The leader of the Congress of the People (COP), who is a member of the People's partnership government, was speaking with reporters following a national council meeting of the party.
The Legal affairs Minister said the party plans to engage the nation in a conversation about race and politics as part of its observance of the 50th anniversary of the independence of Trinidad & Tobago.
"We believe that this nation is far too small to be divided along any lines, whether geographical, whether economic, social and certainly along racial lines," Ramadhar said.
"But there are agents of mischief in our society who will take things out of context, who will use race to divide our people to gain some mileage or some advantage without appreciating that in a very small nation like ours that race, when that is used as a weapon, that no one wins," he added.
He said COP wants a nationwide discussion on the issue because race has been "swept under the carpet" for too long.
He commented on the current controversy involving Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha (SDMS) general secretary Sat Maharaj and accusations that Maharaj tried to prevent the enrolment of black children at the Tunaupna Hindu School.
Ramadhar suggested that the matter, which was raised by the opposition People's National Movement (PNM) in Parliament last Wednesday, was a direct attack by people with political motives.
"Fortunately, I think Mr Maharaj has come forward and said he made no such statement and the issue that is at hand here is an allegation of such seriousness was made but without ascertaining the other side's statements," said Ramadhar.
He suggested that politicians should be more responsible.
"Those who have responsibility because they have been given the right to speak publicly with some office, they have to exercise the right to free speech with great responsibility and restraint when it comes to matters of race and things that could make untold damage, not just now but way into the future," he declared.
Read related story: Sat provides stats on enrolment at Hindu School, no race bias
Ramadhar also spoke about the amount of race talk that arose when the government declared the State of Emergency in August and was emphatic that police acted and continue to act without any political interference.
"This Government I am a member of and if I find any evidence of political influence on the police as to how they do their duty I shall speak forcefully against it, but I have seen none of that," Ramadhar added.
Dr Lincoln Douglas will be in charge of the discussion on race. He noted that while race is part of the reality of the political history of the country his party is making the effort to construct a form of politics based on equity, social justice and the common good.
"We want our community to talk about not only the hurt and the anger and the distrust that ever existed, but we want to find a meaningful way to teach our society how to think about the issue of ethnicity and difference and cultural knowledge that would be significant for a developed society," Douglas said.
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