GOPIO knocks Govt over $5,000 Arrival 'pittance'

GOPIO knocks Govt over $5,000 Arrival 'pittance'
Kim Boodram
Monday, June 1st 2009




SPECIAL AWARD: Makandal Daaga, left, congratulates Sri Ravindra Nath Maharaj after he received an award for his contribution to Indian culture during GOPIO's Indian Arrival Day observance and National Chutney Awards ceremony at Gaston Courts, Chaguanas, last Thursday. -Photo: TREVOR WATSON

The local chapter of the Global Organisation for Indian People (GOPIO) announced on Thursday that it intended to "follow up" on what it considers poor funding from the Government to those celebrating Indian Arrival Day this year.

The announcement was made by GOPIO head, Deosaran Bisnath, in the presence of President George Maxwell Richards, the patron of this year's GOPIO Indian Arrival Day Observance and Awards Ceremony and National Chutney Awards 2009.

The joint venture was held at Gaston Courts in Chaguanas and was attended by the cream of the chutney industry, as well as former prime minister and United National Congress (UNC) political leader Basdeo Panday.

Richards was initially scheduled to deliver the feature address but declined to speak, in light of an address to the nation that was planned for Friday night.

In his opening address, Bisnath revealed that GOPIO had received $5,000 from the Government to aid in Indian Arrival Day celebrations, the sum of which was then placed in an envelope for return to the sender.

"It reeks of tokenism," said Bisnath of the "paltry amount".

Though he did not call names, Bisnath remarked on statements by Chaguanas West MP and UNC Deputy Political Leader, Jack Warner, that Indian groups should stop begging for a pittance from the Government.

"I want to make it clear that we are not begging for a pittance, we are simply asking for what is due to us as citizens of Trinidad and Tobago," Bisnath said, adding later on that Indian culture was still not being treated as part of national culture.

He also listed several other issues that GOPIO wants to see resolved immediately, among them the firing of columnist Kevin Baldeosingh by Newsday, shortly after Baldeosingh publicly levelled charges of plagiarism against Fr Henry Charles, who used to have a column in the Guardian newspaper.

It was after this accusation that Fr Charles stepped down from his appointment as head of the Integrity Commission - an appointment that was made by Richards. Charles, however, resigned because the appointment was against the Catholic Church's laws.

On Thursday night, the Head of State remained passive during Bisnath's statements. Bisnath also called for the installation of the Equal Opportunities Tribunal and for ex-workers of Caroni (1975) Ltd to be given their lands.

Chutney awards were also given to a 41 local artistes. A presentation was also made by the Sundar Popo Monument Committee.

A spokesman for the committee said that a statue of Popo has been completed and will soon be erected in Barrackpore. The monument will honour the memory of the late singer, who pioneered chutney soca music locally and abroad.

A GOPIO award was also presented to Chayman Ramlagan Sawh, better known as "Prabhu". Sawh, a sculptor by profession, built the statue of Siewdass Sadhoo which stands near the Temple in the Sea at Waterloo, Carapichaima. He has also carved the statue of Popo.

-Reporting by

Ariti Jankie

http://www.trinidadexpress.com/index.pl/article_news?id=161484758

GOPIO TT Indian Arrival Day Observance and Awards Ceremony

Professor George Maxwell Richards, President of Trinidad & Tobago; Shri Malay Mishra, High Commissioner of India, and Mrs. Mishra, at GOPIO's Indian Arrival Observance and Awards Ceremony on Thursday May 28th at Gaston Court, Chaguanas, TRINIDAD



Left to Right: Mr. Deosaran Bisnath, President, GOPIO Trinidad & Tobgao; Professor George Maxwell Richards, President of Trinidad & Tobago; and Dr. Vijay Ramlal Rai, President of the National Chutney Foundation of Trinidad & Tobago, at GOPIO's Indian Arrival Observance and Awards Ceremony on Thursday May 28th at Gaston Court, Chaguanas, TRINIDAD



Ms. Shoba Bedasie, GOPIO awardee, and guests at GOPIO's Indian Arrival Observance and Awards Ceremony on Thursday May 28th at Gaston Court, Chaguanas, TRINIDAD




