Independence (n): being independent (of, on, from)
Independent (adj.& n): 1) n. not depending on authority or control (of); self-governing 2) not depending on something else for its validity, efficiency 3) not depending on others for one's opinion or conduct; that is an independent in politics etc; unwilling to be under obligation to others.

39 years later ... sweet T&T, but are we any closer to the definitions? In some ways we plenty further away than we ever wus. We even reach to being a Republic wid ah written Constitution to match, but we still running back to de Privy Council fuh dem to make decision fuh we. We making we own money, exploiting we own natural resources, but we dependent on de big conglomerates to wuk de ting and guess who getting de 'lion's share'? We generating we own electricity wid we own natural gas, but paying ah outside company large dollars fuh de privilege.

August 31, 1962 - we had TV, showing dem flag coming down and we flag going up. Today we still have de same TV - it eh gorne nowhere - and we dependent on as much, if not more, foreign shown than ever before, not to mention dat we have de Yankee people and dem cable TV tekking over de place, running down de said TV and making we more and more dependent on dem culture, fashion and lifestyle. De schools not helping matters either. 60+ years ago dey used to turn out great independent thinkers. Now those leaving school could barely think read or write. We gorne from un-Common Entrance to being lorse at SEA. Same khaki pants, different pocket! We went from HC to GCE to CXC ... and at de end of it all, they still dun-CEE. Plenty schooling and NO education.

De man who did lead we to Independence did say dat de future of the nation is in de chirren schoolbag. But I eh tink, or rather I hope de country eh heading fuh no civil war judging from de weaponry dey does find in schoolbag dese days. What it is we giving de chirren to look forward to? What encouragement dey have to be independent thinkers to understand that while in this world, this global village all countries must depend on each other for trade and commerce. Dat doh mean we and all odder small nations must give up our Independence.

3) not depending on others for one's opinion or conduct; that is an independent in politics etc; unwilling to be under obligation to others.

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE TO ALL FROM TRINIDIARY

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