Archive for September, 2006
Thursday, September 7th, 2006
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| Patrick Manning |
Prime Minister Patrick Manning came out swinging a couple days ago at the mighty U.S. Government. In a speech delivered at the BGTT Luncheon Series at the Trinidad Hilton, Manning accused the Americans of leaving the Caribbean behind to fend for themselves. He said:
“Initially, the USA was concerned about drugs,” Manning said.
“But, of course, that has inevitably since 9/11 given away to terrorism, preoccupied now, and quite rightly so, with terrorist activity around the world and how it affects US interests. We find that concern about drugs has gone to the back burner
“While that happens, the drug cartels in South America are no less active today than they were two and three and five years ago, and we are seeing the heightened use of Caribbean countries as transhipment centres.”
Take that in your rootutokoonkoon, Bush.
While a lot of this may be true, I couldn’t help getting the feeling that instead of a fist, this was actually Mr. Manning’s finger being pointed at the U.S. Government for our crime troubles. U.S. Ambassador quite shockingly disagrees with the Prime Minister insisting that the U.S. has always worked with the T&T Government to investigate and prosecute those involved in drug trafficking.
Even the vile Kamla Persad Bissessar piped in to say that “Manning, as a former head of Caricom, should be intelligent enough to know that diplomacy and statesmanship are the key principles in the foreign policy negotiations”. Uh, exactly who is she again? Imagine taking diplomacy lessons from a tyrant. I’d rather take dreadlock tips from Keith Rowley.
Everyone knows that the drug trade and the crime situation goes hand-in-hand. I’ve said before that the drug trade is responsible for the availability of guns in Trinidad. So what better way to shield blame away from yourself than to cast it indirectly on another? Now I admit, I could be wrong on this one. I believe 100% that the Prime Minister is actually concerned about the drug trade in the Caribbean. However, when it comes to politicians, I insist on reading between the lines.
To me the greatest part of this whole speech was when he started talking about our LNG and how we doh boun’ to sell it to dem American and dem. Said he:
“We are going to have to decide whether we wish to place all our eggs in one basket. Too much of our LNG goes to one destination and, incidentally, at prices that are not by any means the best prices that are available in the market.”
Hmmmm, we’re not getting the best prices available in the market? Yes, Mr. Manning, it’s called ALCOA. Remember them? We’re currently selling our souls to them. They have our souls on back order. If he wants to stop placing “all our eggs in one basket”, he should stop this deal with ALCOA.
Posted in Crime, Development, Infrastructure, PNM, Politics, UNC | 2 Comments »
Thursday, September 7th, 2006
Remember when I wrote some time ago about no more homemade weapons being made? Well I take it back.
Posted in Crime, Infrastructure | No Comments »
Thursday, September 7th, 2006
It’s a great idea from the Tourism Development Company and Pantrinbago that will feature four weekends of pan hosted by various pan yards across the country. But the idea of having pan music outside of carnival is by no means original. People have been protesting for years that pan all but vanishes after Ash Wednesday. It’s interesting to note that in Trinidad and Tobago where the steel pan is the national instrument, it’s near impossible to find steel pan events year round. And so hopefully this is the end of lip service and the beginning of a more visible instrument throughout the year.
This Pan Yard Sensations concert series entertain folks for almost the entire month of September and will take pan music to all areas of the country and somehow, they even managed to remember Tobago.
It will also incorporate guest performances from (I’m guessing here) soca and calypso artists that will add a dash of pepper sauce to the concert, just in case the pan becomes too monotonous. Great idea!
Said Angela Fox Media/Communications liaison of Pantrinbago Incorporated,
“Pan Yard Sensations was born out of a need to not only showcase steel pan music, but to also showcase it within the context of its birthplace - the pan yard. The rustic charm of the pan yard is unique and is an integral part of this instrument’s history, and by extension, our people’s history. The pan yard is a place of innovation and creation and we want people to experience that as well.”
