The Manicou Report

Walking through Port of Spain and then Arima with a friend from the United States made me realize something. I live in an absolutely filthy country. I always knew it was dirty, but walking through it with a non-Trinidadian can really open your eyes as to how nasty the country is. Litter is everywhere - just name it, you can find it. Paper or plastic. Cans or beer bottles. And don’t forget the ever present sweet drink bottle. I swear, we have sweet drink bottles like other countries have pigeons.

And part of me has given up hoping for a clean T&T. How much money do you have to pump into an ad campaign before you realize that many Trinidadians are just dirty people with consciences that don’t balk at nasty? Littering is something I could never do and will never ever do. I will hold an empty soda bottle for a mile and a half or shove a doubles paper bag deep into my pockets rather than unloading it unto the streets. That’s just how I am. Watching somebody littering makes me livid. I’ve never really cussed out anyone, but if there’s ever a time when I want to it’s then.

I remember a few months ago a nearby high school staged a huge march for the environment. They took it through from the school, through the town and back up to the school again. I remember seeing a couple fifth formers who lived close by marching walking along with the throng. I remember in particular a neighbour girl who is very noticeable because she has to be at least 6′ 2″. So I’m thinking what a great idea for all these kids to get involved and take a stand for their country’s environment. When everyone else seems to care less about the environment here were these children trying to make a difference.

But a a.

The very next day people, I’m standing looking out my window when I see the very same aforementioned girl eating from a brown paper bag. When she was done, she looked around furtively and not seeing anyone looking, crumpled it and threw it into the drain. It’s not yet twenty four hours later, but here she was littering the very environment whose cause she championed for four miles of blazing sun. I was shocked. Yet because of my Christianity I couldn’t deliver the cussing appropriate for the circumstance.

So it’s not that people don’t know that they shouldn’t litter. It’s that people don’t care. They just don’t care. Who cares that the boundary between Port of Spain and the Beetham Landfill is blurred at best.

And we’ve become so used to it. Sadly it took me the visit of an American to realize just how dirty Trinidad & Tobago is. We don’t even notice the clogged drains or strewn trash. The sidewalks are supposed to be filthy. As a matter of fact, it won’t even be a sidewalk without the vagrants and mangy dogs.

For goodness’ sake, has anyone taken a good look at the Hall of Justice recently? It’s already not the prettiest building in the country, but add too that the mossy walls, and voila, it fits right into Port of Stain. Don’t even get me started on City Gate. Talk about rooting in filth. And yet here’s Colm Imbert talking about creating a new transport hub for the soon-to-be rail service yet we can’t clean the one we already have.

So campaigns won’t work - at least none of the campaigns used till present. Although the people who litter here will never go to New York or Toronto and litter, they just won’t see the connection between the two. We have to change the minds of the people who litter and this won’t be easy. After all in Trinidad it’s a battle for the mind when it comes to all our vices, pure and simple. Until that day, I guess I will just have to get used to being embarrassed in front of my guests.