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The Presbyterian Mafia
Mr George ‘Umballa’ Joseph (who is a popular radio talk show host with Louis Lee Sing’s radio I 95.5FM), recently lost a libel case before Justice Peter Jamadar. He had sued UNC’s Harry Partap and the Newsday over a letter to the editor which the former wrote in response to his claim that ‘UNC MP’s were all malicious’. During the course of the trial it emerged that Umballa had used remarks ‘which, in the context of the history and sociology of Trinidad and Tobago were clearly derogatory and demeaning.’ Such terms included “damn United Nasty Canesuckers”, “United Nasty Canecutters” and “United Nasty Coolies”.
Since then, Umballa has boldly repeated these obscene, not-so-veiled insulting references to the Indo-Trinidadian community. Apparently it never dawned on him that if Indians responded by saying the PNM stood for ‘People’s Nigger Movement’ and ‘Plenty Nasty Mulattoes’ our country could just descend into a nasty racial abyss. In the meantime, the Telecommunications Authority stands idly by, afraid to touch Umballa, presumably because the station’s close ties to the government.
The day after he lost the case, Umballa and Lee Sing launched a scathing attack on the judiciary that suggested that it was not possible for ‘poor black people’ to get justice in this country. The idea and message is clear: black people could only get justice from African judges. Umballa went further, hinting that there was a Presbyterian mafia in operation, making snide references to that fact that it was the same Jamadar who ruled that the Trinity Cross was discriminatory. No mention is made of the fact that Justice Jamadar openly declared to the lawyers and litigants that he was an Elder in the Presbyterian Church (as was Partap), and would gladly disqualify himself from hearing the case if either party so desired and no objection was taken.
The facts are distorted to imply that the judge was biased because he was an Indian Presbyterian and did not disclose this. His judgment in the Trinity Cross case is prejudicially referred to as evidence of some deep-seated undisclosed political/racial/religious bias that affected and influenced his judgment in dismissing Umballa’s case. No mention is made of the fact that this was the same judge who decided the Ken Gordon ‘pseudo-racist’ case against Panday and ordered him to pay $600,000. plus interest. Instead, he is part of some hitherto unknown ‘Presbyterian Mafia’ that has been secretly operating in this country.
Attacking the judiciary is a favourite hobby of politicians. Panday is the chief culprit, having constantly attacked the system, claiming he cannot get a fair trail of genuine justice here. This, notwithstanding the fact the historic ruling by three non-Indian judges in the Court of Appeal in his favour. Ramesh, his AG wasn’t exactly backward either, having suggested that Justice Archie would have been biased in hearing the Gypsy and Chaitan election petition cases because he had been denied a housing allowance.
Manning almost toppled the judiciary by going for the jugular in his thus far failed attempt to remove the CJ. Political manipulation by PNM spin doctors (such as Umballa), have led to the portrayal of CJ Sharma as a Hindu, Indian extremist who is a die-hard UNC.
The latest salvo came on Friday, when Minister Ken Valley sought to defend his political leader who lost a case regarding an attempt to transfer Foreign Affairs Officer Feroza Ramjohn because he deemed her a threat to national security by accusing trial judge Justice Amrika Tiwary of being biased. Mr Valley actually described her as ‘a UNC’ and promised that the government would appeal the case all the way to the Privy Council.
Our country is small, politically and racially divided. It is not that judges are above criticism. No one and no system is perfect. The tentacles and influence of politics reach into every institution in every country. Responsible and justifiable criticism improves the administration of justice by highlighting unwanted negatives but unjustified attacks by unsuccessful litigants bring the administration of justice into disrepute. By and large, our judiciary is intelligent, well-qualified, independent and fair. Even where there may be grounds for perceptions of bias (such as previous political affiliations or family members who are actively involved in politics) these individual judges oftentimes try doubly hard to be fair because they are aware of these perceptions.
Judges are at a great disadvantage because they cannot speak out on matters that affect them. It is our duty as a society to protect them from unjustified and malicious criticism by those who should know better.
