"Yuh ketch D'Frescole"|Yuh is ah Trini

Triniglish|Trinididioms Spoken and Explained #11

Yuh is ah Trini|"If yuh ever "Ketch D'Freshcole"

Some time ago I wrote a post teasing a friend of mine from the wack radio shoutbox. She complained that she left home early and went to JFK airport and unfortunately "ketch de frescole." Oh boi I do hope that this one is causing some of you to wonder or simply smile because of our silly naming for things that are easily known around the world. I must warn you that just about everyone "Ketches de frescole".

The 'frescole' is a real nuisance and causes people to lose time away from work almost daily during the wintry season. In Trinidad ketching de frescole happens regularly during the rainy season but can happen year round if you are not careful about how you clothe yourselt at nights and especially in the morning when you hit the early morning dew. Maybe I should simply repost the tease I posted about my friend Gail to see if you can "ketch on and understand what it means to ketch de frescole". 

Here is the post that was done on 10/09/09:

One of my favorite people, a friend to the blog is down for the count. However, with a little rest and some help from the pharmaceuticals she should be ‘good to go in a few days’. The title of this short post says, “ah ketch d’freshcole”.  Those words were written by Gailos because she went to JFK without a jacket early in the morning and ‘ketch d’freshcole’. Please don't worry too much Trinidadians  (a citizen of Trinidad and Tobago) 'ketch d'frescole' all the time.

For those of you whom are not familiar with the way red-blooded Trinidadians speak here is a word of advice.  Please don’t go to JFK early in the morning without a jacket because you will ketch d’freshcole or maybe it will ‘ketch yuh’.  Well we need to get to the bottom of this ‘freshcole’ mystery.  We don’t need to send in the authorities to get rid of this nuisance supposedly at JFK but simply need to remember to wear our coats in this changing climate.

D’frescole is nothing more than the common cold but a true freshcole comes with aches and pain that is better known as the flu. Only a Trinidadian could come up with such a term to describe the common cold.  I am sorry I had to drag it out this way but Gail put a smile on my face and triggered the light bulb switch that said blog post.  So now that we are in the beginning of the ‘catch d’cold’ season with H1N1 lurking nearby to bring about our demise we must remember to practice good hygiene skills. Washing your hands is a must and it won’t hurt to walk with and use hand sanitizer. So until someone else pulls that switch again it is so long until the next blog post.

Reactions:

"Yuh know "Toolum, Sugar cake and Coconut Drops"|Yuh is ah Trini

Triniglish|Trinididioms Spoken and Explained #10

Yuh is ah Trini if yuh know what Toolum, Sugar Cake and Coconut drops are...

There was a time when donkey carts roamed the villages with a drum on the back of the cart. The guy riding the cart voice bellowed throughout the neighborhood with the sound Moloassseeeeeeesssssss. Yes he was selling molasses and the people in the neighborhood would come out with their Cydrax, Peardrax and Old Oak rum bottles to buy the black gold he was selling - molasses. Gone are the days of the donkey carts and the men pushing the carts with palettes but the delightful treats still leave lasting memories for those of us who were fortunate to have experienced life in the islands during the 60's, 70's, 80's and early 90's period.

Toolum:

Now I would go to that cart and he would put some in my palm that I licked off delightfully. My mother purchased molasses for us to eat "because it was good fuh yuh" said my mother.  However Miss Mod, out neighbor, used the molasses to make the best toolum on the Island (that is how I felt about it).  She made two types the hard ones that you had to literally suck to finish off and the soft chewy ones. I like the hard ones because they lasted a while. For those of you still wondering about tolum it us a local treat (you will refer to it as a candy) that was made with grated coconut and molasses. The finished product looked like small tennis balls when rolled properly. They were and still are a delicious treat. 

Sugar Cake:

Every child and even the adults loved eating sugar cakes. Small round lumps of grated coconut and brown sugar boiled and hardened into 2-3 inch lumps were so delicious and depending on the person making them had different consistencies and taste. Some were the color of the brown sugar while some had coconut chunks while others were white or pink in color. The various spices used to make the sugar cakes made the difference in the items moving quickly or remaining in glass cases for some days. In the end the outcome was always the same nothing remained - all Trinis have "ah sweet tooth oui".

Coconut drops:

Well it looks like the common denominator is the coconut here. This one is a real treat and a favorite of this blogger. Coconut drops are crazy nice indeed. Here is the deal with this treat it is a combination of butter, sugar, eggs, Angostura bitters and vanilla for flavoring, flour, baking powder, cinnamon, raisons and the secret ingredient.... grated coconut (use the finest section of the grater eh). This mixture is then baked with the outcome being coconut drops - fuss ah love dem. 

There you have it, as a Trini these treats are known by all and if you ever visit the island you should try each of these tasty delights. So if you knew these names then "Yuh is ah Trini" or you spent some time on the island and will have to return to try them again. Hmmm... That should have been about the cascadura. In any case that is what we talking about... Trini 2D Bone.

Reactions:

"Yuh always point with yuh lips and give directions with yuh hands"|Yuh is ah Trini

Triniglish|Trinididioms Spoken and Explained #9

Yuh is ah Trini|If yuh does point with yuh lips and give directions with yuh hands!

Hello do you think that I am joking? No I am not joking because Trinis have very unique ways of communicating with each other. One of my favorite gestures is that of "point out something with your puckered lips as we say pointing with "yuh lips". The funny thing about Trinis is that they point with their lips and give directions with their hands. I am not joking my friends. 

Sometime a nod of the head will do as is typical when a beautiful young lady passes by. What happens is classic head nodding and lip gesturing pointing to the person in question. It helps you by not drawing attention to you obvious drooling because there is no sound to draw attention to your lusty ways. 

A quick nod upwards and a guttural uhh precede the lip puckering that zone in on the person in question. Everyone hanging out with you clearly understands the gesture and they all drool or steups loudly if the person in question does not live up to their expectations. 

Pointing with your mouth is not only used by young men but is done seamlessly by just about everyone. The older women do it to bring attention to something that is taking place close by. The goal of pointing with your mouth is the same as pointing with your hands but it is not as obvious as the latter.

Now if you choose to ask a Trini for directions then you should prepare for the experience of  your life. Apart from using his hands to direct you, please note that the hand pointing goes hand in hand (sorry about that.. lol) with phrases like: "dat eh far is right dey", "just go down de road and by the stand pipe make ah right... it is right by the red fence.... yuh cyar miss it yuh will hear de pot hounds barking".  "Oh is dey yuh want to go, not ah problem hear dis nah... and on and on confusing the you so much you  can't tell right from left or up from down because they surely will have you going "down de road" to your destination.  

So pay attention to the little things that Trinis do and if you are able to understand some of the nuances  then you will be able to pick out Trinis as they practice their little rituals that are unique to the culture of the people.
The Insatiable Season: Making Carnival in Trinidad and Tobago

Reactions:

"Ah Go Lick Yuh Down"|Yuh is ah Trini

Triniglish|Trinididioms Spoken and Explained #8

If you understand the meaning of "ah go lick yuh down"

School days, or for some it was school daze, were happy days. Indeed they were and for those of us who attended elementary school, during our formative years in Trinidad, understood only too well that  school trouble was a given. Every little squabble would end up with someone 'getting vex' and blurting out, "Ah go lick yuh down".

