The Editor
Newsday
Reginald Dumas’ article on Dr. Eric Williams’ address on April 01, 1958 on the Federation Election of March 25, 1958 is apt- ‘language and history.’ Dr. Eric Williams’ topic on Woodford Square was “The Dangers facing Trinidad and Tobago and the West Indian Nation.”
Williams identified three “Indian” in his address:
- “The Indian nation is in India. It is a respectable, reputable nation, respected the world over.” Prime Minister Narendra Modi now heads the Indian government.
- The “West Indian Nation” was used by Williams several times in his address. This is not an entity, there is not a country named “West Indian Nation.” There was a short-lived Federation from 1958-62. Eric Williams was instrumental in destroying the Federation- “one from 10 leaves naught.”
- The “Indian” as an ethnic group in Trinidad and Tobago was the topic by Williams- “the recalcitrant and hostile minority of the West Indian Nation…offensive, derogatory, an insult of the West Indian Nation.” All because the DLP won the Federation Elections against the PNM!
Michael Eysenck “Psychology” (1998) wrote that “prejudice implies a negative evaluation of another person, at the basis of some general attribute.” And “racial prejudice means a negative evaluation of someone as a consequence of them being in a certain racial or ethnic group.”
Dr. Eric Williams and the PNM was guilty of prejudice and racism against Indians, the Whites and Tobagonians who also supported the DLP in the 1958 Federation Elections.
The “Massa Day Done” attack on Whites and Indians in 1961 was a continuation of Dr. William’s paranoia. Fortunately, his racist diatribe was checked in 1970 in the revolt of black urban youths who once saw him as a Moses to lead them out of white bondage to the Promised Land.
Dr. Rowley’s “COVID 19” remarks of “recalcitrant minority” was made on April 01, the anniversary of Dr. Williams’ address at Woodford Square. He was definitely invoking the prejudices of Dr. Eric Williams.
With so much talk among Blacks for reparation for the hardships suffered under slavery, Indians now have all reasons to claim reparation from the PNM for historical sins committed against them since 1956.
Kamal Persad
Carapichaima
April 20, 2020
