Executive summary
We conducted four focus groups (FGDs) in four distinct geographical locations of Trinidad and Tobago (T&T) to learn more – via qualitative data collection – about bottom-up local opinions and views to understand how UN values (e.g. human rights, respect for international law, tolerance and peace & security) are perceived in the T&T context.
Six fundamental insights emerged out of the research:
Insight #1: Distrust of authorities and the media. Across all four FGDs there was a consistent distrust of authorities. This included the Government of Trinidad and Tobago, the police, the court system, the media, and foreign entities like the UN and the World Bank. This distrust of authorities has also been documented previously in academic literature on T&T. In the context of media all participants suggested it must be read critically.
Insight #2: Credibility is based on personal networks. Connected to insight #1 and due to such distrust of authorities, three of the FGDs suggested they watch TV news and read newspapers but that all messages received from traditional media are read in conjunction with and filtered through their Whatsapp and Facebook social media networks. Social media and ties were described somewhat like a crowd-sourcing tool from where you can get credible up to minute information. No media personalities were agreed upon as credible.
Insight #3: Tradition as a response to fear and insecurity. All four groups expressed living in insecure times, especially in the context of gender, with women suggesting just being a woman brings another level of insecurity to everyday life. All FGDs spoke about living in fear. All groups suggested that a return to the past when corporal punishment was a socio-cultural norm was needed to restore discipline and order to the society.
Insight #4: Social stigma as weaponised. The low income FGD suggested that in terms of jobs, education, respect and more that they suffer violence via the social stigma associated with their area, which they described as “bullying” and “peer pressure,” and suggested such stigma creates an environment that can lead to anti-social behaviour such as criminal activity. The other three FGDs supported this description and agreed social stigma against the poor was a real issue in the society. There was also the sense from some across the FGDs that social stigma has been weaponised by the State and the middle to upper classes to create and maintain otherness to divide the poor from the rest of society.
Insight #5: Rehearsed narratives of social disorganisation. Across all FGDs participants seemed to possess well-rehearsed narratives of what they perceived as broken in the society. All spoke to perceptions of a society scarred by corruption of the powerful and in government institutions, disrespect for law, a dearth of punishment for law breaking, nepotism, a polarising and ethno-racial political culture, failure of the prestige schools education system, a lack of personal responsibility and integrity.
Insight #6: Diversity as tolerance. In the context of the UN Value – respect for diversity – all the FGDs were familiar, comfortable and initially proud to suggest T&T as a place rich with diversity. However, below this initial positivity and pride around the many different festivals, religions, mixed couples, holidays, foods and more, the discussions all turned more negative to suggest diversity on the surface is really more a grudging tolerance when you dig a little deeper. Furthermore, this tolerance can and is sometimes erased and replaced by racism and ethnic prejudice, not to mention a constant homophobia.
We conducted four focus groups (FGDs) in four distinct geographical locations of Trinidad and Tobago (T&T) to learn more – via qualitative data collection – about bottom-up local opinions and views to understand how UN values (e.g. human rights, respect for international law, tolerance and peace & security) are perceived in the T&T context.
Six fundamental insights emerged out of the research:
Insight #1: Distrust of authorities and the media. Across all four FGDs there was a consistent distrust of authorities. This included the Government of Trinidad and Tobago, the police, the court system, the media, and foreign entities like the UN and the World Bank. This distrust of authorities has also been documented previously in academic literature on T&T. In the context of media all participants suggested it must be read critically.
Insight #2: Credibility is based on personal networks. Connected to insight #1 and due to such distrust of authorities, three of the FGDs suggested they watch TV news and read newspapers but that all messages received from traditional media are read in conjunction with and filtered through their Whatsapp and Facebook social media networks. Social media and ties were described somewhat like a crowd-sourcing tool from where you can get credible up to minute information. No media personalities were agreed upon as credible.
Insight #3: Tradition as a response to fear and insecurity. All four groups expressed living in insecure times, especially in the context of gender, with women suggesting just being a woman brings another level of insecurity to everyday life. All FGDs spoke about living in fear. All groups suggested that a return to the past when corporal punishment was a socio-cultural norm was needed to restore discipline and order to the society.
Insight #4: Social stigma as weaponised. The low income FGD suggested that in terms of jobs, education, respect and more that they suffer violence via the social stigma associated with their area, which they described as “bullying” and “peer pressure,” and suggested such stigma creates an environment that can lead to anti-social behaviour such as criminal activity. The other three FGDs supported this description and agreed social stigma against the poor was a real issue in the society. There was also the sense from some across the FGDs that social stigma has been weaponised by the State and the middle to upper classes to create and maintain otherness to divide the poor from the rest of society.
Insight #5: Rehearsed narratives of social disorganisation. Across all FGDs participants seemed to possess well-rehearsed narratives of what they perceived as broken in the society. All spoke to perceptions of a society scarred by corruption of the powerful and in government institutions, disrespect for law, a dearth of punishment for law breaking, nepotism, a polarising and ethno-racial political culture, failure of the prestige schools education system, a lack of personal responsibility and integrity.
Insight #6: Diversity as tolerance. In the context of the UN Value – respect for diversity – all the FGDs were familiar, comfortable and initially proud to suggest T&T as a place rich with diversity. However, below this initial positivity and pride around the many different festivals, religions, mixed couples, holidays, foods and more, the discussions all turned more negative to suggest diversity on the surface is really more a grudging tolerance when you dig a little deeper. Furthermore, this tolerance can and is sometimes erased and replaced by racism and ethnic prejudice, not to mention a constant homophobia.
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