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Juhel Browne [email protected]
Wednesday, July 11th 2007
People of African descent have been living on the lower end of the social and economic scale, but not because of the United National Congress, says the party's political leader Basdeo Panday.
He also said that this inequality is not limited to those of African descent and is calling for the establishment of a long-proposed commission on race relations.
"I am sure you will agree that inequality exists among all the races in the society and for 40 years I have devoted my life to the struggle against inequality, and we not only talked about it when we came into power, we did something about it," Panday said.
He did so as he addressed the UNC's public meeting and talk back forum in Arouca on Monday night.
Panday first spoke on the race issue in response to a question from a party supporter, who said, "The Africans are at the bottom of the social ladder. If we vote the UNC again into Government how would they address that?"
Panday said, "My brother who asked the question about inequality in the society, and particularly the depressed state of our African brothers, some of our African brothers, first of all, let me say that I agree with that statement."
Panday said that there were historical reasons for this, such as the settlement of African slaves in the towns after they were freed, as opposed to that of the East Indian indentured labourers in the rural areas. He said, however, that the 1995-2001 UNC administration sought to address the issue of inequality, at times to its own detriment.
"In fact, one of the greatest accusations made against me by people of Indian origin is that when I was in office, I gave the African everything," he said.
Panday said those of African descent made the same accusation concerning those of Indian descent under the UNC administration.
"So having regard to the fact that I am being kicked on both sides, I say to myself I must have been doing something right?" he said.
He also said that there are too many people of African descent in the nation's jails.
"For that, blame the PNM don't blame me. I voting UNC," Panday said.
He added that previous generations had been brought into the country to deal with the racial problem.
"They brought those people in and treated them like animals for 40, 50 years while they were in power with the result that their children are in jail today. That is brutal, that is brutality which is unspeakable brutality which the UNC shall cure when it gets into office," Panday said.
Wednesday, July 11th 2007
People of African descent have been living on the lower end of the social and economic scale, but not because of the United National Congress, says the party's political leader Basdeo Panday.
He also said that this inequality is not limited to those of African descent and is calling for the establishment of a long-proposed commission on race relations.
"I am sure you will agree that inequality exists among all the races in the society and for 40 years I have devoted my life to the struggle against inequality, and we not only talked about it when we came into power, we did something about it," Panday said.
He did so as he addressed the UNC's public meeting and talk back forum in Arouca on Monday night.
Panday first spoke on the race issue in response to a question from a party supporter, who said, "The Africans are at the bottom of the social ladder. If we vote the UNC again into Government how would they address that?"
Panday said, "My brother who asked the question about inequality in the society, and particularly the depressed state of our African brothers, some of our African brothers, first of all, let me say that I agree with that statement."
Panday said that there were historical reasons for this, such as the settlement of African slaves in the towns after they were freed, as opposed to that of the East Indian indentured labourers in the rural areas. He said, however, that the 1995-2001 UNC administration sought to address the issue of inequality, at times to its own detriment.
"In fact, one of the greatest accusations made against me by people of Indian origin is that when I was in office, I gave the African everything," he said.
Panday said those of African descent made the same accusation concerning those of Indian descent under the UNC administration.
"So having regard to the fact that I am being kicked on both sides, I say to myself I must have been doing something right?" he said.
He also said that there are too many people of African descent in the nation's jails.
"For that, blame the PNM don't blame me. I voting UNC," Panday said.
He added that previous generations had been brought into the country to deal with the racial problem.
"They brought those people in and treated them like animals for 40, 50 years while they were in power with the result that their children are in jail today. That is brutal, that is brutality which is unspeakable brutality which the UNC shall cure when it gets into office," Panday said.
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