By Raffique Shah
February 01, 2009
POLITICIANS are wont to making the damnedest statements. This ugly trait is not confined to Trinidad and Tobago’s special breed that litters the political landscape. The recently booed-out-of-office US president George W Bush carved an unmatched record of making the stupidest remarks, maybe of all times. But among the lot that currently vie for media space in this country, we have some gems-or maybe that should be “fools’ gold”.
Sometime early last year, shortly after he took office as Minister of Tourism, Joseph Ross made the bold pronouncement: this country will experience a leap in tourist arrivals in 2008. As I listened to Ross, I asked myself: where he come from Mars, or what? The global economy was already showing signs of decline: the prognosis, according to global economic pundits, was not good. In fact, the plunge from boom to recession shocked even them.
Tourism, while it is a big industry worldwide, is also one of the most fickle because it relies heavily on people’s disposable incomes. Caribbean tourism depends on how well North America and Europe are doing, since they comprise the largest source of our tourists. In 2007 the housing bubble in both continents burst. That left millions of potential tourists homeless, or fighting to keep their roofs over their heads. Then the financial crisis and the global economic crisis hit. Millions lost their jobs in 2008.
Any fool knows that the first cutback people in dire financial straits make is in discretionary spending. Travel and holidaying in exotic destinations are the first casualties of any economic crisis. So where was Minister Ross seeing these “thousands and thousands of tourists” coming from? He sounded much like Mervyn Assam did when the UNC government staged the Miss World competition here, promising not only an overabundance of tourist-arrivals, but huge investments by Donald Trump.
The UNC government did not heed advice to not waste money on that exercise in futility, so it has no moral authority now to ask the present government to postpone the two major conferences scheduled for this year.
Still, it boggles the informed mind as to how Ross could arrive at the conclusions he did. Months later, wearing a “Sad Sack” face, he tells the population that tourist arrivals are down, even for Carnival. Indeed, he was still not facing reality. The Economist reported last week: “The hotel association in Tobago says that only one bed in three is occupied.” That is probably the worst Tobago has experienced in decades. And it will not get better anytime soon. Only the very wealthy (fewer in numbers nowadays) can afford Caribbean hotels’ rates, not to add prohibitive inter-islands air fares.
I did some checking online and came up with startling numbers on hotels’ rates. Whereas in Orlando one can get three-star accommodation for two persons at an average of US$60-$80 per night, in Barbados the average is $120-$200, Curacao $300, Jamaica $120, Tobago $250 and at the highly-touted Hyatt Regency, you pay the princely sum of $300-plus per night, all in US dollars. Now, in this global “guava season”, who the hell will leave Germany or LA or Quebec, travel to the Caribbean only to pay through their noses for sand, sea and poor-quality service?
But that is only part of the problem. Lest the government feels that lowering hotel rates will help, ministers should check this. The Daily Telegraph, following the brutal rape of two Englishwomen in Tobago last October, an incident that followed the murder of a Swedish couple, wrote: “These brutal attacks on visitors will definitely have an adverse affect on tourism,” said Carol Ann Birchwood-James, the President of the Tobago Hotel Association.’ It continued: “You should be aware that there are high levels of violent crime, especially shootings and kidnappings,” the Foreign Office warns. “British nationals have been victims of violent attacks, particularly in Tobago where law enforcement is weak.”‘
If you ask National Security Minister Martin Joseph, he would tell you “crime will be brought under control this year.” It’s precisely what he said last year and the year before. But I shift gears: Culture Minister Marlene McDonald stated only weeks ago that “this Carnival will be the biggest ever”, boasting that “all bands are sold out!” Last Thursday night she ate her words when she admitted that bands are seeing hell selling costumes.
I don’t know if part of her mandate is to assess exactly where Carnival is heading. One bandleader lamented, “Today we hardly see spectators.” True. My family and I are part of the “dropouts”. And I’ll tell the minister, bandleaders and musicians why. Why should I endure traffic and parking horrors to watch half-naked ‘bumsees’, no costumes, and be subjected to jarring, repetitious noise that passes for music?