Ms. Sacha Mahabal, Assistant Secretary & Youth Officer of GOPIO Trinidad & Tobago
at GOPIO's Indian Arrival Observance and Awards Ceremony on Thursday May 28th
at Gaston Court, Chaguanas, TRINIDAD




Left to Right: Mr. Deosaran Bisnath, President, GOPIO Trinidad & Tobgao; Professor George Maxwell Richards, President of Trinidad & Tobago; and Dr. Vijay Ramlal Rai, President of the National Chutney Foundation of Trinidad & Tobago



GOPIO's Indian Arrival Observance and Awards Ceremony on Thursday May 28th
at Gaston Court, Chaguanas, TRINIDAD




Left to Right: Mr. Deosaran Bisnath, President, GOPIO Trinidad & Tobgao; Professor George Maxwell Richards, President of Trinidad & Tobago; and Dr. Vijay Ramlal Rai, President of the National Chutney Foundation of Trinidad & Tobago






Mr. Prakash Ramadhar, Political Leader, Congress of the People, with
GOPIO member Ms. Sandy Mahabal




Mr. Basdeo Panday, Leader of the Opposition with
GOPIO member, Ms. Sandy Mahabal






Children at the Jaya Lakshmni Home, Longdenville, Chaguanas


Children at the entrance of the Jaya Lakshmi Home, Longdenville Trinidad


On May 30th, 2009, on the 164th Anniversary of Indian Arrival Day in Trinidad, GOPIO Trinidad & Tobago's President Mr. Deosaran Bisnath and Assistant Secretary, Ms. Sacha Mahabal, visited the JAYA LAKSHMI CHILDREN HOME in Longdenville, Trinidad to donate food, sweets, and drinks
to the children. The GOPIO executive officers presented the items to Ms. Routie
Sonnylal at the Home. GOPIO encourages all to help these disadvantaged children at this and other Children Homes, as well as Senior Citizens' Institutions throughout the country.


GOPIO Trinidad & Tobago's President Mr. Deosaran Bisnath with Ms. Routie
Sonnylal of the JAYA LAKSHMI Children home.

GOPIO CALLS ON GOVERNMENT TO INCREASE INDIAN ARRIVAL GRANTS

GOPIO Trinidad & Tobago

a Chapter of GOPIO INTERNATIONAL

PO BOX 2286, Chaguanas 687-7529 Fax: 665-5984 GopioTT@gmail. com

Deosaran Bisnath, President Ena Maraj, PRO Varsha Maharaj, Secretary Oscar Ramoutar, Treasurer
Directors: Niranjan Bhaggan, Robert Ramsamooj, Jaganath Seeram-Maharaj

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 22nd, 2009



GOPIO CALLS ON GOVERNMENT TO INCREASE INDIAN ARRIVAL GRANTS

&nbs p; GOPIO Trinidad & Tobago wishes to express our disappointment with the grants allocated by the Ministry of Community Development, Culture and Gender Affairs, earlier today (May 22nd, 2009), for the observance and celebration of Indian Arrival Day, 2009..


GOPIO Trinidad and Tobago, a national organization, was allocated a mere $5,000 to defray expenses for activities to mark the 164th Anniversary of the Arrival of East Indians in Trinidad and Tobago. This sum can’t even cover the cost of a PA system and venue preparation; surely, the Ministry is aware that this is a mere token amount compared with the expenses incurred in staging events in this country. GOPIO Trinidad & Tobago has requested an additional grant or else we shall return the $5,000 cheque to the Ministry.



At the cheque distribution event this morning, GOPIO Trinidad and Trinidad and others were informed that a TOTAL amount of approximately $750,000 was distributed to 56 organizations throughout Trinidad and Tobago. GOPIO contends that a total grant of ¾ million dollars of Indian Arrival Day events is grossly inadequate, as well as embarrassingly unrealistic and unfair.



GOPIO is requesting the following: a larger total grant should be distributed to more organizations throughout the country; these groups throughout the country are in dire need of financial assistance to cover expenses incurred in activities marking this important occasion - important not only for Indo-Trinidadians, but for all citizens, as was enunciated by some speakers at the Ministry’s function this morning.



