Julia Starr

I wonder how many of us really understand the dangers facing us today in this country we call home?

Sure we know how much crime there is. Sure we can relate instances of cruelty in the home, domestic violence, abuse and neglect of innocent young children who for many are simply statistics they read or hear about, particularly when they end up in the morgue. We are fast arriving at the stage when we will all know someone who has been murdered or kidnapped if such evil does not itself happen to us personally sooner or later. We can't read a newspaper today without such a story tearing at our souls and making us wonder what in God's name has happened to us? How have we arrived at this frightful stage? How do we fix it? How do we go back in time? But even if we know the answer would we be able to help ourselves? There are times when I am so depressed I doubt that anything or anyone could change the path on which we have embarked.

I say this for many reasons. But to take just one instance, I really can't understand why we seem unable to comprehend where the racial tension in the country is leading us. Trinidad and Tobago is now a land of Indians and Africans. All the Trinidadians have gone away or died or fled into the bush. And even those who should know better and should be more sensitive, make such stupid blunders we are left to stand with gaping mouths. Read the document with the great sounding name “Social and Economic Policy Framework 2004 - Charting the course to 2020. Empowering people!” Grand sounding title. All cymbal and brass. In this document under Human Capital Development we read a policy objective of the College of Science and Technology and Applied Arts (COSTAATT) “establish targeted recruitment programmes for male Trinidadians aged 17-24 especially Afro Trini males. In a multi racial society such as ours who in his/her right mind could make such a statement, and expect to get away with it?

Typographical error says one Minister. No, says another Minister, the young Afro male has a particular problem. And we have the spectacle of three different explanations emerging from the same Government. Are we crazy? Is our Government crazy? Or do they enjoy the spectacle of another kind that was bound to follow from the Opposition whose members had every right to react to such a vile statement? But if that is so, what about the young Indo male who also has problems and needs training, guidance and assistance in achieving maturity?
Does he not belong here? Has he no rights? Now we have two sides accusing the other of racial bias and you know the sad thing for Trinidad and Tobago? They are both right. The PNM is biased in favour of Afro Trinis, the UNC is biased in favour of Indo Trinis. Where does that leave us all except standing like stranded fools in the middle of what will soon be a battlefield? Those COSTAATT words have sparked off a huge racial row that has served only to widen the gap between the two races. Do we not realise the fire we are playing with? Think about what has happened in other countries of the world where racial tension has spilled over into real terror. Are we asking for that here? Think about it and cool ourselves - all of us - before it is too late. jstarr@newsday.co.tt