It’s amazing how a little vision could go a long way. We have the talent; we have the ability to put on a great show; we have thousands of steel pans. Why shelve it every Ash Wednesday when pan men and everyone else involved could be showcasing their talent and earning a dollar at the same time?
A little vision will also help Divali to go a long way. Picture this: Trinidad is about 40% Indian - give or take - with Hindus making up a large portion of that. We have talent coming out of our ears as I’ve said before (or was it noses), and there is no diminishing in interest in Indian traditions from what I can tell. As a matter of fact, the interest in Indian traditions is surging forward.
India’s population is well over a billion and the Diaspora stretches forth deep into the United States and Canada with Trinidad quite likely having the densest concentration of Indians in the Western Hemisphere except maybe for Guyana. With all the factors, why haven’t we yet made Trinidad the Western-Hemisphere Mecca for all things Indian? And in particularly Indian celebrations?
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| A Scene from Ramleela |
Our Divali celebrations are huge and quite possibly larger than anything experienced in the US or Canada. Preceding Divali, we have a number of good Ramleela productions that are put on in communities across Trinidad. Indians who live in North America simply cannot go home to India for Divali every year and far less for Ramleela. Travel costs and the time will surely make frequent visits near impossible. But on the bright side: less than one day’s flight from any North American destination and voila! What do you know? It’s little India.
I’m convinced that Divali and Ramleela can become a huge tourism booster in Trinidad in the latter half of the year. Think about it for a second. In terms of talent, geographical location, and resources we can have the Western Hemisphere market cornered - hands down. Let’s face it, Guyana would not be able to compete. This is ours for the taking. And what does it take?
A large Divali celebration can see a huge influx of Indian-American visitors who want a taste of the old country at a fraction of the time and cost. Of course it’s not limited to North Americans alone, but also Indians living in the other Caribbean Islands and even in South America (don’t tell me there aren’t any). Pretty soon, it won’t be just Indians. And what will it take besides a little initiative.
Of course, we won’t be ready to put on something of this magnitude without some serious groundwork, but undeniably, we have all the raw materials.
When the tourists do begin to come, they won’t just be sampling Indian culture, but the entire culture of Trinidad. Think what this could mean for, cooks, massmen, pan men, craftsmen and everything outside of the regular indo-Trinidadian fare. And of course everyone from the hotelier to the regular taxi driver will benefit.
But it has to be built first. If you build it they will come. If you build it and kick some serious marketing butt, they will come in droves.
This is diversification; not putting smelters on agricultural lands. The benefits will be greater (and longer lasting) than hosting the Cricket World Cup and it’s definitely better than hosting a Miss Universe competition.
But that’s just my take. You all can disagree with me if you like.
Posted in Culture, Development, Politics | 4 Comments »
Wednesday, September 6th, 2006
This is funny. I mentioned before that I had a friend Jacob from Oklahoma come visit about a month ago. On the second day he was here I took him down Port of Stain (the day I had my “filthy country” revelation) and took around to see all the sights - including that of a vagrant smoking crack right there on Queen Street.
It was a hot beef roti for lunch with slight pepper (goat was still on the fire) upstairs Town Center Mall. Was it Town Center Mall that had their recent sanitary issues? In any case I declined the rat shit roti in favour of beef. Whether or not there were any surprises in it, I don’t know, but it tasted good. Jacob liked it, but he decided he wasn’t fond of the split peas in the dahlpuri and preferred paratha instead.
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| Brian Lara |
After lunch we left Town Center and I decided I wanted to take him around the savannah. However seeing as I don’t drive I opted for finding a taxi on the St. Ann’s taxi stand. My formula for finding one was simple. Walk along the long line of taxis till the first one offered his services. This worked great the last time I had a friend come visit me. Sarah and I walked along the taxi stand till one driver, who was pretty far back in the line, hailed us out and offered his car for hire. We were offered a tour around the Savannah for $20 US. $20 US. Obviously he thought I was a tourist also.
