FEATURES PAGE
Views expressed are not necessarly those of the Pointalive team

A VIEW FROM POINTALIVE.COM
 

It has been a while since a Pointalive.com view relating to community development was expressed via this media.  You the viewers would have kept us quite busy especially during the Borough Day festival and the now infamous post Borough Day bacchanal involving Dedge, Krysta & Sam. Occurrences like these mirror to us how far we have progressed as a people.

There is no other website I know which generate this amount of “commess”.  There are many other Trinidad & Tobago websites and I can’t ever remember reading gossip and “kang ka la” in the quantity as currently being viewed on Pointalive.com.

Someone told me once that this is because we are a closely knitted community and we try our best to look out for each other. (I wondered if he meant that we like to “macco” each other’s business.)  He also stated that once there is a certain amount of closeness, there will always be “commess” and confusion.

These comments really make our job very difficult, the decision to post or not to post has to be taken every time we publish.  At this point we are certain that there are people wanting never to have anything to do with Pointalive.com again and we can understand why.

Nevertheless, my questions are; are the comments posted in the Guest Book truly reflective of our community?  Is it that we cannot constructively discuss items pertaining to our progression as a people?   Why is it that the discussion forum has so few comments while the Guest Book overflows with bacchanal?

There are so many burning issues to bring to the fore. If we don’t want to touch on the heavy ones like Politics, ALNG and Environmental safety, there are lighter issues which can also contribute towards community development. For example; why is it that there are no Gas Stations opened in Point Fortin beyond 10:00pm?  My opinion suggests that in order for a town to develop such a service becomes essential.  Even a small village like Santa Flora has a 24 hrs Gas Station.

  Whilst some clamor for night life, how can the taxi and PH drivers support Club 4:10, Captain’s Lounge, South Western Court, Mike’s of fanny Village, Fess International, Clifton Hill Beach Facilities, B&D’s Hot Spot, Impluse Sports Bar and the others who try to generate some type of nightly entertainment?  If there is no gas then there is no transport and eventually no patrons, except for those who possess their own ride or has a friend with one. 

I often wonder about the possibility of the Borough Corporation forcefully taking control of the Frisco Gas Station since they are not operating in the best interest of the community.  They are positioned in what can be considered as the most prime location in the borough, but at 9:00 pm pumps shut off and that’s it.  The re-acquisition issue for the Pigeon Point Facilities in Tobago between the THA and AnSA comes to mind.

Apart from the Gas Station which happens to be my personal Pet peeve, let’s discuss some of yours.  Dave in Canada, Dan Jew, Dedge, Krysta and the ever loving Sam have their lives to live.  Let us not try to live it for them.   I am almost certain that they never asked for your assistance.  So what if Dedge just got her papers?  There are thousands who are willing to be in her place.   Dan Jew is not the first man to have another relationship before he got married.  Dave in Canada may still be looking for a Trini wife. Finally, whilst we study these people going about their daily lives (at least they have a life) please take a moment to think…………. What’s your position?

HANGINGS TO BE RESUMED IN TRINIDAD & TOBAGO

As part of the Trinidad & Tobago government's initiative to reduce crime, the decision was taken to resume hangings.   The death warrant was read to condemned prisoner Lester Pitman on Wednesday June 8^th.  Pitman is sited to be executed on Monday.
(read story)

Do you agree that the resumption of hangings would help reduce murders in the country?
You answers should not be based on whether you think it’s right or wrong.  Simply put, would it help?

25 YEARS.....HOW DO YOU FEEL ?

Our Borough is 25 yrs old , congratulations to the Mayor and the citizens of Point Fortin on this auspicious occasion. In the life of a person, 25 years is a long time. In the life of a community this period may be considered short. However after 25 years there are certain expectations of accomplishment for both of these entities. One would expect in a 25 year old a certain amount of maturity, maybe university qualifications, a home owner , a parent etc. In 25 years there should be accomplishments that can be measured and from which a certain amount satisfaction experienced.

To the citizens of Point Fortin out there in cyberspace my question-  Are  you satisfied with our Borough's 25 year accomplishments ?. Are we developing as we are capable of ?.  Do  our citizens experience the quality of life they deserve ? Can our children expect that their lives would be better than that of their parents, that quality jobs would be available after graduating from school.? Are our leaders do enough to provide opportunities to better the lives of our young people, to give them hope for the future?

I ask these questions of you bearing in mind that millions and millions of dollars leave our Borough each month in the form of LNG shipments. Our banks in the Borough are among the most profitable in the country. Trinmar continues to be extremely profitable.  KFC has one of the most profitable branches in Point Fortin. Our contractors are "bussing"  their bellies. It would appear that Point Fortin is in the middle of an economic boom even greater  than that taking place in  the rest of the country.

Are we the ordinary citizens benefiting ?. Please let us dialogue on these important issues.

Thanks

Raymond Murray

YES WE CAN!

Fatal Shooting.

The recent fatal shooting of a young man, allegedly by a police officer during a period of revelry and debauchery, left the reflective members of the community and the country with a deep sense of despair and indeed hopelessness. This feeling is not new and if we are honest, we will admit that we have felt this way on numerous occasions as we encounter the horror and crime stories, masochistic editors keep pushing in our faces every day in our newspapers and in our TV screens.

How we feel.

We feel it as well when we consider that simple common sense approaches to developing and managing our community are ignored and we instead witness a kind of impotence that passes for leadership. How else can we explain functions that talk about the setting up of art and culture centers – clearly focused on perpetuating this wine, jam and singing trash culture – rather presenting plans for community development that recognizes the reality of the existence of four LNG trains with more to come, pending smelters and inadequate infrastructure. How farcical to be arguing over catering contracts for functions when our community languishes for direction and our large natural gas tenants continue to window wash their tenure with “a little cricket here and a little pool there”. But I digress. The focus is on this sense of defeat and despondency we experience whenever we contemplate our future. It is easy to let this morbid sense of defeat overwhelm us to the point where we look forward to the limes, the drinks, the fetes and the foreign travel, that will for brief moments in time help us forget our despair and provide the ephemeral high that additive drugs give.

