The ‘Post-Race Contemporary’ and the Caribbean

Abstract

During 1988, thousands of Indo-Trinidadians ‘fled’ to Canada seeking ‘refugee status’, claiming that they were victims of racially inspired discrimination in their own country. Indeed, the collapse of the National Alliance for Reconstruction (NAR) coalition helped to fuel the embers of disenchantment which had smouldered in the breasts of many Indians who believed that the larger society saw them as pariahs and a group apart rather than as fully incorporated members of the national community (Ryan, 1999: 46). The contemporary view is that

’Race should not be used as a weapon to destroy citizens of this country’, so said Minister of Legal Affairs and leader of the Congress of the People (COP), Prakash Ramadhan yesterday. Ramadhan said the issue of race was very serious and will destroy the nation if not dealt with properly. Because of its seriousness the COP will be heading a nationwide discussion entitled ‘Race politics 50 years of Independence’. Dr Lincoln Douglas who will be in charge of the discussion on race said:

We understand that historically we inherited a politics of race and a politics of ethnicity. We are making the effort to construct a different form of politics — one that is based on equity and justice and social justice and the common good.

(Sue-Ann Wayow ‘Ramadhan: Don’t use race as a weapon’, Daily Express, Monday, 14 November 2011)