By Anand Ramlogan
2007-05-05
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Anand, I agree with you completely. I have repeatedly said on this site that the public, Indian and Black, need to speak up against such perverse attacks. I have also said that the indian community has been too slow to learn how to stand up for what they believe in.
Heaven help us when Inshan can be taken down so easily, while Gladiator and Umbala run as king of the airwaves.
I feel as if my voice is hoarse from shouting to people to wake up and stand up vocally for what they believe in, even if it brings them attention or helps a political group they don't like. But such is the nature of doing what's right -- you aren't doing it for any gain for yourself!
Maybe I'm just too concerned about my country. Maybe I should be like my parents and their generation and just work hard and hope things will get better, even though half the country has either nasty things to say about us, or worse, has nothing to say in my defence when nasty things are said.
Maybe I should just keep quiet too?
FIJI HERE WE COME! 2020? That's when the oil/gas runs out! Let's see who survives the riots! God knows it will be hard to keep CEPEP and URP running without petroleum dollars!
I'm worried that inequality seems to breed inequality. It is like once a pane of glass has a crack it continues to spread until the whole pane shatters.
The more and closer I look at T&T society the less cohesion I see. In fact I see more divisions. Income gaps, educational gaps, intellectual gaps, migration etc. The gaps represent a lack of equality - the glue that pulls people together.
I don't think it is wrong for Anand to point out the inequalities as he see's them. Many of us see them too. What I worry about is that in doing so, the cracks widen and spread faster. In other words the more we probe into the cracks the more they widen.
Is there another way - is what I'm thinking and searching for. Can we examine the cracks but close them at the same time? Does anyone out there know more about this?
Cap W.
Don’t you think that we need to replace the glass, because it was covering the truth?
I believe that we need to replace this stained glass (stained with numerous forms of bigotry).
It is now time to replace this tainted glass that hid all the disgusting and scornful practices of this satanic cult for decades.
It is time to replace it with one that is transparent, so that these satanic individuals can no longer hide their demonic faces behind Politics, Religion, Influential Status, Affluent Status, Trade Union, Media, Sports, Culture, etc.
They would no longer be permitted to divide us by delineating racially influenced Elections boundaries and polling divisions.
We would demand that the Bigoted boundaries be removed and that every Citizen has an equal right to cast a vote which will not be worth more in Tobago or in the East-West corridor, than it is south of the Caroni River.
They would no longer be permitted to attack an individual simply because they consider him to be a second-class ‘Indian Hindu Leader from the lagoon’.
There should be only one boundary in such a small country....and that should be the seashores around the islands...make the country into one electoral country and the party with the most votes will do the will of the people.
Have you proof of devil worship RIK-V? Or are you referring to Panday, who admitted he would sleep with the devil to get what he wants?
I don't mind your contributions, but again, your accuracy leaves a lot to be desired. Now I agree with you about the stained glass and all of that but sometimes your choice of language makes you come across as vituperative and not at all holding on to reality man.
One reason the country is divided into smaller areas is for manageability. Perhaps you have heard of it? To make the entire country into one massive voting area will be setting ourselves up for poor management.
I guess that you (Jumbie) are quite satisfied with your cult’s ability to (mis)manage the country.
Your born-again (Satanic) Preacher of a leader is the most perfect epithet of human effulgence in your eyes.
Members of the satanic cult blindly defend and support the demonic acts of bigotry, perpetrated by their supreme Evangelical leaders, against those they consider to be the enemy of the TRIBE.
Are you condescendingly content to build defensive walls of tainted glass around the putrid decadence you have grown so use to?
The ideals of a truly democratic society are established in the imperative respect for rights and equity of every individual.
It is therefore absolutely facetious and contentious, to use such a sarcastic defense as manageability to justify Apartheid.
I support the demarcation of constituencies for local Governance, but not for National Government.
America and India are bigger than Trinidad, so take a hint.
