THE HUBRIS, HUTZPAH AND AUDACITY OF FOREIGNERS ON OUR SOIL

HEAR NAH.... SOME PEOPLE HAVE BIG BRASS ONES INNO....

Lemme take a DEEP BREATH before I continue...

because...

The Hutzpah, Hubris, disrespect and cognitive dissonance of this FOREIGN ENTITY... guests in OUR HOUSE is astounding!

"What yuh talking abou Pt. Sharo" you may ask...

Well here it is:

The Indian High Commission in Trinidad & Tobago decided to hold an event FOR INDIANS & INDIAN DISAPORA ONLY

ON THE VERY SAME DAY AS EMANCIPATION DAY! YES you read that correctly..

Firstly It's on Emancipation Day - was this a deliberate choice to undermine a major celebration for our people of African descent.. ah in yuh face - "we in charge now" shot across the bow?

Secondly - As Rhoda Bharath noted in a Social Media video, that kind of event that EXPLICITY excludes everyone except for one particular ethnic, religious group, etc is against our national policies.

Frankly, I think they KNOW that and decdided to do it anyway.. why.. because I think they know that the current government will give them a full pass on it, and who is to say the regime didn't "encourage" this to undermine a holiday so many in their base deem "a waste of time".

That was my first reaction when seeing this.

With that said - I must note that I DID NOT see the original post (it was deleted) - but Town Saying, besides promoting the event the post itself was racist!

What I have seen and do know is the following.

INDIAN HIGH COMMISSION POSTED THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE EVENT:

Alledgely the announcement was part of a post that was consdiered by some reading it as "racist"

FORMER MINISTER OF CULTURE AND TOURISM MR. RANDALL MITCHELL CREATED A POST RAISING AWARENESS OF THE SITUATION THAT INCLUDED A LETTER SENT TOTHE INDIAN GOVERNMENT

RANDALL MITCHELL POST - LETTER TO THE PRIME MINISTER OF INDA

Randall Mitchell

Randall Mitchell
33 Naparima Mayaro Road
Cocoyea,
San Fernando
TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
mitchell.randall@gmail.com

The Hon. Narendra Modi
Prime Minister of the Republic of India
South Block
New Delhi 110011
REPUBLIC OF INDIA

Your Excellency,

𝐑𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐈𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐢𝐠𝐡 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐚 𝐭𝐨 𝐓𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐓𝐨𝐛𝐚𝐠𝐨

I write as a citizen of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago and as a former Member of Parliament and Minister of Tourism, Culture and the Arts to express my profound disappointment regarding the decision of the High Commission of India in Port of Spain to schedule an “Open House for the Indian Community and Diaspora Members” on 1 August 2026, the very day on which Trinidad and Tobago commemorates African Emancipation Day.

This is not an ordinary national public holiday.

African Emancipation Day marks the abolition of slavery and the liberation of hundreds of thousands of enslaved Africans whose forced labour helped build this nation. It commemorates one of the darkest chapters in human history and honours the struggle, sacrifice and resilience of generations of people who were denied their freedom.

For many citizens, it is a solemn national observance before it is a celebration.

Diplomatic missions are expected to understand and respect the history, traditions and national commemorations of the countries to which they are accredited. That expectation is fundamental to diplomacy.

The issue is not that the High Commission wishes to engage members of the Indian diaspora. Every diplomatic mission has that right and responsibility.

The concern is that the event was scheduled on the one national holiday that carries unique historical and emotional significance for a large segment of the Trinidad and Tobago population.

There were 364 other days on which such an event could have been held without creating the appearance that the significance of African Emancipation Day was being overlooked or diminished.

Whether intentional or not, the decision demonstrates a serious lack of cultural awareness and sensitivity toward the host nation.

More troubling is the wider consequence that decisions such as this can have in a multicultural society like Trinidad and Tobago. Our nation has worked for generations to build mutual respect and understanding among people of African, Indian, Indigenous, Chinese, European, Syrian-Lebanese and other backgrounds. That harmony cannot be taken for granted. It must be protected through sensitivity, respect and good judgment—particularly by foreign diplomatic missions.

African Emancipation Day is one of the few national observances that calls upon all citizens to reflect on the enduring legacy of slavery and the importance of unity, dignity and justice. By choosing to host an official diaspora event on this solemn national day, the High Commission has unnecessarily introduced a source of division where there should have been national reflection. Diplomats have a duty not only to represent their own country but also to exercise sound judgment and respect for the history and sensitivities of the nation in which they serve. This decision falls well below that standard and risks undermining social cohesion in a multicultural society where racial harmony must never be taken for granted. It is precisely because of the seriousness of that risk that I believe this matter warrants immediate intervention by the Government of India.

India and Trinidad and Tobago share a long and meaningful friendship built over generations. That relationship deserves representatives who appreciate the history of both nations and who exercise sound diplomatic judgment in matters touching on national identity and historical remembrance.

When diplomatic representatives act in ways that unnecessarily offend the people of the country to which they are posted, confidence in that representation is undermined.

