I note in this Divali season, the festivities and especially the Divali Nagar are being unnecessarily blemished once more. It is obvious that over the years, attacks have come from the Opposition against predominantly PNM (People’s National Movement) members.
This year is unfortunately no different, with an organisation named the Global Organisation of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO) writing the NCIC (National Council of Indian Culture) to object to Trinidad and Tobago’s acting Prime Minister, Stuart Young, speaking at the Divali Nagar.
My first question was: who is GOPIO, and what is their role in Trinidad and Tobago? I examined their constitution, which states that GOPIO “is a secular, non-political non-partisan, non-sectarian, not-for-profit global organisation engaged in promoting the well-being of people of Indian origin”. I also noted that this organisation is formed with chapters across the globe, promoting the advancement and well-being of persons of Indian origin and even seeking to establish trade and financial networks, which is laudable.
However, the chapter which operates in the Caribbean has raised a serious concern for me. Contrary to the non-political and non-partisan objectives stated in the organisation’s constitution, it seems to have taken a very political stance and position.
Its Facebook page looks more like an Opposition attack page than a non-partisan one, full of critical memes about “Rowley”, “Eric Williams” and the PNM. I only had to look back five days ago on a GOPIO post with a picture of Tourism Minister Randall Mitchell, with a caption reading, “Just ST…U! Just give the poor your Pan Trinbago Rent…yuh dumb insensitive PNM Lout”.
This is obviously not the messaging one would associate with an international non-political, non-partisan organisation, aimed at promoting the well-being of persons of Indian origin. The more I look at the work of GOPIO Caribbean and GOPIO T&T, the more it looks to me like a discredited organisation aimed at distasteful attacks against the PNM Government of T&T.
It appears to be hosting no seminars for human capital development or creating trade linkages with the East Indian diaspora, as is happening with other chapters across the world.
In light of what I have seen, the comments and activities of this organisation appear to run against the stated aims and objectives of their constitution. They have become political and, in my view, disrespectfully so. They do not represent me or my family, as persons of East Indian origin, and I would not even allow my children to visit their social media pages, as their vocabulary may end up in the gutter.
As a citizen of Trinidad and Tobago and a person of Indian origin, I make a call to GOPIO International to examine the divisive, potentially damaging and clearly partisan activities of GOPIO Caribbean and GOPIO T&T. We certainly do not need this poison in our multicultural and plural society, which has existed in peace, despite our diversity.
Rajiv Hemant
San Fernando