A sad consequence of the racial-based nature of our politics is the exclusion of the ‘other’ major race from governance. ‘They’ simply have no say in how the nations resources are distributed and do not enjoy any of the influence that comes with high public office. They never seem to ‘fit the bill’ for such appointments which are supposedly made on merit. This glaring absence at the top explains why people identified with political adjectives such as ‘alienated’, ‘marginalised’, ‘ostracised’ and ‘tolerated’.
Political discrimination in our system carries a racial connotation and perception if the victim is of the ‘other’ tribe. Hard data to substantiate racial imbalances that can justify inferences of discrimination is very difficult to obtain as racial statistics are not really kept.
Richard Thomas has taken the trouble to compile some statistics about the ethnic composition of our state boards and it paints a frightening picture that shows that things have actually gotten worse when one compares the relevant data on this issue in the 1980 report prepared by the Centre for Ethnic Studies, UWI. I present the table below as evidence if the political discrimination that is retarding the growth and development of our dear country.
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A
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B
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C
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D
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E
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F
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G
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H
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1
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2
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THE INDO-TRINBAGONIAN IN THE UPPERMOST ECHELONS OF STATE-OWNED COMPANIES IN TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO.
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3
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4
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NAME OF STATE ENTERPRISE
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NO. OF PERSONS IN TOP RANKS
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NO. OF INDOS IN TOP RANKS
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%. OF INDOS IN TOP RANKS
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INDOS IN TOP RANKS AS % OF INDOS IN T&T POPULATION
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NO. OF INDOS IN TOP RANKS IF POPULATION PARITY IS PURSUED
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NO. OF INDOS NEEDED TO FILL GAP
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% MORE INDOS NEEDED TO FILL GAP
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5
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AIRPORTS AUTHORITY |
11 |
2 |
18.18% |
42.28% |
5 |
3 |
150.00% |
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6
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CARIBBEAN AIRLINES |
8 |
1 |
12.50% |
29.07% |
4 |
3 |
300.00% |
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7
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DFL CARIBBEAN |
13 |
3 |
23.08% |
53.67% |
6 |
3 |
100.00% |
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8
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ETECK |
12 |
2 |
16.67% |
38.76% |
6 |
4 |
200.00% |
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9
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FCB |
25 |
6 |
24.00% |
55.81% |
11 |
5 |
83.33% |
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10
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NAMDEVCO |
6 |
1 |
16.67% |
38.76% |
3 |
2 |
200.00% |
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11
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NFM |
7 |
2 |
28.57% |
66.45% |
4 |
2 |
100.00% |
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12
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NGC |
16 |
4 |
25.00% |
58.14% |
7 |
3 |
75.00% |
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13
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NIB |
17 |
5 |
29.41% |
68.40% |
8 |
3 |
60.00% |
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14
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NIDCO |
11 |
5 |
45.45% |
105.71% |
5 |
0 |
0.00% |
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15
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PETROTRIN |
26 |
9 |
34.62% |
80.50% |
12 |
3 |
33.33% |
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16
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PORT AUTHORITY |
48 |
3 |
6.25% |
14.53% |
21 |
18 |
600.00% |
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17
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PTSC |
21 |
4 |
19.05% |
44.30% |
10 |
6 |
150.00% |
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18
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T&TEC |
16 |
4 |
25.00% |
58.14% |
7 |
3 |
75.00% |
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19
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TSTT |
16 |
1 |
6.25% |
14.53% |
7 |
6 |
600.00% |
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20
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TTMF |
19 |
3 |
15.79% |
36.72% |
9 |
6 |
200.00% |
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21
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UDECOTT |
11 |
3 |
27.27% |
63.42% |
5 |
2 |
66.67% |
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22
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WASA |
12 |
2 |
16.67% |
38.76% |
6 |
4 |
200.00% |
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23
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TOTALS:
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295
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60
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20.34%
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47.30%
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127
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67
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111.67%
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24
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AIRPORTS AUTHORITY ---out of 11, 2 [1. Ramesh Lutchmedial, Director; and 2. Rosalind Chinnia-Ramadeen, Deputy General Manager (Operations, Crown Point)
CARIBBEAN AIRLINES ---out of 8, 1 [1. Dr. Shafeek Sultan-Khan, Director].
DFL CARIBBEAN ---out of 13, 3 [1. Rodney Prasad, Director; 2. Stephen Singh, Director; and 3. Gilian Golah, Senior Manager (Corporate Executive Operations) and Company Secretary].
