Allyuh ent find dat Christmas dese days ent like how it used was to be long time? Is only a few house dat gettin' any kida light up dese days, an' do even bodder tryin' to find poinsettia growin' in anybody yard, it jes have too much security light all over de place fuh dem to change colour so it ent make no sense to grow dem anymore unless yuh is a plant shop dat growin' dem in pot to make money.

Fuh sure dis year Christmas is ' de weekend before carnival'...de year ent done yet an' is only 7 weeks remainin' to bacchanal time. Anywhere yuh go is only a setta jam an' wine music blastin', wid de occasional local Christmas tune throw in or if yuh real lucky a 'traditional' tune or two dat only get on de CD to fill up space. We rushin' hellbent towards 2020 an' alleged first world status, but de way we throwin' way we past is like we history go begin at midnight on de 31st December 2019. Traditions goin' out de door wholesale, we ent even' bodderin' to see if we could adapt any an' move on...an' de ones dat supposedly get updated wid new technology (like Parang dat get electronify an' amplify louder than a mas truck) endup as someting wid only de vaguest passin' resemblance to what dey used to be.

Doh get me wrong, yuh Tants ent no Luddite (after all is a computer dat I writin' dis on an' is email it gettin' email to allyuh!)...but when Parang was six fellahs wid box base, two cuatro, guitar, a mandolin, chac-chac an' jes about a dozen teeth between dem, it was de real deal. Spanish wasn' someting de lead singer did 'do' fuh exams, it was de language de paranderos did speak an' dey did actually unnerstan what dey was singin' an' could when necessary 'extempo' in it. But dese days yuh does have Parangtourage of 'bout 20 people wid electric guitar an' keyboard an' microphone everywhere an' all de 'singers' shoutin' dey head off givin' yuh headache in what supposed to be Spanish. If yuh want to have parang in any small lime or party yuh go have to charge people jes to be able to afford de Parangtourage!

An' is when last yuh make yuh own pastelle instead of buyin' dem in de grocery?
Yuh still know how to make black cake, sorrel, ginger beer an' ponche a creme?
De ham boilin' in de backyard or even bakin' in de oven or yuh buyin' it areddy slice up from de delicatessin an' doh have no skin to put in de pigeon peas an' callaloo? Is how many chirren even know what a pitch oil pan is? De only savin' grace in de scenario ironically is Wikipedia...dat is jes about de onliest place de youngsters might learn someting 'bout dey history an' culture. An' while we teachin' we own chirren, we could be teachin' de world 'bout tolerance an' acceptance because while is Christ birthday we commemoratin' at Christmas, all Trini no matter dey creed does participate an' come January 16-19 we go all be dere in Hosay (an' I hope more non-muslim Trinis go to de prayers on de 4th day instead of jes limin' an' lookin' on de previous 3 nights).

Anyways, I hope we all have a enjoyable time over de season, an' remember de reason fuh de season...my wish fuh Christmas is dat we give T&T de gift of Christmases past so dat de chirren of de present could have a future.


 

BACKCHAT: Issue 050

Not really sure who to respond to. But I have a question. Since there seem to be so many casinos popping up in Trinidad & Tobago (one right across the street from the Cathedral on Independence Square); right in the heart of POS on Frederick Street, St. James and the likes. I am truly concerned for my Trini citizens. The price of food is so high, transportation is going up, and now they're trying to lull the people into a false sense of complacency to lead them to believe that gambling is a "release"; it's a way of mental retardation, and self-depravation that's unconscionable. People can hardly make ends meet, and they're adding to the depravity of minds and pockets. Have a heart. And with all the numbers that are listed on the bottom, I don't see one for GAMBLERS ANONYMOUS. Are you aware how many homes/lives/families are destroyed and broken due to these casinos? I think this service is DESPERATELY NEEDED. It's not enough that we've had to deal with racing pools throughout the years, and mind you; there is no longer races at the Savannah, but yet the pool hall still exists. I LOVE MY COUNTRY, AND WOULD LIKE TO SEE MY BROTHERS/SISTERS ADVANCE.

And following the rest of the world for entertainment/relaxation by spending unnecessary money is not LOVING THE PEOPLE; it's DESTROYING THEM. When a father/mother/brother/sister goes to the casino and gambles away their hard earned money, (and mind you they only get paid ONCE a month) how are they/the family supposed to make it -- it then forces one to steal (like we don't have enough thieves in the country already) beg (enough vagrants on the street) and don't talk about borrowing (and can't pay back) OMG!!! We are creating a society of dependent depraved minds waiting for the next big win that doesn't happen very often; or you think your luck will change, or God forbid, if you win, you think you'll always have that winning streak and then lose ALL. PLEASE HELP MY PEOPLE WAKE UP AND SHUT THOSE CASINOS DOWN. Do you notice how/where the casino owners live? In gated communities, pools, maids, etc. Whereas, the people who frequent these places are ordinary and at times could hardly pay all their bills, rent etc. They need help instead of hand outs.
//Trinidad


Seasons Greetings! Best wishes from the frozen North. Here's hoping that you will enjoy good health for the coming year, so that you can continue to do the "good work" of providing voluntary exiles with the inside story of the twin islands.

Incidentally, I do not know where 'Amakosi' lives, but I find this business of the City clearing the snow on your doorstep a real laugh.
At my age, I am eager to move to that city, as the hour long shovelling after a snow fall is really taxing on the body. O.K. "old girl" have a bit of eggnog for me, and a little black pudding from Charlie for Christmas morning.
//Hotmail user