The last time I enjoyed a Road March was when Shadow sang “Tourist” in 2001. Today, both Carnival and its music are a shadow of what used to be. The tourists? If they seek nudity and lasciviousness, they would find it more easily and cheaply at Jamaica’s Negril beach, or in any of the French islands in the Caribbean.
This was a good read. It speaks volumes about the lack of planning and direction of the powers that be in society.
Pay attention Ministry of Tourism. Mr.Shah has raised some important facts here. Don’t think and behave like you know it all. If you did, our tourist industry would be flourishing.
There is no other like Trinidad. Prices are sky high for everything and Trinis feels that means that is alright so the hotel prices fit right into that. The whole society needs to be reevaluated when it comes to pricing, carnival fetes are literally killers. And don’t forget the amount of money we are spending on football. It is outrageous and what benefits does it bring?
Tourism must have gotten a big boost from MArco Polo’s exploits seven centuries ago. We got the impression that people would pay to come to see us. Never mind that those with the money to pay, are usually the descendants of those who brought us here for economic purposes five hundred to one hundred and fifty years ago. We seem to think that we need to keep segments of our people in some kind of staged poverty, so that others could pay to come to see us.
People do not pay to go see people who are just like them.
The tourist needs the reassurance that I am fine, I am prosperous, I am educated, when compared to these people that I am viewing in their “Natural Habitat”.
Tourism requires masses of poorly paid servant like people, willing to smile until their faces crack, willing to leave their families at 4.30 in the morning to go work in a hotel, to lavish attendance on people who do not look like them, and then go home at the end of a twelve hour shift, to two or three strangers, called their children, whom they can only care for on their days off.
For this lifestyle of its people, Third World Governments have spent millions. some have even turned a blind eye to the sex trade, catering to the needs of tourists,including the sexual exploitation of small children of both sexes.
When larger economies take a tailspin, tourists stay home and enjoy backyard barbecues, join the library and rediscover family, leaving the thousand of hotel rooms, the cruise ship bookings and so on, empty. Then third world governments panic, because their economic investments were structured on false premises.
Tourist islands (economies) are like nail salons. When money is tight, all those acres of paint and false fingernails go abegging. This downtturn could be good in that it must make us look inwards again. Do we really want our twelve year old schoolgirls dancing in the street to greet a tourish ship that arrives on a Friday morning?
I am still incensed about this sight in St. John’s Antigua, one morning in 1989.
Tourism is very close to prostitution. It is like the old beggar person, holding up a shrivelled arm to ask alms of the people going into the temple.
Now I have been a tourist myself. I love travel, but my vision has always been skewered. Tourism requireds massess of lowly paid people in order to satisfy a few. It is not the solid structure of any economy. Poor Tobago, maybe the JAzz Festival would help. Maybe diving with the manta rays would help, but, I would advise to go back to agriculture.
This is a fair picture of what can be considered as traditional tourism with its underlying negative qualities such as dependency and exploitations. I particularly like the novel suggestion of their reverting to agriculture extended to our dear citizens that unlike Grenada, Guyana , Jamaica, Barbados, Dominica, have failed to fully share in the good fortunes of the land of plenty , as well as several useless unworthy white elephants. Should I wait however for the punch line? Such comedy of errors indeed.
Perhaps some day Tobago too would see a stalwart leader of their own emerge just like Mr. Basdeo Panday our committed and passionate Opposition leader, that sternly told the then PNM government to halt their economic adventurisms in his back yard -irrespective of the financial consequences re breach of contract- the re result of another of the preposterous white elephants distribution in the construction of the Caroni Racing Complex with his now famous line of “houses before horses.”
The people of Tobago can ill afforded this charade that has existed for many decades as far as an balanced and respectable relationship, or equitable treatment of all its citizens.
If selfish , condescending, and disrespectful Trinidadians don’t get it that their own social , economic and yes political interest are intervoven with that of the Tobago as well as Toco, Ecacas, Erin, Tunapuna and Caranege , then pretty soon it might necessitate a serious reappraisal of our marriage as developed under the British.In similar fashion to an uncaring spouse , then little psychologically abuse sister Tobago might have to begin to flirt with someone that cares and wants to do serious business.
