Opposition MP Dr. Nyan Gadsby-Dolly has publicly criticized the University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT) over the way an African Emancipation Day event was organized, describing it as “disrespectful and disappointing.”
In a video shared on Instagram following the observance, Gadsby-Dolly argued that African Emancipation Day should remain focused on commemorating the emancipation of enslaved Africans and their history. She said incorporating East Indian cultural elements into an event specifically marking African Emancipation Day undermined the significance of the occasion.
“This is a quick PSA to the organizers of that UTT event,” she said. “African Emancipation Day is literally and simply about African emancipation, and Indian Arrival Day is literally and simply about the arrival of East Indians in Trinidad and Tobago. We are big enough as people to celebrate them both separately.”
Gadsby-Dolly stressed that while Trinidad and Tobago’s diversity should be celebrated, there are appropriate occasions for doing so.
“When it’s Independence Day, then we celebrate all that is Trinidad and Tobago,” she said. “But on these particular days, we specify what we celebrate.”
She added that introducing East Indian cultural presentations into an African Emancipation Day programme was inappropriate, arguing that the reverse would also be true.
“If it were Indian Arrival Day, including African culture would be just as disrespectful,” she said.
The opposition MP also rejected comparisons between African slavery and Indian indentureship, saying the two historical experiences should not be treated as equivalent.
“Trying to equate African slavery with East Indian indentureship—we’re not tolerating that either, because it’s just not the same,” she said. “African slavery was a totally different experience.”
Gadsby-Dolly concluded by calling on organizers to show greater historical and cultural sensitivity when planning national observances.
Her comments have generated discussion online, with supporters agreeing that commemorative events should remain focused on the communities and histories they are intended to honour, while others have continued debating how multicultural representation should be reflected at national institutions.
UTT has not publicly responded to Dr. Gadsby-Dolly’s remarks at the time of publication.
Article and image source: instagram.com