Hi RIK-V,
Ummm, I was not going to reply to you, simply because it seems that any ideas opposing your own makes you even more able to spout off meaningless mumbo jumbo. Let's look at what you say:
First you say MY 'born again Satanic preacher of a leader'. Mate, I live in England. If you live in TnT, then he is YOUR leader. That does not mean I do not have a strong interest in seeing my home country progress. Secondly, by talking about Evangelism and Tribes etc, I am under the impression that you are against these things. I give them their due, but to let you know, I am a Hindu (Indian too) and have always been a Hindu. However, simply because I am an Indian and Hindu does not mean I blindly support one or the other. Actually, I weigh arguments before I decide.
Putrid decadence. Hmm, I'm not sure you read my posts, but I do criticise the government (probably more than most here), though not on a basis of race. More because of non-performance. I fear I do not bring race, ethnicity and things that you deem so important into my arguments, simply because I think that there are other (and more effective ways) to display the problems of the country.
On the topic of apartheid - I confess I know little except that it was a LEGALLY recognised system of racism. Now, in Trinidad, as you and many others point out, racism may be present, alive and kicking as it were. But apartheid? I'd hesitate to go so far. I have not seen any legal support for racism yet.
America and India are larger than TnT. Yep, that's why in the USA, we have divisions of STATES and Counties, both for local management as well as National Governance. In fact, that is how the ballots were stolen to give Dubya 2 elections. Now, I can understand that people want a better system than is present in Trinidad, but coming outright and saying things willy nilly does not help the situation. Okay, I may have been wrong to suggest that management is easier in small chunks. I bow to your knowledge here, but since my business teacher suggests that this was the way it's usually done, I thought, well, that was the way it was usually done.
I don't want to bring arguments down to you and me. Here is a forum to express views, not to attack each other. While you may take your points of view personally, don't take the criticism personally. See it as an opportunity to expand your own views, who knows, maybe then you can assimilate ideas from others to help make bigger, better changes.
Greetings Jumbie,
I believe that like yourself, Ralph, and Ocah, claimed to be Hindu Indians also.
If you can remember Errol and Kamal claimed to be Indians but this was not of any importance when it came to condoning (aiding & abetting) the satanic cult with their apartheid against Hindu Indians.
I don’t expect you to have any knowledge about these atrocities because you, like Vidya Naipaul seem to be deserters in search of egocentric agendas.
I live in the reality of the situation and I have been fighting against the Putrid Bigotry for over 40 years. So don’t try to convince me that what I’m experiencing is pleasure and not pain.
I’m not a masochist so when I’m being mounted from the back and I say that I’m in pain don’t demonstrate your perversion by arguing that I’m being pleasured.
If you were following the News about Maha Sabha, Sat Sharma, UNC Doctors, Petrosingh, etc., then you may have a vague idea of Legalised/ Institutionalised bigotry (in the Media and state enterprises etc.).
Follow the yellow brick road with your eyes and mind wide-open, you may eventually stumble upon the reality.
Cap W
If you have been an observant resident of this country for the past 50years or more, then you would observe that the elections and boundaries commission seem to have a very strange formula for allocating the polling boundaries.
If you were to pay attention you would observe the fact that those areas that housed the so-called Hindu-Indians, contained the greatest number of voters in comparison to other areas like POS etc.,
I don’t have the luxury of time to go into all the details regarding the different forms of bigotry that determined the manner in which these boundaries were established to satisfy the agenda of the party in power.
If you genuinely care to know then I can discuss the details through our personal mailboxes.
RIK-V,
My choice of the glass pane analogy was to illustrate certain things. The pane was meant to represent unity of a people with their shared goals and purposes. I didn't feel I needed to spell out what those were because they are defined in the Constitution and the National Anthem.
What I was trying to get across is that if cracks develop perhaps due to inequalities or other things e.g. injustice - then I perceive a problem. When we probe the cracks we risk widening them, perhaps unwittingly - and we can even justify our vigorous probing. However, I had no problem in probing as such. I was only concerned that when we probe we ensure we don't mash up the whole thing. 'Thing' here meaning the pane of glass and producing an irreparably fragmented Nation.
