28 January 2000, 879 words
I have been amazed to see some people actually coming out in defence of Government Minister Dhanraj Singh. Not Abu Bakr: as a moron who sees violence as a political tool, he would naturally be empathic. Nor did the press conference held by the URP managers surprise me: cocoa in the sun can account for a lot of loyalty. Least surprising of all is Government Ministers coming out in support of Dhanraj: in the UNC Cabinet, paucity of principle is exceeded only by tininess of testicle.
Still, there seem to be people outside these parameters who apparently believe Dhanraj Singh is the best thing since hops bread. How anyone can believe this is beyond me and, as a novelist, I felt obligated to try and get into the - for want of a better word - minds of such persons. The result was a series of letters exploring the logic of the Dhanraj defence.
The Editor:
Why has the African-dominated media not investigated the role of calypsonian Black Stalin in the Hansraj Sumairsingh letter? Stalin's calypso, "Wine, Dhanraj, wine", is without a doubt the most vile and insulting and racist calypso ever perpetuated on the Indian population by a calypsonian, as Stalin admits he is. I am amazed that the eminent Maha Sabha columnists did not write many columns pointing this out.
Look at the central line, "And while Dhanraj winin, is only he neck wey movin". Clearly, Stalin was trying to imply that the Honourable Minister has no derriere - a stereotypical portrait of the "flat-bottomed Indian". It may be true that the Honourable Minister is quite bereft of backside, but it should be noted that he also has little or no neck. Stalin's calypso is thus a vile slander on the Honourable Minister.
It is Stalin who pushed the Honourable Minister over the edge, leading to his intemperate use of language towards Sumairsingh!
M. Murphy
Couva
The Editor:
The media is clearly biased against Honourable Minister Dhanraj Singh because he is a noble exemplar of a kshaytria, the ancient warrior class of India. The Honourable Minister is a man who stands up for himself, who speaks bluntly, who has no airs. He is completely honest, even admitting in Parliament that his wife "does f--- sweet." No other politician has ever been so candid with the electorate.
Most importantly, the Honourable Minister does not fit the stereotype of the docile, obedient coolie. That is why the media is so biased against him. They do not understand Indian culture. Perhaps the Honourable Minister did threaten a few people. That is just his management style. And it has worked! Look how efficient the URP has become. Everywhere you look, you see bridges and roads and pavements! One minor councillor may have died, but the lives of thousands of ordinary people have been improved. And it is all due to the indefatigable efforts of the Honourable Minister!
C. Naranjit
Couva
The Editor:
Political interference by the PNM, who are still trying to run the country through their Public Service cronies, has undermined the impartial investigation into the alleged murder of Councilor Hansraj Sumairsingh.
The team consisted of Superintendent James Philbert, Inspector Krishna Maharaj, Inspector Nadir Khan and Sergeant Philbert George. Why has the media not queried the prevalence of Philberts in the Police Service? I do not know which officer was fired, but his firing reflects obvious political, racial and religious bias!
N.K. Mahabir
Everglades
The Editors:
The publication on the same day of editorials calling for Prime Minister Basdeo Panday to fire the Honourable Minister Dhanraj Singh reveals beyond any shadow of a doubt the collusion between the media and the Opposition described by Mr. Panday. Mr. Panday, being a political genius, knows that firing the Honourable Minister would only weaken the UNC's extremely good chances of winning the next general election. The Honourable Minister is the Cabinet's best performer. His use of obscene language, his brandishing a gun, his bad driving and his nasal voice virtually guarantee the so-called "coolie" vote.
The Honourable Minister is also very attractive to women voters. Not only has he hit his wife only once in 14 years of marriage - surely a better record than for most Trinidadian men - but he went out of his way to compliment her in Parliament. And, by displaying his unparalleled ability to wine in the last Local Government election, the Honourable Minister has virtually sealed the East-West corridor votes.
These are the real reasons the media and the PNM has made Dhanraj Singh the target of their nefarious campaign to remove the UNC from office.
A. Mahabir
Chaguanas
The Editor:
The media has been trying and hanging the Honourable Minister Dhanraj Singh on the basis of an alleged letter written by Councillor Hansraj Sumairsingh in which said Councillor alleged that the Honourable Minister had made certain threats against him. But how do we know the Honourable Minister ever made these statements? If the media was truly interested in the truth, they would have tried to contact Councillor Sumairsingh to discover what actually transpired. Yet not one newspaper has written an editorial calling for a seance to be held! This clearly shows the bias under which the media is operating.
Y. Gonzalves
Federation Park
Copyright©2000 Kevin Baldeosingh