For quite a long time, legislative issues in the Caribbean have been based on the divide caused by ethnicity. In Trinidad and Tobago, the twin islands previously colonized by the British, adult suffrage was granted in 1946. Following this, the majority of the country’s one million plus population were allowed to part take in elections. Among the population, they were four main prominent racial groups consisting of the; East Indians, Africans, Europeans and Chinese. For decades these racial groups were present in Trinidad, however to this day, neglect to find a common ground of shared values to develop a shared sense of citizenship and equal belonging. Post colonization, Trinidad and Tobago found themselves overwhelmed by the rivalry of politics between the two main ethnic groups, consisting of Indians and Africans. This was the main noteworthy inconsistency of the country. The introduction of the electoral system in Trinidad and Tobago came with a significant amount of uncertainty and skepticism and mistrust about the representation of the people, incorporation of communities and accountability of government allocated to the constituent framework.  According to Ralph R. Premdas in an article about Caribbean elections, “representation tends to become communalized so that the party in power symbolizes not the public will but sectional solidarity and interests. Citizen commitment is passionately expressed but communally cleaved so that only one section at a time identifies with the governing regime.  The out-section is alienated.  Elections elicit fearsome primordial responses and are deeply divisive affairs.”₍₁₎

     Trinidad and Tobago have been governed by African-based political parties since gaining independence in 1961. The main ruling party being the People’s National Movement (PNM).  This was the norm until the seventh election in 1995. Ralph R. Premdas described the election as, “… most observers predicted a normal event in a victory for the People’s National Movement (PNM).  In what turned out to be a watershed election, the ruling PNM was dramatically ousted from power and replaced by the predominantly Indian-based United National Congress (UNC) in coalition with a smaller party, the National Alliance for Reconstruction (NAR).”₍₂₎ This was the first time that someone of Indian decent was appointed as Prime Minister. This change in administration was met with grave intolerance and mistrust, mostly by the African population since the Indians already controlled most of the country’s economy. A quote by Ralph R. Premdas stated, “Since independence, political stability in Trinidad and Tobago was maintained by a system of ‘balance’ whereby African Creoles controlled the polity and Indians and others, including the descendants of whites, dominated agriculture, commerce, and business. Indian ascendance to power, then, seemed to constitute not just a change of government decisionmakers following yet another election but a fundamental shift in the distribution of spheres of control, infringing upon this ‘balance’ and threatening the fragile stability of the multiethnic order.”₍₃₎ Hence, the appointment of a Prime Minster of East Indian decent for the first time developed mistrust between communities. 

     Politics in Trinidad and Tobago was always heavily based on the underlying ethnic divide. Since the 1950s the two major parties, PNM and UNC, were based mainly around the African and Indian communities. The African based party, PNM, was headed by Dr. Eric Williams which lead the country to independence and governed the country until 1986. During the PNM’s long governing, mistrust and intolerance was prominent between the African and Indian ethnic groups. The Indians complained about being ethnically discriminated against and intolerance being shown towards their culture. This was somewhat attested to by the lack of Indians being appointed to the cabinet by the PNM and the African domination of the public and civil service. Hence, portrayal of intolerance and mistrust towards the Indians by the Africans.

     Additionally, the victory of the National Alliance for Reconstruction (NAR), who later merged with the UNC, in the 1986 elections was met by a disgruntled population as the party aimed to represent the multiethnic formation of the country which had never appeared in Trinidad and Tobago’s politics. Fear of misrepresentation was among the ethnic groups and the NAR’s plan for ethic unity was short-lived as the party was split between an African party led by former Prime Minister Robinson and an Indian party led by former Prime Minister Basdeo Panday. Again, showing grave intolerance and mistrust between ethnic groups in Caribbean politics.     

            

     Corruption in politics has led to further development of mistrust between citizens and authority. Citizens resort to using ‘self-help’ methods to resolve conflict instead of going to the authorities because of fear of being racially targeted or ignored. This intolerance and mistrust for government and authority has led to community rivalry, segregation and disunification.  

     Conclusively, it can be seen from this article that intolerance and mistrust with regards to ethnicity and politics has had significant negative impacts on the Caribbean and in particular, Trinidad and Tobago. Such mistrust and intolerance have caused social and economic development in Trinidad and Tobago and by extension, the Caribbean to be hindered as well as crime rates to increase and the country to face political instability.

(2)   Premdas, Ralph R. “ETHNICITY AND ELECTIONS IN THE CARIBBEAN: A RADICAL REALIGNMENT OF POWER IN TRINIDAD AND THE THREAT OF COMMUNAL STRIFE.” Https://Kellogg.nd.edu/, Apr. 1996, https://kellogg.nd.edu/.

(3)   Premdas, Ralph R. “ETHNICITY AND ELECTIONS IN THE CARIBBEAN: A RADICAL REALIGNMENT OF POWER IN TRINIDAD AND THE THREAT OF COMMUNAL STRIFE.” Https://Kellogg.nd.edu/, Apr. 1996, https://kellogg.nd.edu/.

(4)   Premdas, Ralph R. “ETHNICITY AND ELECTIONS IN THE CARIBBEAN: A RADICAL REALIGNMENT OF POWER IN TRINIDAD AND THE THREAT OF COMMUNAL STRIFE.” Https://Kellogg.nd.edu/, Apr. 1996, https://kellogg.nd.edu/.

(5)   Boodram, Kim. “'Kamla, What Have You Done for Black People?' Asks Rowley.” Trinidad Express Newspapers, 13 Feb. 2019, https://trinidadexpress.com/news/local/kamla-what-have-you-done-for-black-people-asks-rowley/article_beeaf3a2-2f91-11e9-ab4b-67ca94f5c5e1.html.

(6)   Premdas, Ralph R. “ETHNICITY AND ELECTIONS IN THE CARIBBEAN: A RADICAL REALIGNMENT OF POWER IN TRINIDAD AND THE THREAT OF COMMUNAL STRIFE.” Https://Kellogg.nd.edu/, Apr. 1996, https://kellogg.nd.edu/.