Plan under Manning was for the Stalin auditorium

THE EDITOR: I add my two cents worth to the controversy surrounding San Fernando Mayor Junia Regrello and his remarks about renaming the auditorium of the National Academy for the Performing Arts, South Campus, in honour of calypsonian Leroy “Black Stalin” Calliste instead of chutney singer Sundar Popo.

The mayor is accused of being disrespectful to the contribution of Sundar Popo and the East Indian community. These remarks, however, do not throw light on the beginning of this episode. Here are the facts:

The NAPA, South Campus building was constructed under the Patrick Manning administration and long before Sundar Popo’s name was on the horizon. The proposal to name the auditorium after Calliste was firmly placed on the table with sound arguments detailing his contribution to the cultural landscape of TT, his inspiration to and aspirations for the Caribbean region in the wider context.

A change in the administration in 2010 saw Stalin’s name completely removed from the table by the then government and replaced with Sundar Popo’s.

The present hue and cry from those who are calling for an apology from the mayor must first ask the Kamla Persad-Bissessar-led PP government to justify the removal of Calliste’s name from the table and say why the “Caribbean man” was rejected.

I eagerly await the response of those who are prepared to “dog whistle” their ethnic base through coloured lenses.

The mayor owes no one an apology. In fact it may very well be the other way around. Someone must say why Stalin’s name was cast aside in the first place.

LARRY HAREWOOD via e-mail