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Mason Hall





Most noticeable today was the lack of doubles, channa and cheese, aloo pies and other non pastelle and ham delicacies. I headed out early this morning with my mind set on non Christmas fare, Nic's Channa and Cheese, only to be met with closed doors. Nary a mobile kitchen was in sight so I was forced to eat biscuits. This is not a good omen for the new year, the life blood of the rock takes the week between Christmas and New Years off making life extremely difficult. The other craving is for Chinese food with a good, solid MSG fix. Oh well I will have to weigh my options tomorrow.

The demon toy operators are at it again. What is so annoying is that it is not even fireworks, its just noise. OK we would burst bamboo in Arima and have a great time, no eyebrows and all, but that was once in a while and in the evening. These guys are doing this noise thing from early morning, during the day and of course at night. One day there is going to be a horrible accident, the authorities will launch the usual investigation, fireworks will be banned for that period and then things will revert. Maybe the Minister of Finance could let the population know how much foreign exchange is being spent on an illegal trade.

A family member braved the Tobago ferry service today and from all reports it was the worst experience ever. The getting onto the ferry, the crossing - over 5 hrs, the overall condition of the boat. The PMOTT made a commitment to the people of the rock that Christmas would not meet us without a suitable ferry service in place. I hate harping on my experience in securing a suitable cargo vessel for the service but what is it that we were able to do that this current administration is having so many problems with? The PMOTT has been there for 27 months already and yet still his Government has found it impossible to solve a fairly easy situation. What with numerous failed tender bids, failed Commissioners of the PATT and worst, failed Cabinet Ministers. You know what is said about a failed business. Do not blame the employees!
Poor Tobago, seems as though it will always be the bastard child even under a leadership steeped in Tobago belonging or so it is said. Mason Hall to White Hall? ask Tobago!

Carnival is in 6 weeks. Today there has been no official launch of the festival. I guess for those of us on the rock an official launch may not be necessary but really, 6 weeks away and the NCC does not have a plan? What stupidness is this? No wonder 'Massive' is singing the chutney! The North Stand has not yet started the annual erection, does that mean that there will be no North Stand this year? What of Panorama? I do believe one can Google when Trinidad Carnival is going to be held every year for the next hundred years but it looks as though we are not aware of this.

It is all these 'things' that make me feel uneasy about the rock. If we cannot get the most mundane, simple things right then what of the economy, crime, health, cost of living and everything else that sums up our day? I find it is cause for serious concern, there is not a single public office that is not without it's problems and challenges. It is further compounded by the fact that this Administration seems clueless as to how to manage the country's business. Very scary, red and ready my foot!

Hope and Trust, this is what the rock needs now, we cannot continue in this current vein, the uncertainty, the failure of all public offices, the lack of a vision, the bleak future. The new political solution must happen and soon! The current politics has failed us and will only continue to fail.

Keep the faith, good night and good luck!


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