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There is need to address problems of inequity in TT’s political system before the issue of racism can be properly tackled, so said former prime minister Basdeo Panday on Friday.
Responding to questions from the audience during an interview at the Mahatma Gandhi Institute for Cultural Cooperation, Mt Hope, Panday was asked his thoughts on how racism could be tackled in modern day TT.
He noted TT’s Westminster system inherited from British colonial rulers did not effectively address matters of racism and inequity at the constitutional level.
He noted that changing the political mechanics governing TT’s institutions would be the first step towards dealing with institutional racism and inequity.
“I remember someone was asking me why I was criticising the Westminster system because it works well for the British and I explained that it works well for the British because they are British and it doesn’t work for us because we are not British.
“We do not have the same way of dealing with things, so what we really need to treat with racism is to develop a constitution that is relevant to our own society, not someone else’s.
“Most importantly we have to develop a political system where governments are accountable, they are not allowed to discriminate, where people are treated the fairly and where there are sanctions for those who disobey it’s an enormous task but it has to start politically.”
In response to another question from an audience member, Panday said constitutional change was crucial in eliminating inequity and accused the government and the opposition of being unwilling to change.
"Neither the government nor the opposition wants political change because the current system works in their favour," he said.
"The only solution we have to this is to mobilise the people.
"This might seem difficult to mobilise a country that is divided by race and class but when we unite the people we can put pressure on the politicians to bring about this change." Panday said changes in TT's political system were necessary to eliminate racism.
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