The time has come …

The time has come – if we hear the sense of urgency in Mervyn Caton Snr’s cries and pleas – to recognize that only when we confront our issues head on, will we develop as a community and as a nation. You may ask how we do that. The answer lies in the fundamentals - the fundamentals of society, our lives and our spirit.

Illustration

To illustrate this concept of fundamentals, consider an experience in the life of Jesus Christ, recorded in the biblical gospels that tell of Jesus ascending to a mountain top with three of his twelve disciples while the other nine remain at the foot of the mountain surrounded by a curious crowd of on-lookers that steadily increases. The account details that while on the mountain top Jesus is visited by God’s presence and Enoch and Moses. Interestingly as this transfiguration is occurring on the mountain top, the crowd at the bottom of the mountain is joined by a man with a demon possessed son, who desires that his son be healed. Knowing the connection of the nine disciples to the master (Jesus) the man quite naturally asks the men (at the bottom of the mountain) to remove this evil from the life of his son and his family. The disciples apparently wave their hands and say the words but the boy is still possessed and soon the crowd jeers at the disciples and ridicules them. Totally dejected these disciples are relived to see Jesus and the other three descend from the mountain (top) and in one prayer Jesus heals the boys and silences the crowd - who quickly disperses – the drama being over. Alone again with Jesus, the disciples ask the real question of their hearts, “Why could we not cast him out?” meaning the demon. Jesus’ answers by suggesting that the power to drive away present evil and restore peace to persons is acquired when the disciples spend more time in prayer and fasting. A rather simplistic answer you may think, but interestingly Jesus was saying “go back to the fundamentals of spiritual power if you are to exercise spiritual power”.

Fundamentals.

Herein is a basis for hope in our current situation. By applying the meaning of this story to our current situation we can conclude that to really excel as a community and a country we need to refocus on the fundamental building blocks of our society. These can be summarized in another biblical quote, when in describing the growth of a young Jesus the book of Luke records that he increased in “wisdom, stature and in favor of both God and man.” In other words there is a need for the society to re-focus on

Ø   education and mental health,

Ø   physical development through sports and hard work,

Ø   helping people

Ø   and acquiring and living a spiritual lifestyle complete with its set of values.

If we accept this framework then the community’s leadership, parents, institutions and exemplars need to ensure that:

Education.

The physical infrastructure of our schools is in first class shape. The offices of some construction contractors are in some instances more comfortable than our schools. Our schools need to have the right physical plant to facilitate good learning and an environment of excellence. More importantly parents in our community need to elevate education to a level that is admired by our youth and recognize that with hard work, most of our children will succeed even if they are not what we consider “bright”. The fact of the matter is that learning via reading is lifelong process and together with things like a study timetable at home, a curfew on TV and Games and a ban on “party” and gangster lyrics music can produce good citizens for our society. Citizens who will be inclined to contribute back to the community as they get older. Fitzgerald Jeffery has on a recent forum floated the idea of today’s student spending more time in school. Given where we are right now that is a suggestion worth considering.

Personal Physical Development.

There is no gainsaying that there are numerous self-esteem benefits to be had by being fit and excelling in some sporting area. It is not enough for our young people to sit and “play” with the latest game boy or X-Box, but rather they need coaching in some junior program by dedicated people like “Villa” and “Isa”, to develop their physical capabilities and in extension their mental and people skills. This suggests that there is a real need to institutionalise coaching programs, sports clubs, and sporting competitions. It goes without saying that the provision of facilities for sports is a key part of our efforts to re-gain our society. Our youth need to channel their energies and emotions into wholesome sporting pursuits which provide an outlet for them as well as spurn their development and character building.

Non Governmental Organisations.

Who toady are running the Civic Centers, or clubs like Dynamos and Starland, when last have you seen a Jaycees or Kiwanis club, how many youths are really in the youth groups of the various churches in our communities? It is a hollow expectation to think that Government initiated social programs alone will help our “bad boy” youths, our drug addicted citizens or our battered wives and mothers. The values of programs like those cited before are priceless. Our society needs a good dose of unselfishness. There is therapeutic value to the individual when we devote more of our energies on helping others rather than just trying to help ourselves. Where is the compassion in the society that keeps quiet when a “ghetto” youth is shot, but marches when the elite of our society are violated? These are times when the wisdom of Martin Luther Link of the sixties echoes with real meaning when he said, “If I have eaten and my brother is hungry then I am also hungry.” This focus on others rather than ourselves is a must if we are to win back our society. We must be convinced that I’m not OK if you are not OK. Let us then seek to reinvigorate our village councils, our youth and sports clubs, our ladies clubs, our adult literacy classes and … the list goes on and on. Get off the fence and get involved, beyond just the next fete but in the lives of someone less fortunate as ourselves.

Spiritual

Finally the soul of the community the nation can only be found in the souls of the people who comprise the society. We trivialise religion and think is a nice “thing” only for our children but at an adult stage well … “we run things”. However there must be a real recognition that this is a key fundamental building block to taking back and the rebuilding of our society.

Our community and our nation are both filled with churches, second only to rum shops as institutions go, but are we really optimising the potential for the churches to change ourselves and our society. Too often we wear our religion as we would a bracelet or a watch, that is, to either show it off or check it every now and again to say we in bad times. Such an approach is akin to “bottom of the mountain thinking” when what we really need is “mountain top living”.

We can no more build our community without a spiritual “fundamental” than we can build a concrete house without mixing the cement and the stone with water.

Possibilities

Think about the possibilities for our community and our nation if our churches were open every day, feeding, teaching and clothing. Think of what will happen if these bands of aimless youths were imbued with a sense that they are controlled not by wizards and goblins like in a Harry Porter movie, but by a loving powerful God who is willing to guide them. Just imaging them raising “dey haaaannnnddd in the air” for God rather that for … and think about the difference it can make.

In summary then, when confronted with the question of whether we can regain our society and “cast the evil” of social decay away, the answer should be YES WE CAN.

A total focus on the fundamentals of education, sports, people and spiritual things will win it back for us.

What have we got to lose??

fitzroy_harewood@yahoo.com

A Crisis of Confidence.

Well here we are, twenty-five later as a Borough and supposedly as Masters of our own destiny.  Ready to celebrate with pomp and pageantry, boasting to all who are willing to listen “what a great festival Borough week is” and brainwashing ourselves into believing that we have come a long way and that good days are here again. There are those amongst us who no doubt will disagree with such a  cynical opening and would say that Borough week is really “we carnival” and that people like yours truly should not take life so serious and that we should just enjoy de ting and free up.

