Mauvais Langue

My heart and prays goes out to the family and friends of Adrian Richards who was savagely gunned  down.  Mr. PM, Police Commissioner, T&T Police Force, T&T Army do something now.  No child deserves to die like this, no family deserves to lose their child like this.  Mr. PM and Police Commissioner if this does not open your eyes to the escalating crime in Trinidad, what will?   Stop talking and ACT NOW.

I hear the sounds of the drums, oh sweet drums, beating with the sound of my heart.  I hear the sounds of the drums, oh sweet drums.  May your drums continue to beat. 

RIP Adrian Richards.

Apparently the gang-bangers a.k.a pussies, cowards, dicks, scumbags, lowlifes, suckers, and wannabes took a vacation for the summit. Well it seems like it, because I was so horrified when I read the Trinidad Express and saw the killing spree that took place and is taking place. 

• Four Shot Dead
• Another Murder in POS
• Senior Gunned Down
• Living In Jail: Rio Village a Ghost Town as Fugitive Gunman Threatens to Kill

What is happening in Trinidad and Tobago?

My question is, there was all that extra security for the summit from what I saw and read there was a cop on every corner, checking and double checking every damn thing that crawl. So summit done and what? You trying to tell me that the hard working citizens who are contributing to the economy to build a better T&T does not matter? Why can’t the people get that same level of security, why? Are they not important? Without them our country becomes a wasteland run by thugs. Forget 20/20 vision, forget building the skyscrapers, forget foreign investments, forget the influx of tourist, forget every dam thing that makes a country thrive. For if we continue to go down this part not only will we start to lose the best of what Trinidad and Tobago has to offer, we lose the people who makes it work, the people who own businesses, the people who are educating themselves for a better future, the people who talents are extraordinary. What we start to lose is our identity.

A country has no value or worth if it’s biggest story everyday is violent crimes, murders, random shootings, and kidnappings. Do you know that Trinidad out numbers New York City murder rate. Do you know the population of New York is about 8,310,212 and their murder rate as of March 2009 is 89. Now, do you know the population of Trinidad? About 1.2 million and the murder rate as of April 23, 2009 is 169 and counting. You do the math! So if not the government to blame then who?

What is the solution? We need an anti-crime plan of action. Instead of wasteful spending, use the money wisely and spend it to fight crime. We need people who aren’t afraid to lead with integrity, honesty, and serve the people. We need a leader that will bring the country out of this rotting cesspool that is growing like a blob out of control, eating and sucking the life out of the innocent citizens of Trinidad and Tobago. And yes Mr. PM I include you in this rotting cesspool, because if you’re not for the people you are against the people.

No country, or nation is immune to crime. But it can be controlled to the point that the people can live a normal life with little fear of becoming a crime statistic.

Are you part of the solution or part of the problem? Am I part of the solution? What can I do? The roadblocks are many, the people unwilling to change their behavior and habits. Their motto, “We like it so.” “Is we culture,” “Lawlessness is king in T&T.” So I ask myself again; is the government totally to blame or are the people also to blame?

It takes one person to make a difference, one person to make change, and many to believe in that one person that change can come and they can make a difference. Out of one many is born. Things can change!

It starts with YOU, WE, ALL OF US!
A people of one. Together we Aspire. Together we Achieve 

Yes, it will be historic indeed, first black President of the USA to visit the beautiful twin islands of Trinidad & Tobago.   So here’s a little history for the folks who may not know much about MY sweet home, Trinidad & Tobago. 

