Shastri Boodan
Freelance Contributor
The National Council of Indian Culture (NCIC) has urged politicians and the media to stop exploiting race, religion, and culture as tools of division in Trinidad and Tobago.
Speaking at the Independence Rainbow Dance Festival at the NCIC Nagar in Chaguanas on Saturday, NCIC president Surujdeo Mangaroo described diversity as one of the nation’s greatest assets.
“Trinidad and Tobago is a plural nation. Our identity has been formed by several different cultures, religions, beliefs and values which over the years have come together to create what we so proudly call Trinbagonian,” he said.
Mangaroo said the festival itself reflected unity in practice. “Tonight, an African rhythm will meet an Indian melody – a literal depiction of David Rudder’s Ganges Meet the Nile,” he noted.
He warned, however, that some politicians were deliberately stoking division for short‑term gain. “They encourage citizens to see one another as opponents rather than fellow citizens. That approach may produce temporary political advantage, but it weakens the nation,” he said.
Mangaroo appealed directly to Prime Minister Kamla Persad‑Bissessar to reinstate the Race Relations Committee, arguing that such a body could provide a structured mechanism for addressing tensions, encouraging dialogue, and promoting public education. “Where there is tension, there must be dialogue. Prevention is wiser than repair,” he said.
He stressed that unity required participation beyond government. Parents, cultural organisations, and the media all had roles to play in teaching respect, fostering collaboration, and rejecting manipulation. “Citizens must refuse to be manipulated into hating one another,” he said.
Mangaroo emphasised that culture was a powerful bridge. “Political speeches can divide. Cultural expression can bring people into the same room. A dance can communicate what words cannot,” he said, adding that institutions like the NCIC must create spaces where difference is celebrated and national belonging strengthened.
He closed by urging citizens to envision a country where cultural differences are protected and celebrated. “A country where no child is taught to despise another. A country where we are not merely neighbours, but partners in nation‑building,” Mangaroo said.
