Ah come back!

I have been gone for a pretty long time... I know... I want to be ashamed but I don't know how. I had things to do -- some noble, some not so noble. I went on a journey and I found back exactly what I needed to find. FOCUS. Absolute, complete, pure focus. Now I am ready to do my part.

BRIDGEOFHOPETT.ORG is registered and the good people at http://ecraconsulting.com/ have already done a template for it. I am willing to finish it and host it but I am going to have to see if egos and politics don't get in the way. At the moment EVERY site in my portfolio counts as it helps to attract more customers. I hope ECRAC allows me to use a "site designed by" link to them and a "site powered by" link to me.

If you haven't joined facebook, now is probably a good time to do it. I have started a campaign on Thursdays to feed the poor. In a nutshell, every Thursday I cook some food and go give it to the homeless. Yesterday was the second attempt and it was even more successful than the first. This time all I had to contribute was rice! I will post more on the philosophy and inspiration of this effort soon.

For now all I can say is I am tired of the "Manning, Manning, Manning" sentiment. We created a monster now we have to deal with it... that is karma or perhaps Kali-Yuga. The fact remains -- we have far more power than our politicians so why aren't we using this power to effect change? I know that it is not possible for everyone to take a full day off from work to give to charity but I can do it so I am doing it :) I think everyone is happy to know that they can contribute something small and have somebody take responsibility for it and roll it into something worth giving and sharing :)

So come forward and give...

peace and love
Kwesi.

THE PRISON REALM WE LIVE IN OUTSIDE OF PRISON ITSELF !!!

Well its quite sad really the way my post finally made its way here!

But when it hits close to home, sadly only then is one incensed to take action, but why wait for the unfortunate to befall you.

In a land of " sun, sea and sand " where that is the motto of our tourism industry, we are now the land of " sun, sean and sand - at your own risk" ! Robbery on the beaches - MY MY what state have me as a people reached when it is no longer safe to partake in a common trini friend/family pasttime. Thank God we have the oil industry then - yes please feel free to detect sarcasm here!

I am shocked and incensed now more so than ever that my mother's best friend was widowed this week at 10:10 IN THE MORNING!!!! Her newly wed husband shot to death in a matter of minutes in their newly built house! She traumatised after being locked in the bathroom and hearing her husband murdered in the room next to her. All she now says: " this doesnt make sense"...........

That time again - 10:10 AM

At 10 in the morning we now must act as if it is 11pm in the night and be bolted inside our houses, security systems activated and emergency help on speed dial.

Why bother to send criminals to prison when the world in which we live is already a prison itself.

The difference is they are prisoners due to the choices they made.... you , me, the grieving widow are already prisoners against our will and we know it not!

Maybe we the victims-to-be would be safer behind prison walls while we leave the criminal minds to roam these said streets of freedom - HOW'S THAT FOR AN INITIATIVE AGAINST CRIME ???

Krista-Lee Bissoon.

ps. Krista-Lee Bissoon is not normally this pessimistic/sarcastic, refer to her blog at http://www.kbissoon.blogspot.com/ for an insight into the persona on a better day :)

WTF!?!?!?!

I started a job today at the Pointe-A-Pierre Refinery.

Where cell phones aren't allowed owing to the possibility of sparks coming off the circuitry.

Smoking, however is allowed.

Within the actual refinery.

Comforting....

I attended HSE orientation in the morning and found that labourers employed by the government didn't know that 12P.M. and 'Noon' were the same thing.

I shit you not.

I beheld the monolithic failure that was once the hope of our nation; from the nonchalant lateness of the HSE staff, to the incompetent admistrators, to the condemned and rotting MTBE plant, to the fact that no local companies were in direct contracts with the State concerning the refinery upgrades, and the plight of our nation became clear. I was nearly overwhelmed by the sorriness of it all.

At least, we had the clinical efficiency of Fluor, a US company, and its engineers to fall back on.

And to look up to.

Hopefully, before my job is done, I can learn from them. For it is evident that there are few Trinidadians that have anything to impart.

peace
not like this.

P.S.- Also before my job is done, I'd like to meet Natasha, the hot Petroleum Geoscientist, again. She looks like she has some stuff to impart........ =)

Here is Wisdom 9

Personally,

I dont think Trinidadians

are ready

to participate

in a

Referendum.

Most Trinidadians,

Dont Know

what a Referendum

is.

In my email II

This is another one I thought I would post.


I felt compelled to let everyone know of this horror story that me and
my husband witnessed on the Fore Shore heading into the West of
Trinidad on Friday 2, June, 2006.

Everyone that lives in the West (Diego, Valley, Glenco, Chaguaramas,
Blue Basin) knows about the traffic that piles up as far back as the
stadium. It seemed to be a normal afternoon, traffic galore and no
hope of reaching home anytime soon. As usual, taxis and impatient
Trini's who need to reach their destination faster than you of course
were flying down the shoulder. No police in sight, so they could
easily get away.

About two cars ahead of us, a white Subaru Forrester moved his car
half into the shoulder and half into his lane to prevent anymore taxis
and other impatient people from taking advantage of the shoulder, put
there for emergencies only!!!! I thought this was a brave and- funny
act, in my head I was thinking "Good for them, idiots, I wanna reach
home too!!"

Well who the hell tell that Subaru to do that, the car he was
blocking, a brown B14 Sentra PBD671, driven by an old man of Indian
decent packed with some big strong dark fellas, pulled up to the side
of the Subaru as soon as they reached the look-out and had room to
pass. The young dark fellas jumped out and with a wheel spanner in
hand began to hit up the Subaru and put some serious dent in the man
car. They jumped out looking as though they were boss and had the
right to do what they did.

I was infuriated. I wanted to shout and cuss at them but my husband
held my hand and said "Hun, stay quiet and act like you doh know what
goin on, you want them to come and kill us?" He was right, those
ignorant fellas would have walked up to us and beat me and my husband
for protesting to the wrong that they were doing. And you know what,
there is no justice for something like this, take the car number and
it won't make a difference. I've been in too many hit and run
accidents where taking the car number and giving it to the police is a
waste of time, they could never find the vehicle or driver that
wronged you.

This is what we live in, this is what we face, this is what our kids
have to grow up in. FEAR. And it's getting worse. Please, I urge you,
be careful, in fetes, on the road in traffic, wherever, don't give
anyone bad eye, don't try to stand-up for what is right, cause in
Trinidad, this will get you killed and for what, they will get away
and be able to do it again.

To the young men in the SENTRA PBD671, I think you are all big stupid
cowards!!!! To the man in the Subaru, I understand what you were
doing, but not in this country, think about your life and family first
before you do something like that again, it will only get you killed.

Thanks to the police who could never find the car even though you
have the license plate number, thank you for never being there when we
need you. To the government, thanks for letting the crime reach this
stage and still being able to steal our money and get away with it.
Maybe when it's your son or daughter, maybe then you'll do something
about it. Until then, we live in fear!!!!

Please pass this on to all your trini frens and relatives that you care about!

Concerned and scared citizen!!!

From my email

I got this in my email (in fact I have been getting lots of stuff in my email recently about the smelter stuff -- who signed me up for this stuff?) and I thought it should be shared with you all.

P. O. Box 128,

San Fernando,

10 July, 2006

The Editor-in-chief,

Trinidad Guardian,

22-24 St. Vincent Street,

Port of Spain

Dear Sir,

In the article on the proposed Alcoa smelter in your issue of 8 July, 2006, you report Randall Overby as saying “I know that there has been a lot of noise in the media, but we are proceeding with the smelter” Either subconsciously or more probably, very deliberately, he describes the voice and the legitimate protests of the people of Trinidad and Tobago against the smelter as noise. This shows very clearly what he thinks of the people of Trinidad and Tobago.

For the benefit of Overby and those of us who may have forgotten, please let me recall the following facts.

1. In the last General Elections held in Trinidad and Tobago on 7 October, 2002, the total number of votes for P.N.M. candidates represented just over 35 % of the electorate while the total number of votes for other parties represented 34 % of the electorate.

The present P.N.M. Government does NOT represent a majority of the people of Trinidad and Tobago and the voice of the present P.N.M. Government is NOT the voice of the people of Trinidad and Tobago.

2. Also, in the last General Election, the P.N.M. candidate for the Electoral District of Point Fortin was elected on the votes of 46 % of that electorate. But in the polling divisions of the South-West Peninsular - Chatham, Coromandel, Granville, Bonasse, Fullerton and Icacos, he received 18.6 % of the votes of the electorate while the other candidate received 61.2% of the votes of the electorate.

The present P.N.M. Member of Parliament for Point Fortin does not represent a majority of the people of the Point Fortin constituency and even though he is supposed to represent the people of the South-West Peninsular, less than 19% of the electorate there voted for him. The voice of the MP for Point Fortin is NOT the voice of the people of Point Fortin and most decidedly it is NOT the voice of the People of the South-West Peninsular.

3. According to a UWI / ANSA McAl nationwide poll, a clear majority of 66 % of the population do not support the setting up of an aluminium smelter in Chatham.

Further, the vast majority of the People of the South-West Peninsular do not want a smelter in the Peninsular. For their own good, they have expressed this in a clear and unequivocal voice.

May I suggest that Overby consider long and carefully the two sayings :

SALUS POPULI SUPREMA EST LEX - THE GOOD OF THE PEOPLE IS THE HIGHEST LAW

VOX POPULI VOX DEI - THE VOICE OF THE PEOPLE IS THE VOICE OF GOD

Overby is reported as going on to say “We are not going to be using bulldozers for this drilling” Obviously he has bulldozers on his mind and is planning to use them later.

If Overby thinks he can bulldoze his way against the Good and against the Voice of the poor and polite people of the South-West Peninsular, he should stop and think again and listen to their Voice.

There is a local saying to the effect that those who do not listen will learn the hard way or that those who do not hear will feel.

The People of the South-West Peninsular may be poor and polite and Overby may think that he is rich and powerful and can buy his way. Let us hope that he does not have to learn the hard way that the poor and polite People of the South-West Peninsular are not powerless.

Yours truly,

J. Chin Aleong

for The Friends of the People of the South - West Peninsular

..My People, Our People

Peace, Hetep, Salaam, Santi.

For a while now, I've been taking a look at the many factors pertaining to the state of crime in our beautiful country. Beside the fact that our government sucks....The one that really had me pissed, being the Afrocentric person that I am, was Race. Not just 'race' but..My Race; the state of the young Afro-Trinidadian male.

As recent obvious observations have shown, the majority of crime is being committed by young Black males. There's no running from it. As much as we would like to think that crime is everywhere and committed by anyone of any race..this is the harsh reality. Everytime we hear of 'gang warfare' the first image that people get is a group of black boys running around with guns in Laventille and Morvant; the most crime and drug-ridden parts of our country..but hey!..remind me..who are these places vastly populated by?..Afro-Trinidadians.

I am not putting down my fellow brothers and sisters here nor am I being inconsiderate to the other people of other races who may read this, but because of the love I have for my culture, heritage and ancestry, of which I'm positively sure you reading this have for yours. I am concerned.

As many ignorant minds may say.."Leh dem kill out eachother", they are not only killing eachother, but harming anyone who they see as potential threats or victims. I have had two friends who have been shot, one killed, as a result of this persistent suicide of Afro-Trinidadian males. Yes, poverty leads to crime, and we see clearly that our government is least concerned with the state of poverty in our country. Poverty does not discriminate. Many of these youths did not have the opportunity to be granted a proper education and as a result resorted to the quickest way of making money; crime. Even though this is so, education in our country is free. But yet there are many who refuse this opportunity and decide to follow the conniving lyrics of their favourite rappers portrayed as heroes on Black Embarrassment Tel-lie-vision...BET.
But little do they know that a lot of these 'thug' and 'gangster' rappers are controlled by whatever corporation uses the colour of their skin and experiences to fill their pockets.
And seeing that this is what the mainstream is pushing, what we have is a bunch of mental clones. Clones who are ready to march on the first snare drum of the newest 'gangsta' track, disrespecting their fellow African sisters, who to say the least, show little respect for themselves.

But please! Let's not forget that the young drug-dealing, gun-toting Black male is just a feather on the wings of the ibis. How many can recall that last year TT$700 million (US$112 million) worth of cocaine was seized in a house on Monos Island, the largest of the islands located off Trinidad's North West coast . And before that, 542 kilos valued at TT$216.8 million siezed in a cassava packaging factory. It is only obvious that these under-privilaged Black youths lack the connections and funding to carry on such an operation. Therein the question lies, "Who is responsible and who REALLY runs this country?"

What I'll like to clear up though is that the Afro-Trinidadian is not responsible for the level of crime in this country. What he/she is responsible for is the way he/she allows his/her people to be downgraded and belittled. It is time not only Afro-Trinidadians try to uplift their own but ALL TRINIDADIANS.

It is only nescessary that we show a love for our own..in which we can show love for others. Allowing one's ancestry and culture to become humiliated by a few brainwashed mistriants who further allow such a culture to become stereotyped is very much unbecoming of one who is passionate about the well-being of their people and furthermore the people who belong to a cosmopolitan nation such as ours. Matters like this should be the concern of anyone who has a true love for their people.

