'union dues'

I spent Emancipation Day as I would normally. I head down to Independence Sq in the morning and just chill. It's basically the exact same thing every year. The same stage, the same speakers, the same speech but the expectation is always different from the people who are there. Today's crowd was I guess a bit smaller than previous years but the same enthusiasm as always. It started late, in fact I don't think there is an actual start time, people were on the stage for a long while milling around, sitting then getting up as though something was about to happen only to sit again. It's not a criticism but an observation. If you are having a formal program then stick with it, if not then just mingle.
After all the speechifying was done the PMOTT then arrived, I guess on cue, and the march to the QPS started.
A couple things I observed. The speeches are the same that I have heard for the last decade. Surely there is something different we can offer when it comes to Emancipation. When the march started there was no music. Normally there is drumming and a lot of action, this year nothing. A lady remarked ' aye aye no drumming'.
Attending the celebrations, I as a non participant and seemingly from the plantocracy, I wait for the comment. I am in my civilian garb, sticking out like a sore thumb, but I belong. This year was not a bad year, greetings from persons unknown, persons known and then the winner ' aye, black Cadiz'.

We went to the Village in the QPS yesterday afternoon and without a doubt the group, Natural Cultural with Sandy being one of the lead drummers, put on a blow mind performance. I hope that something more comes out of Emancipation Day. There is a lot of history that needs to be understood and taught, the struggles, the successes, it's not all bad news. I would think that true emancipation is full knowledge of our history, and a real understanding of who we are as a people.
I have said this before, the unedited tapes of the documentary '70' the Revolution', over 60 hrs of taping, which gives a vivid insight into the 1970 Black Power movement are still available to the Makandal Daaga Library at UWI. This is a donation that UWI has not yet accepted. Why, maybe for the same reason 1970 is not part of our nations history books. So when I speak of our history I mean the real history.

Speaking of the real history what exactly is going on with the CL Financial debacle? My life partner asks me tonight is it her or is it that the issue is so complicated that she does not understand what is going on. To me one has to be versed in law, in corporate governance, in financial affairs, in investment, in Central Bank regulations, in shareholders rights and most of all taxpayers rights. This entire situation sends a very clear message - if we baffle them with enough legal jargon and corporate BS then for sure we will get away with it.
This is my point with a lot of what this blog is about. How can you as a responsible government hoodwink the taxpayer? You say one thing one day and the next you are selling the same asset below market value. We are not fools, we might not understand the oil and gas industry and what affects world pricing etc but at the end of the day it is the responsibility of any government to sit us down and explain in layman terms what the hell is going on with our famous patrimony. The issue of sovereignty goes out the window if we have no idea what it is in the first place. We are right back where we started centuries ago.

Just to note that not too long ago there was a 'businessman' in Chaguanas involved with the motor car business who, to many, had questions to answer. Of course one heard of certain courtesies being extended to local police officers - vehicle to attend a wedding etc. It took years and according to the print media, 170 officers to make a raid. All the police units were from other divisions outside of the Central Div. Is there then going to be an investigation into how come this person was able to build a thriving, supposedly illegal, business under the noses of the Central Div police, including at one time one of Trinidad's most notorious crime fighters? This is where I have a problem. Nobody asks the questions, the 'batch' is protected and no one is made to answer.

Well, we can look to Friday coming as a day of no work by certain trade union leaders. The leaders are calling for a no work day. I only hope these so called labor leaders understand what is happening with this economy. I hear them supporting the regime in Venezuela which makes me wonder where their brains are? The Tobago economy is in shambles as a result of the decisions by the PMOTT and the ferry service, the Trinidad and Tobago economy is in the doldrums because of the low price of oil and gas and these jokers do not seem to care.
As usual, it will all happen and after it hits the fan then we will hear that we did not know, we did not think that it was that serious.

The word 'trust' rears it's head once again. We have to find leaders who not only we can trust but who we can actually hold responsible and accountable for their actions, and so build the trust!
We will continue to plug away, to fight it and most of all to make it right. I will be at work on Friday. Remember if it is one thing that has to be paid at the end of the month it is union dues.

Good night and good luck!