Feature: T&T in touch with African past

Dr David Pratten, Director, African Studies Centre, University of Oxford with His Excellency Garvin Nicholas, High Commissioner for the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago in London after the High Commissioner's keynote speech at the NISSAN THEATRE ST ANTONYíS COLLEGE (Oxford University).

Trinidad and Tobago's High Commissioner in London, Garvin Nicholas has made a presentation to the Oxford University African Society's inaugural conference, which gave young scholars and leaders an opportunity to analyse the ideals of Pan-Africanism in the 21st century with a focus on globalisation and environmental injustice.

Nicholas made a presentation on the Trinidad and Tobago connection to the African Diaspora in which he noted that the first Pan African Conference was convened in London in 1900 by the Trinidadian barrister Henry Sylvester-Williams who believes then that "the time had come when the voice of Black men should be heard independently in their own affairs".

Nicholas said that was an era dominated by "the burning desire to remove the mental shackles of colonialism which attracted an enthusiastic promotion of the return of the African Diaspora to their ancestral lands."

He added that such struggles even facilitated regular flirtations with the communist movement as a way forward. However he noted that all this has changed.

"Today African people are actively seeking to establish themselves as economic giants with a healthy recognition of modern day human rights and democracy. The 21st century represents a key epoch in Africa’s history and development.

The diplomat said Africa itself is now actively reaching out to its Diaspora, particularly the Caribbean, through the hosting of a series of Conferences and Regional Consultations over the past decade.

"These consultations present an important policy framework and mechanism through which the engagement between Africa and its Diaspora can be galvanised," he said noting that the 6th ordinary Session of the Standing Committee of the Economic, Social and Cultural Council of the African Union, took place in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad from May 29 to 31, 2011.

He said Trinidad and Tobago has played a significant role in the development of Pan-Africanism through pioneers such as Henry Sylvester Williams, George Padmore and CLR James.

He also spoke of more recent initiatives. Trinidad and Tobago has been partnering over the last few years with a number of African countries toward the development of their energy sector as oil and natural gas form a part of the resource base of a number of countries in Africa to further the economic development of a number of African countries by providing free technical expertise, in an advisory capacity, to assist those countries in monetising their petroleum and natural gas resources.

"From 2007 to present, a number of inward and outward energy missions have taken place between Trinidad and Tobago and Ghana, Tanzania, Nigeria, Uganda, and Cameroon," he said, which stands out "as a clear example of South-South cooperation which should be considered as the nucleus of the change we hope to see in Africa’s development in this century."

Nicholas said the engagement between Africa and the Diaspora in the fields of Education and Training has also been significant with Trinidad and Tobago concentrating mainly on building technical competence in areas critical to Africa’s development.

He also raised the issue of African cultural expressions adding that today's technology presents opportunities for film, video production and digital media industries present to increase cultural emersion and engagement. Other aspects of culture such as storytelling, exhibitions, music and dance are also key, he said.

Nicholas said Trinidad and Tobago has maintained a strong sense of its African past through its Emancipation Support Committee. he said celebrates Emancipation Day as a national holiday, an event which seeks to acknowledge the liberation of people of African Descent.

"It must be clear that the New Africa-Diaspora Relations are now far more outward looking, spurred on by a renewed confidence derived from academic, economic and cultural progress. Thus, signalling a new era in the socioeconomic fortunes of the Arfican Diaspora," Nicholas said.