Well children were licking down just about everything in the early years. They were 'licking down mangoes', licking down some serious jorts or listening to the bard  known as Baron singing about how "Shorty lick she" (Song is Severe Lickin'). Oops, well Shorty did not 'lick down' anyone but the thought of the song felt right to include in the post and at the end you can listen to the song - now that was put into the post just for the hell of it.

Times were different in the early formative years and all disagreements ended with a fight after school. There was no way to back out of it - yuh had to fight or be considered a coward. However there were times when "ah go lick yuh down" was used to solve the dilemma. After school a buss head could be the result from an ace hand 'pelting ah stone' to lick yuh down. Then again an after school fight could literally result in a lick down or knock out.

"Ah go lick yuh down" was usually uttered during a moment of anger and was meant to warn the other person to be aware that there was an issue that needed to be dealt with. Most of the times nothing came out of it but on many occasions it did result in a fight to settle childhood squabbles.

In the world that we live in today, and especially in Trinidad and Tobago many people, many children would prefer to "get lick down" as it was done in the early days of the islands development than to get involved the scenario that exists today. The end result of squabbles today end up with dire results. We need a change of attitude and even though "ah go lick yuh down" sounds barbaric I am sure that most of you who knows that "yuh is ah Trini if yuh know what to lick down someone means" then surely you would prefer this circumstance to the present status quo.

Hopefully now you have a better understanding of "ah go lick yuh down"; gosh I hope I did  not complicate the discourse. I wish I had a copy of Baron's Severe Lickin' to add to the post. If you do send it to ananda2456@gmail.com for posting. 

Reactions:

"Pulling Bull"|Yuh is ah Trini

Triniglish|Trinididioms Spoken and Explained #7
Yuh is ah Trini if yuh know what to "Pull Bull" means

Driver ah go take it here, driver gimme over there... now that is a calypso for all seasons and one that brings me to the topic of discussion today the means, the art, the knowledge of what "to pull bull" really means to a Trini. Indeed when Merchant sang "Taxi Talk" he was probably travelling in a car whose driver was "Pulling Bull"... well maybe, who knows?

Do you know what the term, "to pull bull" means? Of course you do, just as you know what a short drop is; no we are not talking about 'coconut drops! Dame a few coconut drops will surely hit the spot now but then again I could dream of it or head to Brooklyn to get some authentic Trini coconut drops. Ah the Trini dreamer will thirst for the delights of the nation.

Stop, well since I said stop then it has to be, "driver ah go take it here"! By now you should have realized that the topic of discussion has to do with a taxi or some form of taxi service. If you did then congratulations are in order and it means that yuh have some Trini genes imbedded in your DNA or simply put you lived in Trinidad and Tobago and experienced "pulling bull".

No sir, sorry going to Caroni and looking for someone pulling bull just won't do because first of all you must own a car - a licensed private car not a legitimate taxi. Now that we gotten past stage one of this discourse comes part two. You need some extra income and decided to use your privately owned car to earn some extra cash by 'picking up passengers" and charging a reduced fee or in some cases where the legitimate taxis don't work regularly the same legal fee to get from point A to point B.

In a nutshell my friend a private vehicle put in service as a taxi constitutes the basis for pulling bull. To use a privately owned car to charge a fee to get from one place to another that is not publicly serviced by the regular legitimate taxi service. Yes we are talking about PH drivers.  Having said that it should be noted that those drivers "pulling bull" are the life blood of night time transportation in Trinidad and Tobago because the legal taxi drivers fear being held up and robbed. Indeed the private drivers "pulling bull" risk their lives plying this trade especially at nights - they do what they have to do to earn the extra income.

Well maybe you have pulled bull or you may have been a passenger in a car whose owner was conducting the service known as "pulling bull". Whatever thoughts you may have about the service, good, bad or indifferent will not change the fact that this service is needed and is part of the cultural landscape of Trinidad and Tobago. At least now you know what is and how to "Pull Bull".

Now just for your listening pleasure and compliments of www.wackradio901fm.com here is 'The Merchant' with "Taxi Talk":

CALYPSO - merchant.taxi talk

Reactions:

"Send Right"|Yuh is ah Trini

Triniglish|Trinididioms Spoken and Explained #6
Yuh know how to "Send Right"

I bet you smiled when you saw the subject of this post. Most Trinis, yikes first ting first. Whenever I mention the words Trini or Trinidadian please take note that I am speaking about a citizen of Trinidad and Tobago, OK. Yuh see I don't want to receive emails saying that I have discriminated against our fellow Tobagonians and by the way send your backchat to ananda2456@gmail.com.

OK, back to the business at hand and with your hand you will send right. Now that was right on spot and that smile you started with is now a silly grin. To send right is part of the cultural expression of Trinis. Have you ever sent right to anyone? Do you know how to send right or can you say what the expression "to send right means?"

I guess I have been out of touch for some time with the homeland but I do read the newspapers everyday and keep in touch with my family at home. I guess then that I could gamble that most Trinis send right every day. Now let's cut to the chase. No let me relate a story that would come right to the point and explain what "sending right" is all about.

One day many years ago I was travelling in a car in the New Jersey area with a friend (a US citizen). We left his home and were about to access the main road to get to route 4 in the Teaneck area. At that point someone caught my eye and I immediately said, Irv look someone is sending right."What", he replied. I responded with, "loot de man sending right". Now he was totally confused and that confused look caught my eye. Just then it dawned on me that I totally confused him with my Trini lingo.

At that point I felt embarrassed but quickly said, "Irv, the gentleman is waving to you". You see my friends when a Trini "sends right to you" he is acknowledging your presence and is simply saying hello by waving to you (yes the Trini just send right to you).

To say that we have colored the Queen's English will be a gross understatement taking into consideration that so many races came to one place and created the twin island jewel that is the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.

Maybe you might want to try sending right and feeling silly after telling your friends that yuh know  how to identify a Trini because you have decoded the art of "Sending Right". Does this sound somewhat corny?  Hey it works for me. Does it sound silly? Well to you it may be, but in Trinidad "Sending Right" is legal tender and something that you should take note of if you plan to visit our wonderful nation and experience our  potpourri of cultural mischief.

Reactions:

"Trini Licks, especially with a guava whip"|Yuh is ah Trini

Triniglish|Trinididioms Spoken and Explained #5

Yuh know what is "licks". Yuh get "licks" with a guava whip.

Have you ever heard someone talk about the good ole days in Trinidad and at the same time reminisce about the virtues of 'getting licks?' Oh I see, maybe as a visitor to this site you may be confused by the term 'licks'. Well not too long ago children used to "get licks" in Trinidad and Tobago. That ended some time now and children celebrated the no "licks" rule implemented in the school system. However, children at home still get "licks" - a good cut arse. Are you still confused? To get 'licks' is to receive punishment via strokes with a belt or with the good ole flexible and 'boi that could sting' guava whip!

Now just about every child, at some time in their life in Trinidad, gets licks. Sometimes parents really lose it and put a serious beating on the children. The social services in Trinidad and Tobago are not the same as those in the United States and most parents get away with a lot of abuse. However, as most Trini would tell you or simply remark, "licks doh kill but will make you walk the straight and narrow path to become an outstanding citizen" - yeah right. Licks in school was a given and just about every child who attended primary and high school received licks either from a leather strap or,  you guessed it ... a guava whip.