GOPIO looks forward to a favorable response from the Ministry in regard to our request for additional funds to cover the expenses for our activities for Indian Arrival Day 2009, and the allocation of a larger grant to be distributed to more organizations for other events during 2009, and in the future.

GOPIO Trinidad and Tobago, a chapter of GOPIO International, is a secular, non-partisan, registered non-profit and Non-Governmental Organization that is not associated with any political party or religious organization


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

GOPIO CONDEMNS RELIGIOUS INTOLERANCE AND HATE SPEECH

GOPIO Trinidad & Tobago

a Chapter of GOPIO INTERNATIONAL

PO BOX 2286, Chaguanas, 687-7529 Fax: 665-5984 GopioTT@gmail.com

Deosaran Bisnath, President Ena Maraj, PRO Varsha Maharaj, Secretary Oscar Ramoutar, Treasurer

Directors: Niranjan Bhaggan Robert Ramsamooj Jaganath Seeram-Maharaj

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 19, 2009

GOPIO CONDEMNS RELIGIOUS INTOLERANCE AND HATE SPEECH

_____________________________________________________________________________

Global Organization of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO) Trinidad and Tobago strongly condemns what we regard as religious intolerance and hate speech contained in the article by Kenneth Assee, titled “Weak Criticisms by Baldeosingh”, in the Guardian newspaper, on Sunday May 10, 2009.
Specifically, reference is made to Assee’s statement:
“This is why religions like Hinduism and Islam continue to exist despite rational criticism of the cruelties they sanction. Their followers choose to believe.”

http://guardian.co.tt/commentary/columnist/2009/05/09/weak-criticisms-baldeosingh

GOPIO categorically rejects Assee’s claim that Hinduism and Islam sanction “cruelties”, and the characterization that Hindus and Muslims “choose to believe.”

While Hindus and Muslims may be tempted to respond with the long list of cruelties perpetrated in the name of religion throughout the past two millenniums, we caution against descending to such low levels of behavior; instead, we urge everyone in our multi-religious rainbow nation to practise tolerance of all religious communities, acceptance of every citizen, and inclusion of all, as we seek to develop a peaceful and harmonious society.

GOPIO notes that this is not the first time a letter writer with the name “Kenneth Assee” has attempted to cast aspersions on Hinduism and Islam.

In the Guardian on Friday July 29th, 2005, a column titled “Towards a True Emancipation,” by “Kenneth Assee, a Reader from Port of Spain”, included the following”

“Our aspirations for the future must recognise that Hindutva and Islamic fundamentalism will present themselves in beguiling guises with seductive arguments. But their overall objective, explicit or implicit, is the same, to derail our society.”

http://library2.nalis.gov.tt/infofiles/collect/news3/index/assoc/HASH011a/8b62dcfb.dir/5662.jpg



GOPIO cautions against dangerous and harmful generalizations that may portray Hindus, Muslims, and Christians as extremists and enemies of our nation who seek to destroy our society.

In the Guardian on Sunday 12th October, 2008, one “Kenneth Assee“ writes as follows:

“Would Balkissoon consider paying some form of compensation to the victim’s relatives as an appropriate moral act for his crime? Or is this kind of morality beyond the doctrinal tenets of his Hinduism? ….The victim is now but a bunch of bones in his grave, but Balkissoon, his killer, will be able to enjoy the company of his relatives, celebrate and dance at Hindu festivals, and eat his roti and doubles while bemoaning how bad prison life was. Did he expect it to be a Hindu retreat?
Kenneth Assee Port-of-Spain “
http://legacy.guardian.co.tt/archives/2008-10-12/letters.html

GOPIO Trinidad and Tobago exhorts all to heed the advice of Pope Benedict XVI, who during a visit to Nazareth on May 13th, 2009, urged all to “work to build bridges and find the way to a peaceful coexistence. Let everyone reject the destructive power of hatred and prejudice, which kills men's souls before it kills their bodies!"

