One of Trinidad and Tobago’s leading intellectuals is warning that the country risks losing a culture of reading and critical thought if younger generations do not reconnect with their history and literature.
Professor Selwyn Cudjoe made the statement following the launch of a library display dedicated to his life and work at the University of Trinidad and Tobago Tamana Campus on Thursday.
Born in Tacarigua, Professor Cudjoe is internationally recognised for his contributions to Caribbean scholarship, particularly in the fields of history, literature, and post-colonial thought.
In an interview with TTT News, he said that while the exhibit celebrates decades of academic achievement, the broader goal must be educating younger people about Trinidad and Tobago’s intellectual tradition.
He noted that steps are already being taken to expose students to local history and culture through expanded academic programmes.
“Well, no, we have done the most important thing. We’ve introduced the very first class on history and culture in Trinidad and Tobago, which each student is going to have to read. Not my work, the history.”
However, he expressed concern about what he described as a declining interest in reading and literary engagement among young people.
He argued that true development depends not only on economic progress but also on nurturing informed and critical thinkers.
Speaking directly to the next generation, Professor Cudjoe stressed the importance of rebuilding a culture centred on reading and writing.
“The present generation don’t read and so therefore, we have to try where we can to get them involved in the academic and literary life. You don’t have to go to school. You go to a place like France, and everybody’s reading. You go to London, folks are reading. And we have to learn to read and write because there’s no way we can talk about development and critical thinkers if people are not reading and writing. So we have to encourage them to do that.”
Fifteen of Professor Cudjoe’s publications are on display at the library corner, alongside artefacts from his academic career, offering insight into his professional legacy.
For Professor Cudjoe, the display is not only a tribute to past achievements but also a reminder that preserving Trinidad and Tobago’s intellectual legacy depends on whether younger generations choose to engage with it.