I was one who always got in the way of the whip. Most kids feared the guava whip with good reason but for me the tamarind whip was considered 'enemy of state'. I remember that whenever school was coming to a close for the summer vacation most of us knew that we had a good cut arse coming. If we did not do well in school the guava whip was coming for sure. It was just one good whipping and it was all over - next day life returned to normal. On the last day of school we received our report books and on the way home I always remember my friend Copper would start to cry as we approached Victory Street. From Victory Street we had to walk past the Public Cemetery on the Eastern Main Road next to the saw mill then on to Olton Road where we lived. At Olton road junction Copper's day awaited with his guava whip. It was licks and races at the same time. Copper was always faster than his father so he received the rest of the licks when his dad came home.

Talking about Copper's day - he was something else as Trini's like to say. He was also the captain of the Angel Harps Steel Orchestra. In those days playing the steel pan was termed "beating pan" and it was a 'special group' of players that beat pan - yuh did not mess with them but was accepted without issue if they knew you - I did not have any problems since Leslie Cumberbatch (Copper dad better known as Butter Boy) was captain. It was Carnival Tuesday and the band was on the Eastern Main Road heading for Arima. As the band went past Victory street this guy (a big guy with tattoos eh - no push over) decided that he had enough and refused to play the guitar pan. Oh my goodness... what followed was amazing. Butters told the guy to "beat the f**king pan". The licks that followed after the guy refused had people running for cover. In the end the guy (man I tell you) beat that pair of guitar pans with tears running down his cheeks.

Years later I spoke to Butters (I was an adult) about the incident and he just laughed. He was the man during that period and that is the way the game was played. Licks can be a healer and it can set some people on the right track but licks can also cause lasting pain to last a lifetime. Many of you reading this post may recall the day of licks and roses. Do you still consider that period the Good Ole Days? 

Well to say that a true Trini knows about licks and getting licks with ah guava whip may be true but that  is now historical data.  This  is something today that is known and  read about  in posts like these only. You just may be correct in that regard.  However,  if you get to one of the chat sites with Trinis you will realize that they fondly think about the days they received licks and reminisce about it with smiles on their faces - 'ah' wonder why?

Reactions:

"Nose Digger"|Yuh is ah Trini

Triniglish|Trinididioms Spoken and Explained #4
Yuh find digging yuh nose is a pleasurable way to kill time!

It has been said numerous times that a Trini will take any and every opportunity to "break ah lime".  This my friend is like manna from heaven - Trinis don't like to lime they are in love with the "lime". In other words Trinis would do anything to take a break and relax. However there are times that Trinis do some really funny things to relax and at the same find pleasure by so doing. This may sound weird but have you ever noticed how Trinis... No, you as a Trinidadian religiously find digging yuh nose a pleasurable way to kill time?

I know this will cause you to question this post but this has become an integral part of the cultural landscape. Some people can be seen driving their vehicles with one finger up their nose digging as if it was going out of style. What is heavens name are they looking for? Hold on now that is just part of the ritual because after they have harvested the product comes the next stage - pinch and roll and then chopped to bits and flicked to the carpet or out the window of the vehicles. This has to be termed a moving violation.

Alright now they have the goodie ball of gunk between their fingers they start the process of rolling the ball of gunk between their fingers until it becomes hard and ready for the next stage. This is what I like to term the mini dumpling stage. Trini is now in his glory as he begins to roll and pinch and flick the gunk in rhythm until all is gone. After this is done Trini composes himself and becomes a prude and will condemn someone else doing the same dastardly deed. 

Yes it is indeed a case of do as I say but not as I do. The art of digging one's nose takes control of the individual as he delves into the trance of excavating and manufacturing the product that he enjoyed pinching and rolling then flicking out the window of the moving vehicle. This is not a fixture of drivers but is done in secret by most people 'who would not mash ants'. 

This is just one of the very curious things that Trinis do every day but would deny so doing on their bible. Hope you enjoyed reading this bit even it would be indexed under gross and yucky in anyone's notebook. Have a diggone day now... Lata!

Apple iPod touch 32 GB, Case, and Charger Bundle

Reactions:

"Bread and Condense Milk"|Yuh is ah Trini

Triniglish|Trinididioms Spoken and Explained # 3
Yuh just cyar get enough bread and condense milk!

There was a time in Trinidad when a quick lunch snack at most snackettes was bread and cheese. In some circles it was bread and curry channa. Please note that was before bara and channa aka doubles became en vogue. Having said that, it is important that we record the best homemade sandwich that children loved to make and eat in Trinidad. Now don't laugh when I tell you that one of my very favorite snacks was bread and condense milk (lordy talk about a nice treat).

If you really had a sweet tooth then you would surely have known where the sugar bottle was kept with the can of condense milk secured in all of that brown sugar. Yes that bottle was kept in the cupboard and sugar and milk was a favorite treat.

Ok that meant we experimented with various bread and one of the most popular was the very popular hops bread. There was also the choka bread and the buns with the coating of sugar on top. I even put condense milk on the sweet bread but not the one that was made at home but the one that came from the bakery with the brown top and a coating of sugar syrup on top.

So which bread came out at the top of the heap? You guessed it hops bread my friend. You should try it just for the hell of it.

I am sure that your mouth is watering at this thought. Just get the hops bread and rip it open (don't cut it with a knife eh) and run the condense milk in circles, press it together and savor.

Leave a note and tell me if it was not worth the experience... LOL!

Reactions:

Things we did as kids growing up in Trinidad|Yuh is ah Trini|

Triniglish|Trinididioms Spoken and Explained #2
Children at Play|Things we did as kids growing up in Trinidad

Oh my God riding box cart was so much fun. We eventually progressed to a long version that we called the “the trolley”. Well boi this trolley always flipped over because the guys pushing from behind with the long rods always did their best to go as fast as they could which always resulted with the driver losing control and the trolley flipping over – the end result was ‘white man’. Yuh know what ah talking about when yuh skin started to burn and the area looked white. 

I used to also enjoy spitting on meh carbide and capping the can then firing it off; those were the good ole days with plenty to remember and laugh about. I used to enjoy, no love, 'bussing bamboo' (firing off boom boom boom); so many times I singed my eyebrows when the bamboo back fired. Now I understand you can be charged for creating a nuisance (by firing off the bamboos) if you go ahead with this activity - noise pollution my friends! Welcome to the brave new world.

Every kid could remember going in the bush with yuh sling shot to sling up some doves – most of the time it was only feathers for me. Do you remember Stinking Toe with donkey eye seeds, Chinese tamarind, Kite flying with chicky chungs and mad bulls/playing zwill, stick en up, liming on de corner, making and eating black ting (Milo with powdered Klim and sugar), black poop (condense milk with Milo and sugar).

Every Saturday morning was a good excuse to lime on th block and play draughts (checkers), raising (soccer), ole talk resulting in fatigue (fatigue in this context meant roasting someone'/in other words a good tease.  However, the result of a good Saturday lime resulted in a very delicious bowl of mango chow with loads of pepper and some chandon beni and salt for taste.

Every evening it was either wind ball cricket or ‘raisin’ (football) on the street. I remember back in the day when we did not have any balls to play with Mr. Albino’s grapefruits used to be the balls that we played football with – yuh sure to get ah buss toe playing on the pitched road. You surely guessed right most of us did not have any sneakers. I enjoyed going to the forest to get cocorite (the pink one was my favorite), balata and to bathe in the river.