In closing, I would just like to say that it is time that people of African descent get their act together and stop allowing their people to become modern slaves and destroyers of their communities and themselves. It is very much hurtful to pick up the newspaper evey morning and see that another Black man is dead as a result of ignorance by another Black brother. I hope that what I said can maybe awake the consciousness of Afro-Trinidadians in this country.
Peace.

Update

Man I've been busy... really busy. I haven't been busy rescuing the country or anything but I am tired anyway!

Props to Valarauka for keeping things going. Good work man!!!

Next week I am supposed to come up with a format for this blog. I.E Mondays I will post something in one category, Tuesday I will do another, Wednesday a comic strip perhaps, etc etc.

Stay tuned and apologies for neglecting my duties here.
(I can't apologise on behalf of my fellow bloggers tho)

peace and love
Kwesi

Here is Wisdom 8 - Continuity & Bigotry

I'm all for the Warriors being richly rewarded, as the represent the best things in us. But....

1) How come the PNM decided to jump on the football bandwagon only AFTER Trinbago qualified against Bahrain? Perhaps they really aren't Warriors?

2) Why wasn't the TTFA paid before the World Cup?

3) Where are the initiatives, or at least the encouragement of initiatives, for sustainability in the production of class football players? Like my last entry said, we dont have the means or the know how to produce top talent at this point. In fact, our best players are foreign coached. What we do have is the finance to attract and maintain technical staff who CAN teach us how to be the best. Also, the PFL needs support. I don't support Government spending on things like that, but, the State can negotiate with the corporate bodies already involved to do more. Why not a clause in the oil and gas contracts for foreign companies stating that they must support a local sports team as part of their social development agenda? Only if we have a competitive local league, can we hope to perform well at the international level.

4) How come the State can spend well over TT$75 million on the football, and simultaneously have the Health and Education Systems in the shambles that they are? Face it. People go to General Hospitals to die, and people go to Government schools because they couldn't go to a denominational one.

5) Why weren't there enough Chaconia Medals? How rude.

6) What did Roger Boynes do to be at the World Cup? I didn't see him scoring any goals. Or dishing out money. Like Jack.

7) And finally, why didn't the PNM reward the indomitable Austin 'Jack' Warner? Hmm, such spite. How could you not reward the man who contributed the most to the World Cup effort? Is that how the PNM operates? Are they sending the message that the merits of one's efforts are always trumped by political affiliation? Creeping dictatorship anyone?

Not that I expect anyone to care. The next fete is Friday.

Peace,
in the fete,

Perfection

The Prince Arjuna refused to fight his Uncle, whom he loved dearly. His Charioteer, Krishna Sri Bhagwan, who revealed himself as the Supreme Incarnate, related to him that the perfect act is not one where one is victorious in one's objective. The perfect act, is one in which one's motives are pure, and ones effort reaches the limit of one's ability. Thus while he would grieve for having to kill his uncle, his motive to kill him would be pure; i.e., the protection of the Kingdom. This was what had to be done by the Prince.

The Soca Warriors, realistically, had no chance.

But they didn't play like that.

They fought out of the motive of honour, and for the 270 minutes they played on the world stage, representing the million or so of us who hoped for them and with them, they did not fail themselves. Or us.

We dont have the billion dollar stadiums, we don't have the Beckhams or the Larssons, and we don't have the leagues or the coaches or even the know how to produce them.

But the team had heart. They did the best that they could have. In that there is no failure.

Is Columbus a Pirate?

“HBO LATIN America has formally lodged a legal letter of complaint under section 18 (1) (m) of the Telecommunications Act against the conduct of cable company Columbus Communications.” – Trinidad Express 2006-06-10

This alleged piracy has been made public for many years, and the authorities have paid no more than lip service to this accusation. They have failed to act because to act would mean being unpopular with the public, and big business interest. What is even worse is Columbus Communications admitted they do not have any contract with HBO and are trying to negotiate one. What they are doing is pirating until such time a contract is hopefully signed. Could this be right?

Without any question, this is a crime aided and abetted by both a government who is afraid to do unpopular things, and the public who has no problem with a crime if they benefit from it. That says much about our society, and might even be one reason crime is the fastest growing industry in Trinidad and Tobago. It would appear to me the telecommunications authority is taking a leaf form the environmental authority’s tree by protecting big business rather than fulfilling their mandate. What a bunch of useless losers.

Here is Wisdom 7- The Road Wars

"Local contractors do not have the capacity to build the elevated structure of the multi-million dollar tri-level interchange at the intersection of the Uriah Butler and Churchill-Roosevelt highways, says Works and Transport Minister Colm Imbert.
However, Imbert said the job was not large enough to attract the international contractors who are capable of handling the project."

Juhel Browne, T&T Guardian, 5th June 2006


WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE ABLE TO DO THIS!!! HOW COME WE CAN'T???-

1) Maybe because all we've been building here for the last 10 years is oil rigs and gas pipes.

2) Maybe because investments in mechanical and electrical enginnering training have outstripped civil engineering nearly five fold over the last decade(SUBJECT TO CORRECTION)

3) What about the Government's drive toward local content and capability development?

This all makes sense though, seeing as the Government can't even KEEP A FUCKING ROAD PAVED!!!!

Yet we build stadiums, and give free money to Laventille criminals.

By the way, I'm sure if you pay them enough, the foreigners will deign to build our little interchange. And I know the PNM likes to spend money.

Oh, this really irritates me...............


Peace?
And we can't even build a road?

Here is Wisdom 6

What type of government postpones an election?

What type of people meekly accepts it?

Creeping Dictatorship anyone?



peace,
until World Cup finish,

PS- Can Kahaya or any of the other lawyers tell us about the constitutionality and the political context of that act?

Sanctity of Life?

Gratification followed the news of Amy Annamunthudo's stepfather being beaten by his fellow inmates. Destroy him without mercy or remorse, I silently thought. For the evils he committed, for the evils done to all children, for all the injustices in the world today, and throughout time, kill him without mercy.

We got one, and that doesn't usually happen. Make it count, I thought. Crucify him like some kind of anti-Christ, or beat him like we had Satan himself in chains.

For that is what he was to me, an image, an Idol, representing the evil done to me and to others, against which we were helpless. He was no longer a man, no longer a human being; he became the Monster in our Head.

And we caught him.

And I asked the God in my mind, 'What is justice?'

Is it revenge? Is it anger? Is it hate? Aren't those the things that he probably felt when he raped and killed Amy? Maybe somewhere in me, and in those who beat him, there lies an Amy-killer too.

I dont feel human life, or any other life is intrinsically sacred. We are born, we eat, we sleep, we shit, we mate, we defend, and we die, like everything else. Our sanctity comes from our ability to recognise the things that will uplift us, and the things that will destroy us, and basing our actions upon this knowledge. I can't say that I feel sorry for him because they beat him. I can say that, though he deserved it, he didn't earn it. Regardless of what I feel, he is not the Monster in my Head, and I have no claim of vengeance upon him.

In the nonsense that pervades, it becomes easy to forget the ideals that give our lives meaning. It has never been more imperative for them to be at the forefront of our minds. Lest we all become the Monster in Our Head.

Peace,
now more than ever,

What a Waste

There has never been a government in our history who promoted local technology beyond their lips. Everything we need in this country is imported and many times we import junk, are stuck with junk and pay homage to junk. Are we junkies?

There is a little known fact that engineers are the generators of wealth in this world. I don’t mean to cry down any profession, but great countries produce great engineers and great amounts of them - this is how they become wealthy and “first-world.” I am not suggesting we reinvent the wheel but certainly we, as a country, can encourage technology to be developed locally. Recently, another fool in the government said that we are not producing engineers who are employable. Firstly, this is total crap, but he, being a member of a government, mouthed something a colonial master wanting to exploit this country further said. Great industrial giants are great because they know how to get the fools in government on their side, then feed them BS, which they will pass on to the nation as national policy. Secondly, because all governments are five-year wonders, they have no interest in promoting and encouraging anything that takes longer that five years and which will baffle the average five-year mentality voter. The average citizen wants to see structures and dust, not products of the intellect. They want cheap, useless American soap operas and canned laughter on their TV 99% of the time, and they don’t care if someone steals it and then charges them for it. That is our culture and our mentality. Mr. Bernard Pantin openly accuses Columbus Communications of pirating “the dirty dozen,” but Columbus says they are still negotiating but still pirating. The telecom authority has no comment, but predictably and incompletely so. We rather be pirates than do without, and our authoritities will ensure we have what we want.

I think this country will continue to see a brain drain of its best minds because it has not figured how to create wealth, but only how to drill for it and pollute with it. Remember the saying “A mind is a terrible thing to waste,” well that’s not just a saying but also a fact. The one thing that is being wasted in this country more than money is the minds of our young people. The country has not figured out that the intellect of the people are the country’s greatest natural resource and you have to develop and nurture it in order for it to grow. If we want to become first world and independent we must learn how to harness the mind of the people.

What will we be left with when the last fumes of natural gas are exported? Our people? What will our people have in their heads; memories of what could have been and will never be again.

Keeping an eye on PoS

    Just saw this article. Now THIS is an initiative against crime. I hope those guys keep up the good work. Even before my boss went back to England he suggested that someone can make a lot of money installing cameras all over POS -- one for each business, subsidized by the Government and the CCTV monitoring etc could be handled by a company hired by the Ministry of National Security.
    Finally some progress. Mr Big... hold your head and bawl bredda man. LOL. Or watch some cricket man! We still have far to go but I am starting to see the positives. I feel aka_lol going to put on a mask and rob me just to prove a point tho :P

peace and love
Kwesi

555, not 999 you idiot!!

In what appears to be a well thought of marketing blitz, coupled with fake compassion, and blimp failure, the Government has announced that 555 would now be the number of choice for those who have an interest in reducing crime, and even those being beaten, shot, robbed and raped. Apparently, it was discovered that some citizens, and tourist were having great difficulty dialing 999, and instead dialed 666, a number which links the caller directly to the top. It seems The Man at the top has no time for this foolishness since he is busy making deals and buying souls at bargain prices. The report went on to say that marketing research showed that 555 reduces ambiguity, and there is a million percent reduction in the chance of victims and onlookers calling the wrong number.There is even a chance a police vehicle will arrive and that the police will be on that vehicle.

Once again, citizens and tourist alike are more than pleased with this latest stroke of brilliance by those who are paid to be brilliant, even if they if they don't look it. Personally, I feel much safer with the knowledge that I can now walk the streets at night, and even in the day, just knowing that 555 is on my side. Bandits, be warned, I have set my phone to speed-dial 555, and I won't give up my Nokia without a call.

Ato, The UNC and TIAC

    Growing up I always thought of the UNC and the PNM as two different tribes. It was a simple thing actually. People with straight hair voted for the UNC and people with curly hair voted for the PNM. Minorities, such as the Chinese were free to vote for whoever they wanted. Back then, I thought I would grow up and vote for the PNM someday and the battle would continue...
    As I grew up, my simple concept started to get a bit confusing. There were straight haired people voting for the PNM and curly haired people voting for the UNC. Around election time people were switching sides as well. Then the UNC won. There were many sad faces but things didn't change really. Everyone still had their job the next day, I still went to school, the country was still named Trinidad and everything went on as normal. I observed that politicans were mere men, with dreams and ulterior motives. At this point I lost any pre-conditioned bias that I previously had.
    Bias later returned when I heard all the talk of corruption and teefing. I went along with it all -- those guys were up to no good and they had to be voted out AT ALL COSTS!!! Things started to get interesting with slogans like "we come too far to turn back now" (lots of TV airplay with that) and something like "performance counts". I started to wonder -- do I want a government that makes progress AND pockets some money as well? Right is right and I wasn't sold. Even though I had a bias I made a resolve not to vote for one man or his party over another. Its quite ironic that the PNM came into power on the grounds of moral and spiritual values -- both ways. One one hand we have a guy who is being accused of being a dictator and on the other hand we have a guy accused (well now, arrested) for corruption. We have a party where two Ministers have had to resign because of their corruption charges and then we have a man whose good attributes and good decisions will be forgotten. I don't see UNC or PNM, I see dishonest men -- dishonest men who have to answer to the law.
    When Ato Boldon was sworn into the UNC I paused and took a deep breath. I admire Ato a lot. He is a smart guy, an athlete that has represented the country well, a patriot in my eyes and a role model. This guy has been a soca warrior for years. This guy had been wearing the flag for years. I had to ask myself "WHAT THE F*** IS THIS GUY THINKING!?!?" Then I realized this was not a "What would Jesus do?" question. It was a "What would Kwesi do?" question. In the end I thought (and hoped) that he was in there for the opportunity to use the position to effect change. From that perspective it all made sense. After all, no one accused the entire UNC of being corrupt. Perhaps I had fallen victim to the brainwashing after all. I said to myself "HURRAY FOR ATO! I HOPE HE DOES SOMETHING GOOD". I imagined at that point that the PNM would be making calls to Brian Lara to ensure that when he retired he would join their side. I thought I would give ATO a shout so I wrote to him via his ASK ATO module on his website:

At 03:49 PM 4/21/2006, you wrote:
Question: Big question. How do we save trinidad and tobago?

please check out my blog @
http://savetrinidad.blogspot.com

keep up the good work
looking forward to working with you

peace and love
kwesi

    Maybe he is a bit green as a politician and he didn't give me one of these... but I quite enjoyed his answer -- which was quite unexpected:

Wish I knew.  I am at my wit's end with people who feel this is just some platform for prominence.

