Before we deal with the new politics of Tobago, I would humbly use this opportunity to make an open and human appeal to the Executive of the Tobago Cricket Association to lift the two year ban against 25 year old cricketer Alfred Slater. Reports are that Slater was upset about the way he was given out in a game against some visiting English cricketers and proceeded to run after the English umpire with a bat in his hand.

The history of sports is filled with incidents of angry reactions of sports men and women against official decisions. What is essential is how these incidents are managed and dealt with. The reality is that human beings make blunders and react to different situations in a variety of ways. I could recall reading a book titled 'Pace Like Fire' written by the former great West Indian fast bowler Wes Hall and he wrote on how a then West Indies fast bowler was sent home from a tour in the Indian sub-continent. Hall was part of a delegation which pleaded with the West Indies tour management to allow Gilchrist to stay on the tour but they refused. Hall who became Barbados's sports minister after his cricketing days described the decision to send home Gilchrist as "the greatest loss of human talent he had ever seen".

In the same way I do believe that Alfred Slater is one of the finest cricketing talents on the island. Also, I have spent some time in conversation with the young man and I have found him to be an amazing individual with exceptional all round ability. He is intellectually and academically competent. He can discuss a variety of issues with ease. However, like thousands of youths, the young Slater has had to chart his life's course through difficult family circumstances and still provide for himself. My honest view is that young Alfred Slater is 'a cut way above' most of his peers and it is possibly that the flair, confidence and all other attributes of a sports star which he has could make him vulnerable in certain situations if not well managed.

It is against this background, I make an appeal to Tobago Cricket Association president Ignatius Trim, first vice president Neil Skeete, secretary Martha Archer, treasurer Parkinson Alfred and committee members, Bill Brown, John Pollard, Marcus Daniel and Robert Hislop to give some human relief to Alfred Junior Slater by ending the ban on this talent.

Now to the politics of the day as it relates to Tobago. "Seize The Time", was one of the slogans which came out of the African American struggles of the 1960s and '70s. Anytime the political situation is any country changes and political activists are not prepared to accept and deal with those changes, then they will remain stuck in time. It appears to me that that has been the case with a number of political activists on the island since the coming into office of the People's Partnership government. The PNM for example, has gone back in time rather than leaping forward to deal with the new politics. The Tobago PNM which was "very comfortable" with whatever then PM Manning offered Tobago, is now chanting the Hochoy Charles mantra of more power for Tobago. Oh how times have changed.

Let us look back in time to understand the evolution of the Tobago political scenario. The destruction of the Carib civilisation in Tobago, the slave state and colonial rule which followed ensured that power in Tobago was entrenched in the hands of a small land owning elite class with strong ties to the bosses in England. Union with Trinidad during the 1880s meant little for the descendants of the slaves in terms of the political and economic power structure and control.

The Uriah Butler led anti colonial struggle in 1930s and 40s brought Tobagonian Alfonso James (APT) to the frontline of the Tobago fight for improved status. James got a subcontract with the asphalt company at the Pitch Lake in La Brea in South Trinidad. He was part of the Butler Movement and came back to Tobago to spread the message for Tobago power in the context of the wider national struggle being waged by Butler. Both Butler and James were up against an unfriendly and hostile establishment. Therefore, their political expressions reflected the oppressive, colonial system which existed then. Both James and Butler were able to make significant strides in moving the nation's politics to a more progressive leadership. It was the Butler/James movement which paved the way for independence from Britain which Butler termed "Home Rule". The political establishment at that time was hostile towards the people's movement both in Tobago and Trinidad and the political rhetoric of the day reflected that hostility.

Enter Dr Eric Williams and the PNM and from 1956 the Butler/ James people's movement was stifled and the progressive political outlook of Butler was suppressed by the neo colonial politics of Williams and the PNM. It became necessary for the people of Tobago and Trinidad to revolt against the PNM and they did so in 1970. Tobago then sought to break free from the Dr. Williams PNM set up and by 1976 the battle lines were drawn for Tobago's fight against the PNM government for more autonomy for Tobago. If the PNM was a progressive government which believed in the politics of decentralisation there may not have been the need for a fight for internal self government.

At present, there is a different political situation. Never has there been a government like the People's Partnership Administration which has the type of political philosophy and progressive thinkers which will be friendly to Tobago's future.

To be continued.

—Opoku Ware is

a freelance writer