Something to think about....

Does every creed and race really find an equal place here?
Last week a well spoken, intelligent, dynamic young man (a boy really, on his way to being a man) who worked as a bagboy at HiLo West mall died from gunshot wounds he accidentally received on his way home.
Digest that for a minute; somebody’s child was accidentally killed on his way home from work; someone’s brother, someone’s friend.
Now indulge the lunacy and for a moment imagine that you are that parent, getting that bit of news. Madness!
Anyone who was ever served by this boy could not help but notice his spirit, his manners and decency, his upbeat and enthusiastic personality, all the positive traits that we hope other people see in our children. Gone in a moment, because we as a people have failed, and I am so ashamed.
I point him out here not because he was special (God knows he was), but because he was one of any of our children but for the grace of God, Karma, the Universe, Lotto, whoever you are putting your faith and hope in at this time to bring your loved ones home, safe, everyday.
His crime was that he lived in the wrong neighborhood. What was our crime? Failing to protect him and all the other helpless youth who are dying because our Government has failed and we are doing absolutely nothing about it. Why? Because, as a poor black boy, he had become disposable, not our concern.
Madness!!!!
I will never march for a Westmoorings death if we don’t march for Laventille. I promise you.
I am neither black nor white, I am a Trinidadian, and this situation hurts me to my core and infuriates me on a level that will not go away.
I will never accept that these are disposable human beings, no matter how hard the Government and the media try to make it so.
Have we gone collectively mad? Is it that we are so overwhelmed by it all that we no longer look at it long enough to feel revulsion and disgust and a little ashamed for our inaction? Students of history know that this violence will not stay confined, it is growing, feeding on itself, and will be coming home to all of us soon. In a little while there will be nowhere left to look when we try to look away.

I am calling on all Trinidadians to stand up. We need to pull together if we are to stop this madness. Fifty five murders per one hundred thousand is lunacy. We either swim together or drown alone. Don’t allow yourself to be conned, this is not unfixable. The evil doers want you to believe that, leave you isolated and powerless. Crazy talk! Trinidad is a dot. The Mayor of New York City has eight million people to protect and serve and pretty much does it by management alone. And they had less than one hundred murders last year. We had over five hundred. How many jokers in suits do we have? Aren’t you tired of living in a banana republic? Don’t you feel ashamed when what passes for Government parades itself on your television at night?

Reading this, seriously, do you trust Jerry Narace to run our nation’s health system?
Do you believe Colm Imbert is capable of solving traffic?
Are you happy with the revolving door that is now the Attorney General’s Office?
How about education, do you feel in your heart Hazel has a clue?
Every time you see the opposition, do you wince and look away in disgust?
Do you trust anything that comes out of Basdeo Panday’s mouth?
Do you trust Jack Warner at all?
Are you afraid of Ramesh?
Do you feel pity for Kamla?
Does Winston Dookeran inspire you?


These questions need answering, because state problems need state management and our managers are inadequate and it is up to us to do something about it.

There will never be a better time for you to stand up and make yourself available to be part of something bigger than yourself. This moment in times calls you to dig deep, push past fear, laziness, self doubt, malaise, whatever keeps you from joining destiny in righting the wrongs.
Shake off everything negative and step up, help us bring about massive change.

We deserve:

• Safety for ourselves and our loved ones.
• A working health care system
• Hope and opportunity for all our youths
• Compassionate care for all our elderly
• Equality of and for all citizens before all national institutions
• Common sense in Government
• Peace in our playgrounds
• Freedom in our streets


Never underestimate the power of a people alight with desire for change, a people set on fire for a cause cannot be broken, a light that will chase away the evil that plagues our society, a fire that burns bright for the whole world to see.

This could be our tomorrow... I am SURE of it