To Ato: I am sure you will figure it out man. And when you do, I wish you all the luck. I will give all the help I can short of a vote.

When a man admits to not knowing, thats cool. People do that on TIAC (The Inititiative Against Crime) everyday...

peace and love
Kwesi.

The 100$ (USD) Laptop

    I am surprised I beat Taran to this one but at the same time, I see he has been a busy guy this past week and a few days. I am a serious type of guy -- the type that resents the email forwards that tell you that someone loves you, or of some joke or not to break the chain and the like. Don't get me wrong, once every leap year that falls on a blue moon I get a trivial email that makes me smile. All the other times I look for the icon with the red X and give it a click. For the serious type of guy there are emails that make your day nonetheless and when they do, the smile is worth having and the happy dance is worth doing.
    TTLUG sent me an email on behalf of Kerry Panchoo about a 100$ Laptop -- more specifically the OLPC (one laptop per child) project. Kerry's major concern was whether or not the Ministry of Education is aware of or involved in the project. I had heard about the project a long time ago, but not when they had an actual working prototype of a 100$ version. The Transit Police made my day then this came a few minutes after and made it again!

One Laptop Per Child is a non-profit organization set up to oversee the $100 laptop project. Both the project and the organization were announced at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland in January 2005.

One Laptop Per Child is being funded by a number of sponsor organizations. These include Google, Red Hat, AMD, Brightstar Corporation, News Corporation, Nortel Networks and Canonical Ltd. Each company has donated two million dollars. The MIT Media Lab is also involved in the project.

    I am a firm believer that technology will eradicate poverty. The other alternative is to eradicate technology and plant baigan and tomatoes everywhere. I can quote Valarauka:

who should say that I shouldn't have a Blackberry, or Satellite radio & TV, a Mercedes SLK 500, a collection of Stratocasters and Marshall amps or a yacht?

We all know the first option is going to make more sense and actually happen (first). Cheap laptops will give poor people access to more learning opportunities, the wealth of information on the internet, vital skills that are needed in these times and much more. All the skeptics can fast forward to here. When I started making websites professionally in 2002 I had a vision that all small and medium sized businesses would have a web presence that any consumer could access and the country would be more efficient and things would be more accessible. The Government of that time (UNC I believe) had put things in place that computers would be available at lower costs (no import tax on computer parts) and some time before that Public Servants were getting no-interest loans of around $15,000TTD to purchase computers. OLPC + free dial up internet may well give Trinidad's children better opportunites (or at least a good way to spend their spare time) and by extension young adults as well as adults the chance of a better life.
    I will try to help however I can. If anyone has any ideas, get in contact with me, I will work with you.

peace and love
Kwesi.

Kudos to the Transit Police

    Standing on the Bus Route @ 3AM, totally stranded, waiting for public transport, things seemed hopeless. The maxi-taxis kept coming down empty and my mind started to get full -- full of questions. How do I get my girlfriend to Arima at this hour? What's going to happen? Is the sun going to rise on us? When it was 2AM everything was just peachy. We were having pleasant convo, enjoying the cool morning air and the solitude of it all. When it was 3AM... boy oh boy. I resorted to wishful thinking. I really wanted a maxi-taxi to appear and just when I did I saw lights coming up over the incline to the west. Slowly a Police vehicle came upon us.
    I've been noticing the Transit-Police for a while now since they've become busy bodies patrolling the Bus-Route at all hours of the day and night in their silver cars. Once I was coming out of a maxi at 2AM and taking quite a while to get my money and one pulled alongside and shone a light into the maxi to make sure everything was cool. They surely looked twice when they saw that I had a rasta hairstyle, but I wasn't annoyed. The guys were doing their job -- earning their pay... IMPRESSIVE. I think the Transit-Police are the only Police I have seen actually at work in the last few months (it could be that I am only on the Bus Route and in and out of home and office most of my life). I've been meaning to give them a big up for a while now but tonight...
    The car stopped by us and asked us where we were going to. I suspect that initially they were concerned about two rasta people standing on the Bus Route in the wee hours in the morning in a negative way but heck it... this is not paradise we live in. There was a little talk amongst them and then we were offered a ride. I am very grateful for that act of kindness that got me home safe and sound. My girlfriend was given a lift straight to her door. We are grateful for that as well.

    The story isn't all fine and dandy though. At one point in the ride the officer in the front passenger side asked us if we just had a joint of ganja and claimed to smell it on us. I pretended not to hear the first time, not to understand the second time and the third time I just insisted "just cool". It was a little tense but it wore off. My girlfriend wrote me a text message on her phone and showed it to me shortly after which read: "do you think I will be safe with this lot". My gut said yes but my mind said "this is Trinidad man". When I reached my stop I shook hands with all the officers and asked them all their names. They were quite warm and didn't hesitate to identify themselves so that put my mind at ease. If anything happened (God forbid) I could try to use the names (if they were correct) against them. My girlfriend later quoted an officer as saying "Not all police bad eh". I apologise to Mr Harrison, Mr DePradeen and Mr Fiza (if I got those all correctly), no disrespect, just keeping it real. Thanks again.

    To all the Police out there, keep up the good work.

peace and love
Kwesi.

Innocence, Again.

Oh I saw stars,
falling all around her head,
Red, gold, and blue,
Sherry Fraser where are you?

'Cause I saw stars,
falling all around your head,
When we were young,
Sherry Fraser where have you gone?

We're all wondering,
When will you come back,
And play,
some day.

Sherry yeah.

Marcy Playground-Sherry Fraser

I have nothing now to say of nature, or of cause, or of consequence, or even of reckoning. Or of ability or desire or rationale to change. Or of benefits or setbacks or of equilibrium.

The voice I speak with tonight is not one of objectivity or of detachment. Nor is it one of bias or of desire.

I merely ask the question.

What is love?

Is love in the bat of an eye, or in the lovers kiss, or the fleeting touch or in the warm embrace? Is it in the inward gaze as familiar eyes meet and delve into each other, into the naked depths of the soul? Or is love commitment, to a person or cause, where the self evaporates in the face in the understanding of selfless alleigiance. Or is love found in duty, or God, or is love anything at all any more than a complex human attachment?

I saw a picture of her body in the coffin draped in the white dress her father had bought the day before, I saw what looked like a bruise on her lip, and the plastic sheen of her skin caused by the embalming fluid and makeup. I saw her grandmother weeping over her body, and I saw her cousins or friends looking upon her, maybe wondering when she would come back and play.

What of the world, and the people, that killed her, shall I say? That in the four years of her life, would she have known love? Where were her hugs and kisses? Where was her warm bed and tuck in before she slept? Why was she beaten and burned and raped and killed. Imagine what she faced every day; and what sorrow would have been in her heart when she woke up and the pain of her body and spirit when she went to sleep? What hate or ignorance would have to enter the mind of the one she called Mother to murder her own daughter? Where was that love? And what took it away?

And yet, these questions are useless, for she is dead. For those who know no better, our children are our hope. With every child born there is new hope for this world. Our children are supposed to inspire us to become better people, so we can be the exemplars to teach them to become better than themselves. This is how societies progress, and how nations are built. This is our commitment, our desire, our duty, our love, manifested in the selflessness we show.

So I think of her, and the love that she was denied, and the horror to which she succumbed. And the hope she may have given us, had she been loved, and lived.

"Woe to the nation that waits until its neck is under the sword to fight!"- Kahlil Gibran

How can we fight crime?

Educate your children to self-control, to the habit of holding passion and prejudice and evil tendencies to an upright and reasoning will, and you have done much to abolish misery from their future lives and crimes to society."

~ Daniel Webster ~

We must first focus on the root of the problem. We must ask ourselves, "How does the mind of a murderer, rapist, thief or kidnapper develop?'" Perhaps this mind-set is formed from a young age. We should put measures in place, such as extensive school programmes, to develop self-esteem and national pride. If all our children were raised with values such as honesty, integrity and patriotism, Trinidad and Tobago would be a State built on the basis of law and order.

We are faced with a crime situation which is affecting our opportunities for foreign investment and tourism, therefore, we must put in place some short-term solutions. Our Government should continue its efforts to assist the unemployed and needy, so they do not become so desperate that they turn to crime. Long-term solutions will eventually make the most impact on our society's crime rate. We need to understand why certain sectors of the community have decided to commit crime. We should equip these people with the tools to help themselves, instead of giving them handouts.

AM

this was taken from a rather good website on animal cruelty

Mother's Day -- the aftermath

"Thank U mama for the nine months u carried me through
All the pain an sufferin
No one knows the pressure you bare a just only you
Give you all my love oh yea "

-- Sizzla - Thank you mamma.

    Mother's day has come and gone. "Normal" I say. I didn't really do anything special for mom except tell her Happy Mother's day. What I did give her is the reassurance that we can go down to the Police Station and request a certificate of good character and get one. I usually tell her that one is available upon her request whenever she asks for a gift of some sort. How many mothers have such a precious gift? The other question is: how many mothers deserve such a precious gift? I hate to be cocky and egotistical or such, but I give my mother a great gift by just being alive :D But seriously -- I really don't buy into these commercial things -- Mother's day, Father's day, Valentines day (aka get laid day).

    More or less I think my mother got just the type of son she deserved. She taught me to read before I could speak, she made education the most important part of life, exposed me to extra-curricular activities especially music at a young age... these things made me who I am today. I am particularly disturbed and un-impressed with some of the mothers these days. I know it is hard being a teenage mom but I think a teenage mom has to say to herself constantly "this is reality" and "this is my responsibility". Teenage moms have somewhat of an excuse, what about the mothers who are 20+ and 30+ ? What are they doing? What are they doing when the morning comes and their sons and daughters are not going to school or at least a job? I understand that there are times when the youth are out of school or between jobs, but then are they free to roam? Who is looking after them? Who is responsible for them? I would really like to get to know this culture.

    Can the mothers of criminals really plead innocent today? I feel there is some co-relation between bad parenting and deviant behavior. There are, as with most things, limits -- I for example, am very crazy and that's no fault of my parents. Crazyness aside, I wouldn't cheat, steal or kill because they have taught me that that sort of action is wrong. I guess many youths these days are learning from the TV and the life of crime around them. A lot of people bought their mothers new batteries yesterday, some new remotes even. I guess some people even stole some other people's mothers too...

peace and love
Kwesi.

Effectiveness Of The Prison System

Peace.
This is my first post as a new member of TIAC. So, I decided to speak my mind here on something that has I've been questioning for a while..the effectiveness of our prison system. We see recently the unfair slave treatment of prisoners. I'm not here to "speak out" for criminals..well to an extent, but more so to focus on the initiative against crime since the criminals will one day "live" among us again. The question I ask is "Does the prison system change criminals or boost their courage to continue these acts?" I have spoken to a friend of mine, a prison officer, who described to me the autrocious conditions that they "live" in . Considering the environment of more criminals, rats, cockroaches and rapists..How will this phsycologically affect the criminal? Will the conditions be an incentive to not reutn to their 'past' or will they take revenge on society as a result of these conditions? Also, living among criminals for a period of time may boost confidence, create ideas and form gangs. Where are the counselling programs that will assess and help these criminals for when they are to re-enter into society? Are we absolutely positive that they will not pose any threat to the society? A lot of the gang leaders and members have been people who have spent some period of time in custody which will further boost their experience in these acts. Yes, holding them for a period of time will decrease the possibility of more crimes, but what about when they come back out..Will they change? What programs are there to develop them or prepare them for re-enterance in society?...Something that has to be further discussed..
Peace!
Jahari Gamba

Criminals: people too???

So the question is: are criminals people too? You think about it. I pride myslef in having strong faith and belief in essential human rights, and the following article had me thinking:

http://www.trinidadexpress.com/index.pl/article_news?id=159741417

It begins:

"Prisoners crammed into the cells if the San Fernando Magistrates' Court
rose up against their police guards last night"

The artcile reports the violence that the imprisoned criminals awaiting trials and hearings at the court inflicted on the officers and the property. No mention was made of any possible reason for the event, except that they were expressing anger at the Deputy Chief Magistrate's refusal to grant bail in some cases or refusal to start their cases, after four year delays in some cases.

Internationally, it is a well reognized priniciple that persons imprisoned should be treated humanely and fairly. Due process of law is a constitutional right, engraved in our constitution. Many international treaties and instruments to which Trinidad and Tobago are parties to expressly state that imprisoned persons have the right not to be subjected to cruel,unusual, inhuman or degrding treatment. The United Nations Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights are examples. It may be of interest to note that T&T withdrew it's acceptance of the Inter-American Court's jurisdiction to hear cases concerning breaches of the Inter-American Convention on Human Rights (which includes the right not to be subjected to cruel and inhuman punishment amongst others) after a famous case concerning such breaches being violated by the state of T&T, was decided against the state. (The state was found to have breached this right with respect to criminals on death row, being there after long delays: Hilaire Case).

Recently, the common law (a part of the law, known as the law as derived from the cases; judge made law; the law based on precedent from cases), particularly the Pratt and Morgan case established that undue delay on death row constituted cruel and unusual punishment.