Do you remember learning to ride a bicycle and more importantly learning to ride ( this is so funny) what we wrongly called 'stationary bikes' (lol). I think that was so funny because the gear was fixed and you could only peddle forward we totally used the wrong word to describe the act. I remember slamming my precious jewels on the bar a few times because that bike only had front brakes. 

One of my favorite activities was controlling my roller, it was noisy on the pitched road, now that I recall the days of wine and roses pardna (good friend). The roller was the rim from a normal sized bicycle wheel that was stripped of the spokes. The spokes were not thrown away but used as arrows for our make shift fish guns. 

For home made knives (this was precious) we used the long nails (6") and place them on the train line for the train to flatten it then all we needed to do was sharpen an edge and put ah handle on it usually guava wood or my favorite 'monkey bone'. Ah know what yuh thinking but eh eh ah cyar recall eating monkey it was one of the hardest wood and we got it at what is now called the Clever Woods now a park.

Every boy in Trinidad made kites and had loads of fun with friends as long as the winds were good enough for a good session of 'zwill' competition. Starting with the 'chicky chung' one graduated to making kites with ducking compasses with razor blades affixed to the tail to 'ayeyo' the competition's kite. The 'big bois' would make the big kites aka might bulls... those were the 'good ole days oui'.

Indeed we all have memories of the 'good ole days' and having said that it would be very interesting indeed to read some of your childhood memories. Send your stories for posting here. Your posts will be listed under guests posts.

Reactions:

"Liming by De Pipe"|Yuh is ah Trini

Triniglish|Trinididioms Spoken and Explained #1
Stand Pipe Chat|"Liming by De Pipe"


When I was a young man growing up on the island of Trinidad, not so long ago, water was not piped to everyones' property - that is still the case today but not as prevalent as it was during my childhood days.

The government provided stand pipes that were placed next to the roadway that were strategically placed so that one could easily 'tote water home' without having to walk long distances - except when "they cut off the water supply". In other words you could go with your bucket or whatever receptacle you had to take water home - the oil economy has brought about change, almost everyone has pipe borne water in their homes today.

Sometimes the line to get water was long and some people came with box carts with many receptacles to fill - the wait was long but not frustrating. You see Trinidadians will take every opportunity to have a lime (hang out with friends) to chat about anything. Liming is considered by many as the 'art of doing nothing'. Just about everything took place at the 'pipe' - clothes were washed and bathing at the pipe was a very normal thing to see. The lime got so sweet sometimes that people forgot about the water and remained at the 'pipe' for extended periods ensuring that they really did nothing but yap and laugh out loudly. 

Everyone back then was also aware that the water police could show up and break up the lime. We always had someone on the look out for the water police because bathing at  the stand pipe was something that they tried to discourage. I guess the cold water gushing out of the taps were not encouragement enough to keep people from 'cleaning up at the pipe'.  Surely the men did not care and washing oneself at the pipe was nothing that people frowned upon. On a very hot day a bath at the pipe was the best way to cool down. However, everyone would take a second look when one of the women 'on the block' decided to bath at the stand pipe - sometimes that did happen. 

The younger kids would always get in trouble for so doing and would get a 'cut arse' on their return home. Times have changed but we can continue the lime here just as we used to do back in the day. The cry is to "bring back dem ole time days" because our reflection of life back then seemed to give one the feeling that living during that period was less stressful than it is today. We fail to realize that these times will indeed become the good ole days for this generation. One thing we know for certain is that they don't have that good ole stand pipe to practice the art of doing nothing because in these times the lime has gone sour. We can only hope that liming at the stand pipe can be revived if only in spaces like this blog.

Do you have a good stand pipe liming memory that you would like to share with us? Well if you do just leave a comment here and it will be posted to the blog.

Reactions:

Pan In Harmony|Pan Podcasts

I came across this website that has some really cool pan podcasts. Pan In Harmony is the name of the site and the first thing you will take notice of is the excellent quality of the podcasts. Added to the excellent sound quality are what I like to call "Niceness Music" - the music selection is fantastic! 

The link to the site is presented below, link to it and enjoy some really sweet, excellent Pan Music when you need to relax and enjoy the moment. 

Niceness Music - Ent Yuh Know! 

Link to Pan in Harmony here: Niceness Music

Reactions:

Breaking News|Côté ci Côté là, Trinidad

Elections Again|Local Government Election date is July 26

Shrewd, cunning, crafty or simply an instinctive and 'take that back' response from Prime Minister Kamla Persad Bissessar after ex PM Patrick Manning called the mother of all surprises that resulted in the general elections of 2010. Now we have 'Part Deux' - Local Government Elections on July 26, 2010. It should be noted here that local government elections have been postponed since 2003 by the previous government (Peoples National Movement). The last local government election was in 2003. It was then postponed in 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009 as noted in the Trinidad Express newspaper.

Well in my opinion this unexpected new election date that was expected some time in September is one that should end up in a washing away of the remnants of red that spoilt the general election map that glowed yellow on the night of May 24th, 2010.

This is a smart move and with the PNM in disarray they have just under one month to get their act together and have some impact on local government. If they fail then the People's partnership will dominater for years to come and this is not a bad thing at all. However, in any democratic society a vibrant and workable opposition is a requirement to good governance.

Cashew Gardens Longendenville|Land Grab Homes Demolished

As painful as the video was to look at (use link above to see video) and as distressing as the situation was one has to understand that no government can permit its citizens to simply move into state lands and set up shop/build a home without getting the requisite permission to build. 

These 'homes' that were demolished were part of the recent land grab that took place after the People's Partnership took office. The same situation existed when the NAR won in 1986. These 'victims' broke the law and I am certain that they were quite aware of this fact. 

The unfortunate thing is the distress that results from the actions of these citizens. Obviously the armed personnel were very compassionate in carrying out their orders as instructed by those responsible for the land. 

In the end we must not turn a blind eye to this phenomenon - squatting on state lands is illegal. The land grab that took place is illegal. These people broke the law!

We need to take care of our citizens but at the same time our citizens must also respect the laws of the land. This government will attempt to right the ship but at the same time we need to be cognizant that the State cannot provide homes for all the citizens.  

My heart goes out to the lady in this video and I am certain that she may be the recipient of some form of help from other citizens of the country. In the end let it be said here that the government did the right thing by demolishing these 'homes'.  We need to be humane but the laws of the land need to be upheld and respected by all.
Avatar (Two-Disc Blu-ray/DVD Combo) [Blu-ray]

Reactions:

Dem Ole Time Days|Trinidad

The following is a reprint from http://santimanitay.blogspot.com/.

Wow, indeed times have changed and it is a natural progression as people mature and technology pushes us to the limits making the World a village instead of a distant transatlantic journey. Nowadays we can quickly get up to date with the events as they happen as reported by the media of the World. The savvy internet surfers can browse to any page with information about any country and come to the lime loaded with information as if they lived in that part of the World. The World had changed but not too long ago lifer was so different to what we know today - the 'ole time days'!

When I reminisce about the good ole days I recall having to listen to TTT at nights (7:00pm to be exact) to know what happened. Now CNN is available via satellite and cable channels on the island and easily accessed via the World Wide Web. I used to walk to the corner shop early in the morning to buy the Guardian and Mirror (later on the Express) to get up to date with the news. Technology has now afforded us the ability to listen to WACK and other Station at home even thought we reside in a foreign land. Back in the day life was quiet and very relaxed. We used to get up, get something to eat and head out to the nearby liming spot where the bois would gather to talk about just everything imaginable. 

