)

If some of them changed their religion in order to be admitted to these prestige schools, how is that the fault of black people, or the PNM? Those colleges and convents were and are still run by mainly Catholic and Presbyterian churches. Afro students who were Moravian, Methodist and Spiritual Baptists also changed their religion for the same reason.

I agree with Mr Dhalla’s general position that we all have to address these racial issues and I am not defending ‘African-on-Indian racism’. It too, is a reality.

Please don’t mangle the facts to make what is an otherwise good argument.

Editor’s Note: Click HERE for the initial Letter to the Editor by Sanjay Dhalla, which was itself a response to the furore over racist statements by Naila Ramsaran.

More from Wired868
Dear Editor: The late BC Pires embodied the spirit of the Calypso Tent

“[…] Truth be told, BC embodied the spirit of the Calypso Tent more than the Newsroom. He was a hybrid, Read more

Dear Editor: Jada Pinkett Smith is an example of toxic femininity

“Jada Pinkett Smith is toxic… This woman brazenly admitted to infidelity […] and now is opening up about her obvious Read more

Indra Persad Milowe: “My art brings to life many of my childhood memories…”

“[…] Our teacher pinned our small flags on our blouses and we had to hold hands with each other. We then walked Read more

Dear Editor: FULs could also terrorise women in domestic violence cases

“[…] The presence of firearms in a household where there is a history of domestic violence increases the risk of Read more

Dear Editor: Why shouldn’t Smith by applauded on Father’s Day? When will his redemption come?

“[…] So why should Darryl Smith not be applauded on Fathers’ Day? […] Does his ministerial indiscretion of some years Read more

Dear Editor: When did Darryl Smith transform himself into a model father? What was Guardian thinking?

“[…] In less than five years, former Minister of Sport Darryl Smith moved from being fired for interfering in the Read more

About Letters to the Editor

Want to share your thoughts with Wired868? Email us at editor@wired868.com. Please keep your letter between 300 to 600 words and be sure to read it over first for typos and punctuation. We don't publish anonymously unless there is a good reason, such as an obvious threat of harassment or job loss.

Check Also

Dear editor: Farewell to a true Gens de Arime—everybody loved Raymond Morris

    “[…] A true Gens de Arime, Raymond was loved and appreciated for his …

7 comments

  1. “…African-on-Indian racism…It’s a reality..” where? Please give clear examples like that below

    https://www.trinicenter.com/Cudjoe/2005/2903.htm

    Has anyone ever heard of this behaviour as a complaint against africans???

  2. Two fictional red gorillas, remove an indian woman’s yello unc sari, to reveal a red pnm sari….an obvious metaphor, absent of malice or racist intent. If one wants to say that it is best to err on the side of caution, and not depict any disrobing because of the imagery…fine! All this fake outcry that ir was racist, and that indian sensibilities are so delicate, thst the skit offended their ETHNIC IDENTITY? RUBBISH! That is unc’s mischievous political incitement and nothing more!!

    • Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley apologised unreservedly. He does not need you to speak for him.

      • Ohhh, so the issue of the skit, is not open for independent analysis? Because the PM and PNM leader apologised, that not only invalidates my view, but i must abide by political correctness on social issues based on PNM position? RUBBISH!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.