Tag Archives: racism

I remember when Barack Obama won his first term as US president in 2008. Late that night I heard a massive noise of joyful screams and applause from the neighbourhood, the moment his victory was confirmed. At that point, I knew we were in for a rough ride. In the …

The trajectory of Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s political career is a cautionary tale to any who would assume that gender presupposes good governance. In the months before the 2010 election, there were valid queries about questionable construction projects and a frightening escalation of the crime rate under then leader of government and …

“[…] The lead-up to the [2020] election and its immediate aftermath saw political differences couched in vitriolic racist rants, complete with the most foul language. “[…] While some of these exchanges may have taken place at close quarters, social media provided a convenient and safe vehicle from which to launch …

Since 2002, the annual ALJGSB ‘Distinguished Leadership and Innovation Conference’, with cutting-edge lessons taught by global thought leaders, has been chock full of our local business leaders. Yet the recent Ramsaran imbroglio unmasked glaring shortcomings by some of these same business leaders. These missteps have real-life consequences for us as …

“[…] Aside from the Ramsaran’s text-book apology and ‘firing’ of the owner’s daughter, how has the company demonstrated appropriate remedial action? “Business owners are attempting to hold the public to ransom: they claim that the public’s boycott of their businesses, for their racist behaviours, will affect the livelihood of workers. Even …

Trinidad and Tobago is a nation of immigrants. We may have come on different boats, but we are in the same boat now. Between the drop in oil and gas prices and their depressed demand, the consequent lack of foreign exchange and the Covid-19 economic shock, we could be set back …

“[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 …

Commissioner of Police Gary Griffith obviously realised that his use of the word ‘cockroaches’ was at risk of being construed in a racist way. That is why he had to come out to ‘clarify’ his position. [Daily Express, 14/08/2020: ‘Griffith: Tone down race talk’]. But having recognised the danger of …

“[…] I have seen many publications on government websites that reproduce the words of our anthem on their webpages as: ‘here every creed and race FINDS…’ and on others that state that it is: ‘here every creed and race FIND…’ “Which is it? It may seem pedantic and as if …

“God is not racist. He is the God who loves us, having created every one of us in His image… “Even though it is natural to have an affinity or a special love for the particular ethnicity or race into which we were born, that affinity should not be the basis to look …

“Indo-Trinidadians are letting themselves down here in a big way. A lot of Hindus are really put off by what has been said. The community must do better. But I do know that a lot of the Indian/Hindu population feel hated in their own country. “They remember ‘No Calcutta ship …

“[…] The word ‘cockroaches’ was used by both the Nazis and those behind the genocide in Rwanda in 1999. “[…] Such language used by Ms Ramsaran cannot fall ‘under the guise of freedom of expression’. It feeds a vicious cycle of unrestrained intolerance and incitement to hatred by race…” The …