In addition, GOPIO Trinidad & Tobago exhorts all to heed the advice of President Obama, contained in his National Day of Prayer proclamation, on May 7, 2009:
”Let us also use this day to come together in a moment of peace and goodwill. Our world grows smaller by the day, and our varied beliefs can bring us together to feed the hungry and comfort the afflicted; to make peace where there is strife; and to lift up those who have fallen on hard times. As we observe this day of prayer, we remember the one law that binds all great religions together: the Golden Rule, and its call to love one another; to understand one another; and to treat with dignity and respect those with whom we share a brief moment on this Earth.”

GOPIO Trinidad & Tobago reminds all that bigotry, intolerance, sectarianism, and fanaticism have resulted in nothing but violence, death, despair, and destruction. GOPIO believes we must develop a society that moves beyond tolerance, to mutual acceptance, with the core values of community and individual responsibility; equality of opportunity; and respect for freedom of rights, including freedom of speech but refraining from hate speech that discredits and denigrates fellow citizens.



GOPIO Trinidad has requested, and is requesting the Guardian to publish this response.


Deosaran Bisnath

……………………….
Deosaran Bisnath, President, GOPIO Trinidad & Tobago

________________________________________________________________________________________________

GOPIO Trinidad and Tobago, a chapter of GOPIO International, is a secular, non-partisan, registered non-profit and Non-Governmental Organization that is not associated with any political party or religious organization.

GOPIO TnT WELCOMES SRI MALAY MISHRA, INDIA's NEW HC TO TRINIDAD & TOBAGO

GOPIO TnT WELCOMES SRI MALAY MISHRA, INDIA's NEW HC TO TRINIDAD & TOBAGO


GOPIO TnT WELCOMES SRI MALAY MISHRA, INDIA's NEW HC TO TRINIDAD & TOBAGO

GOPIO Trinidad and Tobago held a gala welcome reception for the new High Commissioner of India to Trinidad and Tobago, Mr. Malay Mishra. Prominent members of the PIO community in Trinidad were present at Gaston Court, Chaguanas, on Tuesday March 24th, 2009 to greet and welcome Hich Commissioner Mishra and members of the Indian High Commission.

A traditional welcome with garland and Tassa music, which was then followed by an address by GOPIO T&T President Deosaran Bisnath and poetry recitation by Dr. Rajandaye Ramkissoon-Chen, author of four volumes of poetry. Mr. Bisnath described the special relationship between India and Trinidad and Tobago and reminded all of the contributions of People of Indian Origin, and the important role of the High Commissioner and the Indian High Commission, as well as the Mahatma Gandhi Institute for Culture and Cooperation (MGICC), in developing and nurturing that relationship. Mr. Bisnath also welcomed the new Director of the MGICC, Shri Madan Mohan Sharma.

Also greeting and welcoming Shri Mishra were Swami Prakashanandaji, Spiritual Leader of Chinmaya Mission, Trinidad & Tobago; Haji Kamal Hosein, Vice-President of ASJA Trinidad & Tobago; and Mr. Basdeo Panday, Leader of the Opposition in the Trinidad and Tobago Parliament.

In his response, Shri Mishra extended greetings to the PIO community in Trinidad and Tobago, and the Caribbean, and described his recent visit to Tobago and plans by the Indian High Commission to assist the Tobago PIOs in development of culture in the sister isle. Shri Mishra spoke glowingly of the PIOs in Trinidad and Tobago with special reference on his observations during a recent tour of several villages and towns in Trinidad and Tobago. He was extremely impressed with the progress, achievements, and lifestyle of PIOs in Trinidad and Tobago, and their ways of worship in temples and he praised them for treasuring and practicing their cultural and religious heritage.

The new High Commissioner gave a detailed description of the cultural diversity of his homeland and emphasized that India had high regards for the people of Indian origin and Indians living throughout the International Indian Diaspora. Shri Mishra pointed out that overseas Indians contribute $27 billion to the Indian economy by way of remittances and noted that some states in India are heavily dependent on these funds. He added: "You can take an Indian out of India but you cannot take India out of an Indian," and then elaborated on the love and appreciation of Indian culture and heritage that has followed 25 million Indians who now form part of the global Indian diaspora.