We were at peace with the World and ourselves and we were only concerned about who had the bat and ball – it was cricket or 'raisin' (soccer). We also liked playing checkers (draughts) and this would go on for hours interspersed with a mango chow session or someone getting rowdy and a mini fight to solve the problem. Fast forward to the climate today where kidnappings and shootings are the norm. Nobody limes at the corners or gather simply to have a good time. A gathering of guys any place could mean you can get your 'supply of stuff' at that site – times have changed indeed and now yuh better watch yuh back at all times. Someone who was once considered a friend could easily become a 'frienemeny' because of drug usage. Added to all of this yuh can't be ah sagaboy anymore because of the rampant spread of HIV related diseases - people are only whispering about who has it now.

I can recall going to the forest to get cocorite and to bathe in the river. We went in a group that had a good time and disturbed the forest with our jovial noises. I loved those days now that I see what has happed to the land because of progress. Progress you say, well this progress had teachers in fear of students and adults looking over their shoulders in fear of getting robbed. Can I write about all the good times that I experienced? Of course I could but that would be my experience for the period that I was fortunate to be a part of. Somebody from this generation would counter with their experiences that they would be exceedingly proud to have experienced. Mind you these very experiences that we frown upon today will become the Goo Ole Days for this generation - don't you think so?

Caliban and the Yankees: Trinidad and the United States Occupation

Reactions:

Human Trafficking|Trinidad and Tobago

MINISTER of National Security Brig John Sandy said yesterday that he will do everything within the law to ensure that human trafficking activity is stopped.

In a press release, Sandy, who was responding to this country’s ranking on the US State Department Trafficking in Humans Report, said human trafficking was a ’heinous and inhumane act’ committed against a person.

In the US report, delivered by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in Washington DC on Monday, Trinidad and Tobago was ranked at ’Tier 2 Watch List’.

Yesterday, Sandy said he ’has taken note’ of the report, and is in the process of studying it and will be holding discussions with the relevant officials on the issue.

Attorney General Anand Ramlogan said he would address the issue today at today’s post-Cabinet media briefing.
via www.trinidadexpress.com


Tier 2 Watch List - sounds ominous indeed but what does this really mean? Well according to the US Government Tier 2 means the following:
TIER 2
Countries whose governments do not fully comply with the Trafficking Victims Protection Act’s (TVPA) minimum standards, but are making significant efforts to bring themselves into compliance with those standards.

The following link will take you to the U.S. Department of State (Diplomacy in Action) site that shows the list of nations on various lists and the various Tiers they have been placed.
Here is the link: http://www.state.gov/g/tip/rls/tiprpt/2009/123132.htm

To date, I am not aware of anyone who has been caught in trafficking humans in Trinidad and Tobago. There have been rumors and that is as much that I am aware of to date. I can't recall reading about missisng persons turning up in other countries and stating that they were taken as prisoners and placed in this evil system. I do hope that we can put a stop to this if indeed it is practiced in Trinidad and Tobago.

We have been labeled by the U.S. government and I am certain that this new government will take note and also ensure that we adhere to all international standards to position our nation as leaders and not victims with this labeling process (Tier System).

What is your opinion?

Reactions:

Code of Ethics Trangressions?|TT$1 Salary!|Warner on the Attack!

"I have asked the Ministry of Works and Transport for no favours except to serve you. No favours except to fix the roads, the bridges and the drains, to solve the traffic jam problems, to sit with my colleagues in the Cabinet to help improve your lives," Warner stated, getting consistent applause.

"I have asked for the favour of doing all those things at no cost to the Government, except one dollar," he said, getting thunderous applause. (Warner had earlier stated that he would take only one dollar from his ministerial salary of ($38,000) while diverting the remainder towards a charity.)

Noting that he had been in FIFA for 28 consecutive years, ’the same FIFA that brought (Nelson) Mandela to this country’, that saw the Soca Warriors qualifying in Germany, that helped ’me meet leaders of the world’, Warner asked: ’By being in FIFA, what law did I break? By being in the Ministry of Works and Transport, what law did I break? What code of ethics did I transgress?’

’If Mr Rowley is so concerned about the code of ethics, why did he not raise his voice when his Prime Minister (Patrick Manning) made his wife (Hazel) a member of the Cabinet , not once, not twice, but three times? What did Rowley say? Nothing!’, Warner said.

via www.trinidadexpress.com

The most popular politician in Trinidad and Tobago is Mr. Austin Jack Warner, Minister of Works and Transport and also the Vice President of FIFA. Mr. Warner just returned home from the opening ceremonies of the football tournament after rubbing shoulders with several important World figures including the President of South Africa, the head of the United Nations and the Vice President of the United States of America to name a few.

He returned home to a hero's welcome and quickly waded into Dr. Rowley who is attempting to get Mr. Warner to give up one of his positions as a "matter of conflict of interests".

Mr. Warner won at the polls amassing votes that surpassed the combined totals of ex Prime Minister Patrick Manning and that of Dr. Rowley. This man is the toast of town and no small hero.

Mr. Warner has stated that his pay is TT$1 with the rest of his salary going to a charitable cause. He has vowed to right the wrongs of the Ministry of Works and Transport and to repair the roads and get rid of the transportation gridlock - lofty goals but if anyone can Jack can (keep watching 24, Jack Bauer soon to be replaced by Jack Warner). Hey I am sorry but I loved the series and now that it has come to an end I will now support my new favorite Jack - hero Jack Warner.

This is a case of winner take all and it will be difficult for any politician to save face after attacking Mr. Warner - good luck Mr. Rowley. Please note that you are now walking on rice paper as it related to Mr. Warner. The people of Trinidad and Tobago will have the final say on this matter not the Integrity Commission.

Reactions:

Inside the Gasparee Caves

I came across this video on the WACK Vimeo video feed site and thought that it would present a refreshing change to see inside the cave as presented by my friends at WACK Radio 901FM. There are several video snippets that can be accessed from the link posted beneath the video - go ahead and follow the link to view their presentations. 

via vimeo.com/wackradio901fm

Reactions:

World Stage|UN Secretary General praises T&T’s Warner

Fifa vice president Jack Warner, left, with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon. 

The top brass of the World’s Governing Body of Football are all in South Africa attending the Senior Men’s World Cup, but despite the numerous dignitaries it is T&T’s Jack Warner, who is the most sought after by World Leaders. Yesterday at the Opening Ceremony of the World Cup at the Soccer City Stadium, Warner received high praises from none other than UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon. The UN Secretary General thanked the Senior Fifa Vice President for all his efforts in bringing the World Cup to South Africa. “Mr Warner, you are an influential man, this event has untied a nation under one banner, football. There is hope again in South Africa.”

via guardian.co.tt

Isn't it amazing that Jack Warner is such a sought after official around the world yet at home he is such a vilified man.

For my friends in the WACK radio Shout-box, if ever you wanted a reason to have Jack Warner in government and also have him retain his position as Vice President of FIFA then... Just take a long hard look at the photo above. Need I say more?

