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Delta 4 over and out!

Sitting here in Maraval tonight its very windy with the electrical power dipping every now and again. From all reports the storm has gone to the north and the island of Trinidad is OK. Tobago however could be in for a rough patch. The Tropical Storm, now named Bret, is the second for the season and was formed very low in the Atlantic and threatened both Trinidad and Tobago. The last time a hurricane was named Bret was in August, 1999. It was a category 4 hurricane that thankfully did not prove to be that destructive with minimum fatalities and physical damage to property.
Of course I marvel at the officialdom in T&T. Today, the party boats were out sailing to wherever. The island is under a storm watch and nobody thought it wise to restrict non-essential marine traffic. The Tobago ferries were restricted, the offshore oil and gas platforms were being evacuated and we were at the same time loading 'feters' to go on a party cruise.
What exactly is the protocol? If a storm emergency is declared is there any policy with reference to marine traffic and if not why? and if there is why are these boats allowed to sail? The owners, the captains of these vessels should be held accountable. This cannot be allowed. Why has the coast guard not intervened and prevented the party boats from sailing. I guess in the Land of Nobody is Responsible for anything it's OK.
Talk to Bourdain, complain and get vex!

Absolutely love the story of the Minister of Tourism saying that she has experienced the problems with the sea-bridge firsthand. Her shipment of furniture has been delayed. Poor person!
The Tobago economy is in shambles, groceries are running short of supplies, hotels and guesthouses are having the lowest occupancy levels ever, the August holidays are upon us and there is no relief in the foreseeable future. The official statement is ' Cabinet and the Government are working diligently to resolve the issues.' The PMOTT and the Chief Secretary of the THA should hang their heads in shame! The goodly Minister of Tourism, a Tobagonian herself, should be ashamed to even face the public, more so if your only complaint is that the 'bureau and fridge didn't reach!'
The PMOTT is solely responsible for this Tobago ferry mess, no one else.

Its Labor Day in T&T. One report is that the unions are going to rate the Ministers. I don't understand why is this an issue? Rate the Ministers? Since its Labor Day, how about rating the unions? What has the trade union movement done within recent times to educate, better the working conditions of workers, provide proper health and pension benefits, ensure job security whilst understanding the current economic environment, work with their employers to ensure viability of the organization, discussed employee ownership, the union buying shares in the company. Taking workers from being in strike and demand mode constantly to workers being part of the success of the organization.

And so once again we are spared the destruction of a hurricane. There are many other matters at hand that would have the same effect of a destructive storm. We, the people, need to be ever vigilant and aware of the effects of a 'storm' whether political or social. There is danger lurking at all times. Unlike the fools with the party boats let us understand the danger and prepare.

Delta 4, roger and out!

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