“$20 US? So much drive? Me eh no Yankee yuh know,” I protested.
“Oh, ho,” he replied pensively, “Daiz ok, Gimme $60 TT then,” he replied.
Notice how he cut the fair in half the moment I opened my mouth exposing the green verbs stuck between my teeth. $60 sounded fair though, so Sarah and I had piled in for what turned out to be a pretty good tour. He was a good tour guide too. He even slowed downed next to a mas camp and pointed out some trashy looking Carnival costumes on display (complete with jamette-looking fish nets) and told her that she could come back and play mas with them. Coincidentally enough, the very next building he pointed out was the POS General Hospital where he told her she could go have her babies. Right.
So it was a good tour, and I figured why fix it? So Jacob and I walk down the stand waiting for an offer to be hurled at us. Apparently the further back in the line they are, the more willing the drivers become. If anyone has seen that St. Ann’s taxi stand recently they’ll know why.
Pretty soon a man in his 50’s says, “Taxi?” and after negotiations are through, we pile in. It started out ok although he wasn’t anywhere near as knowledgeable as the first man. He talked quite a bit, but digressed a lot into the state of the roads and the job the government was doing. But, no big deal. I decided to point out the sights myself.
So we’re driving around the Savannah and pretty soon he starts driving up this hill. I’m thinking “where the hell is he taking us”? Just as soon as I complete my thought, he lets us know that he’s taking us to see Lara’s house. So I’m wondering “ok, does Lara mind it when the commoners drop in?”
“Can we do that?” I ask.
“Yeah man, people does come up here all the time. Dat eh no scene”
“Ok”
I’m mindful that Lara’s the “Prince of Port of Spain” and although there may be no moats and fire-breathing dragons, surely there must be armed security who’ve been trained to shoot on sight.
So we pull up to Lara’s pretty house and he wonders out loud if Lara is home.
“I don’t know,” I say, “I hope not….”
“BEEP, BEEP, BEEEEEEEEP,” 50ish taxi driver begins pressing the horn. I mean the guy is leaning on the horn, like Lara owes him money”
“Um, what yuh doin’ drive?” I ask.
“Ah trying to find out if Lara home. BEEEEEP, BEEEEEEEEEEEP”
All this time Jacob is sitting on the front seat, as casual as ever. To him (an American) Brian Lara must seem like a 2×4 sports hero compared to people like Michael Jordan and Wayne Gretzky. I, on the other hand, am freaking the hell out.
“You know, that’s ok. It looking like he not home anyway. Next time,” I say
“Nah man, he have to at least see Lara,” the driver insists. “BEEP, BEEP, BEEP, BEEEEEEEEEEEEEP”
(Oh my gosh, this guy can’t be for real.)
He turns a little in his seat and sets eyes on a mango tree laden with mangoes half of which have all over Lara’s lawn.
“Look at mangoes Lara have! I wonder if I could ask him for some”
So at about that time I’ve already decided that this taxi driver is absolutely bat-shit insane. Following this he’s going to take us to the Lady Young Road lookout and drive us over it.
In my mind I start pleading with Lara not to be home. I won’t be able to stomach his bewilderment if he was to come out of his house to the disappointment of three unfamiliar faces in a beat up old Bluebird. Plus as everyone knows, Lara has a bad temper.
“BEEEEEEEP, BEEEEP, BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP!”
And then there was a face in a window. (Oh gosh, we dead)
The curtain shifts back into place and the door opens. But it’s not Lara, thank God. It’s a medium build guy who looks to be about 25 or so.
“Good Evening,” says the madman.
“Yeah, what happening?”
“Lara dey? Tell him I have someone from America who wants to meet him.” (lie)
“Nah, he not here, nah.,” the guy replies with a laugh, “He in the country but he not home.” (Halleluiah)
“Ah, ok, ok. I seeing some mangoes there, Lara would mind if I take some before I go?”