So with this little history in mind, my point is, did anyone bother to report why there was a riot? What were the prisoners reacting to? Or, are we to assume that they are all crazy people just behaving like that for no reason? They were clearly compaining of breaches of their fundamental rights. Criminals are people too, and they need to be treated as such by the state if we ever aim to rehabilitate them, and help them, prevent them from committing further crimes. The state is responsible for treatment of those imprisoned. Of course, I as well as all of us know, that the state has limited resources and infrastucture, and the court system is plagued by undue delays amongst other issues; but what I'm saying is that steps need to be taken to remedy the situation. Criminals are people too, treat them so, stop the hate (echoing a fellow blogger).

I'm sure this post will stimulate responses, but don't get me wrong. I am in no way condoning what occured, especially the threats issued by prisoners to the police officers, who were merely doing their jobs. In fact I am outraged at the idea that the threats uttered against our law enforcement officers may prove yet a deterrence to these officers in doing their duty, but that is another topic for another post.

My point is, criminals are people too, and we need to stop the hate in order to move forward, all persons are entitled to basic fundamental human rights.

Zombies for a dangerous cause

Politics in this country has never been about serving the people but about serving the party. The Trinbagonian form of politics has always been based on pitting side against side at the expense of the people of all sides. If you listen to any political speech in this country you would realize it reeks of hate and undeserved self-praise. I am yet to see a political party or hear words from a leader in this country who would put the people, party or non-party people, ahead of party financiers. Basically political parties are hate groups who use the people to better the interest of a few Mr. Bigs. If the people happen to benefit from the few crumbs which may fall, then that is even better but if not, that's ok as well.

Blind and mindless followers are dangerous people because they are zombies for a dangerous cause. I have heard enough of plots and counterplots to write many crappy novels. I do not want someone to tell me who to hate and why. I don't want to hate anyone and I don't. Do them before they do you is what I keep hearing. Forgive me if I don't buy into that philosophy because I am not a fool. This country is falling apart because it was built on hate and fear and not on love and kindness. Weak leaders are always the ones who are the most venemous and the ones who promote the most amount of hate. Unfortunately, in this country, we have no shortage of the weak, the venomous, the insane, the arrogant, the pretentious, the uncaring and the egomaniacal. All these traits are usually wrapped up into the individuals who either lead, once led, or hope to lead this country. That is not the greatest disaster, the greatest disaster is that many people worship these leaders. That is our tragedy.

Is there anything on the political horizon which looks like stopping this hate-train? Unfortunately I don't see it in the form of a party. The best I can suggest is that we as individuals do what we can to not let the controllers of these political parties rub their hands in glee as the hate meters keep on rising. I think firemanboize offers the best solution and it is simple - stop the hate and stop it now.

Rehabilitating criminals?

So with all the complaints and fussing about the situation in our beloved country, what are we doing to curb the rising violence and mayhem? Personally I feel we aren’t very far away form absolute anarchy. To express my feelings on the matter I’ll use a couple of synonyms: pandemonium, absolute chaos, total disorder. Some may feel that I’m exaggerating, but if drastic measures aren’t taken who is to say that we won’t end up like Colombia (no offense against the country or citizens, just stating the facts), with so many murders and kidnappings that those who can afford (what about those who can’t afford) hire private body guards, and have armored cars? T&T ain’t that far away.
But let me not get carried away too much on that, my point is what are we doing to prevent T&T from becoming a lawless nation? My point is, many things need to be done. While I’m definitely not very versed with revolutionary ideas, and proposals, I do have a few, like the rest of us. Since many of my ideas are common, I’ll skip those and proceed to talk about one, which I researched thoroughly for a paper a couple months ago: Restorative Justice. To quote from my research paper:

“The theory of restorative justice is a form of criminal justice that involves reparation to the victim, or affected members of the community by the offender; usually in the form of a community service or monetary payment. Conflict resolution tactics and mediation are at the core of this process. It emerged primarily in response to the strictures of the current, prevailing model of retributive criminal justice and as such provides an entirely different theoretical framework for responding to crime.
It is commonly known that the Criminal Justice System is a highly ritualized one with strict procedures and rules, where a crime is seen as primarily an offence against the state, and where the offender plays a minimal role and the victim has none. It fails to address the needs of those harmed by the offence, and holds the offender accountable through punishment which is seen as paying a debt to society. It is ineffective in reducing recidivism.
Howard Zehr explains how crimes are approached in restorative justice:
“Restorative justice would put the victim and offender at the centre, helping to decide what is to be done about what has happened. Thus the definition of accountability would change. Instead of paying a debt to society by experiencing punishment, accountability would mean understanding and taking responsibility for what has been done and taking action to make things right…the offender would owe a debt to the victim, to be repaid in purely legal terms.”[1]
The theory of restorative justice contradicts the Criminal Justice System by promoting the idea that a crime is primarily a violation of people and interpersonal relationships. Victims and the community have been harmed and need restoration. This is the core principle of restorative justice.”[2]

Basically restorative justice aims at reforming, rehabilitating the offender, so that on being released from prison, back into the society, the offender does not become a repeat offender. Additionally, it has been proven to help the victims of crimes and their families, get over the incident, move on with their lives and even forgive the perpetrator.
Some may not see this as a plan that is likely to have any effect. But restorative justice is a long term plan, aimed at preventing recidivism. As a society, we in Trinidad and Tobago are quite unforgiving, and we do little to help those who are clearly in need of help. To give an example of a “hot topic”: the boys arrested for the Sean Luke incident. Has it been thought that by perhaps, helping the criminals: rehabilitation (who are still people by the way), that we may be helping the situation?
I shall not go further into the wealth of material about Restorative justice, but it suffices to say that restorative justice has been applied to even the most serious crimes. Also, in the course of my research for my paper, I contacted the Victim Offender Mediation Association, “The VOMA”.[3] Via email, I was able to contact some of the founding fathers, so to say, of various restorative justice programmes in the US and Canada. Imagine my surprise when they indicated to ME, (me, a nobody in terms of state affairs, just a regular person) that they would be pleased to assist in developing restorative justice programmes in TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO! This is just an indication of the fact that others are aware of the situation, and are willing to offer their expertise and assistance to us.
Check out the following for more information on RESTORATIVE JUSTICE:

http://voma.org/index.html
http://wcr.sonoma.edu/v1n1/umbreit.html
http://2ssw.che.umn.edu/rjp/Resources/Documents/ZehMik97.PDF
http://www.disputeresolutionfoundation.com/

ENDNOTES

[1] Howard Zehr, 1985, taken from D. Quid and J. Wyne, Victim and Offender Mediation Handbook (England: West Yorkshire Probation Service, 1993).
[2] Kahaya Nanhu, 21 Nov. 2005. Alternative Dispute Resolution: Write a reasoned critique/commentary on the video on restorative justice, in the light of principles and purposes of restorative justice. Consider also whether, in your view restorative justice can be applied to the situation of the Caribbean, stating reasons for your viewpoint.

[3] http://voma.org/index.html.html

Perspective

Just a bio on these 2 clowns.

Shames me that they from Pres Sando too, and makes me wonder if the nation or the system or whatever, can produce anything better.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patrick_Manning

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basdeo_Panday

And for the ass(es) who consider this a UNC website, just know we wouldn't dirty our hands by political affiliation.

YOU ALL SUCK.

Peace, finally........

Introduction

Someone said I should introduce "Team: Save Trinidad". My mind wandered off into a Justice League type photo with all of us decked off in "Soca Warriors" t-shirts. I see that the number of hits are climbing (slowly but they are climbing) so that's positive. So I will introduce the contributors in no particular order... here goes.

* aka_lol

I recruited aka_lol after seeing his comments on Krista-Lee's blog and then seeing his blog. I liked his style of writing and I asked him if he would be interested in writing here. I can't tell you much about him as a person but I can tell you he handles http://www.mayarobeach.com/ which is actually quite nice.

* firemanboyzie

That's me. I started this blog because of the sentiments of a close friend or as one of my friends put it "I sure he doing it for some girl". I treasure my friends -- they know me well. My vision? I want someday for 1.3M Trini citizens to be blogging here strong -- I want to hear them on the radios, the televisions, the telephones and in the streets. I think that may never happen, thanks to cable TV.

* Jahari Gamba

Our youngest member. Jahari is a very black conscious youth man and that is admirable in these times. He hasn't posted yet because of exams but i suspect he will soon so stay tuned.

* Krista-Lee Bissoon

I recruited Krista-Lee via her blog -- which was quite amusing and entertaining. She's a masters student and I thought she would give us an interesting perspective on things. She too hasn't posted because of finals, but I hope that she will find some time soon.

* crazee mudderasss

crazee mudderasss is a fellow member of the band Solaris. I won't disclose any more personal information because I am not sure that with a name like crazee mudderasss he would want all his information given out on the WWW. He's only posted once and since then his network admin has blocked blogger.com as there is pornos and that sort of stuff in the blogosphere.

* Valarauka

Valarauka is also a fellow member of the band Solaris. He brings a very interesting perspective to crime and social issues as an Economist. What scares me the most is that I agree with most of what he says.

* Kahaya

Kahaya is a long time friend. She studies law in Barbados so I am hoping she brings some interesting points to us. I suspect she has done a lot of reading and from our discussion we had on Marxism a long time ago I know she is a good writer. We should be hearing some more from her soon.

Taran (www.knowprose.com) doesn't blog here but I continue to link whatever posts in his blog I see as being relevant. That makes him our invisible contributor.


If you would like to contribute, feel free to add a comment here. If you just want to put a one time article, get in contact with me and I will post it on your behalf. Trinidad is all of ours to save -- so I won't deny anyone a voice here.

peace and love
Kwesi.

Responsibility

When I first got the picture of Sean Luke's alleged killer in my email many things came to mind. I thought about the legal implications of receiving it, the legal implications of forwarding it, of storing it on my hard drive and of blogging it. I thought long and hard (for about ten minutes) how it could help to save Trinidad by posting the picture on the blog. Nothing came to mind.
I read Taran's post today -- Responsibilities of Websites and Weblogs; The Sean Luke Case, Trinidad and Tobago, and Posting Pictures of the Accused and now I see that the picture is being hosted on a local site. I too won't link to the site because I think that its wrong -- but if you're really crafty (like me) you can ask google to give you a hand in finding it. When you find it it will sadden you more to see the comments the users post about the poor kid. Why am I calling him a poor kid? Honestly it is because I don't think he really understands what's going on, what he did (if he did it) and whats going to happen if he did what he did. I think he is disturbed, possibly abused or maybe he is misguided or misled. Everyone is quick to jump to the conclusion that he is a homosexual, use [sic] appropriate racial slurs etc. Not one comment leaned towards the possibility that the youth man needed help. I am disappointed...
Its a consolation though that I had been to that place before and its all about small minds crammed into one place saying who's hot and who's not. Well, "look ting" someone I know actually said something I can be proud of:

what a shame!!!
I feel sorry for him, he had to be deeply troubled to do such a thing, and yes he should be punished for his crime, but alot of you sound so racial in your comments. if he was any other race would you say it like that. thats the mentality that fucking up our country now!!!! we as a people not making any effort to move forward?

STOP THE HATE, CAUSE IT CAN NOT BRING BACK SEAN LUKE, IT JUST CREATES MORE HATE!!!!!

thank you, I don't think I need to say anymore.

peace and love
Kwesi

The Song Remains The Same

In a bold and daring press release, the people have been reassured that paper will continued to be pushed into the face of crime, and an onslaught of P.R. campaigns will soon take over the country once again. The people, hungry for safety, cautiously danced and pranced in the streets in delight but only in the day time since the nights were even more dangerous. The all-mighty blimp, not to be outdone, hovered overhead, floating aimlessly in time to the same old song.

Here's a thought 5

I think the world is the worse for not having known Gary Hector and Jointpop.

Rock on Brothers.

Peace and Paradise,

Smelter, Smelter, Fallout Shelter?

I'm not claiming to know more about ecology or economy than anyone else. But why is it that people here assume they have the facts about everything? I know Alcoa is notoriously dirty, I know the government has been very arbitrary in their treatment of the Chatham communities, and some, though not the majority among experts, feel that the smelter will not return its investment, all costs considered.

Fine.

But why must we feel that not having a smelter is the only alternative? Are there not things we can do to reach the proverbial happy medium, where all parties benefit?

This is the attitiude I have a problem with, and I was reading through the nosmeltertt.com website and I was unimpressed by their presentation of so called 'facts' about the smelters. To be entirely honest, they sounded more like a preacher trying to warn me that I should fall on my knees and repent, lest my soul be damned to Hell. What are their sources? What hypotheses or standard models do they use to draw their conclusions? Are they aware of ALL the possible benefits and drawbacks of the smelters? Or is what they are saying simply misguided propoganda?

I appreciate activism, being an activist myself. It is good to see people take the initiative for once. But you cannot destroy your credibility as an activist by indulging in misdirected passion.

Activism is about always being right.

My opinion, as an economist, is that there is, as always, a more dynamic solution to this issue than the naysayers suggest. That is, I think we can have our clean air, our integrated communities, and our profitable industrialisation. But I think that it can only happen if every last person on this blasted island takes an active interest in setting the standards that we demand from Alcoa and the Government, and ACTING OUT to ensure that these standards are met! Is this not how a true democracy is supposed to work? Have we not deferred power to distant and uninterested officials for long enough? Is this situation not one that is opportune for such a precedent of to be set? And is THAT not true progress?