The people of that twin island have been treated with utter contempt, disgust and neglect by the likes of the Doc down to his fervent disciple cousin Manning, and all other pretenders to the Prime Ministerial / Presidential throne , that many today have accepted this callous behavior as the norm . Any surprise that once a few business savvy Eurocentric foreigners emerged, with usual chinkets , and other frivolous items and false promises , many were willing to sell their soul on economic and social illusions or ‘pipe dreams?’
I wonder if Mighty Shadow will take a break from singing his raunchy kaisos on wining bumbulum women to seriously go back and plant peas or even help some that have lost the art of planting peas in Tobago as suggested by Ms. M. Why not , plant wheat, Soya , and Corn so as to compete with the heavily subsidized Yankee farmers and their powerful lobbyist.
No ! no ! no! better yet, banana, tobacco , sugar ,and cocoa on the world market is what 5 cents per 100 Lbs, for heaven sakes Tobagonian’s stick to that , but do not practice what Columbians , Mexicans, Panamanians , Bolivians or Afghanistan’s political leaders via local drug lords have done for years by resorting to producing cocaine and similar more lucrative forms of agricultural products for exports since your families aren’t that relevant like the sophisticated “calaloo folks” from big brother Trinidad.
It is why ‘square pegs in round holes’ in the form of politicians and their conniving foreign advisors must be first exposed, then kept at bay at all cost -hmmmmmm?
Neal you need to really stop this vindictive jealousy, and maliciousness soon , if I know what ‘s good for me .
As Doctor Stalin said in song, “Oil running, money lending , Mr. Divider ,this is a warning . Ah tired asking, Ah tired begging. Ah want piece of the action, gimmie piece of the action! ! This ain’t no black power talk , this ain’t no talk bout revolution, Mr. Divider listen to me this man talking to man.
Neglected Tobagonian’s are demanding piece of the action- good friends! They have heard what the grandfather of the nation, Mr. self opinionated himself Dr Eric Williams said in the past about ‘money being no problem‘- especially if you were is close pals Kamaludin Mohammed, Errol Mahabir and Johnny O.
They heard to wailing and other lamentations when a few paltry dollars were spend by Awee Bouay Robbie the Castaria Kid -of Abu Baker shot in knees fame- to extends a much needed airport , dredge the Scarborough harbor to facilitate a few larger ships and airlines benefit not only Tobagonians but the nation as a whole.
They are closely observing you as he traverse the region trying to be kingpin and godfather to ungrateful neighbors , yet wish you well in your wider political endeavors. Let’s keep the local and foreign power elites honest, and most importantly speak up while showing some empathy fellow conscious citizens ,not only for Algerians youths , Palestinians refugees and Hamas clones , Syrians , inner city Manitoba kids, or drunken Bostonians , Brixton frustrated yes? A word to the wise should always be sufficient.
Good Lord , Neal. Methinks you are losing it. What a ramble all over the place! If you can’t say something constructive, why say anything. Was not our airport built as a Gateway To the Americas by Panday and Co? Was that a justifiable expense? There well may be other areas of industry that Tobago may be suited to, but its mountainous terrain does not suggest a lot of building. I wonder what was in that glass or jug at your side as you wrote?
Agriculture can allow a country to feed itself, or grow herbs for speciality purposes. Perhaps the university (UWI)could relocate the school of tropical agriculture there, or a branch of it specializing in micro-farming, and herbal medicines.This could attract foreign students, and ecologists. The World Wildlife Fund and Nature Conservancy could perhaps help protect the areas of pristine forests still found above Charlotteville. I am dismayed at carping without positive suggestions, and hints of ridicule. There is a worldwide recession, and we all have to put heads together to see how to survive.
The problem with putting our heads together and being constructive Linda is, the government never listen to anything the people have to say. They think they know it all or they hire a foreign consultant, who off course will tell the government what they want to hear. This is T&T.
Again I ask, what has the PNM done to help the situation, can someone please answer me this? Why point fingers to others when the situation is NOT BEING ADDRESSED!