Reactions:

Government moves to boost food production

The National Foodcrop Farmers’ Association (NFFA) is moving to slash the staggering $4-billion food import bill by half, within the next 18 months. And the members are calling on the People’s Partnership administration to allow Cepep workers to play an integral role in helping T&T obtain food security, affordable food prices, and to produce more local food. Education and research officer of the NFFA, Norris Deonarine, said they intended to cut the increasing bill by encouraging its 19,000 registered farmers to grow a variety of foods and rear livestock. Deonarine said they were also looking to woo approximately 11,000 additional farmers, who abandoned their lands back, into the sector to ramp up food production. Tonnes of staples, peas and beans, vegetables, fruits, spices, meats and fruits juices are imported, taking T&T’s food import bill over the years to an astronomical figure. Foods such as onions, garlic, carrots, peas, beans, spices and even grapes, which T&T has been importing for decades to feed its 1.3 million population, Deonarine said, could be grown on state and privately- owned lands.

Deonarine said Government’s Tucker Valley Mega-Farm in Chaguaramas, which has been producing poor yields and under-utilised Caroni 1975 Ltd lands were two locations being considered by its association to increase agricultural contribution. The NFFA is also looking to introduce corn, cassava and even breadfruit flour on the market, which Deonarine insisted was far more healthy than white flour. In the past, Deonarine said Paramin farmers grew carrots on a large scale, but its production declined when government started importing the orange-coloured vegetable. “There is no doubt it we can increase food production and cut the food bill by half in the coming 18 months, once we have a proper machinery in place,” said Deonarine. “Once we have the right conditions, a proper framework, the backing of the Food Production Ministry and empower the farming community, we can achieve our goals.”

via guardian.co.tt

I sense a spirit and a drive that augers well for food production in Trinidad and Tobago. The new Minister of Food Production along with the Farmers Association all appear to be hyped about doing better and achieving more with regard to food production.

They have stated that they want to cut the nation's food import bill in half within 18 months but realistically I don't think that this can be achieved in such a short period. There is so much that needs to be undone. There is so much that needs to change before we have a new system in place that would put on  this path that would see the nation's food import bill halved. I have a dream is a great way to start and with the assistance of the government people may just be able to think big and achieve greater yields if all the stars are aligned for success. However, that is not always the case.

I must say that everything seems to be heading in a positive direction. We need to assist the rice farmers, improve and increase our production in non tradition food crops like carrots, onions and garlic on a bigger scale. We know how to produce corn, peas and root crops on a large scale and now we need to do the same with some of the food items that we import on a regular basis.

I would like to see us get back into sugar production but not on the scale that we did before. We can't allow ourselves to become importers of sugar when we can and always had an industry that supplied our local needs 100%.

I like what I have been reading and hearing to date. If the Food Ministry with help from the Works and Transport Ministry help with the flooding problems, infrastructural needs of the farmers then the stars may just align themselves and enable or agricultural assets to become a viable industry that not only feeds the nation but also provide much needed employment for many. In the end the diversification of the nation's productivity base would shift a little but at the same time have a telling impact on the tables of the nation's households. What is there to criticize? Let us be supportive of the efforts of the government now that the heart of the farmers is gushing with excitement. The comments and pronouncements coming from the Minister are appropriate and welcomed at this time. 

Small-scale agriculture in Trinidad: A Caribbean case study in the problems of transforming rural societies in the tropics (Occasional publications)

Reactions:

Imagine That|Shadow Benni Scarce and Pricy

Green is good but when the rains came the flood waters ravaged the agricultural lands in Trinidad. The areas were flooded as a natural phenomen but also because the rivers and streams have not been cleared of debris. Debris that was cause because of people dumping everything and anything upstream, deforestation of the mountains areas causing mud to clog the water ways and a lack of foresight and maintenance of the rivers and streams. 

People are now seeing red instead of green in the markets. The reference to red here is a measure of anger being expressed as the prices of fresh green seasoning plants have gone up because most of these crops got wiped out because of flooding in the past two weeks. 

Chadon beni is now "Mister Chadon Beni" because of inflated prices. Just imagine chadon beni that can be found just about everywhere is now in short supply at the markets. Now this does not mean that people don't have shadon beni growing in their back yards anymore it simply means that the people who supplied the markets lost their market supply because these products are 'ground crops' and were lost in the flood waters or are simply unusable because of all the mud that was left behind. 

So what does it all mean? Those who do have a supply will take advantage of the short supply and raise their prices and may also sell less for a higher price that obtained for an amount that could have been two times what is obtains now. The flood waters have created a problem but one thing we do know is that flooded lands will eventually produce again - we just need to be patient and wait for the crops to return. 

Source information/photo: Trinidad Express Newspaper
The Multi-Cultural Cuisine of Trinidad & Tobago & the Caribbean

Reactions:

Much Ado About Nothing|Jack Warner is not in a corner!

Jack Warner should not have to choose between being a Cabinet Minister and his posts in FIFA according to Dana Seetahal, S.C. and President of the Law Association Martin Daly, S.C.

Dana Seetahal and Martin Daly stated that Jack Warner is not in breach of any code of ethics in the country. There appears to be no conflict of interest in Works and Transport Minister Jack Warner holding on to his FIFA vice-presidency post and other positions in CONCACAF.

via www.trinidadandtobagonews.com

"Refers to a situation when someone, such as a lawyer or public official, has competing professional or personal obligations or personal or financial interests that would make it difficult to fulfill his duties fairly.”

(http://www.lectlaw.com/def/c095.htm)

I have seen enough and now will put this to rest. I watched my friends say all sorts of things regarding this issue in the WACK radio shout box; they seemed to revel in the idea that they finally got something on Mr. Jack Warner and that he would have to resign his Ministerial post - that will not happen my friends. There is enough information, there is enough evidence that shows there is no conflict of interest - time to move on.
Source: Youtube; Trinidad and Tobago News; Lectlaw Library

Reactions:

NAPA Auditorium|To be renamed Lord Kitchener' Auditorium

The auditorium of the National Academy for the Performing Arts (NAPA) will be named the Lord Kitchener’s Calypso Auditorium.

This was announced yesterday by Minister of Arts and Multiculturism, Winston Peters as he conducted a tour of NAPA.

Peters, also known as calypsonian Gypsy said Princes Grounds, the sight on which NAPA was constructed, housed the Calypso Revue tent, also known as Kitchener’s tent prior to the construction.

“He performed here, so it is only appropriate that we honour him in this manner. Kitchener’s tent was here for many, many years. I sang here, my grandparents used to come here and party. I am going ahead with the name, and it would be done in the short order,” said Peters.

Peters said he has been lobbying for the name since he was in Opposition, but now he has the opportunity to do it.

The auditorium at NAPA has been unnamed since it was constructed.

via www.newsday.co.tt

Lord Kitchener's name will now find a home in the auditorium of NAPA. This building was once boldly criticized by the United National Congress (as opposition party in parliament) but will now find favor but with the occasional criticism regarding the construction methods use and the seating capacity of the venue.

The UNC is now part of the People's Partnership and will now find ways to integrate this venue into the cultural phenomen of Trinidad's Carnival. It should be interesting to see how the newly appointed Minister of Arts and Multiculturism, Winston Peters grant use of the facility to the various groups wishing to host shows at the facility.

Indeed the structure looks good and the PNM had foresight with the concept however this new government will now tweak the concept to make it an all inclusive venue for the arts. Let's hope that it really becomes a facility that will incorporate all art form for the benefit of the people.