Hollow Accolade.

I am all for freeing up and liming like some do under furniture shops and groceries on a week-end but any cursory glance at the society around us quickly brings us back to the sobering reality that it is not enough to be know as the cultural capital of T&T. What a hollow accolade if our community is gripped with the same frustration and social decay that prevails our country.

Need we be reminded…

In such times of gaiety and nostalgic reflections; catching up on old friends; having a boat ride from our Clifton “Rocks” beach to Port of Spain and party party party; how can one expect any meaningful reflection of where we are today as a people and a community? Need we be reminded …

Ø   Of the thousands of our youth who in 2005 will “waltz” through our school system unsure of what they can do and what they will be?

Ø   That despite the politicking of the issue, criminal behaviour still stalks our land as a wicked stepmother casting her ugly spell upon our young people?

Ø   Of an impotent West Indies cricket team under the guidance of a foreign coach - from a nation that we whipped twenty five years ago - struggling to score mediocre totals and causing emotional pain to die-hard fans who keep watching?

Ø   That a nation that produced a World Cup bound football team as early as 1973 is today – again under a foreign coach – struggling to make qualifiers and depending on “guilt” to get people to fill the stadium?

Ethos

It is in such an ethos of failure and insecurity that we find ourselves celebrating twenty-five years of Borough day.

Confidence exemplified.

Twenty-five years ago the youth of Point Fortin witnessed the “Father of the nation” bestow upon us the designation of Borough, not because he felt generous but rather (I am sure) in response to the promptings of men who dared to dream that this community of past achievement; could achieve even more on the national landscape of a developing nation. Indeed there is no doubt that back in those days the average Point Youth walked with an air of confidence. Confident that they could achieve whatever they set their minds to. This was based on the achievements of the era and the (then) mood of the country. What era you ask?

Ø   It was an era of sporting success when the feats of the great De Leon, Cave, Archibald, et al; still echoed in our consciousness as their achievements were told with pride by the older ones in our community.

Ø   It was an era when we had only recently achieved world championship status in Netball with “the Charleau girl” numbered amongst the team members.

Ø   It was a time when the Civic Center team could challenge the national basketball team to a game at Mahaica and beat them with “Voot” playing for the national team.

Ø   It was time when “Sugars” was faster than Boldon and he had mastered his craft in the oval and not in California.

Ø   It was an era where - under Tony Peters - every athlete in “Jets” was confident that the club could beat any club in the country and were champions even in Village Olympics.

Compare if you will, the teenage in those times with a teen today and the environmental differences are startling. Add to the previous era an all conquering West Indies team - who were traveling the world playing with a style and bravado all their own - and you begin to understand the bankruptcy of today’s social climate in which our young people are developing. In fact there can (and should) also be a discussion about Oil companies (Trintoc and Trintopec) of that time that were completely run by nationals and performed to world standards while preparing for growth and development on lands now used by a certain LNG tenant.

Mirrored Confidence

If any community mirrored confidence and hope at any time in our nation’s history; it was Point Fortin in those early days.

Agenda

Yet there is a real reluctance to put this issue of a societal “crisis of confidence” on our national agenda, we rather play soca all day; all night and think that is not good marketing to talk about our present circumstance since it might offend our “tenants” who in turn might not give out the perfunctory hand-out from time to time.

One of the enduring memories of the golden era of West Indies cricket is seeing Sir Vivian fielding at 1^st or 2^nd slip with his red gold and green wrist band (in support of Africa and the ANC in particular) and chewing his gum as if to say “I am doing things my way and who doh like it – tough”. He made sure that while he played his cricket and worked for living as a professional sportsman, he never forgot who he was.

Heroes??

Today in this era of cable and video games, it appears that we think ourselves as an extension of the US and so we take on a mental imperialism on our own without it being imposed on us. So our heroes are “Fifty” and Jay-Z and those in our own society who can cross-over from singing trash to selling trash and become rich. We all want to become rich as quickly as we retrieve money in the ATM when we enter our PIN. We somehow think that there is a magic “PIN” in this life; that if discovered, will make us instantly rich. So our values are rooted in our “bling bling”, “beamers”, our “ragger” styles and bad boy (girl) looks.

It’s a Pity.

I pity the youth today who never took to time to learn that before he played for the New York Cosmos, “Dilly” lived on the field in Mahaica, training hard to master his craft. I pity the youth who does not know that long before Jordan switched the ball from his right hand to his left in scoring a basket in an NBA game, Larry “Engine” Belfon was doing exactly that during afternoon sweats in Mahaica. Need I go on????

Message.

The message is simple; our young people need hope and a healthy belief in themselves and their inherent abilities to succeed. No one has any more right to success than another. The Community owes a debt of gratitude to the many sportsmen, technical craftsmen and professionals of an early Point Fortin. I can confidently say that based on -:

Ø   their example,

Ø   the all conquering West Indies team and

Ø   a politics of possibility and mastery our own destiny that existed then,

I developed a sense of self-esteem that has guided me along the way.

END

 fitzroy_harewood@yahoo.com

The Power Of Our Ideas And Beliefs.
BEWARE OF YARD FOWL MENTALITY

For this week’s commentary allow me to begin with my own axiom “What we believe and the ideas we cherish either enslaves us or liberates us.”

