‘Trinidad Express’ Editor Accused of Discriminating Against Indian Writers for their Weekly Columns

Trinidad, August 28, 2017: The Editor of a Trinidad & Tobago based newspaper called 'Trinidad Express' is accused of discriminating against Indian writers for their weekly columns.

A letter, written by Kumar Mahabir who is an Assistant Professor at University of Trinidad & Tobago, explains the accusation in detail.

As of now, there has been no response from Trinidad Express Editor Ms. Omatie Lyder. Kumar Mahabir's letter can be read below-

The Secretary, Board of Directors

One Caribbean Media (OCM) Limited

Express House

35 Independence Square

Port of Spain

August 25, 2017

Dear Sir/Madam,

Bias against Indians by Express Editor, Ms Omatie Lyder

In keeping with its "national" mandate, the Express editor should be fair, balanced, diverse and objective.

Editor Ms Omatie Lutchman Lyder has been giving space to three Afro-centric columnists: Professor Selwyn Cudjoe, Keith Subero and Raffique Shah – the same three (3) Afro-centric columnists every single week.

She often provides space to a fourth Afro-centric writer, this time as a guest columnist – Professor Theodore Lewis. Ms. Omatie published Part 1 and Part 2 of his articles entitled "Kamal Persad trivialising history." She published his two guest columns four days apart on August 11th 2017 and on August 15th 2017.

Ms. Omatie often publishes long letters by another Afro-centric writer, NJAC Chairman, Aiyegoro Ome.

Indo-oriented writers like myself (Dr. Kumar Mahabir), Kamal Persad, Dool Hanomansingh, et al. are not assured of a weekly space in the Express.

Is it time that we call for Indians to boycott sales and advertising in the Express?

If we are not given a complementary weekly space in the Express, a delegation of us plan to meet the Board of Directors of OCM to provide empirical evidence of the bias by Ms. Omatie against Indian writers with Indian perspectives.

Sincerely,

Dr Kumar Mahabir, Assistant Professor

University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT)

2011 National Award (Silver) recipient for education

Chairman, Chakra Publishing House Ltd (CPH)

Chairman, Indo-Caribbean Cultural Centre Co. Ltd (ICC)

Vice-Chairman, Indian Caribbean Museum

10 Swami Avenue, Don Miguel Road

San Juan, Trinidad and Tobago

Tel: (868) 674-6008

Tel/fax: (868) 675-7707

Mobile (868) 756-4961

E-mail: dmahabir@gmail.com