𝐀𝐜𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐲, 𝐈 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐫𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐚:

𝟏. 𝐃𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐢𝐠𝐡 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐢𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐨𝐫 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐥𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐚 𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐀𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐄𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐃𝐚𝐲.

𝟐. 𝐈𝐬𝐬𝐮𝐞 𝐚 𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜 𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰𝐥𝐞𝐝𝐠𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐠𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐀𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐄𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐓𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐓𝐨𝐛𝐚𝐠𝐨.

𝟑. 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐣𝐮𝐝𝐠𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐞𝐱𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐝𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐇𝐢𝐠𝐡 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐧𝐣𝐨𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐚 𝐞𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐓𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐓𝐨𝐛𝐚𝐠𝐨.

This request is not made in hostility toward India or toward the Indian community. In fact, I am equally rooted in Indian and African ancestry, alongside other elements of my heritage. Trinidad and Tobago is a multicultural nation whose strength lies in mutual respect among all peoples. That same respect must extend to the observance of each community’s defining moments in history.

Diplomatic representation carries with it not only privileges but also responsibilities. One of those responsibilities is to ensure that official actions do not diminish or appear indifferent to the national commemorations of the host country.

I trust that the Government of India will treat this matter with the seriousness it deserves and take appropriate steps to preserve the longstanding friendship between our two nations.

Respectfully,
Randall Mitchell
Citizen of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago
Former Member of Parliament and Minister of Tourism, Culture and the Arts

Cc: Prime Minister Narendra Modi
PM Narendra Modi
Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India
https://www.facebook.com/MEAIndia

High Commission of India, Port of Spain
https://www.facebook.com/hcipos

SOCIAL MEDIA PODCASTER RHODA BHARATH RELEASED A VIDEO MESSAGE ADDRESSING THE INDIAN HIGH COMMISSION OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

RHODA On Indian high commission .mp4

THE INDIAN HIGH COMMISSION POSTED A NEW EVENT ANNOUNCEMENT CHANGING THE DATE

NO APOLOGY RENDERED

THEY CHANGED THE DATE, HOWEVER I HAVE NOT SEEN ANYTHING THAT COMES CLOSE TO AN APOLOGY IN ANY WAY SHAPE OF FORM.
WHETHER THE SCHEDULING WAS INTENTIONAL OR NOT - ON ITS FACE, IT WAS OFFENSIVE AND DISRESPECTFUL, AND A FOREIGN ENTITY SHOULD HAVE THE BASIC COMMON COURTESY TO APOLOGISE;

AND EVEN IF THE APOLOGY IS NOT AT ALL SINCERE, IT IS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY .

MR. LARRY LALLA, SC COMMENTED ON THE LACK OF APOLOGY:

RANDALL MITCHELL MADE SURE TO POINT OUT TO THEM IT WAS EMANCIPATION DAY

In my Opinon, Randall Mitchelll was quite gracious - he did not call for the removal of the Indian High Commissioner - Me I would have requested his IMMEDIATE RECALL, take his executive staff with him (since they didn't see it fit to NOT schedule this event on a significant national holiday) and have him never retrun to our shores, ever.

THE EMANCIPATION COMMITTEE WEIGHS IN

Quote

The Emancipation Support Committee is considering asking India to withdraw its High Commissioner to Trinidad and Tobago, Dr Pradeep Singh Rajpurohit, after criticising the decision to schedule an Open House for members of the Indian community and diaspora on Emancipation Day.
Dr Asha Kambon, director of public education and communication at the committee, said the decision by the Indian High Commission was “very disappointing” and showed what she described as a lack of knowledge and understanding of the country to which the High Commissioner was assigned.
She said the matter went beyond the scheduling of an event and could affect the social cohesion that many have worked to build in Trinidad and Tobago.
“We were penning, and may still pen, that letter requesting his withdrawal because his insensitivity is significant, and it could indeed decrease the social cohesion in the society that many of us have struggled to build,” Kambon said.

WHERE ARE THE TRINBAGO LEADERSHIP VOICES ON THIS MATTER?

MORE IMPORTANTLY there seems to be not one person in our government (not those with the reins or those in opposition) that have uttered a word about this

WHERE IS THE PRIME MINISTER'S VOICE ON THIS?
WHERE IS THE CURRENT MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND THE ENTIRE DIPLOMATIC CORP OF THIS GOVERNMENT ON THIS?
WHERE IS THE OPPOSITION LEADER'S VOICE ON THIS?
WHERE IS OUR VERY VERY COMPETENT FORMER MINISTER OF CARICOM AND FOREIGN AFFAIRS DR. AMERY BROWN'S VOICE ON THIS?

I HOPE TO GOD THEY (THE OPPOSITION LEADER & AMERY BROWN) ADDRESS THIS DIRECTLY BECAUSE

THIS IS YET ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF THE UTTER B.S. THAT PEOPLE ARE ON IN OUR COUNTRY AND THAT IS BEING ALLOWED TO JUST LET PASS...

IT IS ASTOUNDING.

AND IT HAS TO STOP.