Story

There is a story I often use when speaking to audiences on issues of life and success. It’s a story I picked up in my readings some time ago about an eagle’s egg that found its way – by accident – into a nest of eggs belonging to a “yard fowl”. Now the differences between these birds are very very significant. The eagle is a very majestic and powerful bird who can soar to heights of hundreds of feet in the air and who has tremendous eyesight. In fact it is the majestic attributes of the eagle that makes it so recognizable on the American coat of arms. The fowl on the other hand is a very land based creature whose flight is usually only a few meters in the air and maybe up a tree’s branch or two. Its eating habits are limited to what it can pick and peck off the ground, hence its love for grain, corn and small insects. Unknowing to her, the mother hen sat on her nest of eggs oblivious to the differences in the eggs beneath her. As time went by the eggs hatched and all the little chicks emerged from their mother’s wings and started to fend for themselves on the ground. As good fowls they all learnt to fly a few feet and to pick food of the ground. As the years passed the young eagle in the pack discussed with her brothers and sisters how sometimes she felt like soaring through the sky and seeing more than the yard, but each time they would all laugh and say to her forget that, “you are a “yard fowl” and a few feet is all we can fly”. One day an eagle flew over majestically, with its wings spread wide as an airplane. All the animals in the yard gathered and looked at the eagle in admiration of its majestic flight. The young eagle on the ground also looked at the overhead eagle and felt the urge even stronger to fly up and away, but like the previous times her siblings said she could not, she too believed she could not and as soon as the overhead eagle flew away she rejoined the pack of yard fowls, there she lived her life until she died.

Tragedy

What a tragedy? An animal with majestic capabilities lived a fowl’s life because she believed she that was all she could do. As we seek to apply this story to our present day experiences we can apply the lessons from this story to our nation our community and to our selves.

Nation

With respect to our nation, there is a real need to make vision 2020 a reality. This is not about political persuasion or cynicism in leadership but rather the realization of a belief that we can escape the typical labels of third world and achieve developed country status. There are those who display the “yard fowl” mentality and spend significant time decrying the state of our country and our institutions. A lot of these voices are in places that we can no longer trust as being objective and exemplar like on our radio stations morning, noon and night or like in some of our newspaper columnist and even in our pulpits and temples. There are hundreds of voices telling us what we cannot do and how we can only achieve “yard fowl” status but there’s an eagle voice in me that I listen to that says “I believe we can fly”. I believe that the natural resources on our country and that our neighbors provides us with a tremendous opportunity to achieve better infrastructure for our citizens, roads, water, electricity, beaches, parks; better health care for our citizens including world class operations and better education for our young people.

Self Determination

At this point allow me to comment on our belief (or lack thereof) in our nationhood and our self determination. There is today, a very superficial approach to any discussion on our development. We find it easy to hold on to such jokers like “50 cents” and commands to “wave yuh hand en de air”, year after year. However, if we are asked for a real discussion about whom we are and where we are going, the audience disappears. In the past there were vibrant discussions about national wealth and the role of multinationals in our community. Who can forget the economic words of Arthur Lewis, the vision of Williams, the passion of Ture or the pragmatism of Pantin? Yet today in our information age our youth are bombarded with cable and video games that numbs any discussion on nation building et al. We know more about Brooklyn than Mayaro and we argue about clothes and shoe prices in New York rather than our Caribbean Single market and Economy. There is very little opportunity for debate on the imperatives of the FTAA et al. Again, yard fowl thinking in the face of eagle opportunities.

Community

At the level of the community the fowl mentality is evident when we relinquish our leadership of the community to the corporate public relations officers of resident companies. We all struggle to see if this or that company will “run some dollars” to fund our football leagues, our cultural shows and our beaches development. We recall the days of Shell with nostalgia as if to suggest that we await another “Messiah” to build another hospital or Civic Center. If we are truly eagles we would realize the our development is in our hands and therefore there should be a wide participation in determining a vision for the community and then ensuring that such a vision is shared from generation to generation as we develop our community overtime. There is no denying the uniqueness of Point Fortin as a place where a large percentage of its people live and work in the community. This presents us with a unique opportunity to harmonize the development of our community its members.

Individuals

Finally on the individual level we witness fowl thinking in our youth who think that their roles in this life are limited to a “hustle on the plant” and then hoping for the next construction to provide us with a job. None can deny that there is a real need to impart “eagle” thinking to our youth so that they dream about running the “plant” or the next construction, they can realize their ambition to be professional engineers, technicians, managers, financiers in our heavy industries and our service organizations. They need to know that they can be the doctors and nurses in our expanded hospital and facilities. Tell them they can fly and they will. Tell them they can live fulfilling professional lives and they will. Our youth can soar to great heights of success in this country and community and they will if they believe they are eagles and not fowls.

As we ponder the development of our nation, our community and ourselves, remember there are more eagles amongst us than there are fowls. Which will you be?

Fitzroy_harewood@yahoo.com

Tomorrow’s future
in our hands today.

March 27th 2k5

THIS IS A MUST READ ARTICLE

Today in our society we are experiencing a surge in criminal and disruptive behavior by our youths, and many persons myself included; often wonder what is going on.  Why are the youths of today so disrespectful and violent?  Why do young ladies lack self respect and why do the young men disrespect them?  Eventually, the question of why are the young people of today so different from “yesterday’s children”, in quoting Calypsoian Gypsy who sang a very poignant calypso titled the same.  The answers to these questions I believe would become evident, if we take time to scrutinize our own behavior and realize that we as parents and adults are the ones setting the standard that our youths are following.  If we step back, “check” ourselves and own up to the facts as they are, we will be able to answer our own questions concerning the younger generation’s defiant and out of control conduct. 

The old adage of “Monkey see, monkey do”, still rings true today even in these modern times, many years after it was first coined.  Those of us that are familiar with the saying, within the context of this topic, understand it to mean that our children mimic what they see us do.  Thereby I suggest that, when our children witness us on a daily basis, living our lives in a negative and counterproductive manner, they absorb our methods and display such.  So there should be no mystery as to why they are displaying what we ourselves do in front of them.

For those parents who have strived to teach their children right and they still turned out contrary to your teachings, you may ask what happened?  Well first of all, like another old yet popular saying goes, “You make the child, not their mind”, which translates into a child may have his or her own will that cannot be molded by instructions from their parents.  However, the onus rests on the shoulders of parents to teach their child right from wrong starting literally from birth, regardless of what they may end up choosing to do.  If you relied on persons outside of yourself, society at large; to teach your child morals and values then you have neglected to do your duty as their guardian, and you are accountable for the reckless human being you produced.  On the other hand, if after you have done your duty, your child decides to deviate from your teachings, you are blameless for their shortcomings.  Your exoneration from blame only occurs IF, you performed your obligation as a parent.