Shri Mishra's speech was followed by Indian dance; Chutney music from Mr. Ramdeen Falco Maharaj; and Poetry from Ms. Madeline Coopsammy, author of Prairie Journey.

The reception concluded with gift presentations to Shri Malay Mishra from Mr. Ramdeen Falco Maharaj from the National Chutney Foundation; Mr. Lenny Kumar from the Tassa Association of Trinidad and Tobago; and Mr. Deosaran Bisnath from GOPIO Trinidad and Tobago. Guests were served Indo-Trinidadian cuisine while also enjoying pulsating Tassa and Chutney music in the background.

EARTH DAY, APRIL 22: GOPIO CALLS ON GOVERNMENT PROMOTE ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY AND TO IMPLEMENT EFFICIENT ENERGY USAGE

GOPIO Trinidad & Tobago

a Chapter of GOPIO INTERNATIONAL

PO BOX 2286, Chaguanas, 687-7529 Fax: 665-5984 GopioTT@gmail.com

Deosaran Bisnath, President Ena Maraj, PRO Varsha Maharaj, Secretary Oscar Ramoutar, Treasurer
Directors: Niranjan Bhaggan Robert Ramsamooj Jaganath Seeram-Maharaj

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE APRIL 22, 2009

EARTH DAY, APRIL 22: GOPIO CALLS ON GOVERNMENT PROMOTE ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY AND TO IMPLEMENT EFFICIENT ENERGY USAGE.



Earth Day, celebrated April 22, is a day designed to inspire awareness and appreciation for the Earth’s environment. Earth Day is a time to celebrate gains we have made and create new visions to accelerate environmental progress.



GOPIO Trinidad & Tobago urges the Government to fulfill its commitment in the Final Declaration of Port of Spain, at the Fifth Summit of the Americas, Port of Spain, on April 19, 2009, with specific reference to promotion of environmental sustainability; the development of cleaner, more affordable and sustainable energy systems; promoting access to energy and energy efficient technologies and practices in all sectors; diversify our energy matrices by increasing the contribution of renewable energy sources; encouraging cleaner, more efficient use of fossil fuels and other fuels.



GOPIO offers these specific recommendations to be implemented during the next 3 years:




- To promote usage of Solar Energy as an energy efficient source of energy and a reduction in conventional energy usage: Installation of Solar panels in at least 25 % of all Government buildings by end of 2010, and in at least 50% of all Government buildings by the end of 2011.




- In keeping with the above objective, provide incentives for the usage of Solar Panels in existing and new homes, e.g. tax deductions, and promote Solar Energy usage with programs such as 1BLOG - “one block off the grid”, a reference to the goal of rounding up groups of homeowners willing to install solar-power systems on their houses — removing the rough equivalent of one block from the national electrical grid.





- Conduct an analysis to determine the feasibility of manufacturing Solar Panels and other Solar Energy equipment in this country, with the objective of Trinidad and Tobago being the leading supplier of these items to the Caribbean, Central, and South America.




- To promote the usage of energy-efficient vehicles: increase the usage of hybrid and natural gas vehicles in the Public sector, with a near term objective of at least 25% of all Government vehicles being hybrid and natural gas by end of 2010, and 50% by the end of 2012.





- In keeping with the objective above: provide incentives to encourage use of hybrid vehicles throughout the country, e.g. by reducing motor vehicle duties and taxes on these vehicles.




- Conduct an analysis to determining the feasibility of manufacturing Hybrid vehicles in this country, with the objective of Trinidad & Tobago being the leading supplier of these vehicles in the Caribbean, Central, and Latin America.




- Cease, immediately – by denying building permits and approval - the construction of buildings in environmentally fragile and sensitive areas e.g. on or near hills, important watercourses, nature reserves, and swamplands.





- Stringent and Rigorous implementation of the Litter Act, with prosecution of offenders, even for minor offences.



_____________________________________________________________________________

GOPIO Trinidad and Tobago, a chapter of GOPIO International, is a secular, non-partisan, registered non-profit and Non-Governmental Organization that is not associated with any political party or religious organization.





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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
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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

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