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Qualified but rejected
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
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Hold on. This organisation was dubbed 'Petrosingh' because it has 9 'indians' out of 26 top executives? Wonder what they would have called it had tere been more Indians?
...I can recall many many years ago, while doing Statistic at University, the Professor brought us a book titled..."How To Lie With Statistics"...and we were told to read it over very carefully...as it will become extremely important to us in the future...!
...well so said so done, as it does not matter how much "spin" the "gurus" put on things...figures themselves don't lie..its how its presented, with the intent to mislead..i.e "deceive...that is "to lie"....!
...so here we have the "figures" and "statistics" to prove and support the claims of racial discrimination, Anand has done a service to the people to dispel the "myth being perpetrated" by the Government...once and for all...good for you Anand...its about time...!
...one of the problems we have in dealing with this very sensitive issue, is that anytime one speaks of "racial discrimination"...the ones who are pointing it out, who are pleading to the powers that be to "balance the scale" are themselves called and branded as "rascists themselves"...all very convenient to sidestep the whole issue itself, and continue on its merry way...unfettered racial discrimination...!
...public outcry fall on deaf ears, and court decisions citing discrimination are treated with contempt and disdain, as they come "dime a dozen" all the while being ignored by the regime today...even at monumental costs to the taxpayers of the country...!
...but these statistics are very compelling and raises very serious questions to a society striving to achieve "developed country status"...as most developed countries have "effective legislations" in place, if not to prevent open and blatant racial discrimination, but to also effectively address "the balancing of the scales"...through "Equity and Diversity" Programs rigidly supported by Legislation, and a redress mechanism i.e through "A Human Rights Commission and the Judicial System"...!
...in most developed countries, such wrongs are usually resolved at the Human Rights Commission level, as opposed to the Courts, which are a great deal more "punitive" should it ever come to that stage...!
... public knowledge and awareness are key towards ridding society of these "unacceptable and disgraceful practices" all in the name of "politics", and used by Political Parties as tools, no, more like "weapons' to maintain power all at the expense of cultivating a racially biased society...much to the utter shame of our National Emblem which boasts of "equality of and to all, regardless of religion, race or culture...to find an equal place...???"!...
...looking at the statistics, its hard to find "pride" in these racially motivated practices...its hard to find "equality" amongst all our citizens...!
...in fact the only pride comes out of this...goes to Anand and to the likes of Richard Thomas and others, whose constant vigil will continue to keep the public aware of government policies and practices that continue to "suppress and discriminate" race against race...all to keep them in power, at the expense of miserably failing its citizens in every which way...up to and including a "failed state"...!
...so to reiterate, the figures don't lie...its the government "spin doctors" who presents the statictics that "mislead or lie"...no different than saying "the glass is half empty or the glass is half full...?...or as the Government is so used to telling the public...soon we will be doing this or that..."soon being thirty years from now..."..?
...however, these statictics don't need any "spin doctors" to tell the tale...its right out in the open...blatant racial discrimination at its worst...and not a damn dog bark...otherwise, "you're a racist"...if you only open your mouths...!
...well, cudos to you Anand...and to Richard Thomas...and to others similarly inclined, keep up the good work...our country and society needs many many more of you and the likes of you...!
...now thats what pride is all about, striving for equality amongst all our people and eliminating racial discrimination....once and for all...!
...not some multi million dollar monster flag pole with a "puny flag" flappin' in the wind...or being moved by the spirit whichever...??? !
...goodluck...Trinit.o.o