“Nah, you fix up man,” he replies still smiling.
“Ok then, thanks,” says the madman. “You’s he bredda?”
“Nah I does just take care of the house.”
“OK then. Thanks”
“No problem.”
“(to me) Yuh doh like mangoes, boy?”
“Nah, not really (lie)”
“Boy, I real like mangoes!”
What does the madman do next? Does he get out and pick up two or three? No. The madman gets back into the car and reverses onto the Brian Lara’s manicured lawn. He switches off the car, pops the trunk and gets out. Pops the trunk, I say. And then he starts scurrying all over the lawn like a deranged squirrel, and starts filling his trunk with mangoes. We sit there for a good five minutes (speechless) to the intermittent sound of mangoes being dropped into the trunk. He takes what seems like forever and I have enough time to make a phone call and send two text messages.
You would think that a man on a job wouldn’t do that sort of thing, but you’d be wrong. I’m not even sure he’s aware that he shouldn’t. I kept hoping that Jacob wouldn’t think that all Trinidadian taxi drivers were like this. We did have a good laugh about it anyway.
Finally after many agonizing minutes he decides he has enough mangoes, closes the trunk and gets back in the car where he resumes his monologue about how much he loves mangoes. We take off and I’m hoping that we don’t encounter Lara coming up the hill.
“Boy, I does cyah pass up free mangoes,” he reveals.
“No shit,” I think.
Fast-forward to yesterday. While waiting for a taxi on the St. Ann’s stand I spy the old beat up Bluebird. I walked up to the car and leaned down to the window and asked him how his mangoes were. He watched me like I was a madman (how ironic)
“Like yuh doh recognize meh? How was Lara’s Mangoes?”
“Ohhhh, you was with the white fella that day! Dem mangoes wasn’t nice, man. Me eh even know what kind it was, but it wasn’t nice. If it was long mango, that was another thing, but dey wasn’t sweet.”
All my embarrassment for naught.
Posted in Cricket, Humour, Personal Story | 9 Comments »
Tuesday, September 5th, 2006
Did TSTT steal their name from a Japanese cell phone provider?
Old habits die hard, I guess
Posted in Corporate | 6 Comments »
Tuesday, September 5th, 2006
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| Winston Dookeran |
Well at last man. I was beginning to get worried that Mr. Dookeran wasn’t going to leave after all and was going to fight it out with Kamla and her evil spawn Jack Warner. However there are reports that Dookeran is getting the hell out, which is great news to me. Spetember 10th is the date for the launch of the new party called the People’s Congress and already the UNC’s finest are hearalding Mr. Dookeran’s political death. Let me tell you something, if KPB, Ramesh and Warner are still alive after all the filth they’ve done and said, I see no reason why Dooks won’t survive a separation from the UNC.
On second thought it’s a little surprising that Kamla & Co. spend so much time talking about Mr. Dookeran. After all he was such a bad leader. Surley, bad leaders don’t have a following? They just seem so preoccupied with this non-entity called Winston Dookeran. Why is that?? Hmmm.
In an attack on Mr. Dookeran, Mr. Warner said:
“But he has not a hope in hell of garnering the level of support required to unseat any of the UNC members.”
Read: “He eh nobody”. Why spend so much time talking about how bad he is and then spend equally as much time fighting him tooth and nail?
Hmmm.
Posted in COP, Politics, UNC | No Comments »
Sunday, September 3rd, 2006
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| Cow Mas (Male) |
About a month ago, I had the pleasure of having a friend from Oklahoma visit me recently here in Trinidad. Another friend and I in a fit of Trini pride decided to take him to Tribe’s costume viewing over at Cascadia Hotel. To our great surprise, we found an excellent costume for him for Carnival 2007. The Cow Mas. I mean, the guy’s from Oklahoma, and lives on a farm. I can’t think of a better fit for him. Despite our pleadings, we just couldn’t convince Jacob to play Cow Mas; even though a nice lady there told him he could wear his own chaps. It probably doesn’t help that the costume looks like a mixture of cow, Viking, Sioux warrior and court jester.