The people must do things to help themselves, then go to government with specific proposals. We need to move from the era of government doing all the planning, to government being the regulatory agencies. That is the difference between a colony and a state.If the people put their resources together…
I have to say I agree with Linda Edward. tourism is being affected not by so much what T&T did or did not do. It’s a global economical problem. People loosing their jobs and their houses so vacations are really a want and not a need at this time. Tourism is being affected everywhere not just T&T. to add to the frey is prices in T&T is always to high. Carnival will go on but most of the people going are Trinidadians who mostly stay by some family member so they are not staying in the hotels. I am going home for carnival but I am staying with my sister, I cannot honestly say I make a contribution to T&T economy. I dont really spend that much money when I am there so that’s why I go every year. I just hang out with my friends. Panorama, las cuevas check out my friends from my old work place etc. It is a fools paradise to depend on tourism because it’s the first thing to go when there’s a recession. Jamaica is bawling so is lots of other tourist destinations, so keep it real. this is not a T&T problem dude, it a global problem. T&T is still connected to the rest of the world. you need to read Raffique Shah’s column again. just to remind you that the UNC spend 100 million dollars on the miss universe pagent in 1998 what did we get from that? a big fat zero. Panday though Donald Trump would have done something for Trinidad and Tobago he did not. keep it real. I do agree that the people in T&T need to go back to planting food so we can at least feed outselves. peace.
Therapy Madame M that’s all it is . Graham Greene was known to make the following assertion: “Writing is a form of therapy; sometimes I wonder how all those, who do not write, compose, or paint can manage to escape the madness, the melancholia, the panic fear, which is inherent in a human condition.” Without this outlet who knows perhaps I too might be tempted to give a call to the Iron Lady’s bandit son Mark Thatcher so that we can set in motion a viable solution to alleviate the desperate situation by people are locked in .
After this stupid playboy 2004 escapades involving Africa’s Equatorial Guinea, it is a wonder that poor desperate folks across the Global South still give any credence to any Europeans especially the despicable British along with their modern educated agents that perhaps have caused more mayhem and turmoil as a result of their historical greed , dishonesty ,and often racially motivated actions. Need we say Zimbabwe, South Africa, America, Canada, Australia, Middle East, India, China, Sri Lanka, Fuji, and please do not forget Trinidad and Tobago.
One can certainly see some merit in your UWI relocation suggestion with its various research and development backdrop . Grenada and Dominica have seen the benefits of having local colleges in their countries that also catered to foreign students and still provide world class education. The communities of these respective islands saw huge gains by the influx of young people and so can we if we are committed to elevating the islands fortune.
David Kadoo’s under mentioned list is spot on as he attempted to show the important role that government must play in leading the tourism development initiative . It is worth re emphasizing again for those that were simply too busy making light of a serious and pressing affair to read it before . It reads as follows:- “(1)First things first —Address the crime situation (Government responsibility)
(2)Get rid of vagrants from the streets (Gov.problem )
(3)Improve sanitation in T&T.
(4)Begin with a grass roots program to educate locals on the value of Tourist dollars, and their safety.
(5)Re-invest dollars in health and training.
(6)Spend more dollars on Infrastructure and beautification.
(7)Finally we do not offer US standards in our facilities, therefore we should make it affordable and attractive to encourage people to visit T&T.”
Not surprising Mr Kadoo stop short of extending his admonitions beyond the narrow governmental level , and perhaps he has his peculiar reasons. It is however incumbent on private enterprise to step up to the plate by showing confidence in our nationals and investing in our country without prompting. Why one might asked? It is the prudent thing to do and makes good business sense. Time to stop the fixation on imported cars that only leads to pollution of our cities and results in clogged up our roads in the process. Time to ease back on the importation of foreign non nutritional process products and invest in a whole food industry that encourages holistic / organic farming and less dependence on chemicals into our bodies . This might result eventually in curbing the huge cancer rates and other destructive diseases that are afflicting our population.
Please instead build a team park like Six Flags on some of the wasted hilly lands that Ms L scoffed at from Tobago.
