The Global Organisation of People of Indian Origin in Trinidad and Tobago (Gopio) has been accused of bashing the PNM only to get "curry favours" from the People's Partnership Government.
This comment came from Devant Maharaj, former head of Gopio and now leader of the Indo-Trinidadian Equality Council (ITEC). Maharaj said statements made by Deosaran Bisnath at Gopio awards at NAPA on Saturday night were orchestrated to "mamaguy" the new Government. Maharaj said: "The awards are being given out to position Gopio and its leadership for the largesse of the state. I am suspicious that Gopio is now attacking an impotent PNM so as to position itself and its leadership for employment and funding from the People's Partnership Government."
Maharaj said Gopio was hiding in the woodworks while the PNM reigned rampant. "Where was Gopio TT under Bisnath for the past few years when Indo-Trinidadians were being discriminated against. "He was busy having tea parties and fund-raisers and was extremely silent on several issues," he added. Maharaj said Gopio International, along with Bisnath, met with then Prime Minister and PNM political leader Patrick Manning and "promised to no longer give the PNM Government of T&T any more problem." He said the irony of the new view of Gopio towards the PNM comes about because the PNM was no longer in a position to reward them.
Maharaj said Dr Bhoe Tiwarie, pro-vice chancellor of UWI, also had grown "a handful of teeth" to speak about the persecution of former Chief Justice Sat Sharma. He said: "Interestingly Dr Bhoe Tiwarie was similarly silent during the PNM persecution of former Chief Justice Sat Sharma, yet he now speaks with authority and indignation about the political terrorism which the PNM treated with the former Chief Justice." Maharaj said the very NAPA which Gopio used as a platform was the subject of debate in which it was silent. He said the PNM Minister of Culture Marlene MacDonald indicated that NAPA would not be used for chutney or soca. Maharaj said while others, including ITEC, commented on that development Gopio remained silent.