President: Black Power activists were heroes

President Anthony Carmona yesterday hailed members of TT’s Black Power movement as heroes during a tour of the holding cells at Nelson Island where several activists were kept during the the 1970 State of Emergency.

Addressing members of the diplomatic corps, who accompanied him on the tour, Carmona said despite being maligned by politicians at the time, the activists fought to end institutional racism and bring about fundamental social change during the turbulent years after independence. Citing the work of social activist Makandal Daaga, he said the men interned there had made invaluable contributions to culture and society.

“Wrong was done to these men who were held in these cells, and there was some historical vindication at the time, which portrayed them as dangerous revolutionaries when they were activists striving to achieve equality and opportunity for Afro- and Indo-Trinidadians. In fact, Makandal Daaga, who was an instrumental figure in the movement, was later awarded the Order of the Republic of TT for his social activism.”

Almost a dozen diplomats toured the Nelson Island Heritage Site yesterday for a glimpse into the island’s history, which started in 1802 with the construction of buildings by African slaves which later housed the first wave of East Indian immigrants coming to work on plantations.

Led by guides from the National Trust, the diplomats were treated to a thorough tour of historical sites on the island, including military installations used by the US Army during World War II.