By Raynier Maharaj

Trinidadian nationals in Toronto are upset and hopping mad over what they see as the shoddy treatment of the country’s Consul General to the city.

The government has apparently ordered well-loved Consul General Michael Lashley to demit office and proceed on pre-retirement leave. Lashley’s last day in office was reportedly November 30.

But what has angered the community is that the T&T government also ordered that Lashley cancel an event that has become a mainstay in the Trinidadian community – the annual Consul General Diaspora Awards, which were carded for December 3.

Invitations had already been sent out for the event, which would have been followed by a Christmas party at the Trinidad and Tobago Consulate. However, in an email, the Consulate said that the event has been cancelled. No reason was given, but an insider said that the directions came down from the Foreign Affairs Ministry in Port of Spain to cancel the awards presentation.

“The order has embarrassed the office of the Consulate General and has made Trinidad look really bad within the international and Caribbean diplomatic circles in Canada,” said one member of the Consul General’s Public Advisory Committee, Joan Pierre. “Imagine how it felt for someone of Mr Lashley’s calibre to have to let awardees know that the event has been cancelled?”

What has upset nationals even more is the fact that Lashley has also been ordered to vacate the official residence he occupies on December 21.

“This is a man who has two young children and you’re making him move house at Christmas time? Why is that? Why couldn’t he be left in the home until the end of the month, at the very least, especially since there’s no replacement that we know of waiting in the wings to move in urgently? Is this the reward someone gets for spending his life serving the people of Trinidad and Tobago?” Pierre asked.

Members of the Trinidadian community are saying that the action against Lashley appears vindictive, and appears to have political motives, although as Consul General, Lashley was a career civil servant and not a political appointee.

However, he took up office under the administration of the People’s National Movement government, which lost the May 24, 2010 election to the People’s Partnership.

Lashley is a popular figure within the Caribbean community in Toronto, and is one of the most visible faces from the Caricom Diplomatic Corps here. In his time in Toronto, he also endeared himself to nationals by organizing the annual T&T Independence Event – called “We T’ing” – at Queen’s Park, home of the Ontario legislature, which attracts thousands of people each year and showcases the talent, arts and craft of Trinidad and Tobago.

The Diaspora Awards were also popular, as they publicly recognized Trinidadian and Tobagonian nationals and groups who have excelled in Canada.

Lashley was also the driving force behind a fashion event in 2008 which showcased the talents of Trinidadian designers to a Canadian audience.