I have no doubt that Alcoa and the Government wish to take advantage of people's ignorance. But I think with a mandate from the People, we can make them BOTH our slaves, or at the very least, our partners. For the price of freedom is vigilance. But uninformed naysayers promote Ignorance, which has no place in progress. Or freedom.

Think a bit about what you do.


Peace,
Lest my Soul be damned to Hell.

Terrorists in TNT

    In the news tonight I heard of this (Canada deports two terrorists to Trinidad). The media (TV6 news) raised a silly point: "Minister of National Security refused to reveal where the deportees are staying" and another (not so silly) point: "The deportees are free to link up with other radical islamics and cause trouble."
    OH COME ON!? What is this I am hearing here? I would hope that those two guys are being watched -- but the Minister has a point: THESE PEOPLE HAVE RIGHTS. It seems like the local media expects the Minister to do something irresponsible like give the location of these guys so that people could target them and cause all sorts of problems. Trinidadian people can be very ignorant -- look how much they wanted to get a look at Sean Luke's alleged murderers...
    No doubt many of us are not feeling safe tonight. I can't advise that we all relax and leave it in the hands of the Police, but what choice do we have? Anyone who looks slightly Islamic will be watched "cut-eye" near a Hindu temple now... oh my. The point about them linking up with Radical Islamics here is a good point, but we haven't seen any activity by the Jaamat or such in terms of terror using bombs.

    I think that Trinidad is too small for large scale terrorism such as bomb attacks and such. On the average day, four of your cousins, a school mate, your aunt and ex girlfriend is walking down Fredrick Street -- if you did something really big, you're likely to take out some close friends and relatives. Besides being too small, Trinidad doesn't seem to inspire the sort of hate required for one man to go out and kill a dozen others though there is no end to the number of men who would kill one other man for a few dollars. What do you think?

peace and love
kwesi.

Destruction

This bush fire started on the Pine Trail at Mt. St. Benedict yesterday evening, and raged well into the night. Thankfully the winds were low by evening time so the spread was contained. Like all bush fires it probably was manmade. In this country, once it's dry enough and it can burn, somebody will make sure it burns. Ironically, this fire took place next to a fire-watcher tower. It could have been worse but it shouldn't have happened in the first place. Isn't this a crime against all the people?

Questions

I can't remember but maybe the government did answer these questions before.

• How much revenue the country will get annually in return for subsidizing Alcoa's gas bill, the destruction of our forest, and the destruction of communities?
• Can the government prove that this is the best way of monetizing the gas of our country?
• Does the government realize that they do not own Trinidad and Tobago and they must be accountable to all the people?
• Is the EMA a puppet of the government?
• Will the smelters be built regardless of what the EMA says?
• Will the protest of the people be ignored or dismissed?

http://lifesabeachtt.blogspot.com/2006/04/useless-piece-of-information.html

Also check out:

http://greenlightnetwork.blogspot.com/

and

http://nowiswow.blogspot.com/

Alcoa Facts

This is a University of Texas Site chronicling some hidden truths about Alcoa. Check out the link.

http://www.utwatch.org/corporations/alcoa.html

peace,

Not this time......

WHOIS: Keith Mungal?

"Some guy" named Keith Mungal left a comment the other day and I actually looked him up today. Keith Mungal, I don't know if you are hearing this but you are a role model for my fellow Trini Internet Citizens (if I may make such a term). I did a search on him and I found that he has been saying a lot in the local news papers via letters to the editor and also knows his way around the internet.
If you are interested, have a look at some of the things this guy has said.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/unitednationalcongress/message/525?viscount=100
http://www.guardian.co.tt/archives/2005-08-25/letters.html
http://www.unc.org.tt/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?topic_id=332
http://www.guardian.co.tt/archives/2006-01-21/letters.html

Everyone has a voice and the opportunity to make it heard somewhere. I have opened this blog to give EVERYONE an opportunity to express themselves. Kahaya considered this blog to be:

"an avenue for those citizens out there with serious thoughts and ideas on the situation with no real mode of expression"

Someone made a silly accusation the other day that this is blog has a UNC bias... man oh man... first off Trini people are loving yes, but deep in our hearts we are rebels. We tend to be ignorant and rebelious -- something wrong? BLAME THE GOVERNMENT. I am here to point out all the wrongs I see without fear or favor... no matter what political affiliation the wrong-doers have. When someone makes a comment I don't agree with, I will say so. If someone does not agree with me, they can say so, and so on. So, what are you waiting for? Open your digital mouth and say something... you know you wanna!!!


UPDATE:
Taran wrote this post yesterday that was a good read, its called The Role of Trinbagonian Netizens and Trinbagonian Politics

Enjoy!
peace and love
Kwesi.

Strange People

Ah see a man get shot down today, shot down today, shot down today...
Ah see a man get shot down today, shot down today, shot down today...
-- Solaris - Shot Down.

We are heading towards some dangerous times. Imagine the day when people can actually sing this in the streets and identify with the lyrics. I haven't actually seen someone shot down (thank God) but sooner or later, at this rate, I think I will.
Its been one week so far since a thirteen year old boy was murdered in Laventille. I will confess that I haven't been really checking the local media but I am very disappointed. No one was seen wearing black, honking their horns, driving with their car lights on. Nothing. People aren't even talking about it. What's up with that? I don't care how old he is or where he lives -- a life was taken.
I will say it again. A LIFE WAS TAKEN. I could say *nice* things like: this boy could have been our next Prime Minister or grown up to be a major contributor to society, but I won't go that far. As human beings what separates us from other animals is the endowment of emotional attributes. As human beings we care about each other, we have communities etc etc. Maybe I am giving us too much credit -- perhaps we are just primates with well developed brains and opposable thumbs. I am really hoping that this Sean Luke thing was not just a major desensitizing agent to most people. If this is the case, that's really messed up. Are we going to protest again when a five year old boy is impaled on the top of a cell phone tower? I don't think there is going to be anything as outrageous as Sean Luke's murder for sometime. I was trying to find a link about the article where a woman was found dead in her car, killed by a bullet to the head but I couldn't find it amongst the clutter of articles of shootings involving "cars" and "women". Don't be ashamed when you google "Sue Mara Akong". What's really going on?
Suddenly my thoughts on the bell curve return. I think I have said enough for the while...this is heading towards being a rant... hope some of you can laugh of this -- a picture says a thousand words (click on it to see it closer)



peace and love
Kwesi.

Email | The feelings of a Trini student in Barbados

Got this via email from a very close friend. Have a read.

    I am a Trinbagonian student studying at the Cave Hill Campus of the University of the West Indies, Barbados. I am nearing the end of my two year stay here, but some things I have experienced since I first got here remained with me. I remember within my first week here, I visited one of my dad's friends, a Bajan, he had a little dinner party and I met a lot of middle aged Bajan adults. On learning that I was Trini, naturally a lot of them initiated conversations with me. I distinctly remember one conversation, where the person was telling me how much he loved my country, and he used to visit there so often, but of course now with the situation in the country he no longer feels safe, and he rarely visits anymore. Naturally, I felt embarrassed, angry, disgusted and disappointed all at the same time. This never left me. As UWI life progressed and I met students from all over the Caribbean, I realized that a lot of islanders, were very disturbed by the situation in our beloved TnT. To them, it was incomprehensible how a country with an average crime rate drastically elevated to what appears to be a lawless nation. I myself, share their sentiments.

    Again, another conversation, with a Bajan friend this time left me feeling utterly embarrassed. He related to me that he had a couple of friends in Trinidad studying at UWI, and all of them were wary of the crime situation. In particular one of his friends was held up and robbed at gunpoint returning to his Curepe apartment. Several weeks later, the same friend’s apartment was broken into, the thieves making of with his Apple Laptop, his Timberlands, and numerous articles of clothing.

          Many of my third year counterparts coming to Trinidad later this year to attend Hugh Wooding Law School, are very worried about the situation, they fear for their own safety for it is evident that non-locals are not exempted from attacks by criminals. A lot of them have to put out the extra cash to find apartments with security systems, or in a gated complex (as you all know these are not cheap).

          All in all, my experience in Barbados has been punctuated with feelings of guilt, embarrassment, disappointment and anger due to the situation in our country, when other West Indians express their sentiments on the issue. How did our country get this way? And what is being done to rectify the situation? Passing legislation that is rarely ever adhered to in its essence and that takes years to have any real effect? Spending millions of dollars on Scotland Yard officers, many retired, who so far have no jurisdiction to interfere in local affairs? Drastic measures need to be taken. It is time Trinbagonians wake up and realize the situation, and particularly realize how this all appears to the outside world, especially right here in the Caribbean.

Kahaya Kesara Nanhu

Have a look at this.

    I am not a fan of short posts, but sometimes things can't be helped. Taran wrote this and I thought you should read it too. It has some great thoughts and had me thinking as well.

"It's also important to realize that intelligence and education are not synonymous."

Peace and love
Kwesi.

Saving Trinidad

    Though I feel that we could probably save Trinidad just by Valakura's "Here is wisdom" series alone, I think its time to do more. Tomorrow will be one month since this blog started. I have already got the sarcastic remark "What does posting in a blog do to help our country?". It is a consolation that the person said "our country". For the record -- I believe that the thoughts and issues raised in this blog are important to agitate and stimulate the minds of the people in this country.
    Right now we get an average of 21 hits per day, with the highest number of visitors being on April 17 (44 Visitors). I would like to believe that that's 21 people who leave with good ideas (but really at least 6 of those hits are us bloggers).
    I have my eyes on some "real" projects, but I guess I will wait until exams are done to get the support of my sister and other UWI students. I will update you guys as time goes by.

peace and love
Kwesi.

Here's a Thought......

Why not build the Smelter on the Savannah, using URP and CEPEP workers? Manning himself can personally oversee activities from Whitehall, assuming the plant doesn't meltdown or fall apart from the lack of skill of the workers. And we get to keep the forests to watch the animals frolic!

Here is Wisdom 4

The protesting URP workers got a meeting with the Prime Minister.

The Chatham residents protesting the Smelters didn't.

WTF?

Peace.......right....

Color Blind

We are a color blind country where red and green are now indistinguishable. Ok, so we are not color blind, just a people who have become borderline psychopaths once we get behind the wheel of a car. Why are we hell bent on being uncontrollable weapons of destruction? There is no excuse for road-rage, drunken driving or rubberized stupidity, absolutely no excuse. It's bad enough to have to worry about bandits invading your home at any time of the day or night, but having to worry about the driver next door losing it and slamming into your car, only because he lost one screw too many, is frightening. What is the solution? Simple, just spend some time imagining how much better the world would be after you slam into the car carrying a family of four because you either had one too many or you forgot how to care.

Nuff said.

Just a thought

Every society gets the kind of criminal it deserves. What is also true is that every community gets the kind of law enforcement it insists on.

John F. Kennedy

That is a thought which makes sense to me.

Here is Wisdom 3

Panday got what he deserved.

Peace?

Here is Wisdom 2

Why is the PM, welcoming with pomp and fanfare Jamaican Prime Minister Portia Simpson-Miller?

She thinks she has been 'appointed by God'.

So did Hitler.

Peace, I think....

An Initiative Against Poverty

I got this in my mail just now and I smiled. I felt so happy I just had to put it here. I hope you guys help out. The night sky is black and cold BUT filled with tiny little stars. Tiny little stars like this email make the dark night that is creeping over Trinidad seem to have hope:

Hello everyone,  To the individuals that work in the Port of Spain area and environs.   I formed a committee which is going to help those that are less fortunate than ourselves. Despite government intervention Trinidad and Tobago still has a 30% poverty status.  Therefore I ask if anyone can donate food items please e-mail me and i'll send you the list and if any of your co-workers can help. The food will be collected at RBTT ROYTEC on Tuesday 9th to Thursday 11th.   Thanx to all that support this cause and I hope that people from ttrockers can help contribute to a much needed cause.   Yours truly, Candice (sickotrini)

Imagine, that from someone nicknamed "sickotrini". Where are all the "angels" out there huh?

peace and love
Kwesi.

The role of Science in the state of things

I grew up caressed by both art and science, but science has always appealed to me more. Art brings joy to my soul, but science satisfies my mind -- which is, as a matter of fact the more voracious of the two. I tend to analyse life from a scientific point of view with heavy emphasis on mathematics and physics. I believe, and I will die believing that this world can be modelled using only a system of complex equations. Nothing is random. Everything is based on a set of parameters and interacting systems. It is only because we cannot observe, in real time, all the interactions of the systems and measure as well as identify the parameters involved, we become confused and our minds wander off into all sorts of irrelevant regions of space and time.
There is a buffer between ignorance and enlightenment -- many of us call this buffer God. There are also hundreds of great words that fill the space as well. Words like fate, destiny, purpose, love, luck, serendipity, karma, evil, satan... these words remove us from the concept that the world is more of a machine than we would like to think. The absence of a God figure in Buddhism may offend some people but really, at the core of Buddhism is that process of becoming a scientist and investigating the world and the teachings of Buddha by direct experience. Buddhists are the scientists who attempt to quantify nothing (hey I made that up on the spot). Without the buffer, we go directly to the source to find the truth, the true meaning of life.
These things said, it is very hard for me to be hysterical or in a state of despair of what is happening in the world and in my country. I feel the effects of what is going on around me but deep down inside I know that there is a bigger picture and every event is as a result of other events and are meant to arouse later events. I am a scientist, a physicist and a mathematician. I may not have degrees in such but...

