Historian backs steelpan on Coat of Arms… but questions PM’s early announcement of plan

Senior Reporter

rhondor.dowlat@guardian.co.tt

Historian Bridget Brereton is supporting Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley’s decision to add the steelpan to the Coat of Arms but is questioning his call to make the announcement before the findings of the Committee on Monuments, Statues & Signage—a body appointed by the Government itself — are unveiled.

Brereton, who was consulted by the committee, expressed surprise that the decision was made ahead of the report’s release.

“I’m puzzled that the PM’s announcement came before the committee’s report. I don’t know if the Coat of Arms was part of their focus, but it certainly seems within their remit,” Brereton said yesterday.

The committee, established in 2022, has been actively engaging with stakeholders, holding several meetings with invited individuals and groups.

Brereton was part of a session in September 2023 and submitted her written recommendations in April this year.

Reflecting on the substance of the issue, Brereton supported the proposal to replace Christopher Columbus’ ships with an image of the steelpan.

“The ships should never have been there in the first place but it was perhaps understandable in 1962. Now, in 2024, it’s clearly inappropriate. Replacing them with the steelpan, our national instrument, is a progressive change reflecting our times,” she noted.

Adding to the debate, former UNC senator Dominic Smith also voiced strong criticisms regarding the timing and process of the announcement.

Smith argued that Government’s premature decision undermines the committee’s work and raises concerns about transparency.

“It’s highly irregular for the Prime Minister to announce changes before the committee has even released its findings. This casts doubt on whether the process is being handled with the necessary integrity and thoroughness,” Smith said.

He added, “The Government should have waited for the committee’s comprehensive review before making such a significant declaration. This early announcement seems designed to pre-empt the committee’s conclusions and might reflect a lack of respect for its mandate.”

As the debate over how national symbols should evolve continues, Government has scheduled a public consultation on August 28 to gather input on the future of statues, monuments and signage. The event, organised by the Committee on Monuments, Statues & Signage, is part of a broader initiative to address the ongoing controversy surrounding colonial-era monuments, including the status of Christopher Columbus in Port-of-Spain.

Citizens are invited to attend the session at the Government Plaza in Port-of-Spain or submit feedback online.

As the consultation date approaches, citizens have a rare opportunity to influence how T&T preserves its history and represents its evolving identity in public spaces. The outcome could set the stage for a significant shift in how the nation reconciles its colonial past with its cultural future.

Cultural activist and poet Eintou Pearl Springer is urging the public to participate, describing the consultation as a critical step in decolonisng the nation’s cultural landscape. “This committee’s work is a vital part of our decolonisation process. I hope the Government will act on its recommendations,” Springer said.

She also highlighted the disconnect between national identity and public recognition, pointing out that figures like pan-Africanist George Padmore are honoured abroad but largely forgotten at home.

“In Accra, Ghana, there’s a monument and library dedicated to George Padmore, a Trinbagonian. Yet his name is virtually unknown in his homeland,” she emphasised.

Springer stressed the importance of education in fostering a deeper understanding of history. She noted that many young people are unaware of significant events like African Emancipation Day and called for more innovative methods of teaching history through arts and culture.

“Our history must be taught in schools, and using arts and culture can reduce crime and ignorance,” she said.

Springer’s organisation, Idakeda Group, has been working with the National Trust to document sites of historical importance, including a former slave dungeon on the Orange Grove Estate.

Additionally, Springer underscored the untapped potential of heritage tourism in Trinidad and Tobago. Recalling how a group of African Americans looking to explore the country’s historical sites were initially told they didn’t exist, she highlighted the need to better promote the nation’s cultural heritage. “Heritage tourism is a growing industry globally. We need to tap into this to develop a vibrant tourism product,” she said.

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