NCIC head thanks Govt for covid19 measures

PRESIDENT of the National Council of Indian Culture (NCIC) Dr Deokinanan Sharma said the commemoration of the 175th anniversary Indian Arrival Day has met him with a feeling of both sadness and satisfaction.

He commended Government for the handling of the covid19 pandemic, but criticised one department of insulting a large section of Indo-Trinidadian and Indo-Tobagonian community by omitting the word Indian from Indian Arrival Day.

Sharma delivered an address during a virtual cultural programme put together by the NCIC and streamed live via YouTube and Sankhya Television on Saturday afternoon.

He said he was satisfied with the Government handling of the coronavirus to the point that there are no new positive cases of infection and the death toll has been contained. TT has not had any new cases since April 26.

“I take this opportunity to extend my appreciation to the Government, the medical and science experts and the frontline workers for the commendable effort they have made thus far under very trying circumstances.”

“The world has not yet found a way to defeat the virus, but I have read of possible vaccines that are being developed. We should all pray that this vaccine or some other form of cure would soon be successfully tested so that we could overcome this curse on humanity.”

Sharma said he was sad that plans for a bumper celebration during the entire month of May had to be aborted due to the pandemic. He said since last year the NCIC had planned to commemorate both the 100th anniversary of the final abolition of Indian indentureship, and the 175th anniversary of the arrival of East Indians to TT.

The shining light, he said, was that the NCIC still managed to celebrate the day with the virtual concert, although in a scaled down manner.

He also expressed sadness that a government agency had omitted, in an advertisement, the word Indian from its Indian Arrival Day message.

“This was very disturbing to the Indo-Trinbagonian population.

“I make an appeal to cease this insult to a very large segment of our population, a segment that has made very significant contributions to all aspects of the development of our country.

“The grant of Indian Arrival Day as a holiday by the GOTT was given after a hard-fought battle and it is a very condescending treatment by those who have not yet accepted that fact.”

Reflecting on the arrival of the first batch of Indian indentured (Girmitiyas) to rescue the sugar cane industry after the abolition of slavery in 1838, he said those who settled in Trinidad, Guyana and Suriname were fortunate.

Due to their considerably large numbers they had the opportunity to pursue and develop their cultural traditions, religion, cuisine, language and attire.

In comparison he said the indentured in the other islands like Jamaica, Grenada, St Vincent, St Lucia, Guadeloupe, Martinique and Belize were practically all converted to Christianity and lost all of their tradition.

He said at the request of East Indians in these countries, the NCIC has been making great efforts to revive and reclaim their heritage. Dance, music and culinary tutors, were sent by the NCIC but due limited resources were unable to pursue in a manner that would have made a greater impact.

“It is a monumental task. Some strides were made, but the yearning is still there to learn more. I will therefore urge the NCIC to rethink the matter and come up with a strategy to further assist our brethren in these Caribbean countries.”