You see, I believe in THE BELL CURVE.
The two youths that murdered Sean Luke did not grow up in a void. They were influenced by the world. They most likely saw more tolerated acts around them take place. Some of these acts were punished, some were not. Some of these acts were frowned on, some were not. The main reason that I am writing this post right now is: yesterday I found out that my friend's brother of 14 years raped their 6 year old sister. I was shocked to know it wasn't the first time. I was more shocked to know that the sister confessed to having a boyfriend, and that the sister said that the boyfriend's mom said having sex is a good thing. I don't even want to think that the child is telling the truth about her mom -- I am more alarmed that a six year old knows what sex is and is engaged in it. I don't see those two youths as two mile high pillars in a bar chart of of inch high ticks and specs. No. I see them as adjacent points in a whole world of crime, madness and mahem. Stuff of that magnitude happens, perhaps every day, but not in that manner. We have grown acceptant of certain things that in paradise would definitely be considered grotesque. A murder a day is ok -- it doesn't warrant a state of emergency. Allegations of sexual misconduct are made and then in a matter of time they are forgotten. Rapes take place on a campus but the security remains lapse. Domestic violence is widespread and in some places *accepted*. I like to believe wrong is wrong -- from the white lie told by a young child, to the pastimes of a mass murderer, wrong is wrong and wrong cannot be condoned. It is our poor attidude to simple things that should not be tolerated at all leads to the escalation of the problems. It is when they are out of control then we sound the alarms. I wonder how it would be interpreted if we heard of three separate six year old boys: one buggered, one murdered and one beaten? Why isn't Akiel Chambers a major buzzword?

You see, I believe in RESONANCE.
I am not saying that society is promoting or condoning violent or unlawful behaviour, but what is getting to me is society's reaction to this thing and that and more importantly THIS thing over THAT. Children are growing up now seeing that certain things may be wrong but some things are more wrong than others. The resonance of the events happening around these boys may have led to their actions. Over a period of time the value of another human life may have eroded by what they saw on the television, video games, movies and in real life. As a kid, seeing a two ton anvil drop onto Tom's head was quite a blast. Seeing Jerry squashed behind a door was great as well. The cartoons nowadays are less goofy and more gory now with actual blood and death. The sight of an ambulance no longer inspires a sad feeling in me. Murder reports on the news are taken the same as a century or duck by B.C. Lara. Why the outrage only now? The resonance of events may not be far from the truth. Some of us remember stealing a taste of condensed milk from the tin. What happened when we dared to steal the whole tin? That analogy, coincidentally (but unintentionally) brings me to the role of parents and guardians in this. When it was known that tastes were being stolen, many said nothing, but when the entire tin goes missing then a punishment is dealt. I may be ranting about this and that right now, but by now you should get what I am trying to say. Imagine if Sharial Law were in effect here... imagine if the simple act of larceny was an outrage...

I suspect all over the country, rapes and incests are happening but hushed up by the families. I suspect Sean Luke was killed because he threatened to speak out. A Martyr? It crawls my blood to think that he may have spoken and then hushed up... oh my...

peace and love
Kwesi.

Email

I got this via email today and I thought I would share it. I don't think ANYONE would doubt that such a sequence of events can happen in Trinidad. On that note, I was told by a Jamaican co-worker today that "The attitudes of Trinidadians are too laid back.". I always knew it, but to hear it from a non-national woke me up. A laid back police force... hmmm, even a police farce as Stephan pointed out... is definitely a problem...

This actually happened to someone from CLICO. There is a serious
message here, but it's lost in the stupidity that is represented by
the T&T Police Force.

Just to let you all know that on Wednesday 29th March 2006, I parked
my vehicle in front of what used to be Body Academy on Gray St., St.
Clair under a "security" light to attend a company function on Rust
St. At about 9:30 pm I returned to the car to find the left front
window broken and my handbag (which I thought was well hidden under
the front seat missing. An envelope left there by a friend was also
stolen. As most of you know I am always one to take my handbag with
me wherever I go. This is the one time I left it in the car. Of
course that bag contained my whole life story, including id card, DP,
debit and credit cards, 2 cheques made out to me, a job letter, nuff
lipsticks, a watch that was irritating me, and yes... the spare key to
my car! No eh. Mind you they did not take my Stereo/CD player... or my
James Blunt CD (Thank GodJ)

So I proceed to the St. Clair "Police" Station along with the NP
"Security" who earlier on assured us that our vehicles were safe that
night because they would be circling the area regularly. Whatever. At
the Police Station one sluggish officer took my report while engaging
in some old talk with his friends. He then asked me if I felt that I
needed to have the car fingerprinted, and if I did, then I should take
the car to the Police Admin. Bldg on Sackville Street. On my way to
Sackville St. said P.C. Sluggish called on my cell to say he forgot to
have me fill out a Lost Items form and "if ah could come back". I the
proceeded back to St. Clair. Pretty testy by now I asked why he did
not tell me this before, to which he replied that everything was not
clicking with him tonight and that he had a little headache. He did
give me some helpful tips though: that I should comb the area,
including nearby drains to see if the criminals may have dumped the
bag. He also suggested I check the river at the back of St. Mary's
grounds when I had the chance. I then resumed my quest for
fingerprinting experts at Police Admin. On arrival I was told that
only one man came out to work and he was out on a scene. I said I
would call later that night to see if he returned. The Woman Police
Constable laughed and told me that that may not be a good idea since
the operator does not always answer the phone. She suggested I bring
the car back the next day.... And pray it doh rain during de nite!

Next morning bright and early I dragged Bora back to Police Admin.
There I was attended to promptly because I knew the brother of one of
the corporals there and he "organize mih". First question by
Fingerprint "Expert" was "Where de glass?". I responded that it was
left on Gray Street that night. He stated with a sarcastic laugh that
I should have picked up the glass that night and brought it with me.
He then suggested I proceed to Gray Street and collect same. I asked
if he didn't think it wise for him to handle the evidence since he had
the special kit with the gloves etc, and all the "expertise". He said
he didn't think his boss will let him go with me, but he could lend me
one side of gloves to take up the glass. Hear nah well I take the one
side of glove and I gone about my business. When I nearly reached
Gray Street he called me on my cell to ask if I could come back for
him since he asked his boss and his boss say yes he could go. Sigh.
I then went back to pick up said "expert" who surprisingly found no
prints on the glass or anywhere on the car. Mind you, I had to be
suggesting areas for him to dust. He did however help me "comb the
area" to look for the bag... yeah he looked out the window as I passed
by Sweet Briar, Alexandria and Maraval Roads, casting his bionic eye
into each drain etc. Needless to say we eh find de bag yet.

I am sure you all feel so much more confident in our Police and the
service they provide. We can all rest peacefully at night now.

Meanwhile I went to Licensing Office to get a duplicate DP on
Friday... a buxom lady say Miss ah hope you know the date of last
renewal because we aint have no computer here. I wasted brain cells
memorizing my DP # but not the date of renewal! She then handed me a
huge book about 5 inches thick with the names of everybody living in
the West... and say well look thru that and lemme know when yuh find
yuh name...After that the process did not take too long though.

One more issue - Called RBTT that same night to report that my cards
were stolen. The guy confirmed that stops were placed on my savings
account, debit card and credit card. When I called to verify the next
morning I found out that no stop was ever placed on the account
because the "system was down". I was also told that it would take 10
days to get back my cards... i.e. until I called a contact and
miraculously I was able to get them within 3 days. Keep an eye on that
RBTT. The service from Republic was 100% better!

Ahhh... life in the third world!

I don't think I need to reiterate the lesson here, but I will:

1. Don't use your handbag as a briefcase, suitcase or safe.
2. Don't leave handbag or anything of value in car.
3. Don't waste time memorizing your DP number...
4. Keep a photocopy of your ID card and DP - the information
comes in handy in situations like these
5. Take a valium before going to any Police Station because
they only provoke you to use obscene language which is a criminal
offence in a public place;
6. Signaling to the Blimp or the busy helicopters when in
distress does not really help...

Crime is still on the rise and I just want to urge everyone to please
be extra careful in everything that you do.

We are here by the grace of God.

Cause

"Seek ye knowledge from the cradle to the grave"- The Holy Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.)

The causes of crime are among the most researched and documented topic in the world, thus I will not suffer us any academic harangue to explain the processes of research here. However, I will say that the accepted chief causes of crime are endemic poverty, inequity and the resultant disparities in access to opportunity and power.

Kwesi made the point beautifully when he asked whether anyone has been robbed by someone who had as much as you. Endemic poverty is an evil in itself; it is the festering ground for many of the social ills present in a country, or at least, poverty allows the opportunity for and increases the probability of all types of anti-social behaviour; poverty brings out the worst of our human nature.

For there is nothing more dangerous than a man who has nothing to lose.

It is popularly believed that no one in Trinidad and Tobago should be poor; that there is enough money to go around for everyone. The science of poverty tells us though, that once there are those who are not economically valued, that there will be inequity, and hence, poverty. Indeed, poverty is considered the shame of capitalist economics. It has baffled economists for decades, especially in the 20th Century, how massive economic growth could occur alongside deepening poverty trends. From certain mathematical viewpoints, it seems that poverty serves a sort of buffer role in an economy; it is a necessary moderating element in the equation that defines the economy.

Even with all the gas money?

Interestingly enough, there is a set of theories called the Resource Curse, pioneered by Richard M. Auty, that tell us just that. Resource rich countries have a history of being inequitable, having an array of social problems, having bureaucracy choked, handout based, corrupt governments and a host of economic instabilities caused by the reliance on one enclaved economic sector. Suffice to say, the richest nations of the world are NOT those whose economies are based on a single resource. Btw, Saudi Arabia is not a rich country. It is an extremely poor country, held aloft only by their windfall profits from oil.

Perhaps then, this phenomenon of crime we witness today is rooted somehow in the parametric inequity and instability of a resource economy? Perhaps the crime is actually an ironic type of "trickle down economics" vis a vis robberies (like my laptop and wallet - die SCUM) and kidnappings.

And the murders?

Drugs and gangs. Which came from PNM created dependency in East Port of Spain, which gave generations of young men a subsistence income, and nothing to do, until one of them saw an opportunity.

Perhaps, we aren't as in control of our destiny as a nation as we would like to feel. The challenge is understanding the problem with clarity. Most people still think its the Devil's fault. Knowledge of ourselves, a better definition of what this thing we call Trinidad & Tobago really is, will help us to fight this scourge.

Understanding is where solution begins. Arm yourselves with it.

Bless

Mine Yuh Own Business!!!

    If you are a true Trinidadian, you must have heard this at some point or the other. I was thinking about this colloquialism today and it hit me -- "Is the crime situation in Trinidad and Tobago my business?". The cheeky part of me answered: "Yours is the business of software design and analysis, scripting and web-design.". I knew that was true, but then I started to think about making making Trinidad and Tobago safer my business. Making my bread and butter from securing my country seems like a really great idea with lots of incentives... the question is: How? Perhaps I took it a step too far. If we all made making Trinidad and Tobago safer our business then things would definitely be better.
    A strange word, this 'business'. Seeking some help from the web I find:

Business
n.

   1.
         1. The occupation, work, or trade in which a person is engaged: the wholesale food business.
         2. A specific occupation or pursuit: the best designer in the business.
   2. Commercial, industrial, or professional dealings: new systems now being used in business.
   3. A commercial enterprise or establishment: bought his uncle's business.
   4. Volume or amount of commercial trade: Business had fallen off.
   5. Commercial dealings; patronage: took her business to a trustworthy salesperson.
   6.
         1. One's rightful or proper concern or interest: “The business of America is business” (Calvin Coolidge).
         2. Something involving one personally: It's none of my business.
   7. Serious work or endeavor: got right down to business.
   8. An affair or matter: “We will proceed no further in this business” (Shakespeare).
   9. An incidental action performed by an actor on the stage to fill a pause between lines or to provide interesting detail.
  10. Informal. Verbal abuse; scolding: gave me the business for being late.
  11. Obsolete. The condition of being busy.

It seems by some measure -- saving Trinidad and Tobago is everybody's business. Here are my thoughts on the subject.

1. We need to be aware of what's going on around us. Many of us know of crime, criminals and illegal activities in our neighbourhoods. I don't think I have to quote String Theory to convice you that everything is connected, it probably has affected you (and or will in the future) and that you should call Crimestoppers.
2. Promote charity, love, compassion and kindness. We need to reach out (even indirectly) to the poor and those in need. I long for a world where we can, without doubt, label a criminal as a *bad person* -- sometimes we have to empathize about their background, situation and circumstances.
3. Actually make saving Trinidad and Tobago your business. I mean try to profit from activities that protect and enrich the nation. I've only had one idea so far, which is to organise a system where organizations who wish to raise funds can have access to all the resources they need to pull off an event at minimal cost. I see there is even a fundraisers.com on the internet. There are many businesses I believe that help Trinidad and Tobago (but they may not know that they are) -- all the institutions that offer Music lessons, training in sports etc.
4. Add your comments to this post -- I will appreciate them.