ETECK ---out of 12, 2 [1. Nesha Kochhar, Vice President (Property Management); and 2. Henry Kumar, General Manager (ICT Project Implementation); maybe a 3rd [Eugene Tiah, Director].
FCB ---out of 25, 6 [1. Govind Maharaj, Director; 2. Inez B. Sinanan, Director; 3. Ramcharan Kalicharan, Chief Executive Officer (CMMB); 4. Lionel Seunarine, Asst. GM (Commercial Banking); 5. Shiva Manraj, Financial Controller (Finance and Planning); and 6. Harjoon Heeralal, Corporate Manager (Group Corp. Planning)]
NAMDEVCO ---out of 6, 1 [1. Cintra Persad, Director] NATIONAL FLOUR MILLS ---out of 7, 2 [1. Ganesh Sahadeo, Chairman; and 2. Ross Alexander, Director].
NATIONAL GAS COMPANY ---out of 16, 4 [1. Lisle Ramyad, Director; 2. Winston Lalla, Director; 3. Rebecca Ramdhanie, Vice President (Finance and Information Management Group); and 4. Prakash Saith, President (National Energy Corporation)]
NATIONAL INSURANCE BOARD:] ---out of 17, 5 [1. Rudranath Indarsingh, Director; 2. Inez Sinanan, Director; 3. Seeram K. Maharaj, Director; 4. Karen Gopaul, Executive Manager (Planning and Technology); and 5. Niala Persad, Executive Manager (Legal Services/Corporate Secretary)].
NATIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT COMPANY ---out of 11, 5 [1. Chandrabhan Sharma, Chairman; 2. Vijay Birsingh, Director; 3. Nirad Samnadda-Ramrekersingh, Vice-President (Legal Services); 4. Lisa Chote, Vice President (Corporate Services); and 5. Michael Guyadeen, Vice President (Financial Services)].
PETROTRIN ---out of 26, 9 [1. Harry Pirtheesingh, Director; 2. Ramnarine Ramdass, Director; 3. Kevin M. Singh, Vice President (Finance & Corporate Planning); 4. Khalid M. Hassanali, Vice President (Planning and Projects); 5. Narayan Ramtahal, General Manager (Central Engineering and Construction); 6. Steve Baldeosingh, General Manager (Production Operations); 7. Janice Koylass-Abraham, General Manager (Law & Land Management); 8. Sookdeo Heeralal, Ag. General Manager (Joint Ventures); and 9. Rajkumar Bissessar, Chief Audit Executive].
PORT AUTHORITY ---out of 48 (some of which are vacant), only 3 [1. Kiran Dass, Counterpart CFO; 2. Neil Bridgelal, Manager (Health Safety & Environment); and 3. Robert Ramsubhag, Equipment Manager.
PTSC ---out of 21, 4 [1. Mahadeo Jagmohan, Director; 2. Zena Rahmatali, Director; 3. Philemon Subiah, Corporate Manager (Operations); and 4. Brian Juanette, Senior Project Engineer].
T&TEC ---out of 16, 4 [1. Professor Chandrabhan Sharma, Commissioner; 2. Zameer Mohammed, Commissioner; 2. Kelvin Ramsook, Asst. GM (Distribution); and 3. Ramdeo Sadhoo, Asst. GM (Human Resources)].
TSTT ---out of 16, 1 [1. Rakesh Goswami: Chief Financial Officer]; maybe a 2nd [2? Dianna de Sousa: Vice President Customer Service]?
TTMF ---out of 19, 3 [1. Jaggernath Soom, Director; 2. Esther Rajpaul, Director; and 3. Waheeda A M Ali, Manager (Internal Audit)]. [
UDECOTT ---out of 11 , 3 [1. Dr. Krishna Bahadoorsingh, Director; 2. Neelanda Rampaul, Chief Operating Officer; and 3. Jassodra Gumansingh, Manager (Information Technology)].
WASA ---out of 12, 2 [1. Dr. Shafeek G. A. Sultan-Khan, Chairman of the Board; and 2. Dion Abdool, Chief Corporate Officer]
These statistics provide irrefutable evidence about the exclusion of Indo-Trinis from state corporations. The figures are probably no different in the foreign service, security service and public service in general. The reverse is probably true when the UNC was in power. The pendulum swung from one corner to the next. Can we ever realize that elusive dream of equality and meritocracy? Something for the reformers of our constitution to think about.
By Anand Ramlogan