Outside of our mismanaged Carnival, the Tobago Jazz festival is perhaps one of the more lucrative events in our sister isle. However Clico is about to foolishly withdraw their sponsorship. Would they try to be creative in the home care / geriatric health service perhaps by requesting premiums from folks at affordable rates most likely with some subsidies from the government as a way of alleviating some of the burdens for families and the state? I’ll hold my breath on this one , as they too might be ready to follow their many greedy Yankee business counterparts and stuff their collective heads in the sand by running to set up bases in overpopulated China, India ,and Mexico where exploiting cheap illiterate labor force is the norm- unlike sweet T&T.
How about an iron man race- since we already have a Marathon based in Trinidad . This is the bread and butter for Kenya and Ethiopia , can the rapidly obese population capitalize on this ? What about plans to developing a film, arts, writing, and broad based Caribbean music festival ? There are numerous possibilities for both islands to get to the levels that much beloved USA ,Canada, Australia , New Zealand , and European Scandinavian countries , but the will must first exist.
I have said it before and will again reiterate , racism, greed and selfishness is often manifested in different forms whether in subtle fashions, consciously ,or otherwise-in thoughts , words , deeds and actions. “Beware also of the man with nothing to loose, is another of my mantra.”
A question for gemmanoski , if you were Mr. Trump would you invest in a country here the then PM could not keep his hands out of the kitty , are you certain that 100 million was spent on the miss universe pangent as the UNC led us to believe or did most go towards the completion of the Bretish expensive education of the MP from Oropuche is it South his daughter? Perhaps someday we can get cousin Shah or other guest writers to address the matter of corruption and its negative impact on development , yes?
Linda, again, theoretically you are absolutely right. But is doesn’t work that way in good ole T&T. This government only listens to foreign consultants.
The hallmark of sound leadership is the avoidance of common colonial habits of encompassing themselves with clones,yes men and only folks that would agree with them simply due to the possible positive returns .Without question both political leaders have shown the tendency to fall prey to this gashly habit with obvious disasterous results not only to them both,but most importantly,the entire nation as a whole.Can anyone over 25 recall the obsession for divesting in the saturated steel industry by the self opinionated father of the nation Dr Eric? Not surprising his willing student has followed closely in his footsteps over the years.The carcases of many independent rivals can be found throughout the country.He too has set the tone/blueprint for what can at best be describe as underdevelopment policy against the dedicated hardworking yet neglected folks of Tobago
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Bro. Raff has continued to be colourful, analytical, objective and brutally honest, I truly admire and identify with his journalistic growth and political development, from his days @ Exsol through the Bomb newspaper to today. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK MR. SHAH. I have unfortunately migrated, but lord knows we need many, many, more voices, and actions synonomous with MR. SHAH’s vision for our beloved land. I pray for my country daily, but alas we need much more than prayer. As a young man I was involved in both politics and sports development in T & T, but now, the youths at my age back then, lacks the motivation to b politically and reastically involved, thereby increasing the importance for a voice as MR. SHAH’S
i just want correct a typo ( realistically ) was wrongly spelt
What about spelled?
manning does not care about this or anything else except power.
Tell us something we do not know already wally. The question therefore should be , is he unique in this regard, and does Panday, Jack Warner, and Ramesh care about all the people, or only “power?” If the latter is true as the cynic in me and most importantly, most of the nation obviously suspects, then get prepared for business as usual led by ” the Uncle of the Nation, ” for a very long time.
I am a Trini who have lived abroad for almost 40 years…I have traveled to over 32 countries all over Asia, Latin America, Europe and others…I love Tobago and every time I come to Trinidad, I make it a point to go at least for a week to Tobago. Having said that, I do find the prices of hotels in the Caribbean on the whole outrageous compared to other places with similar if not better beaches…but I love the Caribbean. My children have never been home because they do not want to spend that much money on hotels when they could go to Mexico or Belize or Costa Rica for far less and experience another culture at the same time. To pay in US dollars (which most people do not earn) outrageous hotel prices when Florida is about 1/3 of the cost and you can have the same is just not appealing to them and now to me, especially in the wake of this Global Economic Crisis. Quite being so greedy, and understand that without our tourism, you would be doing agriculture.
