pistanthrophobia

Today I stayed at home and did meditation. At least when I wash my car or power wash I think its like meditation. Power washing was the chore of the day and the hum of the power washer and the noise of the water jet I find very relaxing. Of course there is not much thought other than 'don't water jet your skin off of your foot' type thoughts. Other than that I can go for hours doing this very mundane chore but whilst doing it I solve all the world's problems.
Today was no different.
Today's gem of an idea was dealing with the country's massive $5.0+BN food import bill. Let us start by instructing all entities that receive State funding that a minimum of 80% of all food items, including catered food, must be locally grown and processed. This would include the School Feeding program, health institutions, security and fire personnel, Ministries both in house and external catering, the residence of the President and the PMOTT, the Parliament, meals served in the State owned companies Board rooms, every single meal served paid for by the taxpayer. The Permanent Secretaries in each Ministry could set the stage for all to follow. In one particular Ministry that I worked at I remember receiving a Christmas hamper from one of the companies I had responsibility for. The entire hamper, including the wicker basket was imported. I felt ashamed. I also remember that the then Minister of Food Production gave each Cabinet Minister a Christmas hamper with only local produce. I also remember attending a dinner, also hosted by a Minister of Food Production where every single item on the menu was grown and produced in T&T, including red rice from Moruga. It is not impossible, you may not achieve 100% but by being aware you could get very close.
For me if the PMOTT led the charge by showing by example then there would be little or no excuse for the rest of us to follow. Soon the local retailers will find quality suppliers of local foods and there goes the billions in the food import bill. I am very conscious when I shop and if I can get 'hecho en Trinidad y Tobago' then it's in my market bag, which incidentally was made in St Vincent and the Grenadines from discarded animal feed bags.
Have you seen the quality chocolates being made here, OK not the cheapest but very yummy!

I thought that by now political parties on the rock would have woken up to the fact that the electorate is far more educated and knowledgeable and is not willing to put up with nondemocratic actions by the parties. What with social media and instant communication one would think that the foolishness that Political Leaders in particular carry on with would finally be put to rest. Wishful thinking especially those who look at the USA networks. But I am referring to the politicians on the rock. Do they feel that we are still in 1956? Surely not, but recently we see a Political Leader take the low road and create a situation that will ensure that she will win the next internal election for her party. Winning your parties internal election by less than honest means puts you in a place that will ensure you stay as the LOTO and not the PMOTT, regardless of how bad the current situation is deemed to be.
People on the rock want to be able to TRUST their leaders. They want to see the vision, have the hope and close their eyes and trust the leadership to do the right thing. Trust the leadership to create a future for them. With you doing all kinds of 'jiggery pokery' to achieve your so called leader position, is fooling you and the sycophants dancing around you.
The people want it straight up, honest and want to have trust in you. There is a word, pistanthrophobia which means ' the fear of trusting someone'.

Forgiving them isn't the hard part.

It's trusting them again.

I wish we would grow up politically, stop the worshiping, the idolizing and for the first time put the rock first.

Where we live it's not often we have a vehicle with a loud speaker on its roof making announcements, especially out of election season. After lunch today this vehicle is driving around advertising the services for one of the cable TV and internet service. I thought it was quite odd to use this promotional method to advertise a 'tech' service. Cannot say that I was impressed and guess I won't be going with the flow.

Thankfully the flooding rains have eased and therefore relief for tens of thousands of citizens. What are the next steps?

• Are we going to be on the ground surveying the flooded areas to determine the 'why.' 
• Aerial reconnaissance to map the areas, providing emergency funding to do a permanent fix before the start of yet another rainy season in June 2018
• Having the Ministry of Works, Drainage Div properly resourced with suitably qualified engineering personnel and funding to carry out immediate remedial works on river courses and other drainage systems. 
• The Town and Country Div of the Ministry of Planning ensuring that the areas being built on have the required permits and approvals and where not, enforce the law.
• The involvement by the Regional Corporations and the local councillors for the various areas, providing the local knowledge to assist with the remedial works. 
• Engaging suitably qualified locally resident contractors to carry out the works.

 The rains will come again, there is still expected high rainfall over the next few months.
Listening to the PMOTT's media briefing today and hearing him making the comment 'some people like a flood' is just plain insensitive. The handful of scamps looking for a new fridge should be dealt with but to show a lack of empathy with the persons who have genuinely lost is not right. I have always thought that people who try to prosper from a disaster should be made to pay twice what the regular fine is on conviction.

We will overcome the stupid, childish sometimes pathetic politics and become a real nation one day.

People on the rock, good night and good luck!!!