Broken Industry

I was amazed how I have noticed for the past 6 months the leaning of a pole in the Barataria (Trinidad) area on the priority bus route.  I thought that someone significant would have noticed especially since elections had loomed at that time and everything else was hurriedly repaired.  Now the power industry has been literally broken, I witnessed that it occurred mere seconds after a bus passed on the route on the evening of 11 July 2010.  What a scene!

PORT OF SPAIN - JULY 11: Technician looking at broken telephone pole on the priority bus route along the east-west corridor on July 11, 2010 in Barataria, Trinidad & Tobago.

PORT OF SPAIN - JULY 11: Closeup view of broken telephone pole on the priority bus route along the east-west corridor on July 11, 2010 in Barataria, Trinidad & Tobago.

Prep for the Queen in Trinidad and Tobago

The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting held in Trinidad and Tobago brought much attention to the country.  I was particularly interested in seeing how the wreath laying ceremony progressed.  I pass by the memorial park on a daily basis and for the last month I saw great attention being paid to details by contractors, city workers and other unidentified individuals.

Alas after much hard work for which I thought to myself that the people of Trinidad are now going to have a park that they could relax in the evenings and night owing to the newly and hastily installed lighting system.  I did not realise I was beginning to feel like cricket world cup once more where sprucing up was done because we in the Caribbean needed to make other people feel like home (for which I am very happy about-nothing like hospitality for which we are known); I said to myself that I want this world cup to be hosted in the Caribbean every year or any other major event for that matter.

Now I knew why the park has been given a face lift, the Queen of England was visiting.  On memorial day people gathered around anticipating her arrival, as farmers would await rainfall, from 2pm in the boiling sun.  Soldiers and police directing traffic, officials checking media passes, scouts rehearsing, female soldiers drilling among other acts; it was a hive of activity.  It was very interesting to see that they laid an almost 100m red, plush carpet for me only to realise it was for the queen.  For the next two hours at exactly 5 min intervals soldiers in battle greens as well as tunics, combed, brushed, polished, fixed and aligned the mighty carpet in anticipation of the Queen of England.

She arrived at exactly 4:05pm and this was her stay broken down into phases:

1. Arrival and red carpet walk to the cenotaph  -  1 min
2. Introduction and gun salute  -  1 min
3. Honor Guard  -  1 min
4. Laying of wreath  -  1 min
5. Departure and walk off of red carpet  -  1min

All the excitement for 5 mins;  the scouts, children and British citizens probably thought that she would have provided some interaction.  I had fun just being there and now awaiting my turn to be on the red carpet, not too much work at all.  I had a great walk after the event satifying myself that I could too.  Most of all I was happy that the efforts of fallen heroes have been remembered.

The wreath was appreciated by the many veterans who were out supporting their fallen friends, buddies and soldiers during the time of previous world wars.

Monuments of Symbolism

After visiting the Dominican Republic I realised that this place seems to idolise heroes and people with spiritual and symbolic value.  In this regard monuments of symbolism stud the landscape of its tourist-centric capital of Santo Domingo.  I want to share some of these with you.  If your knack for travel is premised on images, history, spiritualism and symbolism, then I suspect this is the place for you.

Trinidad and Tobago 47th Independence Anniversary

Today the 31st of August 2009 signifies an auspicious occasion in the history of Trinidad and Tobago. The nation celebrated its 47th Independence anniversary in the capital city of Port of Spain. Trinidad and Tobago gained its autonomy as a nation after enduring many years of colonial rule not unlike its fellow Caribbean territories. My favorite photo of the day is of a courageous man dressed in all his Trini Flavor showcasing nation hood and trini love.

In every event there must either be someone who provides a joke or a mountain of speculation or controversy. Here, this guy on the right decided to take his reparation fight onto the streets today to make a point, if not to the public, to the current PNM party that is in Government. I do hope they , not only hear his cry but see his plight on the placard. I thought this made my day.  Credit must be given to the man though for braving the sun like me and unilaterally making his point known.  I can't say his point was well made because it seemed like I was his only audience.