It is certainly Trinis like Carol M that makes one wish that they were born in the Cayman Island or Puerto Prince Haiti . Here we have this frivolous character with her idle boast about living abroad for 40 years and travels all across the globe , yet complains like a homeless bum about high prices of hotel stay in Tobago. Not only that , she seems proud of the fact that -in all her years abroad and travels to various countries-,none of her children ever visited the land of their mother’s birth, opting to go to Mexico , Belize or Costa Rica because it is cheaper.
Now if my wise Grand mother was alive today and presented with such simple minded stupidity, she might be tempted to quote a passage from the scripture in Matthew 7: 18 &20 which reads as follows: -“A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can corrupt tree, bring forth good fruit.” “Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.” Better yet, she might have resorted to local parlance and say simply that “ banana can’t bear plantain.
Don’t worry fellow loyal citizens that fully understand what nationalism and development means . There will come a time when Carol M would want to come home and spend or invest her Yankee and European dollars,- yes when she is old , decrepit and a useless burden for these same children fed up with exorbitant Floridian nursing home fees .
I’ve said it once and apparently no one seem to have taken it seriously. Among all the Gibberish i’ve read here, the constant bickering makes no sense…..to see why Tourism is suffering Google the phrase “visiting Trinidad and Tobago.” There you will find many comments and commentaries along with warnings to potential “tourists.” Take it or leave it!
Take it easy Neal.
dasy100 my fiend , please do not tell me it’s because of a few crime situation is so terrible that tourist are running in droves to Jamaica , and Brazil, thus making the both countries the envy of regional neighbors and the place of choice for most tourist yearly. There are tourist that would treck to war torn Sudan, Sri Lanka , Congo, and Iraq if they get the chance .
Most tourist are not naive sentimental idiots that gives too much credence to the politically motivated Third World such as controllers of the the CIA Factbooks and pseudo Human Right luminaries who claimed for example that the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago is a state that abuse Human Rights due to it penchant for flogging rapist and corporal punishment on a few delinquent kids.
The drop in Tourism is not unique to T&T. As stated in the previous post, it is attributable to the global economic down turn. Most of the Tourist who use to come for Carnival live in nations in the grip of catostrophic economic problems. The US is loosing jobs monthly in the hundreds of thousands. It is not much different in the UK.
That said, I agree with Linda. Why lament over the dissipation of the Tourist Industry. Why not see it as a blessing in disguise and seek alternative home grown economic substitutes that do not transform the nation into a Zoo to which affluent spectators travel to view and be amazed over the inhabitants.
For the perceptive , I obviously meant “Third world haters .”
This morning, I was called by a banker from TnT about some business. After he veriied that he was talking to the right person, I asked him to wait a second, while I found a seat in the shade, I was gardening, I said,digging up sweet potatoes. He souded surprised and amused. After all,I live abroad and can afford to travel to any place I want, though TnT remains my first choice. But planting potatoes? Well you see, I told him, I am a farmer’s daughter, and digging up the soil is as natural to me as breathing. Now I am retired and no longr work ful time, but there has never been a time when growing something I mean to eat was alien to me. Many a time I have burnt the pot beause I went outside to pick fresh seasonings, and stopped to pull a weed or too, until smoke starts coming out the winddw.
When I say go back to agriculture in this economic down turn, I mean that every person in Trinidad and Tobago who is supprted by tourism, needs a back-up plan. They need something to be able to sell, trade or barter besides their yes’m and their perpetual happy faces. Serious thinkers in the country could sell seminars abroad for university students from Europe nd north and South America- we have a unique culture well worth studying, and discussing. We have places of historic interest that students could visit. The uniersities could negotiate a flat rate for students for a semester. We do not need to changeo ur educational system to please them, its the dfference that is valuable.
We have much to sell,but it’s who we market it to that matters.
Tt no time in my comment was I putting down Tobago. I love the place, but I would not want it held back so that I could have a lovely retreat to visit. I am after all an educator, and would want Tobago to progress. Keeping it apprently simple to please the tourist is what I call the bonsai effect on a culture.I do not like those artificial strangled trees.
I am done, obviously, with harvesting the potatoes. and have, in the process replanted some of the cuttings, the way my Amerindian ancestors did. There would be food next year also.