Nowadays there seems to be no distinction between what is age appropriate for adults and children.  I say this because, I have witnessed too many mothers dress their little sons and daughters in clothes that are too grown and or inappropriate for them; and these children are encouraged to play the part for which they are dressed; this I believe sets the stage for future delinquent behaviors.  What am I talking about?  What do I mean?  Let me explain by giving examples.  When a little girl age 5, is outfitted in a pair of daisy dukes shorts and a halter back top; and at the trace of music she is encouraged to “wine” like a boneless acrobat and contort her body in a provocative manner that even the most professional of dancers cannot perform without the aid of snake oil; I believe the seed of future troubles may have been planted.  Similarly when a little boy is dressed up like a mini “thug” or “bad boy” with his pants sagging under his little butt, his much too large t-shirt draping his body, a rag hanging out of his back pocket, his head is tied with the “must have” doo-rag; and he is showcased so he can recite word for word lyrics to songs that contain curse words and derogatory names for women; instantly I see red flags flashing.  Maybe it’s just me, but I have great difficulty in seeing these scenarios which occur very often, as training for the life of future respectful and productive citizens.

 I have witnessed parents encouraging their children to act inappropriately at a young age and as the child got older and continued down the road they were introduced to, they adapted and progressively got worse.  Yet we wonder why they turned out the way they did.  Ironic isn’t it?  In our day to day living our young people need to be taught by example how they ought to conduct themselves in all areas of life.  They need to be see positive images within the home and understand that the same is expected of them. The ethics that parents live by should encourage their children to aspire to maintain and elevate themselves; but when the opposite is displayed do not be surprised when the chip does not fall far from the block.  Realistically speaking, explain how is a young lady supposed to know how to respect herself and not be promiscuous, when she has to use her fingers and toes to count the conga line of men that her mother has had parading in and out of the home?

In the case of our young men; who’s teaching them to be responsible young men?  In our society the ratio of two parent households pales in comparison number of single parent households.  Most of these single parent families are headed by females who are given the very complex task of teaching a boy how to become a man.  Though many of us who have grown up with our mothers playing the dual roles of mother and father; and we maybe able to say that our brothers are good examples of mothers doing a superb job; if careful scrutiny and much thought is given we will admit that a boy needs a man to teach him things a woman can not.  With the father figure absent in the home and in their lives, our young men are learning how not be responsible, or present in the lives of their own children.  I have observed many young men who were brought up by single mothers, who went through the difficulties that are usually associated with single parent households; and as adults when they themselves become fathers they too turned their backs on their progeny.  I have often wondered why and how could these men do the same thing their fathers did, when they lived and saw the struggle that their mothers went through by to raise them by themselves.  The absence of their fathers denied them the knowledge and example of the role that they should play as fathers and men in the lives of their children and households even though the belief that these men should know and do better.  However, in retrospect when we analyze the situation we realize that, because the role-model of what a husband and father should be was missing in their younger life; they never trained to see the importance of fulfilling the roles that a man ought to do.

It is beyond me, why some adults still believe that the youths of today will buy into their hypocrisy of “do as I say, not as I do”.  For those of us that use that logic as the cornerstone of the way in which we grow our children, for your information, children learn by example.  So the double standards that you show your children will only result in them showing you disrespect and disregard.  Parenting maybe the hardest job for anyone to perform and as I have been told you learn as you go along.  However, being responsible, using good judgment and putting your child’s welfare first, helps when making decisions that may affect the type of person they may turn out to be.  If each parent and adult is mindful of the things they do and the way in which they carry themselves and lead the way for our children by example, maybe over a period of time we will notice a gradual change for the better in the younger generation.  With the rate of criminal activity amongst our youths increasing on a daily basis, everyone has to be ever more heedful of the roles we play in the lives of our younger family members.  Too many statistics show the trend of delinquent parents breeding delinquent offspring; it’s a vicious cycle that needs to be eliminated. 

The resolution to any problem lays first in admitting ones’ responsibility in the matter then getting to the core of the situation and making serious, careful and conscious choices; taking into account the impact our actions have on our children.  When we as parents and adults, begin to accept responsibility for our input as to why the future of our nation; our youths, are showing total disregard for life, authority and morality; only then we can find a solution to today's problem of delinquency amongst our children.  When we recognize that our children are mirroring behaviors and attitudes that we display or encouraged in one form or the other; only then we can do justice in molding tomorrow’s future in our hands today

Alejandra George

Aqueenb27@hotmail.Com

FAY ANN, NAYA & ME
March 23, 2005

Whilst it was my intention not to mention a word on the issue, I was approached by a prominent Point Fortin person asking what can be done to solve the impasse between Fay Ann Lyons and the Invazion Band. In my opinion, it is not uncommon for Band members to go their own way after years of association. After all, this is quite common within the industry. However, I expected differently since the making of the Invazion Band would have evolved uniquely because of the strong community ties, which exist within.

 Now, my reason for not saying anything before this was because of my close affiliation to the main players in the broil, namely Fay Ann Lyons and Naya George. From even before the inception of Invazion, I have been involved in other projects with Naya. From the combo side “Straight Flight”, which was coordinated by “Pompey” the guitarist. Yes, Taxi and Maxi driver “Pompey”, to the creation of the band “Outrage” and eventually “Invazion”. On the other side, I always take a mental smile when I see how Fay Ann has progressed in the music world. I remember once asking one of Super Blue’s nieces to join a Band, which I was expected to manage. However, she had problems with her aunt and told me that she has a cousin who she thinks could handle it. She mentioned that it was Super Blue’s daughter and she would not have problems since she likes to sing. I decided, ok, let me have a look at this prospect. I was given her number and eventually decided to head to Techier where she lived at the time to meet her. My first impression was “what could this little girl do in a Band?” But what was encouraging was the fact that she was full of talk and she had an answer for everything which was asked, and even shooting some picong. I eventually introduced her to Kevin, aka, Kekes, Invazion’s current drummer. When Naya decided to come again with a Band, Kekes introduced him to Fay Ann and the rest is history.  I worked with Fay Ann during her employment at Jamar Computers as an Administrative Assistant until she took leave to go on tour. During her employment, she took her work to heart and was an asset for the Company.

Now my reason for saying all this was to explain my closeness to both parties and why I can’t choose sides. However, for the benefit of the community, I would surely like to see the re-uniting of Fay Ann and Invazion. Having spoken to both parties before the split, my conclusion suggests that the entire issue was mainly attributed to a lack of professionalism in the mix. The issues are resolvable. Since the separation, I have been trying to get both parties to openly share their views. One party was willing and the other was not.

