The Gang Phenomena & Geopolitics

As we continually remain alarmed, perturbed,and dismayed at the ongoing bloodletting in our once lovely island of Trinidad & Tobago, I cannot help but revisit my days as a teacher at both the primary and secondary level of my country. Those were some very interesting days. As a young man I was blessed to be given the opportunity to interact with the future of a country that was so resourceful.I quickly learned, as I fumbled my way through teaching, how much a government controls the growth and direction of its population. The was raw brilliance accessible to a young, rookie teacher propelled me to advocate for better school conditions. At times the response was almost heartbreaking. My students, co-workers and parents dealt with, on a daily basis, scorpions, snakes, and of course severe water issues. There were times when children were sent home an average of two times per week because " de water truck din come". PTA meetings were controlled by the church faction, the notorious Father Sewell(sic), but that's another issue.
We persevered and somehow brought a level of comfort to our children. We worked shoulder to shoulder with the help of "the rastas" and planted our own beautiful garden, producing peppers, ochroes, cucumbers and patchoi. With help from the parents and again the rastas, we built our netball court.All along I opined about the lack of commitment to development on the part of the ministry. It was not uncommon to have to buy chalk from the neighborhood parlour. I remember approaching one school supervisor about getting the school some cricket equipment and being looked at as if I had just dropped off a spacecraft. Against all odds these magnificent children maintained their devotion to school and education. Today I feel a sense of accomplishment when I chat with these now grown mothers and fathers.
Politics has always been a part of the education system in Trinidad and Tobago. One could have looked at the results of the then common entrance exam and witness what was the beginning of the creation of a new order. Junior Secondary School children were deemed slow, not bright,problematic. The prestige school child was the future of the country. At that time a dark skinned girl would not get a bank job, dreadlocks equated weed smoker and in most homes, ham was a Christmas thing.One got automatic pass if he or she attended QRC, St.Mary's, Fatima, Presentation, or Tranquility College. I attended St.Benedict's College and remember Convent girls being punished if they were seen talking to a Benedict's boy.
I ask myself,how much of the problems facing our country today are a direct result of the apathy of the earlier years? The history of Laventille will show that it was created for political reasons. It was always a political trump card. There were government programs created to pacify the people of Laventille. Race politics were the order of the day. In my little village there were staunch PNMites and DLP supporters, all race based.Terms coined like rum and roti politics identified the venom present in the political arena. Trinidad has always been governed by a small group of different puppies, all from the same mother dog, greed. One politician stated that Trinidadians are bachannal people.
It is ironic to think that in the year 2010 there is still the issue of water, electricity, food, medicine and education. What good is a free education if books are beyond the reach of the everyday student? What good is free medicine if you can't afford the prescription? Why do we have barrel children? Why is food so damn expensive? Where is all that money we so openly boast of?
In every society there is crime. Our crime in Trinidad and Tobago is indicative of a system that has been imploding for a long time. The leaders of this God-blessed country are self-absorbed and uncaring. They choose not to address the quality of life of our citizens, they have created a society with no middle class. In my country it's either you got stuff or you ain't got shit.All the skyscrapers being tossed up, without building codes, are nothing but eye candy and mamaguy. The crime in Laventille is controlled. It is an outrageous gentrification plot. That real estate is the prime real estate in POS. Ideal for the casinos and hotels that will come as soon as the people move out. Give them guns, drugs and unemployment.
Look carefully at the Americanization of Trinidad. Of course Uncle Sam is going to control Trinidad. On one side of Venezuela is Columbia, on the other it's Trini.The proximity (7 miles from Chavez) is enticing to America. Parents, teachers and churches need to point out the big plan to squirrel this country away from its rightful owners, you and I, our children.Divide and conquer will always work. If we look upwards at the controllers, their children are spirited out of the country for schooling, medicine, all the good stuff. God help my country.