By the way, looking through quite a few carnival websites and at Saucy Trini’s site where she has a great compilation of next year’s offerings, I realize that finding a costume model of a shade darker than caramel is rare. Of course there’s always a token darkie here and there, but largely there are hardly any burnt sienna’s or mahoganies. How curious is that?
Posted in Humour, Miscellaneous | 11 Comments »
Friday, September 1st, 2006
I lived in the US for four years before returning to Trinidad last year. Readjusting to Trinidad was a little difficult at times. However, the thing that shocked me the most was the bad attitudes we have towards alcohol. I remember the first time I saw a man pop a beer open at 7am, I stared at him in disbelief. I think he saw me staring too, because he had this “what yuh watching me so for” look on his face. This wasn’t one of those 60 year old guys who live at the bar. He couldn’t have been more than 25. A 25 year old man, downing a Carib at 7am. Who the hell has beer for breakfast? It still shocks me to this day and I’ve seen scores of others since then.
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The Non-Alcoholic Fete What I would really like to know is what does this mean for the future of the school bazaar and their school fete?
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So this story in the Express about the usage of drugs, alcohol and tobacco among secondary school students is far from astonishing. In a survey run by the Ministry of Education, it found that of the 4,058 pupils sampled from the 56 secondary schools which participated in the survey, approximately 13.7 per cent of them admitted they had tried marijuana, and 37.5 per cent admitted to using cigarettes. Alcohol use had the highest prevalence overall though, with 73 per cent of the students saying they had tried alcohol.
As a result, the Ministry of Education has declared it would roll out a new Drug Abuse and Prevention Policy document which is aimed at making all schools smoke and drug free. Part of that drug policy would be to prevent schools from accepting money, gifts or sponsorship from tobacco and alcohol companies. In addition to this, all tobacco and alcohol advertising in public spaces such as bill boards and signs in sports facilities have been prohibited.
Well it is about time that they did something like this. Anyone who went to secondary school in Trinidad knows that tobacco and alcohol use among students -even during school hours is not something new. I’m just surprised that it took so long for them to take a stand.
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| No More Outta de Blue? |
What I would really like to know is what does this mean for the future of the school bazaar and their school fete? If they really want to do something about alcohol and cigarette consumption among students, then stop the double standard that sees them selling it on school premises. Alcohol in a fete is big business and I’m sure comprises the majority of the profits. I’ll really like to see how principals respond to these new mandates. What will be the future of Rosary Boy’s Soca X2 or QRC’s Outta de Blue?
However low the profits drop, it will be well worth it not to have children turn into addicts by the time Form 3 rolls around.
Posted in Education, Social Issues | 6 Comments »
Friday, September 1st, 2006
Dwight Yorke is…
Yup, it’s official as of yesterday. Dwight Yorke is leaving the Sydney A League that he helped build for damper, colder pastures with English League Championship side Sunderland AFC. Well I’m not entirely surprised as playing in a World Cup and reminding people that you are still alive has great benefits. It doesn’t hurt that for Dwight was voted as the best defender in the group games.
What will be interesting is what role Dwight is made to play in former team mate’s Roy Keane’s squad. His ability to put the ball in the back of the net, although not as prolifically as before, is undeniable. But with his new-found stripes as a defensive player, Dwight could find himself playing a lot closer to his own goal.
But me? I’m excited for the chance that Dwight has to show he’s still got it. I just want him to go out with a bang. Having signed a two-year contract he might very well end his career at Sunderland, but who knows? He insists he’s in great shape so it may be that his stay in England lasts in excess of two years. Providing of course that he doesn’t screw this one up. Ex-team mate or not, I’m sure that Keane will have no trouble showing Yorke the door, if Yorke doesn’t live up to expectations.
Posted in Football | No Comments »