On the subject, I used to have a big problem with Capitalism until I realized that the human race really wouldn't like it any other way. It would make no sense changing the system, if the people would be against it. As my friend Stephan said, holding up his Fender electric guitar: "Without Capitalism we wouldn't have such great things as we have today.". At that point, I had to agree. There is definitely a problem with me -- I love guitars, but I wouldn't mind swinging from tree to tree if it meant the world would be better. Even now, if given the opportunity, I would drop everything and do volunteer work such as building homes or feeding the poor (once somebody ensured that I would have food and a place to live). My parents would probably argue that I should finish University, get lots of money and fund ten or twenty volunteers. This sounds great, but the Buddhist in me weeps as people suffer in the mean time. I can't blame anyone, I am not seeing hordes of people quitting their jobs and trying to save the world -- and even if a few people did, I doubt it wouldn't inspire many others to do the same.
    Ponder on this for a moment: "What point is it -- working hard, reaching the top if at the top there are people at the bottom living a life that can barely be considered worthy of humans?". For those of us with opportunities, the race to the top entails education and employment. For many others the quest for Victor Ludorum involves drugs for batons, bullets for hurdles and semi automatic javelins. I am not promoting such things or condoning them, I am just giving an angle. Has anyone been burgled by someone who had as much as them?

    I'll issue a challenge to any corporation or individual: I would give 75% of my time to charity in return for food and accomodation. Anyone willing to indulge me? For the record, the other 25% of my time would be used to fulfil my commitments to Pitchlake Multimedia. (Long story short, a man's word is his bond).

The Bridge Of Hope II

More than a week has passed since I first visited the Bridge of Hope but the place still is fresh in my mind. I've been meaning all week to post some details about the project -- here is some info of a CD they gave me which contains the guts of what I am supposed to put in their website.

Bridge of Hope is a project of The House of Young Christians, which has been established in 1998, to help disadvantaged children by providing them with a Home environment to grow and develop in. Our main aim is to create a loving family atmosphere, that will help bring healing and wholeness to the lives of these precious young ones.

Our Vision
We will facilitate the transformation of rural communities through needs based programs, that seek to empower individuals to become positive contributors to society.

We will partner with the community, key stakeholders and other NGOs to achieve mutually beneficial goals.

We will develop a transferable model to transform our country one village at a time.


Our Goals

• To provide a nurturing environment for socially at risk children
• To make people employable and help break the cycle of poverty
• To identify and enable change agents within the community
• To equip individuals to become positive contributors to society
  

Our Values
Ethical...committed to good governance and transperancy, Empowerment...nuturing self-esteem and creating real life skills, Inclusive...embracing all people, Character...building family and the society.


Contact Information

Telephone
1-868-691-3274
FAX
1-868-691-3274
Postal address
Lp#1021 Eastern Main Road Sangre Chiquito Sangre Grande
Electronic mail
General Information: bridgeofhope2004@hotmail.com


The website should be up pretty soon. I will tell you when it's done -- www.bridgeofhope-tt.com.

peace and love
Kwesi.

The Passion

    I was reflecting on the Passion of Christ the other day and I thought of Sean. It was like a waking dream and a sequence of thoughts running together. It was something like this:

1) Children because of their lack of pride and also because of their innocence are the angels among us. A newly formed image of God, a child is still very much untarnished by the weights and sins of the world.
2) Jesus died on the cross to save the sins of the world. It had to happen and it didn't have to happen painlessly. He had to die with torture and lots of pain and agony. He had to be betrayed and crucified and die. "How long shall they kill our prophets, / While we stand aside and look? / Yes, some say it’s just a part of it: / We’ve got to fulfil de book.". (Don't hate Judas! He helped things along!)
3) Sean going to fish was perhaps his last supper...
4) He died a horrible death -- very painful, very sad: fingers torn off and broken, eyeball torn out, buggered, violated with cane and possibly bamboo... When we are told of the Passion of the Christ we are led to imagine the tremendous pain he experienced.
5) Perhaps Sean died for our sins. Perhaps Sean died so we could see that there is evil in Trinidad and it would inspire us to do something about it. Perhaps Sean died so no other child would die after him. Perhaps...

    If we forget about the fact that Sean died and that is was unfair there is something we have to see. I don't believe that events are random in this world. I don't believe that Sean died for nothing. Sean died for us to see that we are doing something wrong and that has to change.

"and that's all I have to say about that"

peace and love
Kwesi.

Real Love

"Day by day I realize the kind of world we living in
sometimes I feel my spirit just wants to jump out of my skin
just want to feel love -- real love
in this life!!!"

-- The Orange Sky

    Thursday night three buddies and I went to see The Orange Sky perform in a nightclub called Zen. Before going to the nightclub however we went into a chinese restaurant to get some grub. After appetizers of spring rolls we got our meals. I was chowing down on a tasty morsel of chunky vegetables, noodles and sweet and sour tofu when all of a sudden there was a commotion. Some guy rushed up to the cashier, banged on the counter and shouted "Call the police! Call the police!". Suddenly I couldn't taste my food. All the neurons in my brain started to dedicate their impulses to my eyes and ears.
    From where I was sitting I could see blood on his face as he blurted "Some guy now beat me up with a piece of pipe. A man buss up my face. Somebody call the police!" in an American accent. Once more my mind returned to the monosodium-glutimate soaked baby-corn chunk on my tongue. My gut instinct said things were safe and that I could continue eating. Things changed when he launched himself into the dining area and the sound of his voice filled the room. Tension rose and I saw question marks imprinted on different corners of my friend's faces. We could see him in full colour -- fresh drops of blood on his face, heavy perspiration mixing with the blood, angry eyes...
    "Sweet and sour tofu never tasted like this before." I thought to myself. What surprised me with the whole thing is that a good two minutes passed before anyone really spoke to the guy. He stood at a table unpacking his belongings and taking off his shirt, constantly ranting about being beat up and nobody calling the police. Eventually a waiter came and pleaded with him about scaring the customers and also pointed out she understood the situation. She tried to call the police but she couldn't get through. My friends were still tense. We were considering leaving but I told them I thought it was safe. We were looking out for other guys coming in to attack him. I spoke to the guy once - I said "Hey man, are you cool?". He said "Cool? Some guys just beat me up, I not cool!". As far as I was concerned I had done my part. I presented the opportunity for the guy to ask for assistance and he didn't bite. There was nothing more I could do -- the police would be on their way (eventually). My last (silent) question was -- does this place have a first aid kit?
    Two heavily armed police officers came into the building and knocked on the bathroom door where the guy had gone. I was worried about a shootout for a second but those fears were soon quelled by the assumption that a guy with a gun wouldn't be beat up by sticks and stones. I worried for a second that the guy could get shot and then again about a shoot out. A few minutes after everything was resolved and the guy was gone. As I reflected on the whole thing I lamented on what the country had become. The general feeling and expectation of the entire situation was negative. No one reached out to the guy, asked him if he was ok, went up to him, offered any help or anything. Everyone was on their guard for 100% of the time.
    No love, only fear. "It cannot be helped in a country with such a murder rate." I thought. If everyone's gut had told them what mine did, perhaps things would have been different but I guess I am different - I am Buddhist and the fear of losing my life is lower than the average person. I still managed to finish my meal. I still made it to the concert and heard "Real Love". I still managed to write this post. The point is -- we need more love. We need to extend love into situations that require it.

peace and love
Kwesi.

Purpose

Someone helped me today. Someone went out of their way, for me. Someone paid money for a cell call, and wasted time on their schedule, to right a wrong I suffered that was in the most part my fault. She will probably never read this, but I thank her. I thank her with all my heart and soul.

I have been feeling lately that fate has not been in my favour, and today for the first time, I understood what despair was. Usually I can think my way out of situations, especially the ones I make for myself, but today I was lost. I was lucky for someone who has never seen me to care enough, to go out of her way, to help me.

And its not always like that. Last night I watched a man who was beaten in the streets run, bleeding, into the restaurant where me and my friends were having dinner. Most of us didn't bat an eye.

Compassion is the force that must fill the spaces made by the capitalist world. So much as the forces of selfishness create efficiency, love must create stability. Love must quell our desire to bring all things to ourselves, and teach us to help those who have been marginalised.

All the evil in this world, in this place, in our own hearts, would cease, if we ALL would but show some compassion.

So this goes out to those who act in kindness toward the people whose lives they touch, even in these uncertain times, where innocence is so often cut down. In my doubt, you hav given me fortitude. Continue to be you.
So this one is for those among us who

Police Farce?

Prompted by the inspirational action of the Keith Noel Committee, my outrage at the Port of Spain bombings last year, befuddlement at the Government's unconcerned incapacity concernng crime, and the luck of meeting two U-Cal students here for the summer, I involved myself in the production of an amateur documentary (not very good) concerning crime, which we hope to make available on the blog soon.

Research for the doc entailed interviewing a high ranking cop in the police administrative services building who I cannot legally name. In addition to his arrogant demeanour and the general aura of malaise he emitted, what astounded me most was his total disconnect with the times. He began by explaining that the two girls I was working with could not come into the building because their arms were exposed, which isn't allowed under the colonial rules that still manifest themselves in our law today. During the interview, he refused to even consider that the investigative methods used by Trinidad police were outdated in any way, and instead blamed the public for not coming forward to assist the police. He also blatantly avoided implicating the Ministry of National Security for any deficiencies in the Force. Not to mention, he was sipping on a glass of Johnnie Walker Black all the way through the interview. For you knowledge virgins, it's illegal for cops to drink on the job, even if they are pushing papers. Perhaps because they all carry guns.

After this experience, I started to reflect upon my country's situation. If you take a bunch of fat, drunk, ignorant and stupid cops and pit them against anyone smart enough to :

a) make a bomb from scratch,

b) decipher the logistics required for a kidnapping effort or an inter-regional cocaine cartel

or,

c) Organise gangs of poor black youths into highly efficient and effective domestic terrorist cells,

we're in for some chop.

A disturbing statistic was revealed around that same time by Peter Kelly, that around 50% of the persons writing the police entrants exam, failed. Not to mention the undisputable fact that most people who consider the Force as an option are those who didn't have alternatives. What does this say about the intellectual standard of our officers? Are they critical thinkers? Are they soultion oriented? Are they adequately trained to deal with the situations they will have to face, or are they being allowed to wear the badge simply to make up numbers? Perhaps a significant proportion of the Service consists of people who do not fit the psychological profile required to be a cop. Does the police service do psychometric or critical thinking testing on their recruits to ensure personnel quality control?

I'm not sure, but our police are historically corrupt, and have been shown to be arbitrary enforcers of the law. We have had rapists, kidnappers and murderers among them. Twenty one people in 2004 were killed while in police custody. Police have been apprehended with drugs, guns, and grenades and in connection with other illicit activities. When Pauline Lum Fai went to report Sean Luke missing to the AKS, they told her not to waste their time. Perhaps through these incidents we understand the characters of the people we're relying on to protect us.

I understand that there are good cops too, but I think that the culture of corruption and the lack of socially progressive ideas concerning policing in Trinidad and Tobago pervade to the extent now that the effects of these good guys will be significantly outweighed by the bad. Here's a thought; a worthy exercise would be to study the rates and levels of parameters such as training amounts and types, policemen involved in illegal activity, crime detection and prevention etc., and compare the Trinidad figures with an average or index for the rest of the world, or countries at our level of development, at least.

What vexes me is that it is so blatantly obvious to me that since Trinidad is a cocaine hub, kidnappings and murders, rampant in producing countries like Colombia and Venezuela, would begin to spiral here, as that market, and all its characteristics, enclaves itself in the country. You're telling me that no one anticipated this and how to deal with it? From Howard to Martin? We're really more screwed than I thought.

Ok, big fat drunk cop guy, you win.

Sleepytime.

PS If u disagree or have comments, make sure and email me.

Here is Wisdom..............

If a man does a consistently bad job, Isn't he fired?

What's up with Martin Joseph still being Minister of National Security then?

The Bridge of Hope

Friday night I said a prayer. It was a simple prayer. I said: "God, lead me to something that would help save this country -- any thing, person or organization. I don't really have time to help, but I want to."
Saturday morning I was going down to Sangre Grande to a place called the Bridge of Hope. I didn't know what to expect except the average run down children's home. What I saw, however was much different.
The Bridge of Hope is everything a community needs and more, and what's better is that it is growing. I lost the pamphlets I had and I can't remember the names and details but the general story is that *some guy* with lots of corporate help (not to mention he is doing pretty well himself) filled a large portion of swamp and built a set of buildings that function as a church, an orphanage, community centre, counselling centre, computer training centre, internet cafe and much more. Everything is geared towards serving the community and the children around. Donations and contributions are channelled efficiently and the whole system is being documented so that the model can be adopted elsewhere.
The whole story, the site itself and what they have been able to accomplish made me want to fall to my knees and scream hallelujah!!! I have been asked to give a hand with the website so I guess I will fill you all in later with more details.
I heard about a village where 97% people were living below the poverty line. What was interesting it that in the village there is a building that functions as a Mosque, Hindu Temple and a Church -- with all the symbols on the top! That would be an amazing sight. Its interesting to know that the neccessity to keep spirituality alive caused them to bypass the barriers between their religions.
I'll post more on this later.

peace and love
Kwesi.

An Initiative Toward Trinidad and Tobago as a Developing Nation.