Calypso Music History: One Hand Don't Clap; Klassic Kitchener, Vol. 1; Music From The Caribbean (Trinidad)

Reactions:

Accountability and Value for Money Spent

Minister of Food Production Vasant Bharath says the mega farms established by the last Government are not giving citizens value for money. Bharath was speaking yesterday at the Debe market after he toured the Tucker Valley farm, Chaguaramas, and met with two private sector investors in agriculture.

Commenting on the Tucker Valley farm, which falls under the purview of the Chaguaramas Development Authority, Bharath said the amount invested in the farm was not reflected in its product yields. He said there was a lack of accountability when it came to value for money.

Bharath said when he asked why only a small portion of the farm was being used, he was told by members of the CDA the last Government’s Ministry of Agriculture had ceased funding. He said a request had been made by the CDA for additional funding. Bharath said he would be reviewing the finances of the farm and other Government-established farms to ensure all funding was used where it was allocated. He said he was disappointed only two out of the 15 proposed mega farm projects were being fully used.

via guardian.co.tt

This must be something new that the people of the republic will now get the opportunity to experience,  value for money spent. 

The mega farms were a talking point for some time during the tenure of the PNM while they were in control of the country's assets.  It is very disappointing to now learn that 15 mega farms were proposed but only 2 exist today. 

We need to secure our bread basket and these farms could be that start of the process with the private farmers falling in line and producing the crops needed for ensure the success of this venture. To listen to the Ministers of this new government speak in terms of delivering value for money is very refreshing indeed. 

We now have a group of Ministers in government who all want to deliver the goods as promised by the leader of the political entity known as the People's Partnership.

We can't get it all but securing value for money spent is a good start and with this as the mantra of the government then we, the citizens, will benefit tremendously from their efforts. Ahh,accountability and  value for money spent - what a refreshing way to start in government.

Reactions:

Culantro|Shadon Beni Or Ban-Dhania in Trinidad and Tobago

Today I was in the WACK Radio Shout box chatting with some of my friends. The conversation shifted to mango chow and with that we started chatting about our secret ingredient used to make the chow taste really good. Sharon aka ST mentioned Shandon Beni and for those who don't know it is indeed a magic herb and the ingredient that makes the mango chow 'light up the place' in other words the simple mango chow now takes on a wicked taste.

Sharon teased me and asked me to tell the shout box people the name that Shadon Beni is know as in the United States - I was stumped, yorked, it was a wicked googley that had me meismerised. I quickly googled it to save face but had to admit to Sharon that I really did not know the name - Culantro. However, I bet she did not know that the term Shadow Bennie is derived from the French Patois term Chadon Bene and that it literally means "blessed Herb".

Now don't get confused with the name and I don't mean cilantro. Culantro is a relative of cilantro but culantro has a stronger impact when it comes to taste and smell. OK so let's get down to the facts now. This versatile herb is known as Eryngium Foetidum and goes by many different names around the World. In Some of the names include Chicoria, Escorzonera, False Coriander, Fit Bush, Fit Weed, Herbe a Fer, Herbe Puante, Jia Yuan Quian, Jintenan another special name that the Indian community in Trinidad like to use and that is Ban-Dhania (Wild Coriander), long coriander, false coriander, culantro or recao (Spanish), langer koriander (German), ngo gai (Vietnamese), pak chi farang (Thai),Chadron benee (Dominica), Alcapate (El Salvador), Cilantro habanero, Cilantro extranjero (Mexico) and bhandhanya (Hindi).

Now don't get confused because Culantro and Coriander are two different plants in the same family. Trust the Indians in Trinidad to incorrectly name the plant. Now Shadon Benni is used to flavor just about any seasoning and is also used to make salsa. Some people make a Shadon Benni Pepper sauce to flavor foods and to use as a garnish in many dishes.

Shadon Benni is loved and used generously in Trinidad and Tobago. It does not matter what name you call it Shadon Benni, Ban-dhannia or Culantro this relative of cilantro with its pungent aroma brings out the best in foods not only spicing up a tired recipe but also helps improve the digestive process. Indeed it is not only used in foods but also has medicinal properties that stimulate appetite, combat colic and eases stomach pain. Shadow Beni is said to be rich in calcium, iron, carotene, and riboflavin - such a versatile plant!

I also found a Youtube video showing how to make Shadow Beni Seasoning and thought that it would be helpful with this article.

Source:
YouTube ;  Indiacurry.com;   Bonnieplants.com;  nalis.gov.tt

Reactions:

PM = Prime Minister|PM does not = Project Manager

OPPOSITION Leader Dr Keith Rowley has decided to remain mum about new evidence allegedly showing former prime minister Patrick Manning’s involvement in the construction of a church in the Heights of Guanapo, Arima.

’I do not want to comment at this time. Whatever stand the General Council (of the PNM) decides to take on the situation I would abide by that position,’ Rowley said when contacted by phone yesterday.

Rowley, who was appointed Opposition Leader last Friday, was at the time responding to questions on whether he would approach Manning to discuss the latest claims, made in an exclusive Sunday Express story by architect Stephen Mendes, who confirmed Manning was personally involved in the commissioning of the controversial church in the Heights of Guanapo.

’The ’PM’ referred to in a letter I wrote dated 2nd May 2006 which I addressed to the chairman of UDeCOTT, Calder Hart, was the then Prime Minister Patrick Manning,’ Mendes, who was allegedly initially commissioned by Hart to do the design for the church, stated in a sworn statement on the matter to CCN.

via www.trinidadexpress.com

Hands off is the approach of the new opposition leader now that the PM for Project Manager has been revealed as really being Prime Minister. Well most of us held the belief that PM meant Prime Minister and now that Mr. Mendes has confirmed this fact we need to move on to the next phase. 

I don't know the provisions of the PNM's laws for conduct of its party members but surely something needs to be done now that we have confirmation regarding the use of the letters PM in the document in the hands of the People's Partnership. 

What about the government? What are they going to do now. Remember it was Jack Warner who revealed the workings of the church in the Heights of Guanapo.  How soon will the government act and will they immediately go after he ex Prime Minister. Only time will tell but if due process takes place we should have a major case on our hands. We will not have to wait a long time for a decision to be made regarding this case. 

The key to this entire scenario is simply that PM does not refer to Project Manager but Prime Minister!

Kindle Wireless Reading Device (6" Display, Global Wireless, Latest Generation)

Reactions:

Happy Birthday Babies|Amiya, Grace and Anjalie

Today is a very special day for my family and for all our friends who have supported us since we were surprised five years ago with triplet babies. Yes the trips are five years old today!

We have had some anxious times since they were born prematurely and we were worried that all was not well and that we would have had babies with deficiencies... Well they are healthy and as normal as any baby can be. They have broken everything in sight and can't seem to stop running in the house. 

Just last night, a fuse burnt out and had to be replaced. I told the trio to sit still and don't move while daddy changed the fuse. Well you guessed right they went running and crashed into a fan on the floor - Grace ended up with a busted lip and a bruised ego. I sent them to bed soon after and that meant more crying. Little children are not for older people - but gosh how we love them dearly. 

On Saturday we went to the Carnival at the Garden State Plaza and they had so much fun. We all returned home tired. Today we celebrate and open the gifts. Happy birthday to my little sweethearts!
Live-Long, Live-Strong and Prosper!

