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He
ain’t heavy...he’s my brother
Because
I deliberately try to make this space one of the few in the
press with only “good news” I have resisted writing
about the following for almost a year, but my resolve was
broken on Tuesday morning by a sad incident I witnessed on
St Vincent Street.
Unprovoked, an unkempt, extremely smelly and soiled vagrant
attacked a vehicle proceeding down the street. As the driver
stopped his vehicle, the obviously deranged man viciously
charged the car and proceeded of offload a series of kicks
to the door on the driver’s side, á la Jet Li.
It was only the intervention of two armed policemen who saved
the vagrant from getting a royal cut-arse from the driver
and his passengers.
This scene is not uncommon in the nation’s capital and
in any other town across the landscape. Today I am making
an appeal to Port-of-Spain Mayor Murchison Brown, his counterparts
in San Fernando, Arima and Point Fortin, the ministers of
Health, Community Development, Social Welfare and Tourism,
religious leaders and social and welfare personnel, to urgently
come up with some solution to the vagrancy and homeless situation
in our twin island state.
Mr Brown you I know personally from childhood and know that
you are a good, Christian human being. I don’t think
that you, especially with your office on the main street of
the nation’s capital, have been deliberately blind to
the wretched of Port-of-Spain and environs. A nation’s
capital, in particular, is supposed to be the jewel of pride
of a nation and its people, as well as a reflection of the
people, their humanity, compassion and care for the less fortunate.
If this is so, we the people of T&T have failed miserably
and history will record us as being no better than uncaring,
callous barbarians.
Contrary to the stupid talk about Port-of-Spain being the
mecca of the Caribbean, it is the nastiest capital in the
Caribbean, home to some of the worse anti-social and repugnant
activity when the sun sets. It is sinful, wicked and vulgar
that a country with the amount of money T&T and its Government
has at its disposal should have a capital that is as stink
and repulsive as Port-of-Spain is.
We are our brother’s keeper and each and every one of
us have a responsibility, as ordained by any religion we may
follow, to take care of the helpless among us.
Perhaps all Christians in our land should be inspired by the
life of Pope John Paul II, and his influence on the meek and
humble, to rededicate themselves to saving our helpless.
Comedian/artist
Bill Trotman, right, joined by Stanis and Ricalda Seale at
Mother, at the Queen’s Park Savannah last weekend.
Mas
man “Big Mike” Antoine, right, and Juliet de la
Bastide get in the mood at Mother, at the Queen’s Park
Savannah last weekend.
Pirate
chef Gerard Fournillier serves red snapper to Dane Belfon
and Devika Seuchan on April Fool’s Day, at the Hilton
Trinidad Seafood Festival.
Photos:
ANTHONY HARRIS
What
a weekend
Having
taken up residence at the Queen’s Park Oval from this
morning, and with Pan Trinbago’s Pan in the 21st Century
in full swing, I guess there will be no rest for me for some
time to come.
Last weekend’s action began on April Fool’s Day
with the ongoing Seafood Festival at Hilton Trinidad. The
delicious cuisine was matched only by the delectable company
of my hosts, Candy and Gita, with fellow journalist Anne Hilton
as a most amiable table companion.
In between the mouth-watering red snapper, grouper medallion,
salmon pave, Thai fish, and penne pasta with lobster meat,
accompanied by generous servings of wine from Giovanni Cardullo’s
collection, diners were treated to enticing music by Orange
Sky and vocalist KV Charles.
The Festival continues until tomorrow, with entertainment
by Orange Sky, Ethnic Jazz and a saxophonist.
On Saturday I regretfully had to forego attending my friend
Tricia Lee Kelshall’s wedding to be in time for Singing
Sandra’s big surprise opening to her first full length
concert at the Queen’s Park Savannah. Seeing my macomere
open the programme astride a horse, singing an Orisa chant
was something not even in my wildest imagination I could have
guessed.
Having already reviewed Sandra’s show earlier this week,
I must reiterate that despite its undue length, Mother, the
concert, was very good, and ought to be taken to Sandra’s
legions of fans in Tobago and San Fernando.
Fun-filled
42nd reunion
n The 42nd Reunion of Mausicans and friends of Mausica will
be held in Toronto, Canada from July 24-26. The members of
the Mausica Alumni—Ontario, are planning three fun-filled
days of activities, including Registration, Nostalgia and
renewing friendships (July 24); Lime and picnic in a local
park (July 25); and, Dinner & dance (July 26).
Rooms have been reserved at a special rate at Centennial College
Residence (formerly Howard Johnson's Hotel) for the occasion,
and Mausicans resident in T&T and interested in making
the trip up can make reservations by calling toll free: 1-877-2ALUMNI
and asking for Annie Sunich at Centennial Residence.
Forms and information are available from the Mausica Web site:
http://www.mausica.org
or http://www.personaltrainingprograms.com/mausica
The e-mail address for the local contact is kosouna@hotmail.com
Is a joke
Last week’s column just proved just how many of you are
headline readers. Based on the scores of congratulatory phone
calls and e-mails I received about my trip to California to
cover the Michael Jackson trial is proof of this. But, had
you read the last paragraph, you would have realised it was
an April Fool’s Day prank. Gotcha!
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