Senator Stanislas used the expression “Indian Giver” during his address to the Senate on Tuesday to describe the actions of the government.
“This government, when I look at their modus operandi, it is like an Indian Giver. The Indian Giver is one who gives a gift with one hand and takes it with the other,” he said. Doubling down on his remarks, he continued by adding, “That’s not racist. So they give you something with one hand but take it all back with taxes, high borrowings, high gas prices, high cost of living…”
Dating back to the early 2010s, Allen Chastanet’s use of the word “massa” to describe the day’s Prime Minister, Dr Kenny Anthony, invited much public discourse over the use of subtly and overtly racist remarks in politics.
This latest remark by a UWP Senator has returned racism to the national discussion.
The expression was first used in print in 1765 in “The history of the Province of Massachusetts Bay” author Thomas Hutchinson who wrote, “An Indian gift is a proverbial expression signifying a present for which an equivalent return is expected.”
European settlers, coming from a monetary economy, did not understand bartering. When given an item, they did not realise they were to offer something back in return. If something was not offered in return, then the Amerindians expected their offering to be returned.
This expression is considered offensive as its meaning does not represent Amerindian culture and paints racially Indian people in a negative light.
“I am from the community of Forestiere, where over 80% of our population is Indian and I take great offence to a statement that suggests that we give with one hand and take with another because we are selfish and ungenerous,” Jawahir explained.
The UWP’s Deputy Leader, Guy Joseph, is also of Indian descent, and Jawahir says he, too, should denounce these remarks.
“I hope the UWP's Deputy Leader comes out to denounce this racist statement made by the Senator and that Senator Stanislas gives a public apology for using these derogatory, racist statements in the House of Parliament.”
Recent words and expressions used by political operatives have been labelled as racist and public apologies have been sought. Recently, UWP leader Allen Chastanet came under fire for suggesting that SLP ministers should be “flogged” - the word popularly associated with the gruesome beatings of enslaved Africans in the New World.
Notable in this discussion is the complexion and racial profile of the UWP leader, who has been described as “white” by some members of the public; his supporters swiftly defended him by noting that he has “black ancestors”.