Category: code

Oh Bhagwan! The Indians are rising (in Tobago)

June 13, 2010 by Bertrand Bhikarry

These are changed times for Tobago, according to the man in the street. The recent boom in construction brought new faces to the island, among them an expatriate oriental community, and a fair amount of 'Trinis' across from the sister isle. There's even been a few new residents from as far away as the Indian continent itself. As it happens, not everyone who comes to stay, looks the same way as those who comprise the key population. To repeat, it's all part of the times in which we live.

The influx of the different racial elements here has not been benign as perfectionists and optimists would hope. 'Incidents' occur, although there has not been a scourge of open conflict. In the undercurrent of what passes for population dynamics, kindred spirits will, and do polarize, in spite of the calls for integration by all noteworthy religions and philosophies. In the midst of this the Tobago Indo Multicultural Association (TIMA) now lifts its head, no doubt hoping to fast-track integration between the major racial parties involved.

It's a delicate walk ahead for such a group in this small island, akin to the proverbial stroll in a minefield. In spite of its political bond, the population of the twin islands are not exactly in sync in every way. Therefore parochialism can be a problem here in Tobago, as it is in almost every small community worldwide.

The various races now living in Trinidad has long since crossed this bridge. For them there were advantageous mechanisms like the Carnival or the structured nature of diverse workplaces. Such forced opportunity does not exist in Tobago, as in reality the National Festival has stabilized into a Port-of Spain based event, and the limited state jobs here are already filled by Tobagonians. As such the groups may never converge in the workplace, nor the fete. {Read more}