Cudjoe says people of African origin face "turbulent times"

The president of the National Association for the Empowerment of African People (NAEAP) said Saturday people of African origin face "turbulent times" in Trinidad and Tobago.

Professor Selwyn Cudjoe said if current trends continue, the entire black population would "degenerate into lower depths of poverty and despair".

Speaking urged the government to call a meeting of the "relevant Africans groups” to put together a ten-year plan which would allow Africans “to act in ways that are conducive to their own self-interest and the well-being of the nation." 

He said, "Unless we do this, the maddening killing will continue; the rising crime will continue; and those who can will continue to reproduce themselves without any serious consideration of what it means for the overall progress of the race and of the nation," Cudjoe said.

He also blamed former Patrick Manning-led administration for not doing enough to improve the quality of life of the local black community.

“The predominantly black government did not see it fit to endorse the idea of making a sustained effort to deal with the problems that affect black children and black youth.”

Cudjoe expressed concern over many black men living in the “ghetto” whose life expectancy is around 30. He took issue with the percentage of people of Indian origin, which he said is now 40 per cent as opposed to 37.5 per cent are Africans. 

“This divide is likely to grow as time goes on...We might see the same pattern that has emerged in Guyana, in which the dominant group will hold power in perpetuity,” Cudjoe said.

In an article last week, Cudjoe also suggested that the current government won office because of Indian support. He ignored the People's Partnership national acceptance, stating instead that "by 2010 there were more Indian than black voters."

He added, Given the propensity of Indians to vote in greater numbers than Africans and their solid commitment to an Indian party, the writing (for the PNM) was on the wall...Indians particularly will bask in the glory of their triumph" he wrote.

Read Dr Cudjoe's commentary: Rising from Rock Bottom - by Selwyn Cudjoe
Read the rebuttal to Dr Cudjoe's commentary: We have grown up and discarded race