I am very pleased to have contacted Taran Rampersad -- the guy whose blog I mentioned in this post. I didn't expect him to start blogging here as I expect him to be a very busy man but I asked anyway. He has a great big blog where he blogs on a nice cross section of topics and links to wikipedia a lot (Oh my, I think I am copying him... imitation | flattery). In response to what I wrote him he wrote a post in his blog -- please check it out here. In an email he wrote to me he said:

I'm glad to see that the blog is there, and that it's trying to tackle issues. However, my perspective is slightly different... I place the blame on society, because society accepts politicians as they are as well.

Well, I don't know if I came across clearly, but I blame society as much as anyone. We are all citizens and we all have the power to effect change. Anyone who wants to blog here is free to do no matter what opinions they have or the perspective they have chosen. It's cool anyway -- what matters is that they guy took time to say something.
I also got a big up to the initiative Against Crime:

And to see 'The Initiative Against Crime' is, perhaps, a step in the right direction. Crime is a societal problem.

I liked this a lot:

People strangely believe that politicians, who allowed the state of the country as it is today - be they opposition or the ruling party - can do something. Hypothetically, they could - but if they were interested in doing something, they most certainly would have done it already. Instead, they've been using the crime as an issue to mist other issues.

If you have a read of this post, it would justify my gut feeling not to embarass Winston in this post. This, however is generally true:

...I do not trust politicians to do what they already should have done because... they didn't do it, despite people sending letters, criticizing in the public press, television, and radio - and even in person. So, why should we expect them to do something via email? Clearly, they need to be shamed.

Anyway, have a look at it. It's well written. I don't want to slice it up anymore.

peace and love
Kwesi.

Initiative

'You see these dictators on their pedestals, surrounded by the bayonets of their soldiers and the truncheons of their police. Yet in their hearts is an unspoken, unspeakable fear. A little mouse, a tiny little mouse of thought, appears in the room and even the mightiest potentates are thrown into panic.' - Sir Winston Churchill.

This nation to which I am benign, to which I hold no allegiance, of this I will speak. In our minds and hearts there are new fears, new stirrings, that were once allayed by the lie that is Trinidad and Tobago. The beaches, the rum and the sex that we sell no longer suffice. Like the Buddha, we know something isn't right, even if we can't put our finger on it.

We see it every day, in the lone fool who stands outside the police station with a placard, or in the ruffians who burnt tyres on the streets of Point Fortin, or in the women and children that marched against Alcoa, or the members of the Keith Noel 136 Committee sacrificing time, sweat and pride to prove the point that people can do something. We see the reflection of our own doubt, this generation that knows only providence, that our seeming gains may have had an unholy price, for which we are now paying, with the blood of our children.

And our leaders play. It is a luxury of power to view injustice statistically, to be able to decide how many people could be killed without serious repercussion or how many people could remain poor without controllable outrage. For they are cut off from what Trinidad and Tobago really is. How often do they have to endure seeing their child carted away in a hearse? How often do they have to worry about how their families are going to eat? Man, how often do they have to wait in traffic? The rules they set are not for themselves, and evidence is blatant that our elected representatives set the rules in their favour. Panday's Inncogen? Williams' Maranatha? And now Rahael's SuperPharm?

So the potentates would smile for the camera, and have us believe that things are alright, and that our fears, as was the case with Manning and Imbert of late, are unfounded and, indeed, a bit silly. But through their smiling lies I see the fear in their hearts, that one day we will wake from this cursed slumber of ignorance, to understand what, and more importantly who, binds us to this fate.

So, hold your placards, and burn your tyres, and march in the sun, and walk with your petitions, and raise the riff-raff and rouse the rabble! Think and Speak of the injustices you see, and put their characters to the sword if they have failed you. Cuss them, berate them put them on the spot, from the lowliest village councillor to the Prime Minister himself. Make them understand that they are answerable to YOU!

For our leaders are beginning to act like rulers.

I say its time we gave them something to really worry about.

Hard Question II

Finally an answer! Well sort of... I tried not to be a pessimist about this but things sort of played off as I thought they might.
Now that the guy has actually replied AND I appreciate the reply I will name him. Leader of the Opposition -- Winston Dookeran. Didn't I give it away in my letter?

...As a leader, I thought I would ask you...

Lol! Well, the guy forwarded me a speech entitled "GOVERNMENT’S EFFORTS TO COMBAT CRIME" which he read in the house. I don't buy into politics and I was very annoyed to have to read all the politically engineered stuff, but after a while it began to make sense. It took A LOT A LOT A LOT of reading to find some answers but they were there. I was more hoping for something like a pat and the back and a "Son, to stop the crime today we must teach the kids how to read, me must plant more corn and love one another.". This is not the sort of thing you get up on a mic and read aloud in Morvant.
I posted the speech under the comments of this post (just click on comments below and you will see it) so as not to flood the main page with it. Trust me, it is a very long speech. I would have edited it (sliced it down to what I thought was relevant), but I wanted you all to have the original. Besides, do you care enough about this country to sacrifice 10-15 minutes to read something of value? It will make you ask some serious questions AND it will make you want to do some research.
Out of curiousity I wish the Opposition could run the country for six months just to see if they could stop the crime -- and it is this sort of question that will influence the voting next election!

Mr Dookeran impressed me when he said this:

I come here today for the child of a pan yard whose innocent life was cut down by a crime spree that holds no regard, respect or mercy for the youngest or oldest among us.

Those words alone make me respect him as a man because this is exactly how I feel and couldn't cry any crocodile tears for Sean. The sh*t been going on a while now...
I had a laugh at this part:

There are many other ideas in the criminal justice strategic plan that are worthy of consideration and the development of a code of practice in the development of an intelligence system. Instead of spending untold millions on pie-in-the-sky and limp blimps, the Government should already have every police station and all police vehicles on line to a finger print and file photo database. Those are some of the ideas.

-- which kinda answered what I was asking -- the police vehicles and finger print thing at least. All and all he is saying the Government is not accepting reponsibility for the crime and that they should - in doing so they also accept reponsibility for finding the solution. So I guess I got what I deserved -- I asked a politician for the answers, he gave me a political answer. Well done! Answer accepted. Now I have to go ask the police and also I have to ask a gun man.

Sometimes I wonder if the opposition would actually give the Government all the ideas and answers of how to make the country better and solve all the problems. Wouldn't that be great? But it seems so much in the conflict of their interest, no? We have a speech here tho where good suggestions are given by the Opposition... I wonder if the Government is going to take them on? I wonder if its a trap... "Hey those guys have just taken responsibility for the crime problem! Firing squad assemble!!!"

peace and love
Kwesi.

Trinidad Crime (courtesy google.com)

I had the audacity to do a google search on "Trinidad Crime" and click "I'm feeling lucky". The search turned up this: http://www.knowprose.com/node/175
I really didn't know what to expect but...
Its really good reading! Have a look! Ok... that came out wrong. It's well written. I hope things change soon. I am going to send him an invite tho to blog here. Somehow I feel that he won't bite... but if I get him to at least comment or make suggestions I will be happy.

peace and love
Kwesi.

Hard Question...

"Dear Slim, I wrote you but you still ain't callin'
I left my cell, my pager, and my home phone at the bottom
I sent two letters back in autumn
You must not have got 'em
It probably was a problem at the post office or somethin' "
(Stan - Eminem)

I wrote a politician via email the other day. I am not going to call any names... that's not what this is about. I wanted to throw it out to everyone and see what kind of responses I get and also I wanted to point out that that the first time I sent the dude an email I got this:

Dear Kwesi,

Please feel free to send your views and your opinions via email.

Regards,
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx
(no i changed the length of the name anyway)

When I sent this one, I got nothing... I actually wrote this the SAME day I started this website...
I'd hate to be like Stan -- maybe our politicians are as busy as Eminem ;)
It's ironic tho, that I had NO IDEA that Sean had been murdered... I just felt the need to step up the pace and get things up and running.
Perhaps it was: A great disturbance in the force.

3/29/2006 2:02 PM

At last -- a little spare time.

I don't know how many men there are in this country, but I really can't go out in the street and count them. Really, I don't think I am seeing enough being done for the crime situation and poverty situtation in our country, or maybe those people are not being represented and publicised as they should. I cannot fret and complain until I have done something... so I guess here I am, trying to get somthing done. You know how the world works... to get something done, you need as much help as possible... well at least to get it done fast.

The Initiative Against Crime is something I have talked about with my peers for some time but it hasn't taken root fully. I wish to change that in the next few weeks and I am going to need the support of both young and old to get that done. All contributions are welcome -- I am going to need musclular contributions, intelectual contributions, financial contributions, spiritual contributions and contributions on every level you can imagine.

So I thought I would ask you: What do you think the people of this country need to do to get things right?

Hard question huh? No disrespect, I am not asking who to vote for or anything near to that. I am asking what can be done on a tangible level, starting from today. I have many ideas -- like the promotion of football, free concerts for the youths, fund raisers etc etc etc. But I feel that if all these things are done without planning and the consideration of a big picture they will fall apart and not bear fruits. As a leader, I thought I would ask you.

as we trinis say: when yuh have time nah meh boy...

peace and love
kwesi

For the Monsters among Us, and for the Evil inside Us.

"Verily, mankind's lot is cast amidst destruction,"

Sura 103, Verse 2
The Glorious Qu'ran.

This begs not, therefore, the question of what we have become, but the question of what we are. The potential exists in each one of us, including you who are reading right now, to commit an act as insidious as the one that was done to Sean Luke last week. Understand, you, that we are the same in strength and in wretchedness. Understand, you, that these things are projections of the Evil inside us that we are so often called upon to deny, and the Monsters that they are, we caused them to become. The death of innocents belongs to all of us who have looked away and said nothing.

For it is we who have created them and it is us that they will destroy. Verily, mankind's lot is cast amidst destruction, for it is all our nature knows. It is the lust that we fed them that caused them to kill, for pleasure, and the ignorance we afforded them caused them to lust, for pleasure. Imagine how Sean Luke died. Imagine him alone in a canefield, bleeding out of every hole in his body. Imagine his tears as he tried to scream into the ever growing dark of night and death. Imagine his last moment alive, as the final breath and tear and drop of blood left him, and we lost all the things that this little boy could have become. This little boy, whose last moment of life came when he was 6 years old, buggered and left to die in a canefield, by other boys, not a decade older than him.

He will no longer comb his mothers hair, nor will he eat his mothers food, nor will he play with his sister and his toys. I wonder of him and whether he dreams of Corn Curls and Flavorite and going by the river to fish, or is he caught in the nightmare of his death, trapped forever in the horror of his final moments, or is he anything at all?

Somehow, I just cant help but think, that the people from Laventille, Morvant and Diego who were murdered, reaped what they sowed.

What did Sean Luke sow?

I can't write anymore tonight.

Stefan.

FOCK WHO TALK SHIT!!!!

Here Here Kwesi... fock who talk shit!!!... There was a large gathering outside the couva court... a mob hurling curses at the accused. Two teenaged boys one sixteen on thirteen. To what end? Your protest is needed towards the government, towards the parents, towards the system that created this mess. AHHHH!!! we create villains and then nail them to the cross. As a society we are to blame for the state of our affairs. So when you look at the teleee and mayhem is everywhere... Do something to create change or hush yuh muddercunt. I couldn't believe it... adults trying to lynch minors... mere sponges, mirrors of our misconduct. FIYAHHHH bun!!! all ah them!!!!!! WE MUST SAVE OURSELVES!!!!!!!

Sean... oh Sean. My heart goes out to you.

My heart goes out to Sean Luke and his family, but that's where it ends. I did not see the kind of emotions I am seeing now for the young girl who was shot and killed in the panyard. I did not see this kind of emotion for what happened to the children of Iraq.

The world is a sad place now. I am even more saddened that it took the death of a six year old for us to see that Trinidad is in a mess. It is interesting, all the angles of this young one's death. Forgive me, but there are some things I have to say and ask -- perhaps someone can fill me in with the facts.

Where were the adults when this was going on?
Where were the adults when a known SEX OFFENDER was playing with a child (in a cane field)?
How is the Government or the Muslimeen involved in this murder?

Ok. Its better I stop now. Please people, do not use or let Sean be used in the game of political football. If we want change we need to go out there and make it. We cannot be making this a political issue. I think this poor boy could have been saved if the community as a whole was different.

I am not wearing black, or putting a flower next to my name or driving with my headlights on today. We should be ashamed... from the day any one of us signed the Keith Noel Petition we should have started feeling like this...

peace and love
Kwesi

The Inititative Against Crime

Long story short:

Sitting, chatting one day on the internet with someone I love dearly, my whole world and my heart broke in two. The person said to me: "How can I feel safe in the world with the tsunami's, the kidnappings and the crime?"

It hurt, that I could do very little to make the person I love the most feel safe. And then at that very moment realized that I CAN. I felt a golden light come over me... I felt like I was endowed with everything that was needed to save this country. I felt like I needed to go out there and make a difference.

The Initiative Against Crime is a project that I have started to bring about change through awareness and the combined efforts of many. This is not about power, money or politics -- though all three will have to get involved to get things done. I must mention that I believe strongly in God -- your God, my God, all the Gods there ever were and all the Gods there ever will be. You know where I am going -- ONE GOD.

I will use this blog as a way of getting things said and done. Stay tuned, help is on the way.

peace and love
Kwesi.