It's a dark and stormy night here in the Maraval Valley. Hearing thunder in the distance, heavy drizzle, wind, cool temperature. The small 'Bajan' frogs are revving tonight creating a racket. I guess it's the rainy season and this is what you get. It is now one week since Tropical Storm Bret came over the island and for many people things have not yet gotten back to normal.
Reading one of the weekly columnists today writing about his growing up in a flood prone area and basically the family taking it in their stride every rainy season. He commented on the fact that his father knew where they were living and never blamed the authorities or demanded from the authorities any compensation for the losses suffered as a result of the annual floods. It is different now and demands are made for every 'big toe bounce' and it seems that no one takes responsibility for their lot in life. Not sure where this came from but there has to be a line as to how far a government can be held responsible for the actions of others.
I do support however that the authorities must be held accountable for their own slackness in the proper management of their areas of responsibilities. For instance, we have lived in upper Maraval for over 34 yrs and for the first time we see squatting taking place in our area. We have two Cabinet Ministers living within close proximity who see it every day of life and the Member of Parliament for the constituency living just down the road. If we can see it happening so can they. When issues arising out of this unplanned development surface who has to shoulder the blame?
The Parliament has sunken to yet a new low. What transpired in the House last Friday sent me back to 2015 with the MP for Tobago East making the most ridiculous statements with reference to the then LOTO, now PMOTT. The problem is that somebody had to approve the then Member's statement. I was asked to sit in for the Leader of Government Business during the time the Member made the statement. That was very convenient, no? I am sad that this is where our country has reached, and I lay blame on both sides, the Government and the Opposition, the PMOTT and the LOTO for allowing this abuse of the people's place. The country is no better off, considering the economic mess we find ourselves in, and what is required now is strong leadership. If the Opposition cannot connect the dots then at least the Government must take the high road. I guess that is wishful thinking when in a reply to a reporter who was asking the whereabouts of the PMOTT during the Bret episode the man replied with words to the effect that the reporter by asking that question was worse than his wife. That is the leadership we have today for a country that is in serious economic trouble in the long term.
Maybe the remarks made by the 1% man was the truth and it really sticks in our craw that we cannot do better. Smell the coffee!
Between the Petrotrin report and the Sandal's deal I don't know which one is more critical to the economy. The Petrotrin report must be made public by laying it in the Parliament so we can all see what the 'new deal' is and what are the recommendations to make Petrotrin viable again. I see a statement from the company saying that there is an increase in the oil production, small, but at least an increase.
The issue of Sandal's is still a big secret. The Chief Secretary of the THA now says that the deal could be as long as 3-5 yrs in the making. Does Sandal's wait that long, I doubt it. It is public knowledge that there may be a sale of the company soon so what will happen to the negotiations? The PMOTT has taken up this project as his own so we wait and see.
If Tobago feels that Sandal's is the cure all for their tourism woes then I have bad news for them. Until Tobago understands that you will require buy-in from the majority of the population of Tobago that tourism is an industry and needs to be managed as an industry you are spinning the proverbial top in mud. New infrastructure does not change the attitude of the population. I have said it before, the island of Dominica has over 75,000 overnight visitor stays, without a single direct flight. Tobago is challenged to attract 20,000 visitors. It's not only about the infrastructure, it's not that you don't have a Sandal's.
Come on people, we can do a lot better with our politics, neither side deserves the leadership that is there now.
Reading one of the weekly columnists today writing about his growing up in a flood prone area and basically the family taking it in their stride every rainy season. He commented on the fact that his father knew where they were living and never blamed the authorities or demanded from the authorities any compensation for the losses suffered as a result of the annual floods. It is different now and demands are made for every 'big toe bounce' and it seems that no one takes responsibility for their lot in life. Not sure where this came from but there has to be a line as to how far a government can be held responsible for the actions of others.
I do support however that the authorities must be held accountable for their own slackness in the proper management of their areas of responsibilities. For instance, we have lived in upper Maraval for over 34 yrs and for the first time we see squatting taking place in our area. We have two Cabinet Ministers living within close proximity who see it every day of life and the Member of Parliament for the constituency living just down the road. If we can see it happening so can they. When issues arising out of this unplanned development surface who has to shoulder the blame?
The Parliament has sunken to yet a new low. What transpired in the House last Friday sent me back to 2015 with the MP for Tobago East making the most ridiculous statements with reference to the then LOTO, now PMOTT. The problem is that somebody had to approve the then Member's statement. I was asked to sit in for the Leader of Government Business during the time the Member made the statement. That was very convenient, no? I am sad that this is where our country has reached, and I lay blame on both sides, the Government and the Opposition, the PMOTT and the LOTO for allowing this abuse of the people's place. The country is no better off, considering the economic mess we find ourselves in, and what is required now is strong leadership. If the Opposition cannot connect the dots then at least the Government must take the high road. I guess that is wishful thinking when in a reply to a reporter who was asking the whereabouts of the PMOTT during the Bret episode the man replied with words to the effect that the reporter by asking that question was worse than his wife. That is the leadership we have today for a country that is in serious economic trouble in the long term.
Maybe the remarks made by the 1% man was the truth and it really sticks in our craw that we cannot do better. Smell the coffee!
Between the Petrotrin report and the Sandal's deal I don't know which one is more critical to the economy. The Petrotrin report must be made public by laying it in the Parliament so we can all see what the 'new deal' is and what are the recommendations to make Petrotrin viable again. I see a statement from the company saying that there is an increase in the oil production, small, but at least an increase.
The issue of Sandal's is still a big secret. The Chief Secretary of the THA now says that the deal could be as long as 3-5 yrs in the making. Does Sandal's wait that long, I doubt it. It is public knowledge that there may be a sale of the company soon so what will happen to the negotiations? The PMOTT has taken up this project as his own so we wait and see.
If Tobago feels that Sandal's is the cure all for their tourism woes then I have bad news for them. Until Tobago understands that you will require buy-in from the majority of the population of Tobago that tourism is an industry and needs to be managed as an industry you are spinning the proverbial top in mud. New infrastructure does not change the attitude of the population. I have said it before, the island of Dominica has over 75,000 overnight visitor stays, without a single direct flight. Tobago is challenged to attract 20,000 visitors. It's not only about the infrastructure, it's not that you don't have a Sandal's.
Come on people, we can do a lot better with our politics, neither side deserves the leadership that is there now.
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