Actually, the issues stated to me by both parties were similar, just that they were viewed from different angles. There is no hiding that initially they will both have rougher times ahead, although these days Fay Ann seems to be "running hot" with performances everywhere.  Nevertheless, having a good band to work with is a big plus for any artiste and likewise having someone like Fay Ann on your team is going to definitely boost any image. Fay Ann is without a doubt regarded as the sexiest woman of soca and calypso. Obviously, people would come to see her. I have heard men as well as women detailing how sexy they conceptualize her and since it’s the entertainment business, image is everything.

Naya on the other hand is the biggest success story I personally know. His persistent attitude has taken him beyond tough obstacles. He is very hard working and always projects a clear vision as to where he wishes to be. There is no one else I believe could have taken the Band Invazion to where it has reached, capturing two (2) Road March titles in three (3) years

 Back to the main issue, it truly hurts my heart to see two good friends having such a nasty split. There are others along with myself who wish to see the day that they are reunited musically. It is no secret that Fay Ann has found romance with the Fire King and with this I find them to be an almost perfect couple. But as for the music and the Band and the community, there need to be discussions, not just because its Fay Ann. Immature handling of the situation like this should be prevented from re-occurring. Open dialog is one way and mediation is another. If another situation like this one should happen again, would the results be the same? I publicly appeal to Naya and Fay Ann – lets begin to talk. Apart from myself, there are people like Paskies and others willing to promote re-unity, but not under any fictional umbrella.

My closing thought is simply this – no one should try to ultimately be in control of another person’s life.  Even children mature and eventually lead their own lives. My question is, when this happens, do we disown them as being a family member?  Any smart person would realise that when children grow up they have the potential to bring more family members (extended) into the fold.  What de heck am I talking about: Sorry, but I was just “bla bla ing”  Leh meh stop this nonsense…. I was just thinking out loud.

 DJ

A Culture of Learning,
Knowledge and Excellence.

By Fitzroy Harewood

 Cultural Capital?

As we celebrate in 2005 the twenty-fifth anniversary of our Borough it is prudent that we reflect, however fleetingly, on the way in which both, others and ourselves perceive our community. Such a reflection must acknowledge that we are known as the cultural capital of the country and indeed it is not unexpected for us to boast of our soca stars, our local soca station, our music groups and that we host an annual cultural event that rivals the national carnival.

Worldwide Trends.
While we bask in the glow of such fame it is important to take some time to appreciate the developments in the world of which we are a part. On the global level the major economies of the world are galloping in a GDP race that continues despite the wars and battles being fought all over the globe. The industrialised nations are seeing significant growth in their economies, to the extent that; China is now regarded as a superpower more so for her economic might rather than for her military strength; Europe continues to grow and trade between nations of the EU is steadily improving despite their many protestations to the contrary. Even the so-called terrorist nations like Libya and Iran are growing significantly and who can ignore the military and economic might of “non-aligned” nations like India and Pakistan. Regionally we see the expansion of our energy rich neighbour -Venezuela - even when there are questions about their democracy. Locally we are also witnessing an expansion of our gas industry in ways that we never imagined a few years ago.

Knowledge Worker.
It is against this backdrop that the issue of culture is raised. In fact recent articles in our own newspapers by people like Mary King and Rolf Balgobin of IOB, have reiterated that today’s world requires a knowledge worker who is very acquainted with the technologies of the day and whose educational aspirations are such, that they are able to function in today’s world seamlessly. In accepting such a discussion it is reasonable to conclude that the fate of a nation is directly linked to the knowledge of its citizens. It might even be fair to say that such nations have a “culture of learning excellence and knowledge” that motivates their citizens to acquire knowledge not just to “geh ah wok” but rather to enrich their daily lives. How foolish then, to limit our understanding of culture to just music, soca and the arts. Would it not be more advantageous for our country and our community to develop a culture of learning and excellence in every sphere of knowledge and especially in the technologies around us?

What is Culture?

There is a definition of culture that refers to it as “the software of the brain or the society”. That is a fantastic definition since it conveys the impression that culture is really a reflection of who we are as a people and what we have “programmed” ourselves to be. Think long and hard about this. What is the “software” of the people of Point Fortin twenty-five years later? What are we programmed to accomplish? The answers to these questions should point to a serious and urgent need to re-focus our young people on learning, education and knowledge.

Would it not be more valuable if our arguments “on de block” had less of “hear wah I think or feel” and more of “well, based on my readings” or “from the latest statistics”? We sometimes stand and wring our hands in despair over the fact that our people do not man technical jobs in our community, but do we have knowledge workers? Are we encouraging our young people to do well at the sciences as well as the arts? Clearly there is a need to direct our youths and ourselves to a type of “total” learning that creates a well-rounded individual.

For instance if your talent is singing, then with your knowledge of science you can better understand how to cut your next CD and the business side of pushing the music to the market.

Pappy Show
Too many of our people think that all we can do in Point is lime and have a good time, let us take back Point Fortin with a culture of learning, excellence and knowledge. Let us celebrate the children who do well in schools and stop the major companies from “pappy showing” them for their own selfish gain. Let us encourage computer use amongst our young people so hooked on cell phones and video games, let us encourage the next welder you meet to study metals and materials and be a metallurgist, let us encourage the next man you meet who can draw, to study architecture or civil engineering, let us … The list goes on and on.

Growth Imperatives
Given the growth imperatives of our country no longer can Point Fortin afford to be known as the cultural capital but rather a place that has a culture of learning excellence and knowledge. Our development demands it, our legacy to our children demand it.

A More Knowledgeable Community

A more knowledgeable community will stop the next pillage of our beaches and our labour resources by the next exporters of our natural resources.

A knowledge community will develop a long-term plan for our community that understands that there is a need for holistic, vision 2020 development that causes our community to survive.

Past Experience
If you think this position is far fetched remember what knowledgeable players like De Leon, Cave, Archibald, David and Brewster did for football in this community and in this country. Remember what a knowledgeable coach like Tony Peters did for athletics in this community and in this country. Remember what “Voot” and “Engine” did with their knowledge of the game of basketball to our community and our country.