The 'whole thing' meaning unity, commonality of purposes etc etc. I'll stay with that point. I'm afraid I am unable to debate changing the whole glass or different stains of glass etc. My concern is about unity and equality - and us to blundering in and mashing up the whole Nation. From my perception there are cracks and we need to do much more than just examining them. We need to fix them as well.
Your statements seem loaded with assumptions or facts known only to you e.g. satanic individuals. I can't really debate that kind of thing because I don't have clue who you're referring to. I don't know what is are "Bigoted boundaries" - sorry I never came across this terminology before.
Your references to things again seem rather cryptic and vague e.g. 'Indian Hindu Leader from the lagoon'. Are you afraid to say who you're talking about? It seems that sometimes you have a point somewhere but people out here tend to spend their time trying to dig it out of you. This is not for me. I shan't be asking you for evidence of devil worship etc.
Rik V,
You have me bazodee.
U:<< Don’t you think that we need to replace the glass, because it was covering the truth?
I believe that we need to replace this stained glass (stained with numerous forms of bigotry). >>
Me: UP FRONT:
I have to play mind-reader here so gimme a break if ah take some liberty OK RV,
hear nah man I cyar follow U, to me like U talking in parables.
U: I believe that we need to replace this stained glass
Me: I agree, and dat is way de man (CW) mean in the 1st-place, if de glass crack as de man say, way U go do leave it dey? So the quest is, what do you propose to replace it WITH? tell us that RV, that is what I.we? want to hear, doh waste my time with incomplete thoughts.
U: <<<< Stained with numerous forms of bigotry). >>>>
ME: Now lemme play Karnak (Johnny Carson's mind-reading skit character)
If U mean changing from a hodge-podge failed 'melting pot' to a 21st-century multi-culturalism model then please say so. and again I have to.......
Guess:
IF that is what U mea n
THEN I agree with you
ELSE
I GIVE UP
End Guess
You know what, I done wid dis yes, dis feelin like ah writing some kinda computer program.
IF A greater than B -THEN- DO SO and SO
ELSE
PACK UP and GO HOME
END_IF
Look RV, to me (and 'am sure to the rest of folks) U come across as ah fella with some good stuff to offer but U sound like Bush #1. I cud never follow dat guy, bright fella too, but he has a tongue-brain coordination problem.
This is not a jab by any means, 'am just trying to let you see how I /we? see you, how you're coming across.
Maybe you need to slow down a bit, you probably have a busy schedule, and yeah that could explain cryptic!.
Your CEO cryptic point-form style is great, but only for the board room, for people in the organization, 'cause THEY KNOW what the business model is.(I /we? do not) as a matter of fact if a CEO treated his key staff to lengthy prose, their eyes would simply glaze over and they'd fall asleep.
Are you afraid of boring us? putting us to sleep?
Ok, Ok just asking!
Snowman
I apologize for not taking the time to address my comments to you personally.
Can you find someone to interpret the biblical parables for you?
If you can, then you have a start, until then please stay out of the sunlight (Snowman) before you melt.
Admin Note: 2007-05-10 13:49 BST
The site administrator is not satisfied with this kind of correspondence or sequence of responses. It is disconnected totally from the main topic line and is directed at persons and personal issues.
Admin Note: 2007-05-10 14:03 BST
This kind of exchange can happen person to person via email. This site is not to be misused. No further exchanges of this kind will be allowed, nor should they be attempted. Posting privileges will be withdrawn from those engaging in this kind of conduct.
Sometimes I wish I'd chosen a different career path. I'd do medicine, and further studies in psychiatry and psychology.
It would have been interesting to try to find reasons why people like Umballa, Lee Sing, Gladiator, Valley etc, attack others who are no way involved in their lives. Umballa runs a supermarket, right? I bet he loves the indian money that comes to his tills daily. A classic case of biting the hand that feeds you. Most Indians attacked, slammed, maligned by these PNM supporters aren't people who are agitators, or even people who are in the decision making strata that affects these men. Their comments are aimed at the majority of Indians who simply seek to go about their daily lives in peace, hoping to earn enough to have certain comforts for their families.
