A new civil realisation

In a recent interview on Altos, Msgr Christian Pereira, one of the longest-serving priests in the Archdiocese of Port of Spain, shared his insights on the country’s journey over the past five decades. Msgr Pereira, who was ordained in 1976, has witnessed firsthand the transformations that have shaped Trinidad and Tobago.

Reflecting on his retirement, Msgr Pereira expressed, “Well, it’s a bit different from active priestly ministry, but I still try to do whatever little I am able to do.” He continued, “Like Wednesday and Friday, I celebrate with my brother John at Mount St Benedict, Sunday at Tunapuna Church. Once in a blue moon, I go to a wedding or funeral, but not as a regular.”

Msgr Pereira’s perspective on the country’s evolution since his ordination was one of cautious optimism. He acknowledged the significant progress made yet underscored the need for deeper integration and understanding.

“The evolution has been really interesting,” he observed. “In all evolutions, there is a sense that we sometimes have to go back a little in order to go forward some more.”

Msgr Pereira recognised that while the people of T&T have evolved considerably in many ways, there remains “a long way to go again.”

Recalling the attempted coup in 1990, he vividly described his experience as a priest at the Cathedral, witnessing the chaos and confusion that unfolded. “I saw people moving in a helter-skelter way. And smoke from a distance, I didn’t recognise the building. And when I turned on the TV, I thought there was some play going on.”

His assessment is the lessons from these historical events have yet to be fully embraced and integrated into the national consciousness. “Things have changed because of these events, but the lessons that we have to learn are still to be sorted out and unearthed among ourselves,” he said.

The challenge, as he sees it, is to find a way for these important lessons to become a true and tangible part of the country’s collective experience. “In a very, very diminished way, Dr Eric Williams started the dissociation when he said, ‘There’s no more Mother Africa, Mother Syria, Mother China, Mother India,'” Msgr Pereira noted.

While people may still have a sense of their African, Indian, or other ancestral backgrounds, “more and more people are realising that we are Trinbagonians.”

He recognised that the culture and society of T&T is “much younger than the African society” and “much younger than the Indian society.” This realisation, he said, requires a deeper understanding of the country’s origins and the disruption caused by colonial rule.

“Our society didn’t begin with the Indians and the Africans, so that we have to really adjust ourselves to understanding what happened to the peoples who belong here, who had a civilisation here, that were disrupted primarily by the colonial people who came, the European masters,” Msgr Pereira explained.

This disruption, he said, “put us back a bit” and forced the country to start building a new society.

He acknowledged that the foundation for this new society was “very shaky” due to the “disruption and the destruction of the real foundation, which is the First Peoples.” Finding a “connected activity” and a connection with the country’s original inhabitants, as Trinidad and Tobago continues to integrate the “… bruises, the difficulties, the hiccups in finding a way to live in a manner that would integrate all of us” is important, he said.

Msgr Pereira welcomed the recent apology made by Archbishop Charles Jason Gordon to the First Peoples at the Santa Rosa Feast Day Mass on August 25, but said more than just words is required. “Part of it, and probably not the only part,” he said. “It was very important for him to do what he did. And an apology is one thing, but an embrace is slightly different.”

His observations extended to the relationship between the older and younger generations within the Church. He expressed concern about the disconnect, noting that “many of the elders in the Church own the Church in a way that is not inclusive enough.”

Msgr Pereira observed that the older generation often feels threatened by the “committed, dynamic, informed, and spiritually equipped” young people, who bring a fresh perspective and energy to the Church.

He also offered a poignant reflection on the evolution of T&T’s national identity, using the steelpan as a metaphor for the country’s cultural transformation. He drew a parallel between the steelpan’s journey from discarded oil drums to celebrated musical instruments and the nation’s own path towards a unified identity.

“The steelband has evolved in a way that the rest of the society still has to evolve,” Msgr Pereira observed. He suggested that just as the oil drums no longer belong to the refinery, the people of Trinidad and Tobago have moved beyond singular affiliations with Africa, India, or China.

Instead, he proposed that the nation now belongs to what he termed a “new civil realisation.” This new identity, he argued, should strive to create harmony and uplift society, much like the steelpan creates music.

“We, as a people, must come together in that orchestrated way, in that way that we are harmonising with one another and lifting ourselves, lifting our minds and hearts and spirits,” he said.

However, Msgr Pereira acknowledged the ongoing debate surrounding national symbols, particularly the proposal to include the steelpan on the country’s coat of arms.

While recognising the steelpan’s significance, he expressed hesitation about weighing in on this specific issue. “Where the steelband belongs…is a very difficult question to answer,” he stated, adding, “It’s a very serious debate and a very difficult debate that society is going through.” 

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