Skip to main content

A YI YI YI YI YI !



Storms, earthquakes, fire, and brimstone did not rain upon the weary citizens of the Rock over the weekend. In fact, we had a beautiful two days, with the full moon in effect, no rain and happy times. Pan on the Avenue in Woodbrook and a calming of the people. A welcomed respite from all of the goings on during the week.

The PMOTT headed to Caracas this weekend to sign a deal with persons who are not authorized to sign anything. Why would we do this is anybody's guess. I guess for a politician any news is good news even if it is no news. Love the interview with the press on the airplane, POTUS style, with the PMOTT with a glass of wine in his hand. The press were invited for the meeting in Caracas, but were not allowed to actually cover the meeting, and no one had a problem with that. I guess any other PMOTT with a glass would have been ridiculed by all and sundry, quite rightly so.

Caracas put me in a music mode of many years ago, Edmundo Ros! Edmund William Ross was born in Arima, my hometown, in 1910. His mother was Venezuelan and he spent his late teens in Venezuela. His claim to fame was his nightclub in London, the Bagatelle Restaurant, in the 40's and 50's. It is reputed to be the first time the soon to be Queen,  Princess Elizabeth, danced in public. Edmundo died at the age of 101. Arima is famous! At a Panorama one year Edmundo was brought on stage as a visiting celebrity and very few people knew who he was. Our connections with the mainland are historical. It is sad that the only reason we want to talk with our neighbors, who are suffering, is for economic gain. 'A YI YI YI YI!

The fate of the State owned Petrotrin will be determined this week. Like Caroni and so many other loss making State owned enterprises the time has come. The 70's era is finally coming to a close. I hope that the powers that be also look at all the other enterprises that are a drain on the public purse. The PMOTT was once the jefe at National Quarries. I cannot think for one minute why does the taxpayer own a quarry? Is this of absolute national importance? Critical to the survival of the State? Like CAL, Lake Asphalt, TSTT and so many others.

' I knew Trinidad to be unimportant, uncreative, cynical. The only professions were those of law and medicine, because there was no need for any other; and the most successful people were commission agents, bank managers and members of the distributive trades. Power was recognised but dignity was allowed to no one. Every person of eminence was held to be crooked and contemptible. We lived in a society which denied itself heroes.
'The Middle Passage, V.S Naipaul.

This is Naipaul in the 60's. In 2018 has anything changed? I am very concerned about my homeland, the Rock. Will our youth stay and rebuild the Rock? Do we have it in us to make the change? Time alone will tell. The current leadership, on both sides, sends a very clear message, we are no where closer to achieving any recognised status of any world!

People, stay up, be proud, good night and good luck!

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

R&R

We had two of the four grands spend the weekend with us whilst the parents went off to the North Coast for some rest and relaxation. From all reports, the sojourn was well spent with both singing the praises of our North Coast, no beach, just R&R. We are ten minutes from the coast and I hate to admit it but it is rare that we venture north. One of the selling points of coming to live in the wilds of Maraval in 1983 was the fact that Maracas Bay was a mere 30 mins away. Maracas could have been next door it did not matter, we just do not do it. Having grandchildren I think puts you in a very different place. When our kids were growing up we were struggling with building a business from scratch, living off of a teachers salary, impossible then as it is now, and generally ketching. But as it is with all things in life we survived. Looking back at those years it was difficult, kids, dogs, mortgage and other loans, but you knew why you were putting yourself through all this hard...

Peace and quiet

When you hear the words 'perfect' or 'the best' it makes you feel like a million dollars. Human nature is weird, a simple compliment can turn a whole story into a week of joy! And, yes, I am speaking about the Sunday night popcorn! Apparently, tonight was exceptional. I hope the rest of the week translates into 'perfect'. The horrible news of the deaths of two cyclists over the weekend came as a real shock. We both know a number of people who cycle for good weekend sport and to hear of Joe Brown being killed in an accident was truly heart-rending. When we heard of the accident we started to think of all the people we know who cycle and just hoped it might be somebody we did not know. Is this how it works, you hope that it's not someone you know, what about all the people who actually know the person? Truly a sad day! RIP Joe and Joanna! The issue of cycling and motorists is one that every country I am sure goes through. Is it that the main roads are for...

the Grand Pooba! The Constitution 101 [6[

The distance the Tobago ferries have to travel between the islands is approximately 80 miles. For safety reasons the First Bocas cannot be used so the ferries sail through the Second Bocas which adds time on to the sailing schedule. The water or wave pattern is different on the sailing to Tobago as the wave comes at an angle to the sailing direction of the ferry that does not provide the passengers with the most comfortable ride. At certain times of the year, November to March in particular, the seas can get extremely rough. There have been cancellations of the service because of adverse sea conditions. The current design of the passenger ferries being used, the Incat hull, have proven to be the best to date. They are fast, in excess of 35 knots, which should give a sailing time of just over two [2] hrs. Being a catamaran type design, with a wave piercing capability, it is probably one of the best vessels for the service. There are newer designs of the same basic hull that can take...