It's been said that men who are unusually aggressive are men who see themselves as have a deficiency for which they must compensate. Hitler and Napoleon were short men, and were uncommonly aggressive. I've never seen Gladiator (a misnomer if I ever heard one sully the word) or Umballa. Are they short? I don't know, but maybe they have some self perceived deficiency for which they try to make themselves macho. I know Valley is not a short bloke so I know his hangup lies elsewhere though I'd hate to speculate.
I suppose they do try to see themselves as intellectuals and 'shakers and movers'. Again, I don't know. From my point of view I see an intellectual as a person who can examine any situation from different angles and argue sensibly for or against, but not spit mindless rants with passion and no sense. (As an aside, Ken Ramchand fell into this bracket with his defense of Naipaul, so I am not attacking a particular race).
My sister is a clever girl. She says that to call someone a nigger is not a reference to their race, but a reflection of the ATTITUDE of that person. Which is why I find it ironic that the very men who aggressively 'defends' are the very ones who open the window for the world to look in.
Having spent lots of time in the US between highschool and now, I am hesitant using the "N" word or being around it. This despite the fact that it is my black friends (esp the Tobagonian ones) who use it in various local terminologies.
Despite my personal preference not to be comfortable with that one word, I support your stance and I will try to answer your question Jumbie. You ask why these people say and do these things?
"Politics is the art of staying in power, nothing more or less."
Regardless of the short term benefit of being nice to all members of the community, everyone knows in Trinidad that when you're friends are in power, you benefit tremendously. Its obvious why they do and say these things; they see the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow and they will do what it takes to get it.
In the words of calysonian Lord Nelson, All Ah We Is One Family. Well when i listen to this man i am sadden that he is singing about a uptopia in TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO.Gone are the days when this statement can be said to be true. The nature of the politics and evolving society has changed this view. Now in Trinidad if you greet someone with a kind word they look at you as if you utter an obsenity at them. The division of the races in Trinidad and Tobago has and will continue to become divided. What a shame!!!!!!!!
Today's guardian quotes Min. Valley as saying he "regretted it," and it was "only banter" when he called high court judge Amrika Tiwary-Reddy as a "UNC functionary" and how the PNM saw her as a "politician."
Hmm... I wonder if anyone can call Hamel-Smith and McNicols as PNM functionaries and politicians (be it true or not) and get away with it? Oh wait, I think you need parliamentary privilege to say such things and not be in contempt of court.
So lets summarize: The only people who can legally get away with being divisive to the society and destructive to the judiciary are THE PEOPLE WE ELECT TO PARLIAMENT.
THAT SAYS A LOT ABOUT THE STUPIDITY OF OUR POPULATION WHEN IT COMES TO VOTING!
And unlike many of you, I don't blame the "other half" (PNM voters, to me), for they vote for the people that they "perceive" helps them the most. I blame the idiotic Indian voter who either doesn't vote or refuses to vote on policies. Divided by both Williams and Manning by religion, we don't stand a chance unless we put religion aside and vote as a block on what's best for the country.
No one else will take that responsibility. Not the very rich, not the Tobagonian's, not the laventillites or morvantites, not the uneducated, not the dirt poor, not the east-west corridor. And since the middle-class is shrinking due to the purposeful policies of Pastor Patos (aka. Patrick Mugabe), guess what? We all will eventually fit into one of the above groups. IT WAS FROM THE MIDDLE-CLASS THAT MOST OF THE OPPOSITION TO THE PNM CAME FROM.
Please people, listen to a young man with hope for the future. It's very easy to move the country forward. "JUST VOTE FOR THE PERSON WHO YOU THINK, AS PM, WOULD DO THE LEAST HARM TO THE GREATEST NUMBER OF PEOPLE." I don't think we're politically mature at this point to vote for the person who will do the greatest good to the greatest number of people. Least harm is the intermediate solution to our backwardness.
Who is that? Between Manning, Panday, Kamla, or Dookeran, who do you think will fit that equation? I count three divisive politicians and one who seems to be trying. Picking is easy for me, is it easy for you?