TNN 60

Hello folks…. as usual. hot of de press wit’ de local TnT news…(Deep voice)….. dis is TNN….. Ah goin’ an’ join San Fernandians an’  roll on Coffee Street… so gimme more…gimme more….. tempoooooo! (Calypso Rose..background music)

Jumpstation: Nature at its best; Test-in' cricket; National Day?.

Hey-hey…!  Dat nice man….. ah see Nature Seekers, de group dat does protect de turtles an’ dem up in Matura an’ also in Gran Riviere (GREAT) get de Caribbean Eco-Tourism Award, for excellence in eco-tourism.  

Yuh know some years ago dey did win de Global 500 prize too for small community based projects.  Yeah, man.. doh watch dem slight, yuh know..  Now dey puttin’ electronic tag an’ t’ing on turtle an’ collectin’ data for scientists an’ all dat…   Yuh see what does happen when yuh give people ah chance tuh use dey own resources..  We didn’t have tuh call in no foreign consultancy, no big investor nothin’… jus’ de l’il people dem.  

Now everybody noticin’ dem…. Grand Riviere, Matura, all dem areas on de worl’ map now, an’ people from other islands an’ from “away” comin’ to see an’ help out.    If yuh get ah chance make sure an’ check it out boy…. dey have dey scouts on de beach, an’ when de turtles comin’ in, dey does call yuh, lead yuh out in groups, wait till de turtle layin’, take yuh by de nest an’ give yuh ah l’il lecture an’ t’ing bout de leatherbacks…. den yuh does even get to touch de turtle, watch it lay, full back up de nest wit’ sand an’ head back tuh see…..

Hear nah, is somet’ing tuh see, yes…. an’ yuh believe is ah l’il $10 for locals to see all ah dat!   Yuh getting’ more dan yuh money’s worth in scenery alone…. an’ yuh know how country people nice… no stupid airs an’ all dat….ent?  Doh play yuh eh know dat!   De folks jus’ decide is time tuh stop people from killin’ de poor turtles an’ t’iefin’ dey eggs, dey form ah little organization, get ah help from Wildlife (Agriculture) an’ was off an’ runnin’…  De village folk goin’ to big meetin’ away to tell dem “experts” how to run t’ings….. but doh feel is smooth sailin’ yuh know… when yuh have to be out dey, night after night, in rain even, wit’ col’ breeze bitin’ yuh, lack ah sleep, etc…but dey soldierin’ on……ah doh know if dey get ah national award yet, but if not , it better eh be long in comin’…! 

Dem is de people who does build ah country an’ make meh beat meh chest an’ feel proud… dem is one ah we!   Ah sure wherever dem turtles does swim, dey tellin’ de odder turtle, “Look, girl, Trinidad is de bes’ place tuh have yuh chilren…… dey does take good care of yuh!”   

Alright, alyuh getting’ dis one in English.. ah hope alyuh understan’ what ah sayin’….!

We just celebrated Indian Arrival on Tuesday 30^th May.  It was a day designated as a remembrance to the people and ancestors of East Indian descent who came to Trinidad  for the first time, on aboard the Fatel Razack vessel.  Further, it celebrated the cultural, social and economic changes and the indelible influence these survivors and their descendants have had and continue to have on the society they came to.  Their struggles, their hopes, their victories, their heroes,  their endurance and their contributions remain and will always remain a treasured part of the history of Trinidad and Tobago.  And rightly so, that this event , the processes and people that evolved from it be recognised and appreciated. 

Nevertheless their were murmurings as to whether such holidays should be given national significance, i.e, whether holidays such as Emancipation Day and Indian Arrival Day should in fact be PUBLIC holidays.  

To the best of my memory, the Indian Arrival Day holiday was first designated as Arrival Day, then an amendment was made to make the holiday Indian Arrival Day, making it specific to a particular ethnic groups and descendants thereof.  Some of the arguments stated that Emancipation Day can be celebrated by all, not just Trinidadians of African descent, since the holiday does not say African Emancipation Day.  That argument does not merit the time it takes to make it.  

All over the Caribbean Emancipation Day is celebrated as the end of slavery of peoples of African descent, and the mere fact that the holiday is placed on the day of African Emancipation in the British Colonies already lends it to an ethnic bias.  If it is not so, then call it Freedom Day, because Emancipation has undeniable historic references to the emancipation of African slaves.  Hence Emancipation Day continues to be celebrated mostly, almost exclusively by people of African descent.  And for the same reasons, as the aforementioned holiday, it should be commemorated. But the question remains, should holidays with decidedly ethnic biases be  made PUBLIC  holidays?

The furor over  Arrival and Emancipation in many instances contains ill concealed racism and even less ill concealed  political pandering.  In a multi-ethnic, multicultural society like Trinidad (less so Tobago), one needs to exercise prudence when prescribing public holidays.   In my opinion, if these two holidays are given, there is no conceivable reason why other persons of other ethnic groupings should not be given the same consideration, regardless of their size.  The Syrian-Lebanese community, even though numerically small in number, continues to have a tremendous influence in the economic life of the nation, such that to imagine the economy of Trinidad without them would be difficult, to say the least.  

And what of the Amerindians, who are nearly forgotten in the realm of things? To say nothing of the Chinese, and those of European descent (no less than 12 European countries have representatives here)?  Remember, equality of recognition ….“here every creed and race finds an equal place” does not depend on numerical percentage in a population; ask the Jews in America!  In a nation that is still coming to full nationhood, it is perhaps natural that these controversies would, but with history as a guide, you would have though that they would have been more intelligently resolved. 

If  it is desirable that everyone feels a part of a nation, then everyone should be recognized and represented; stating the problem, if it is such, in this way, immediately lends itself to a solution.  Abolish all holidays with specific ethnic bias from the public holidays calendar.  Why?   What would a person of Chinese descent do on Emancipation Day, except look on?  If it is a public holiday, then everyone should  feel a part and be able to participate.

I would therefore move for the establishment of a  NATIONAL DAY or NATION DAY where all people can take part.  Imagine the concept: the stadium or the Queen’s Park Savannah containing dozens of booths, kiosks, eating centres, where one can wander about at will and purchase or browse to one heart’s delight anything concerning other ethnic groups.  

This immediately brings out the designated  persons of “mixed ancestry”.  Then in the late afternoon begins the National Day concerts featuring parades, performances etc., representing all the continents that have been thrown together on this isle.    Import acts from other places if necessary, to complement local acts.  An immediate stumbling block to ignorance and racism and a foundation for cultural appreciation.  

The show  must of  course be televised live, since no one must lose an opportunity to participate.   People will continue to celebrate Indian Arrival Day and Emancipation Day and any other significant historical occasion; and there is no reason why they shouldn’t.  These days are a part of the society and should not be forgotten, but in the context of Trinidad and Tobago, public holidays for such only make room for division, alienation of groups, increased racism and political expediency.  

In a country that is  90 or 95 percent of one ethnic group, it probably wouldn’t matter.  We must always be sensitive to and celebrate our rich diversity.  Removal or isolation of one thread from the tapestry will spoil the entire artwork.  

Dat’s all for dis week, folks…. I will be a little longer next week, but right now, ah tryin’ tuh get back on schedule…. alyuh have ah good weeked…an’ ah go see alyuh nex’ week.     As usual any comments, queries, questions, hail outs or ole talk, jus’ write we anchorman Cobra at ttcobra1@hotmail.com an’  ah go be sure tuh get back tuh yuh……all de bes’….ah gone…!   Drunk and disorderly…always in custody…meh friends an’ meh famil…all man fed up wit’ me….. (background music)