'TGIS'

It's Friday night and even though one may be semi retired there's something about a Friday and a weekend that conjures up visions of rest, relaxation, partying and other recreational activities. Old habits are hard to break and yes, I can relax and have a 'zzzz' after lunch anytime during the week, somehow it does not happen, well maybe not today, but you know what I am saying.

I have been working since I left Holy Cross College at age 16 plus. I remember my mother asking me about three weeks into that August vacation, "you do know that school vacations are no longer so what do you intend doing about a job?" It then dawned on me that that was it, free paper burn, you are all alone, it's now up to you. And what a ride it has been. I have enjoyed my life thoroughly, everything I have been through. Success, failure, stuff in between, family, children, work. Trinidad and Tobago has been good to me and I hope that I have made a positive contribution in some way to making it a better place.

Growing up in Arima in the 50/60's things were a lot different. There was a freedom that I don't see today. The things that we did to entertain and busy ourselves with I don't see our grandchildren doing even a fraction of that. Yes, that was decades ago, but some of it could have been done today but alas, Trinidad and Tobago has changed. We are now the most dangerous English-speaking country in the Caribbean. The most dangerous, I repeat, the most dangerous! What the hell happened?

Becoming the 'most dangerous' is a man-made situation. This has nothing to do with climate change, oil pricing or whether or not 'doubles' is the national dish. It has every thing to do with corruption, a failed education system, failure of the political system, dependency, lack of true representation in the Parliament, a lack of morals to determine the difference between right and wrong and greed at all levels.

Now that the local energy economy is clearly in serious trouble and will probably never return as the mainstay of our revenue stream, we as a nation have to finally take a stand as to who we intend to be and how do we plan to survive, far less prosper. Jamaica has taken in front and is moving ahead with billions of USD in foreign direct investment in their economy. Jamaica is now the second 'most dangerous' English-speaking country in the Caribbean.

Unless we deal with the crime situation now we are going to end up a basket case. Energy investments go wherever there is energy. It could be in the 'most dangerous' place on earth, energy companies are not concerned, they just pay 'vex money' for their employees. The companies involved in various services, tourism, finance, IT, sports, etc are much more discerning and careful about where they invest. Security and stability is critical to them as they do not simply extract a commodity and ship it out.

What is the plan for Trinidad and Tobago? By 2050 many countries will only allow electric vehicles on their roads, that's like 33 yrs away, I will be 98 yrs then and will welcome the initiative. We need some serious planning and serious decision-making. Not the kind that allows one to win the next election, this is make or break time for the Republic. We need leadership to come straight with the population and not only give us the facts of life but what is the plan to deal with survival.

On the issue of corruption, deal with it! Go after every single person[s] regardless of the politics, lock them up! I guess you yourself will have to be above the fray if you are going to stamp out corruption, is that possible in T&T? Well, it has to start somewhere. In Brazil the accusers became the corrupt. It is a vicious cycle but it has to be broken. Firstly, stop the corruption now, then piece by piece deal with the decades old corruption. Appoint a Special Prosecutor, maybe a special court to deal with the hundreds of cases. It will take a long time but unless there is a real will to deal with corruption we will maintain our ' most dangerous' status.

I don't necessarily wish for the 'good old days' to return as the world is a very different place, the traditional values in T&T are still alive and well in most of us, what we need is the continued respect for each other, the smartphones will do the rest.

Hope to have a 'zzz' tomorrow afternoon as it's not a work day. TGIS!