Looking
on at the developments with the Occupy Wall Street Movement in New
York I cannot help but feel impressed at the camaraderie and
commitment of the people, the sacrifice, the generosity and the love,
and at the same time I cant help but feel depressed when I think of
my own country and its people, who, unless it's for a visa or early
bird prices on all inclusive tickets, not getting up early, lining up
anywhere or inconveniencing themselves for nothing.
Is it that we're just one big spoilt nation?
Maybe that's it. Imagine if by some miracle you were able to get hundreds or thousands of Trinidadians into say Independence Square without the use of Machel Montano as the draw, and assuming they were there for the demonstration and camped through the night, what would be the situation like the following morning?
In my mind's eye I am playing the role of media reporter complete with camera in tow, walking through a veritable sea of make shift tents and coverings that started from just opposite the Hyatt and continued uninterrupted all the way to the Cathedral. We are observing as journalists and interviewing for the record what is taking place.
This is all imaginary, but this is Trinidad, so you know anything could happen:
“Here we are folks, on the first morning following the impromptu gathering of demonstrators here on Independence Square in Trinidad. Protesters turned out in their hundreds last night and have remained to continue in what the foreign media have dubbed Occupy de Promenade. We hope to get some interviews to find out what exactly the protest is about, and here is someone right here.
[US] “Good morning sir, would you mind answering a few questions for us?”
Clears throat and smiles broadly “Not at all”
[US]“Why are you here?”
[Smiley] “I wanted to see the Minister of the People about a job and when they said on TV dis morning that all the media was down on de Promenade I come down here because ah thought he woulda be here too.”
[US] “So you have nothing to do with the protest?”
[Smiley] “No, I'm a plumber. And ah does do lil carpentry too. But mostly a plumber. You see the Minister?”
We move on into the crowd searching for someone who could tell us more about what is going on here and why. Peeking into one of the make shift shelters:
[US] “How are you this morning?”
[Chubby Bareback Rasta Guy] “I real vex. Yuh woulda think that with all a dis going on somebody woulda think to organize some kinda corn beef sandwich and milo or somting. Dis not easy. We outside here whole night. Mankind horngry horngry, KFC sell out since nine last night and nobody eh even pass and bring a lil cheese sandwich self. Steups. If we wasn't already protesting dis we woulda have to go and protest dat oui...”
[US] “What are you protesting here?”
[CBRG] “I not sure. I get a text las night sayin everybody on de Promenade so I come down. Next ting I know iz cause no taxi to go back and I end up sleeping here. I not no vagrant to be sleeping on no cardboard in town...”
[US, (preparing to leave)] “Have a good day sir”
[Chubby] “What you mean have a good day? I hope it doh rain. Nowhere to charge phone. Who organize dis?”
We are alerted to a scuffle and we join the crowd heading in the direction of Nicholas Tower to see what it's about. We arrive just in time to see two women locked in combat over what appears to be a small dog. I am straining to get a view between the CNN and BBC reporters when one of them is asked by a reporter what the fight is about and she screams into the microphone “....she try to tief mih weave...”
We walk further east in the direction of the Cathedral, hoping to find someone to shed light on the demonstration. Within the sea of people there is a man with a megaphone and I make my way to him.
[US]“Sir can you tell us why you're here?”
[East Indian Guy] “I was outside Kemlani's getting ready to make the days announcements and then all these people just come voosh and next ting I know I all de way down here.”
I make my way to Cipriani Statue to make my report:
“From what we gather all of this is the results of a prank text forwarded mercilessly and well, the results are plain to see. Will this protest accomplish anything? Highly unlikely.”
But then, this was all imagination anyway, because it could never happen in reality, if we were going to occupy anything in T&T there would have to have entertainment for us to even show up, and it would have to be catered for us to stick around, wouldn't it?
Is it that we're just one big spoilt nation?
Maybe that's it. Imagine if by some miracle you were able to get hundreds or thousands of Trinidadians into say Independence Square without the use of Machel Montano as the draw, and assuming they were there for the demonstration and camped through the night, what would be the situation like the following morning?
In my mind's eye I am playing the role of media reporter complete with camera in tow, walking through a veritable sea of make shift tents and coverings that started from just opposite the Hyatt and continued uninterrupted all the way to the Cathedral. We are observing as journalists and interviewing for the record what is taking place.
This is all imaginary, but this is Trinidad, so you know anything could happen:
“Here we are folks, on the first morning following the impromptu gathering of demonstrators here on Independence Square in Trinidad. Protesters turned out in their hundreds last night and have remained to continue in what the foreign media have dubbed Occupy de Promenade. We hope to get some interviews to find out what exactly the protest is about, and here is someone right here.
[US] “Good morning sir, would you mind answering a few questions for us?”
Clears throat and smiles broadly “Not at all”
[US]“Why are you here?”
[Smiley] “I wanted to see the Minister of the People about a job and when they said on TV dis morning that all the media was down on de Promenade I come down here because ah thought he woulda be here too.”
[US] “So you have nothing to do with the protest?”
[Smiley] “No, I'm a plumber. And ah does do lil carpentry too. But mostly a plumber. You see the Minister?”
We move on into the crowd searching for someone who could tell us more about what is going on here and why. Peeking into one of the make shift shelters:
[US] “How are you this morning?”
[Chubby Bareback Rasta Guy] “I real vex. Yuh woulda think that with all a dis going on somebody woulda think to organize some kinda corn beef sandwich and milo or somting. Dis not easy. We outside here whole night. Mankind horngry horngry, KFC sell out since nine last night and nobody eh even pass and bring a lil cheese sandwich self. Steups. If we wasn't already protesting dis we woulda have to go and protest dat oui...”
[US] “What are you protesting here?”
[CBRG] “I not sure. I get a text las night sayin everybody on de Promenade so I come down. Next ting I know iz cause no taxi to go back and I end up sleeping here. I not no vagrant to be sleeping on no cardboard in town...”
[US, (preparing to leave)] “Have a good day sir”
[Chubby] “What you mean have a good day? I hope it doh rain. Nowhere to charge phone. Who organize dis?”
We are alerted to a scuffle and we join the crowd heading in the direction of Nicholas Tower to see what it's about. We arrive just in time to see two women locked in combat over what appears to be a small dog. I am straining to get a view between the CNN and BBC reporters when one of them is asked by a reporter what the fight is about and she screams into the microphone “....she try to tief mih weave...”
We walk further east in the direction of the Cathedral, hoping to find someone to shed light on the demonstration. Within the sea of people there is a man with a megaphone and I make my way to him.
[US]“Sir can you tell us why you're here?”
[East Indian Guy] “I was outside Kemlani's getting ready to make the days announcements and then all these people just come voosh and next ting I know I all de way down here.”
I make my way to Cipriani Statue to make my report:
“From what we gather all of this is the results of a prank text forwarded mercilessly and well, the results are plain to see. Will this protest accomplish anything? Highly unlikely.”
But then, this was all imagination anyway, because it could never happen in reality, if we were going to occupy anything in T&T there would have to have entertainment for us to even show up, and it would have to be catered for us to stick around, wouldn't it?
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