Thanks for the reassurances Ms. L. That blessed country has surely suffered enough by the perpetual “putdowns” by fellow nationals , unconscious to the fact that there comes a time when if conscious,orzanized , and motivated ,”the rejected stone shall become the cornerstone.”
Tobago shall rise some day very soon , of this I am sure as sure as the night follows day. Let our narrow minded ,greedy, and selfish regionalist leaders remain fixated on their individual feifdoms at the expense of the nation as a whole.
In a democracy, our political directorate in the corridors of power in the Red House should be allowed to continue to cuddle up to ungrateful Caribbean leaders such as Barbados with obvious ulterior motives while stiffeling the social , economic and political progress of this twin island Republic . Remind them however , that ” the longest rope have and end. To be forewarned is to be forearmed.Condescentionsand humiliations of leaders and a people won’t be tolerated forever good friends.
Lets face it people of Trinidad and Tobago we are a land blessed with rare natural and human resources. The shining Beacon in the Caribbean who through long and continious struggles has formed a melting pot that at times is the envy of the world. With such gifts our founding father Dr Williams carved a constitution from the American Play book and set us on a path of democratic leadership in the region and hemisphere. As I look at the playing field he reminded us that our future lies in the book bags of our kids getting and maintaining good educational practices. Yet when I look at T&T the land of my birth I see a nation that rather than leading is taking on the persona as a follower of moral and ethical decay that is poisoning the will of the people to stand. Trinidad and Tobago has given the World musical and cultural gifts that we forget lends character to whats possible even in the face of deprivation and slavery. Yet we forget those struggles that shows the enduring courage and pride of a nation and the people that believed in the good that’s innate in all of us. What we must look at is tourism was never a main economic engine to the twin isle republic, but rather a segment that lent to keeping us culturally viable on the world stage. As a nation our strength comes from our natural resources that flows by the grace of Almighty God a natural wonder to the world. Yet the leader ship of our great state forgets that La Trinity is special a place that is playing out the greatest story ever-told of whats possible in the human spirit to live in harmony with nature and humanity. We know that we have the fire of party and having a good time hardwired into us because we know that liberty lies in the respect of another to be different and yet be the same under the skin. Let us not forget that and not allow party politricks and disenfranchisement of the least amongst us blind us of our true purpose in life. We might be an Island in the Caribbean sea yet our purpose in the scheme of things is magnanimous so let us focus on our resources on every level and do the hard work together to be as self sufficient as possible and police each other and stop the madness that is dragging our well earned moral authority in to the cesspool of shame and decline. As is evident money is not always the panacea to all of life evils, man is his worst enemy , man is his worst destruction. Lets look Globally as the world turns collective economic downturns, hmmmmm- lest we forget that there is a Creator who hold the Invisible hand to all our faiths, T&T is great lets live up to our God ordained Faith.
Michael Alsopp, were you a fly on the wall at my presentation today in an American city? I do part-time training for oil people coming to work in TnT and your comment can sum up my presentation . The trainees, who have worked outside metropolitan countries, looked at the pictures I presented, along with commentary, and were amazed by the multiplicity of people blending together in TnT.
Both Englishmen and Americans each think their pl,ace is the best in the world. Alas only a few TnT people truly believe that. Other countries teach multicultural education, we live it. That we have holidays honoring all the world’s great religions: ?Christianity, Islam and Hinduism amazed them. I did not include the use of all three holy books in our courts, I left that for them to discover, as well as the fact that we have free education for all up to tiertiary level, and that seniors can travel free on the state transport systems.
We need to praise ourselves more and be more generous in our thinking of our fellow Trinbagonians.If we do not love ourselves, how can we expect others to find us worthy of love?
Let them find out when they come.
I am truly sorry to hear of the problems in Trinidad. 50 years ago I had the honour to work in Trindad for 4 years and at 21 it was the greatet time of my life. there was poverty, yes, but there was a high degree of harmony amongst all the population, we were able to travel on our own all over the Island without any fear of harassment. I still hope one day to revisit your wonderful Island and enjoy the scenery, beaches and of course Carnival. What a spectacle that was.
Sorry to impose the nostalgia of an old one (75).