Reactions:

Richard Thompson|Runs 9.90 seconds finishing in second place behind Jamaica's Asafa Powell

T&T’s Richard Thompson posted a sizzling 9.90 seconds to claim silver in the Men’s 100m final behind a world-leading mark of 9.72 from former world record holder Asafa Powell at the Bislett Games in Oslo, Norway, yesterday. Running out of lane six in the event, which is the third stop on the ExxonMobil IAAF Diamond League tour, with Powell beside him in lane five, Thompson crossed the line in a season best time that was slightly assisted by +2.1m/s wind. Third place in the event was picked up by Netherlands Antilles ace Churandy Martina, who finished in 9.92 seconds, while Jamaican Michael Frater was fourth in 9.97.

T&T’s Richard Thompson, centre, runs a season best time of 9.90 seconds to place second to Jamaica’s Asafa Powell, left, who posted a world leading time of 9.72 in the Men’s 100m final at the Bislett Games in Oslo, Norway, yesterday. Photo courtesy of IAAF

CLYDEEN MC DONALD
via http://guardian.co.tt/

I have not paid much attention to sporting events as it relates to Trinidad and Tobago's International athletes but this one caught my eyes from the Guardian newspapers which I wanted to share with my Trinizagada fans.

We have done well for a small island in international sporting events and it looks like this young man will continue to keep us on the international athletic map. Granted that the two fastest humans in the World today come form Jamaica Thompson continues to inch his way to better times right on the heels of the best in the World.

Reactions:

Keep Smiling Trinidad and Tobago

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has been praised by COP leader Winston Dookeran, who thanked her for making the people of this nation smile again.

’I want to say that our honourable Prime Minister, Kamla Persad-Bissessar, deserves the highest praise from this nation and this country for bringing together such a formidable team and I am delighted to be working in her Cabinet,’ Dookeran said at an appreciation ceremony at the Centre of Excellence, Macoya, on Wednesday to thank all those who worked with the COP. As he gave thanks, Dookeran paid tribute to leaders of the People’s Partnership - Persad-Bissessar, Errol McLeod, Ashworth Jack and Makandal Daaga.

’Since the election I have never seen a society smiling so much, and for a politician this is a rather rare situation because we always meet angry people ready to want something. Now we are meeting smiling people ready to give something,’ Dookeran said.

via www.trinidadexpress.com

Minister Dookeran could be correct to a certain extent and his statements could be applied to the people who supported the partnership but what about those who supported the PNM? Are they also smiling?

I have been reading the comments to articles posted online to articles written by the press and the same bitterness in raging on. I don't think that those whom are 'on the rampage' care about the successes of this new administration as much as they care about ensuring that the previous government is back in office thereby giving them a reason to feel good again. These people don't care and don't want to see the People's Partnership succeed. 

Mr. Dookeran may have been showering praises on the members of the People's Partnership because of their success at the polls.  We can also conclude that Mrs Bissessar is responsible for making many smile, but simply put most of the citizens were fed up of the previous administration's policies and brazen arrogance. 

The detractors can't see how inclusive this new government is and will continue to be; we will soon see NJAC having a voice in government - read: NJAC gets senate pick.

I guess I am also smiling and believe deep within my soul that this government will succeed and will open the eyes of the people regarding good governance. The detractors keep saying that coalitions fail and want to see this partnership fail - keep waiting because the road is paved with good intentions that are becoming government policies. 

We will smile Mr. Dookeran - just keep delivering for and on behalf of the people - be servants of the people and success will follow.

Musical Break:

This video is one of my favorite music videos and even though it has nothing to do with the article I think we can and should keep smiling. Well I simply love this song and that is enough reason to post it here so let's also take a musical break and "SMILE"

Reactions:

Trinidad in the old time days|Trini Entertainment

I have always wanted to find photos of Trinidad and Tobago that depicted what the country looked like in the "Ole Time Days". I came across some photos recently while surfing websites and have decided to re-blog one of the webpages so that those visiting this site could also take a look at the photos from the website  Trinispice.net.  I have also included one photo here  to give you an idea of the type of photos available on the site. 

 

 Independence Sq-Fedrick Street POS- where Excellence Store is presently located
"trinispice.net"

Have you ever seen Trinidad when there were trains and when the country was still ruled by England?  I intend to feature some pictures of the old times days in Trindad and Tobago as they become available. Please share you comments, photos and links to photos. I will include the website and or person who owns the photos to ensure that copyright is not infringed. 

Reactions:

Mighty Terror|Pan Talent

This special track is from the LP "Pan in Poetry" and is the first track of sixteen (16) songs on this musical gem. The LP is available for purchase from eCaroh and can be sourced at this link:

eCaroh Caribbean Emporium.

Video source: via www.youtube.com

The Mighty Terror was a Trinidadian Calypso artist who had a long career. He career began in 1947 in Trinidad. He took part in recording sessions with SaGomes (1951), Christopher (1952) and Dial (1953). He moved to England in 1953, working his passage as a ship's fireman. In England he first recorded for Melodisc, making him label-mates with his long time hero, Lord Kitchener.

Mighty Terror won the tile of "Calypso King Of Great Britain" at the 1957 concert which was to later become the Notting Hill Carnival. He returned to Trinidad in 1965, winning the Calypsio Crown the following year. He continued to perform in Trinidad until he bacame ill with the throat cancer which finally killed him in 2007.

via www.discogs.com

Reactions:

Relief for farmers tops agenda | The Trinidad Guardian

Compensation for farmers affected by floods will be the first issue Minister of Food Production Vasant Bharath addresses tomorrow morning. The former St Augustine MP said the system used to determine compensation for farmers dated back to 1976 and had to be revised. Bharath was sworn in as Minister of Food Production during Friday’s swearing-in of a new Cabinet under the People’s Partnership. He said he was excited about his new role and admitted there was much work to be done since the Ministry of Agriculture had been a neglected ministry under the past administrations. Under the People’s Partnership Government, the ministry has been renamed the Ministry of Food Production.

via guardian.co.tt

I always felt that not enough emphasis was placed on food production. It is my hope that this new government would provided the change that is needed to ensure that we can maximize our ability to produce food locally instead of having to depend on imports. Of course there will be a need to import certain items but we must also understand that if we have the ability to decrease this demand for imported food items we should make every effort to achieve that goal. 

It should start with providing the farmers with good access roads, water for the plants and fertilizer at reduced rates. It is a known fact that we have the people to produce the food and with some assistance from the government we can make a dent on the imported food bill.

Compensation for lost crops is a start because these farmers will need to regroup and start over - good financing is essential. The government seem to be saying the right thing thus far - let's see how plans are implemented to boot production.

The Ministry of Food Production as the name implies is a start in the right direction. It is indeed a shame that Caroni Limited was closed down by the previous government. We need to capitalize on the work done by Caroni and reintroduce some of the research that was done to boost food production via plants and animal production.

We need to assist the rice farmers to boost our rice production as well as ground provisions. We have to rethink the way we eat and go back to eating local. The fast food outlets that have flourished need to change their menus to utilize local foods thereby helping the farmers who produce these items. Fish farming is another area that needs to be investigated and go into production. Some have started but we need to have these farms in the same manner we have chicken farms. Tilapia production is not out of reach - yes we can do it. It can be done and with proper planning we will achieve the goal of feeding the nation.

Highlighting Wildlife: Basic Information on Wildlife Conservation in Trinidad & Tobago

Reactions: