Special Insight Papers

Trinidad & Tobago's president, Professor GM Richards, raised the fraught issue of race relations at the ceremonial opening of parliament on 10 September. He said that people were mobilizing around old grievances and he warned against 'identity politics that polarize people and groups'. The 1.3m population of Trinidad & Tobago is made up of 40% of Indian descent, 37.5% of African descent, and 20.5% mixed race. Professor Richards warned: 'We are dangerously close to adopting positions in this country that could, if we are not careful, suppress and ultimately destroy the gains we have accomplished over several years, dating back to the pre-independence era in so far as relative racial harmony is concerned.'