Trinidad & Tobago Histoy, People and Culture

The first inhabitants of these islands were Amerindians from South America who traveled there hundreds of years before Christopher Columbus landed in the Caribbean.  With the arrival of settlers from Europe foreign diseases greatly reduced the native population, and today few full-blooded descendants remain.  The European influence on the culture of Trinidad & Tobago primarily comes from Spain, France and Britain.  All three countries claimed the islands at various times during the countries colonial history.  Under colonial rule, slaves were shipped from Africa to work in the sugar fields and plantations.  When the African slave trade was abolished officially in 1834, East Indian and Chinese immigrants were brought in as indentured servants to work the fields.  Many chose to stay and live in Trinidad & Tobago.  Trinidad & Tobago were politically united in 1888 when they  became a British crown colony.  In 1958, the federation of the West Indies was formed.  Trinidad & Tobago became an independent member of the Commonwealth of nations in 1962, and in 1967 joined the Organization of American States.  On August 1, 1976, the twin islands became the Republic of Trinidad & Tobago.

Religions

Harmony in diversity; as the varied races so the various religious de-nominations., with all respecting, and participating in many religious observances and cultual traditions of its colorful and warm peoples.

Food & Music

Is as diverse as the different ethnic groups that make up our multi-cultural society, you’ll enjoy the flavors and rhythms of Indian Creole, Chinese, European and the Spanish influences of the islands all blended into a unique taste sensation.  Fact: Steel Pans are the only relative of acoustic instruments invented in the 20th century.

Sports

Popular sports include tennis, golf, sailing, wind sufing and deep sea fishing.  The most popular team sports being cricket and football.

Customs & Culture

Because of its multi-cultural population, Trinidad & Tobago has embraced the customs, traditions and folklore of many regions, including India, Africa, Europe and the Far East.  The greatest show on earth; Carnival, marks the approach of Lent and it’s sober disciplines.  The word ‘Carnival” comes from the Latin Phrase carne vale which means ‘farewell to the flesh.”  So before we say goodbye to pleasures of the flesh, we celebrate with music, song, and dance which culminates in a glorious pageantry of swirling humanity celebrating life and freedom from restraints…Carnival.

Welcome to Trinidad & Tobago

It’s all here, post-card perfect beaches lazily embracing the turquoise sea, magnificent mountain ranges sheltered by rainforests, home to a continent’s worth of living species; an energetic modern city; the varied cultures rhythms of calypso, always warm and welcoming…. abandon yourself to the rhythms of calypso and steel pan.  Head to the hills for amazing bird watching or rugged hiking, submerge your senses on one of the islands peaceful beaches or make a big splash exploring the submarine delights of the dive sights.  The cultural calendar is packed- after carnival there’s Hosay, Divali, Pan Ramajay, Phagwa, and the Tobago Heritage festival to look forward to-and that’s just the start.  We’ve perfected the art of having fun, and we’re ready to share the secrets with you…

Source: http://www.caribbeancuisine.net/eo_menu.php

 

We are Trinidad and Tobago

• land of the hummingbirds
• land and birthplace of the steelband and calypso
• the birthplace of the limbo
• home of the greatest festival on earth…Trinidad & Tobago carnival

Famous Olympic Athletes

• Hasley Crawford – 1976 Montreal Olympic Gold Medal 100m
• Richard Thompson – 2008 Beijing Olympic Sliver Medal 100m
• Richard Thompson, Marc Burns, Emmuanel Callender, Keston Bledman – 2008 Beijing Olympic Sliver Medal Men’s 4 x 100 Relay
• Ato Boldon – 2000 Australia Olympic Sliver Medal 100m, Bronze Medal 200m; 1996 Atlanta Olympic Bronze Medal 100m & 200m
• Edwin Roberts, Wendell Mottley, Edwin Skinner, Kenneth Bernard – 1964 Toyko Olympic Bronze Medal 4 x 400 m Relay
• Wendell Mottley – 1964 Tokyo Olympic Sliver Medal 400m
• Edwin Roberts – 1964 Tokyo Olympic Bronze Medal 200m
• George Bowell – 2004 Athens Olympic Bronze Medal Men 200m Individual Medley Swimming
• Rodney Wilkes – 1948 London Olympic Sliver Medal Men’s featherweight Weightlifting, 1952 Finland Olympic Bronze Medal Men’s featherweight Weightlifting
• Lennox Kilgour- 1952 Finland Olympic Bronze Medal Men’s 90Kg class Weightlifting