I rest my case!

If we wish to see another twenty-five years but with the result that our community is prosperous then; promote and encourage learning, study and discussion in our community that creates a culture of learning, knowledge and excellence.

END

WHERE'S OUR 2020 VISION

Raymond T Murray takes a look at local leadership, relative to our community's alignment with the national agenda.

Our government has a defined vision for the country that is clearly articulated to every citizen in its Vision 2020 statement. The citizens of the country are being encouraged and invited to get on board and be one with this vision. This is the primary responsibility of leadership, to provide a vision, as to where are we going, and how do we get there.

His Worship, the Mayor of San Fernando has envisioned the city of San Fernando as the energy capital of the country. Port of Spain is being positioned as the gateway of the Americas and the financial capital of the Caribbean.  Chaguanas is seeking city status as the fastest growing borough with unprecedented infrastructural growth.  Arima sees itself as an extended metropolis and the cultural capital of T&T and also seeking city status by 2010.   Where is Point Fortin in all  of this?   What is the vision for Point Fortin?  If there is one, it must be made known to the citizens who are the stakeholders to help make this vision possible.

Despite the massive LNG projects in our backyards the Borough continues to be plagued with high unemployment, negative growth, poverty and high illiteracy levels. Our leadership has not been able to leverage this massive investment into tangible and sustainable benefits for the people of Point Fortin.

 There must be a partnering of all the various stakeholders to develop a common vision for the well-being and sustained development of the people of this Borough. Our leadership needs to reach out and touch the lives of our people in a meaningful way; cutting grass on the side of the roads does nothing for the ethos of our youths.  Despite vast increases in the social programmes such as CEPEP and URP our youths continue to be involved in crime at unprecedented levels. Seventy-five percent of the permanent jobs in ALNG are held by outsiders.

Where are the sporting facilities so that our youths may channel their frustration and anger into character building activities?  It is widely held that sporting activities have always been a medium to instill life values such as discipline, team play, commitment, dedication and respect in the young.

The citizenry can surely remember when Point Fortin was the sporting capital of the country and  our youths excelled in almost every sporting discipline.  Point Fortin produced the likes of Leroy De Leon, Warren Archibald, and Steve David in football and Victor “Voot” O’Garro,  ‘Chinks” and Larry ’Engine’ Belfon in basketball. The Charleau sisters made a name for themselves in netball. Point Fortin also produced Maxine Mc Millan, Ann Adams and Alvin ‘flash’ Daniel in athletics. Sam Yearwood and Clairvon David equally represented the borough in weight lifting. In lawn tennis there was the junior national champion, Henry ‘Skinny “ Warner and in table tennis we continue to make a name for ourselves, in Kevin Redhead. Our athletes have represented their country and continue to do so even up to today and many of them are in the hall of fame. Point Fortin was a model community.

It was a common sight to see the Mahaica Oval on any day filled with young people of every sporting discipline competing, practicing or just having healthy fun. Today our sporting facilities are dilapidated, underutilized or non-existent. We have abandoned our young people for which we are paying a heavy price.  As a child, I frequented Mahaica oval as a spectator to some of the greatest football matches. Today fifty years later the Mahaica Oval is unchanged.    

Point Fortin is fortunate to have as its corporate neighbors organizations like ALNG, TRINMAR and the major banks which are all highly profitable.  It is essential therefore that a partnering of these organizations with the Point Fortin Borough Corporation, the Point Fortin Chamber of Commerce, the business community, the P.T.A and the citizenry takes place. This consolidation of forces will seek to address the many concerns of the Borough; these would include unemployment, illiteracy, poverty, crime and environmental concerns.

All the ingredients for a highly successful community is present in Point Fortin, what is needed is the right mix of Leadership and Vision.

R.T. Murray 

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The Challenge of Holistic Development.

Fitzroy Harewood shares his perspective on holistic development for our community

April 02, 2008

There is a biblical instruction found in the book of Proverbs that encourages careful study of the insects known as ants particularly for their industry, teamwork and development of community. Over the years many facts have emerged on the behavior and habits of ants. Some of these facts are very well known but what may not be so well known is the paradoxical nature of these beasts.
 
One such fact is the one that identifies that "the an ant can lift fifty times its own weight, can pull thirty times its own weight but always falls over on its right side when intoxicated." It is useful to remember this paradox as we contemplate the holistic development of Point Fortin as a community and indeed the overall development of the country.
 
The facts are well known; the Point Fortin area developed in the early days primarily as a result of the establishment of the oil industry in the area - particularly the refinery and the land and sea production fields. The community “inherited” from our multinational “guests” such facilities as our sporting fields - Mahacia Oval was once the Junior Staff Club’s ground - our hospital and some utility related items such as electricity, water and even natural gas distribution. Additionally it was no secret that the fortunes and prosperity of the community “rose and fell” in sympathy with the fortunes of the oil industry.
 
On the wider national scene the gospel of direct foreign investment was well practiced and many plants and infrastructure were established as a result of overseas firms establishing their operations in Trinidad. In fact many social and economic thinkers marveled at the abundance of our natural resources and the magnitude of our foreign investment inflows. The inability or ability of our efforts as a nation to fully realize the developmental benefits of these investments is now a matter of history and will not be repeated here.
 

As we contemplate the news of a soon to be completed Train 4 at the Atlantic LNG plant and the proposed smelter for the Cap-de-ville area, we can't escape the feelings of déjà vu. In fact one wonders if like the ant in our opening illustration, we will not fall down by the “intoxication” of our achievements in the energy sector.
 
Today Point Fortin is confronted with issues that are important to our development as a community in the 21st century. While we proceed with the construction of the energy plants, these issues cry out for our attention. Foremost amongst these are the following:
 
The sustainability of our natural environment, such as the remedial works to the Clifton Hill and Point Ligoure beaches and shorelines, and the purity and functionality of our waterways.

The need to develop sustainable business activity that is independent of the "plant" and enjoys competitive advantage through the knowledge and competence of its human resource.

The need to achieve training and competence in our youths that allows for their full participation in the businesses of the community. This involves the traditional academic training as well as the skill development type training.

The realization of quality infrastructure such as roads, electricity, water distribution and drainage facilities.

