?Not unexpectedly, my e-mail box received several missives from concerned readers following last Wednesday's article. It dealt with a rather controversial subject raised by RC cleric Martin Sirju, who lamented the academic under-performance of Afro-Trinis.
He suggested that because of the apparent numero uno position taken by our Indo-Trini brothers and sisters in this area, that they should consider giving assistance to their Afro-Trini male counterparts in what I term academic catching up. What has me surprised though is the silence of Afrocentrics like Prof Selwyn Cudjoe, who apparently has seen nothing in Sirju's discourse worthy of his attention. Let's hope I am wrong and that the good professor responds sooner rather than later. Today I reproduce two of those responses with brief comments of my own. The first writer signs as "Poui Tree": "Hi Clevon, I am a fan of your column when I get a chance to read it, and I usually agree with your rationale. But I suppose I found your last article strange. "You seem to agree with Sirju on the following points: First that Indo Trinis gloat about their academic success. Why do you have a problem with that? Achievement is indeed something to be proud of and encouraged in youth, especially in a developing nation such as ours.
"Second you mentioned Sirju's thought these Indo-Trinis should 'assist' Afro-Trinis. Shouldn't the Afro public you speak of take responsibility for educating and assisting their own children? Do you think the CEO of a company would take a stranger under his wing and teach him the secret of his success? I think not. "As a mother I believe the reason for low success rate in Afro-Trinis starts at home: with the mothers. Mothers who do not go over homework every night, read to their young kids, spend quality time with them, who live lives of debauchery, have kids for random men, etc, and won't even drop them to school on time make their children suffer and struggle with academics in the end. "Most likely these same youths end up on the street in a life of crime. If a child does not have parental support, his/her chances are most likely doomed–as is T&T's. "Last but not least blaming the Catholic Church and agreeing with a divisive Sat Maharaj, tsk, tsk, Clevon. "Most schools in Trinidad are run by the T&T Government, so maybe you should blame your political leaders for the failure of the local schools and thank the RCs for trying to address and act on the lack of proper education here.
"Clevon, maybe it's time you do a series on the lack of motherhood (research what mothers have become in this place) and absence of fathers in this country, which I think is the deep root of the problems in this country." I never said that Indo-Trinis were gloating over their scholastic successes. It was Fr Sirju who made that observation, which he said was disturbing to him. Like you, I see nothing wrong with anyone basking in the glory of their achievements, whatever they may be. Gloating is quite another story and I would have liked Fr Sirju to explain how he arrived at that untenable conclusion. Unlike you I don't see Sat Maharaj as "divisive." As I have always maintained, Mr Maharaj is damn well right to take up the causes of his ethnic group and in whatever lawful form he chooses. Is there one Afro-Trini who can be viewed as a leader of his ethnic group in T&T? And while I might agree with some of the issues raised, please don't cast all Afro-Trini mothers in the unflattering mould you have painted. Yes there are some who are bad examples to their charges but there are so many more who are really giving their all to make their children productive citizens of this beloved country.
The other letter is from Shayam Kadir:
"Allow me to congratulate you on your weekly columns that I look forward to reading. They are thought-provoking and unbiased. A reflection of good journalism. "If I may introduce myself, I am a Muslim professional of East Indian descent (I call myself a Trini, and when one works like I do one will realise that we are not Indians) who works for a multinational corporation.
"I spent 12 years working in West Africa and have been working in Australia for the past three years. "With reference to Fr Sirju's comment about people of East Indian descent 'gloating' over their achievement, in my many discussions with my counterparts and acquaintances, half of whom are of East Indian descent and have children who have excelled academically, we are really indifferent to the achievements or lack thereof of anyone else. "I hope that we will not be classed as being uncivic-minded. "I really don't know where Fr Sirju got the 'gloating idea' from. Maybe it is a reflection of the lack of education of his flock or the people that he has discussions with, but I am being judgmental and therefore wrong here. "Unfortunately I don't have the your literary prowess so I will leave the writing to you and the chatting and being indifferent to myself and my buddies." As I said, I don't know how Fr Sirju arrived at the "gloating idea." However, I welcome your comments and will continue to write it as I see it, accepting that my comments will not find favour with all.