Famous Olypmic Honarable Mentions Athletes

• Ian Morris – 1992 Spain Olypmic – 400m, 4th pl
• Michael Agostini -  He was T&T’s first formal Olympic double sprint finalist in Melbourne at the 1956 Summer Olympics, where he placed sixth in the 100 and fourth in the 200 metres event
• Maxwell Chessman – 1988 Seoul Olympic, Cycling Men’s Sprint 1,000m 8th pl.
• Samuel Gene – Cycling Men’s Sprint 1,000m.  Represented his country at four consecutive Summer Olympics, starting in 1984 – 1996

Cricket Finest Batsman Ever

• Brian Lara – Regarded as one of the finest batsman ever.  He holds the record for the highest individual score in first-class cricket, with 501 not out for Warwickshire against Durham at Edgbaston in 1994, which is the only quintuple hundred in first-class cricket history.  He also holds the record for the highest individual score in a test innings after scoring 400 not out against England at Antigua in 2004.  Remarkably, he is the only batsman to have ever scored a hundred, a double century, a triple century, a quadruple century and a quintuple century in first class games over the course of a senior career.  Lara also holds the test record of scoring most number of runs in a single over, when he scored 28 runs off an over by Robin Peterson of South Africa in 2003.  (source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_Lara)

Trinidad and Tobago Soca Warriors

• Trinidad and Tobago qualified for the 2006 FIFA World Cup Finals in Germany, its first-ever qualification for the tournament. During their qualifying campaign, they sat at the bottom of the table in the final round of qualifying with one point from three games. However, after the arrival of Leo Beenhakker as team coach and the recalling of veteran players Dwight Yorke and Russell Latapy, Trinidad and Tobago reversed its fortunes and placed fourth in the group. They qualified via a playoff against Bahrain, recovering from a 1-1 draw at home to win 1-0 away from home in Manama to book a place in the finals.  In Germany, Trinidad and Tobago was grouped with England, Sweden and Paraguay in Group B. They drew their first game 0-0 against Sweden despite going down to ten men early in the second half. They lost both their remaining games against England and Paraguay by a 2-0 margin.  They became the smallest country to qualify for the FIFA World Cup in 2006, succeeding Haiti for the title.  (source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trinidad_and_Tobago_national_football_team)

Honarable Mentions

• Peter Minshall – Finest Carnival Artist/Mas Maker – Creator of the Famous Tan Tan & Saga Boy.  He helped design the opening awards ceremonies for the 1987 Pan American Games, the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, the 1994 Football World Cup, and the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics.
• Sir Vidiahar S. Naipaul – Writer – Nobel Prize Literature, 2001
• Jean Pierre – 1979 World Netball Champion Competition.  This extraordinary woman has earned her place in history as being one of the most successful Caribbean women in the field of Netball.
• Eric Williams – First Prime Minister of Trinidad & Tobago from 1956 – 1981
• Darrem Charles – Professional Bodybuilder
• Giselle Salandy (January 25, 1987 – January 4, 2009), also known as Jizelle Salandy or Jizelle Joseph, was an unbeaten world-class female boxer from Trinidad and Tobago. She is ranked as the # 1 female light middleweight boxer all-time by the Boxrec.

Trinidad & Tobago Miss Universe and Miss World

• Penny Commisiong, Miss Universe, 1977 – First Black Miss Universe
• Wendy Fitzwilliams, Miss Universe, 1998
• Giselle Laronde, Miss World, 1986

Honorable Mentions Trinidad & Tobago Runners-up Miss Universe and Miss World

• Gabrielle Walcot, 2nd Runner-up Miss World, 2008
• Margot Rita Bourgeous – 3rd Runner-up Miss Universe, 1997
• Valene Maharaj, 4th Runner-up Miss World, 2007
• Danielle Jones, 5th Runner-up Miss Universe, 2004