Progress or Failure: 50 years of Party Politics in Trinidad and Tobago

On Thursday 16th November the Caribbean Institute of Public Policy (CIPP) held a round table discussion on the topic " Progress or Failure: 50 Years of Party Politics in Trinidad and Tobago". The event was hosted at the Xtra Foods Conference Room in Chaguanas.

The feature speakers included: Balgobin Ramdeen a former Member of Parliament 1961-1966, author and at Attorney at Law; Clive Nunez a veteran trade unionist and columnist with the Probe Newspaper and Louis B. Homer a veteran Journalist and Historian. The presentations of the three speakers were followed by a lively discussion on the current state of Trinidad and Tobago politics and a display of photographs, books and letters.

The next planned event of the CIPP is a pannel discussion on the 70th Anniversary of the 1937 Labour Riots in Trinidad and Tobago.

New York City Imagine That!

Hey girl what's it like to be in New York?
New York City, imagine that!
Tell me, what's it like to be a skateboard punk rocker?
Leroy says, "Send a picture"
Leroy says, "Hello!" Leroy says, "Aw, keep on rocking girl" Yeah, keep on rocking.

Lyrics from the song Anchorage by Michelle Shocked. I loved this song and I still want to see Anchorage, Alaska!

The center of civilization..New York City.

Emotional Intelligence

The quote below from Aristotle is the very essence of Emotional Intelligene. E.I. has been imported from academia into pop culture by Daniel Goleman. Does emotional intelligence vary from one group to another? Is it a function of religious upbringing? Is control over emotions a sign of evolution? Some people cry at the drop of a hat. Other get angry quickly. Some have no emotions. Is there a link between Emotional Intelligence and criminal behaviour? Is there a link between Emotional Intelligence and the development of civilization?

Anyone can become angry—that is easy. But to be angry with the right person, to the right degree, at the right time, for the right purpose, and in the right way—this is not easy."

Aristotle, The Nicomachean Ethics

Rienzi, Butler and Sinanan and the oilfield riots of 1937.

Next year is 70 years since the 1937 Labour Riots or the Butler Riots.

The year was 1937 and the man was Tubal Uriah "Buzz" Butler. While Gandhi was shaking the British Emprie on one end of the planet in the Caribbean Butler was doing his part. The oil industry in Trinidad and Tobago was in a state of infancy. Oil had been commercially produced since 1908 and in the first World War oil from Trinidad was integral to the British war effort. Side by side with Butler was a young Indian lawyer named Adrian Cola Rienzi. His named was originally Krishna Deonarine and he was from Palmyra in San Fernando. Together with Butler, Rienzi shook Trinidad. The result was Butler being charged with sedition a charge for which there was no bail. No lawyer in Trinidad would dare defend Butler for fear of loosing their precious "brief's from the Colonial Office". One young lawyer stood tall and took up Butler's case. His name was Mitra Sinanan.

The result of the riots was the appointment of the Moyne Commission in 1938 headed by Lord Moyne. However, in 1939 Hitler and Nazi Germany invaded Poland and plunged the word into the Second World War (1939-1945). After the war was over, the British published Lord Moyne's report. The report supported Universal Adult Suffarage. In 1946 the first election under universal adult auffarage was held in Trinidad. This event was seen as the first step towards Independence which was achieved in 1962.

Universal Studio's Hard Rock Cafe- The Largest in the World

The Beatles Room- dedicated to the greatest ever Rock Band

Ok folks, its official, the largest Hard Rock Cafe Restaurant in the world is in Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida. I visited the shrine to Rock and Roll on my visit to Orlando last week ( May 15th 2006). There is a room dedicated to the Beatles and one to Elvis. A piano donated by Elton John sits at the entrance. I had been to the one in Toronto before but the Orlando Hard Rock is huge and has much more character. Great service and great staff.

We urgently need a Hard Rock Cafe in Trinidad to give TGI and Trotters a run for their money!

Globalization and the wealth of nations- business with a human face

I am a suporter of globalization (and that should come as no surprise). Globalization has resulted in record economic growth rates for China, India and Brazil and has lifted millions of people out of poverty. If you are an anti-globalization protester please tell us whether your prefer Chairman Mao's economics or maybe that of Stalin. The only thing that can derail globalization is global terror which always haunts the world.

There are forces in the world that simply cannot and will not share the vision that is a global village and a melting pot of human diversity. These forces are intolerant of other peoples religions, culture and beliefs. I simply call them the fundamentalist.

However, we must acknowlegde that capitalism must have a human face. In many instances business has been run without a soul. In Latin America, Che Guvera was enlightened when he saw the exploitation of workers by the Patrons. Sustainable development, environmental management and the rights of workers must be central to the expansion of capitalism.

Maracas Bay and Richard's Bake and Shark

Maracas Bay is the premier beach in Trinidad. I had last been there in 2002. I must say that I was dissapointed that the facilities that were so well kept just 3 years earlier were now abandoned and derelict. Where is Tidco in all this eh? Where is Minister Chin Lee? Maracas is on the North Coast of Trinidad and is roughly 20 minutes from Santa Cruz which is where Brian Lara grew up. If you dont know who Brian Lara is its probably because youre American or have been living under a rock for the past 20 years.

Anyhow, I didnt go for the beach and certainly not the sun. I went for Richard's Bake and Shark. Excellent stuff! Going to Maracas for Bake and Shark sure beats having it outside club Zen.

If you live in Trinidad, I recommend that you go to Maracas once a month. It will certainly eliminate the need for Prozac, Xanax and Zoloft. If you visit as a tourist Trinidad I recommend Maracas Bay highly. Life is all about balance and sometimes even I need a break. As an MBA student with a full time job and a personal job things can get tight.

By the way, shark cartilage contains a natural product called Squalene which is one of the most powerful anti-cancer agents. My advice: eat bake and shark and for good measure drink lots of red wine.