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WALKING
TALL
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 Trinidad
and Tobago is a nation with a majority PIO population. The
tiny, twin-island nation has given to the world famous
cricketers, and a celebrated author of Indian origin. In
Government too, PIOs play a vital role. Senator Lenny K
Saith, Minister for Energy and Energy Industries, Public
Administration and Information who can trace his origins to
Meerut and Bihar occupies a very crucial position in the
Government. T and T, after all, is an energy-driven economy
and supplies United States 74 per cent of its natural gas
requirements. On occasions when the Prime Minister of T and
T is away, Senator Saith holds the all-important position of
Acting Prime Minister. INDIA EMPIRE Editor Sayantan
Chakravarty spoke to him at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi during
his visit to India in March 2007.
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What specific agenda brings you to India this time?
I am here for Commonwealth Connects 2007, an
international e-partnership summit that seeks to bridge
the digital divide between Commonwealth member nations.
How many times have you visited India?
I would say about 15 times, since the mid-1950s. I’ve
been here three times in the past three years, so my
visits are on the rise.
You’ve studied at the Roorkee Engineering College. When
was this?
When I came to India for the first time in the mid
1950s from Trinidad, I attended the Roorkee Engineering
College (now the Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee).
The college bestowed me an honorary doctorate in 1994.
You are a second generation Trinidadian of Indian origin?
Yes, my grandparents went to Trinidad sometime in 1910.
My grandfather on my mother’s side went from U.P.,
somewhere close to Meerut. His wife was from Bihar. My
parents were born in Trinidad, so was I.
The Indian diaspora in Trinidad would have undoubtedly
lost much of its Indian-ness because of the great physical
distance with India, unlike say the diaspora in Mauritius.
Do you feel it is important for the people of Indian
origin today to try and retain this Indian-ness?
Much of the Indian-ness that is there is frozen in
time. You see, the connections with India were severed
once our ancestors moved to Trinidad. So the customs
prevailing in India largely towards end of the 19th
century and early 20th century exist even today. Food
habits got altered slightly. People who went at the time
generally consumed spices, but in the absence of spices in
the Caribbean, they changed their food habits, the flour
in India gave way to the white flour. But the Indian-ness
you find today is coupled with the belief that every
citizen is a Trinidadian first. It is this feeling that
has made it possible for us to do well as a multi-ethnic,
multi-cultural society.
As Acting Prime Minister and a leading minister of the
current cabinet you have a constitutional responsibility
of maintaining Trinidad’s unity in its diversity…
towards this end what steps are being taken by the
Government?
Our political party (PNM) has a fundamental obligation
towards the people for providing a climate of solidarity
and stability. We are very focused in the manner in which
we demonstrate our keenness to distribute resources that
leads to all round growth and helps the majority
population. We are for ever striving to be fair and equal
in this area.
Do you see ties between India and Trinidad expanding in
the future, not only culturally but in terms of
investments, commerce and business...
The cultural ties are old, so are diplomatic ones. One
of the earliest high commissions set up by the Government
of India was at Port of Spain. Mittal came in, in the
early 1980s, now you’ve Essar moving in. I see
increasing cooperation in the areas of energy, because we
are an energy-driven economy. Also information technology
gives huge opportunities. You have the presence of Infosys
and Satyam in Trinidad.
The Cricket World Cup is the most important event going on
in the Caribbean today. As head of the committee to
oversee preparations, are you satisfied that things have
gone in order?
A lot of work was done in collaboration with the
International Cricket Council and the West Indies Cricket
Board. We looked closely at security-related issues. We
are overall satisfied, but the incident regarding
Pakistan’s coach in Jamaica will remain a blot.
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more...
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April 2007
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