The achievement of quality of life in the community, through cultural activities, sporting excellence and family recreation activities.
 
This vision of simultaneous development is not beyond our grasp. We must believe that this vision is attainable and from that belief must spring the conviction to "make it happen".
 

There are signs today that encourage us along the way. The success of our cultural efforts in music is heartening in as much the same way as the former successes of our sportsmen and women of yesteryear.
 
All of the preceding discussion really extols the virtue of holistic development and begs the question of leadership and the exercising of leadership in the community (and the nation) in relation to these issues. We must acknowledge however, that there are many arguments that seek to present a position at odds with our proposed view of holistic development. Therefore before proceeding with a discussion of these arguments, it may be useful to define our understanding of the term.
 
Holistic community (and/or national) development, it is the multi-faceted growth and development of the community or the country that focuses on the traditional vehicles of economic growth such as the monetization of natural resources, while at the same time pursuing - and achieving - growth in "quality of life" parameters such as education, health care, environmental protection and cultural identity.
 
Some of the opponents to this approach suggest that no one entity can be all things to all men. They further contend and that business must see about profit realization, local government must see about infrastructure and government must ensure human resource and economic development. This approach is no different to the cacophony of noise one may experience if all members of a steelband side were to play the sounds they think they play best rather that that commanded by the musical conductor/director.
 
Today's leadership of our community requires the complete vision and skill of the band conductor, or the esteemed steelband captain. We are in need of mechanisms and more importantly some person or organization that will take on the mantle of leadership. There is need for someone to ensure that whilst the construction activity proceeds;
-        the roads are repaired,
-        the homes served with natural gas increases not decreases,
-        our business chamber expands and includes more Point Fortin members,
-        our youth are not only employed but employable
-        our beaches are there for our and our children's enjoyment.
 
We can no longer afford to fall on our sides apparently intoxicated by our big achievement when the fundamentals of community and nation - building are left to decay.
 
The challenge therefore is not just for example our roads but also our systems and our approaches. The time has come to grow forests rather than plant trees, to build communities rather than build houses, to experience true quality of life.

The time has come to measure our progress as a community not in terms of balance of payments and other monetary indicators but rather in terms of quality of life parameters, for example literacy.

Let the mighty achievements in the energy projects galvanize us into dreaming and working to make all things work together for good.

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Aids, Sex and Life

A Post Carnival Perspective

Alejandra George looks at the consequences of unprotected and promiscuous sex in regards to spreading HIV.

February 26th 2k5

With Carnival 2005 behind us, we look towards the future. However, with the carnival season in the recent past, there lingers in my mind, certain haunting questions.  As everyone knows, 9 months after the carnival season, the birth rates in Trinidad and Tobago substantially increase in comparison to any other time of the year.  The children that we call “Carnival babies, arrive and are living reminders of the extra curricular activities that take place outside of the “normal” carnival activities.

Although this is a topic that deserves analysis and I am sure it has been done by many others in the past, and also will be in the future; it is not my area of

 concern at the present moment.  It is the sexual aspect which results in these children that I am focusing on.  It is the consequences of unprotected and promiscuous sex in regards to the spreading of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases that has my immediate attention.

My concern is that along with the yearly trend of births increases within the last two months of the year, that there may also be a high number of persons infected with the HIV virus.  So the bottom line question is, are we paying attention?  Is everyone who is old enough to understand the birds and the bees talk being responsible?  Do they understand the possible consequences of irrational sexual actions?  Hopefully the following information will convince those of us who are still having unprotected sex to change our ways.

As recently as February 12th 2005 it was reported in the New York newspapers that a new strain of drug resistant HIV was diagnosed in the city.  This super-strain of the HIV virus cannot be treated by the cocktail of drugs which is usually used to keep the virus under control.  Drug resistant HIV virus strains are not new, it has happened before.  However, what makes this new strain of HIV alarmingly different according to New York City Health Commissioner Thomas Frieden, is that this strain is resistant to 19 of the 20 drugs used to treat HIV.  Another frightening characteristic of this strain of the virus technically known as 3-DCR HIV is that within 2 to 20 months the infected person develops full-blown Aids.  What this means for persons infected with this strain of the virus, is that they will develop full-blown Aids within a shorter time than before and their demise will follow shortly after.  It has been reported that the first person to be diagnosed with the super-strain HIV, is a gay man in his mid-40’s and he developed full blown Aids within 2 months.  His prognosis is said to be “very bleak”.  Two months is an extremely accelerated pace for an untreated person to develop Aids, in comparison to the 9 year time-frame that it usually takes the other strains of HIV to develop into Aids.

It was said by the health authorities that those most vulnerable to this new strain are gay men and intravenous drug users who share needles.   So everyone take note, the heterosexual community is NOT exempt from being infected with it, especially since it is known that there are persons that have sexual intercourse with both sexes.

So having said all that, exactly what am I saying?  Well I hope that it would be blatantly clear.  I am reminding everyone that we need to be sexually responsible, because there are dire consequences for having unprotected and casual sex.  Aids is here to stay and if the virus continues to mutate into such strains as the one recently diagnosed, we have to continue to arm ourselves with education and act upon facts.  Hopefully, we have moved beyond the times when it was believed that we could rely upon how a person looks to indicate whether they are HIV carriers or not.  Every sexually active person should be tested, know their status and practice a sexual lifestyle that maintains being HIV free. 

My sincere hope is that in the future come November and December, the post-carnival birth rates in T&T will not be a reflection of rampant promiscuous sexual conduct and along with it there will not be increase in the number of persons reported to be infected with the HIV virus.  So in closing I will say if you can’t be good, be safe and WRAP IT UP, COVER IT UP!!!!

Alejandra George

AQueenb27@hotmail.Com

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SEXUAL INDEPENDENCE
CAN PROTECT WOMEN  FROM HIV/AIDS

H.I.V /AIDS  Awareness

  In this week's feature , Alana Jones writes about women's attitude towards safer sex.

We are not afraid to demand clitoral and other forms of foreplay stimulation.  Having said that, the question remains, why can't we be bold enough to derive sexual and sensual methods of safer sexual health in our steamy repertoire?

February 21st 2k5

HIV/Aids patients at a hospital