GOPIO CALLS ON GOVERNMENT TO INCLUDE MORE INDO-TRINIDADIAN CULTURAL ELEMENTS IN FIFTH SUMMIT OF THE AMERICAS CEREMONIES

Wednesday, April 15, 2009
GOPIO CALLS ON GOVERNMENT TO INCLUDE MORE INDO-TRINIDADIAN CULTURAL ELEMENTS IN FIFTH SUMMIT OF THE AMERICAS CEREMONIES
GOPIO Trinidad & Tobago
a Chapter of GOPIO INTERNATIONAL
PO BOX 2286 , Chaguanas. 687-7529 Fax: 665-5984 GopioTT@gmail.com

Deosaran Bisnath, President Varsha Maharaj, Secretary Ena Maraj, PRO Oscar Ramoutar, Treasurer
Directors: Niranjan Bhaggan, Robert Ramsamooj, Jaganath Seeram-Maharaj
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 6th, 2009

GOPIO CALLS ON GOVERNMENT TO INCLUDE MORE INDO-TRINIDADIAN CULTURAL ELEMENTS IN FIFTH SUMMIT OF THE AMERICAS CEREMONIES



GOPIO Trinidad & Tobago is calling on the Government of Trinidad & Tobago to modify the opening, closing, and cultural programmes at the Fifth Summit of the Americas to include more facets of our Indo-Trinidadian culture and heritage.



GOPIO Trinidad & Tobago is extremely concerned with the disproportionate quantity of items pertaining to Indo-Trinidadian song, music, dance, and other art forms in the opening and closing ceremonies, the Summit Village, and the Prime Minister's Official Summit Dinner and Cultural Show. It appears to us that no one in the Indo-Trinidadian community was consulted about the showcasing of Indo-Trinidadian Culture. Furthermore, GOPIO Trinidad and Tobago is disappointed about the lack of consultation between the organizers of the Summit and the Indo-Trinidadian community.



GOPIO Trinidad and Tobago reminds the Government and the national community that Indo-Trinidadian culture is also National culture; thus it should be recognized and treated as an important component of the culture of Trinidad & Tobago, and not as a token inclusion in programmes and events that are touted as National. One Tassa and one Indian dance item is not a true reflection of the Indo-Trinidadian contribution to our National Culture.



GOPIO suggests to the Government that it is not too late to include other artistes and cultural items that would demonstrate an appreciation and recognition of the totality of Indo-Trinidadian culture, e.g. harmonium, sitar, tabla, chowtal, Indian and folk classical singing, chutney, Hindu and Islamic items at the Village, and artistes such as Mungal Patasar, The Mohipps, Rooplal G, Felicity Chowtal group, Lily Ramcharan, The Yankarans, and many others.



GOPIO Trinidad & Tobago suggests that the dignitaries should also visit notable areas and sites that represent important components of our multicultural and multi-religious rainbow nation, e.g. Temple on the Sea, Dattareya Mandir, Felicity, Charlieville, Divali Nagar, Debe, Chinmaya Mission, Lion House in Chaguanas, and Paschim Kaashi Mandir in St. James. GOPIO Trinidad and Tobago can provide more information, if necessary.



GOPIO Trinidad & Tobago, a chapter of GOPIO International, is a secular, non-partisan, registered non-profit and non-governmental organization (NGO).



Deosaran Bisnath

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Deosaran Bisnath, President, GOPIO Trinidad & Tobago, a Chapter of GOPIO International.