Well, well, well...is what yuh could say 'bout de events of dis past week?
Jes when yuh feel tings cyant get no worse, we have to deal wid de depravity dat went on in Orange Valley. Someting seriously outta whack when two teens could not only contemplate, but actually carry out an act of such turpitude.

What could possibly account for de seemingly total lack of morals, scruples an' in fact jes plain humanity in somebody so young? What happen to de family structure dat suppose to be surroundin' an cocoonin' dese chirren, while instillin' de values an' mores dey go need as part of de community in particular an' society in general? Is not a stray dog dey pickup in de road, it was a human being - a playful, happy, carefree child named Sean.

We have to stop an' take a real long hard look at what goin' on in T&T.
If a 13 year old could arredy have a seemingly total lack of sentience for a living being's pain & suffering, an' ultimately no regard for human life, is what kinda adults we go have in de nex few years? How T&T goin' to survive de nex generation or two? When yuh stop an' think dat most of us who in de supposed positions of leadership, guidance an' authority ent go be around in de nex 15-20 years...ask yuhself exactly who go be de replacements? Wid a labour force of jes under 600,000 (accordin to de CSO figures fuh 2002) an' about 60,000 unemployed we playin' wid fire... especially when yuh realise about 25,000 of dat figure is youths under 25.

Look at what goin' on in de schools, is what dey learnin' except de subtleties of gang 'etiquette' an' drug dealin'? We still tryin' in 2006 to maintain de anachronistic education system dat was foisted on us many years aback when we Colonial Masters realise it didn' make economic sense to send out clerks to de colonies when dey could train de natives to do de same work an' pay dem a fraction of de salary. So, we get reading, writing an' arithmetic force down we throat by rote, an' to dis day we still pushin' de same head widout realisin' why. Doh get me wrong, I ent sayin' we doh need to be literate...but, what we seriously need to unnerstan' is dat schoolin' doh mean education.

Yuh doh force chirren to sit in a classroom like sardines wid a teacher who couldn' care less because dey know dat after school done, dey collectin' BIG money fuh private lessons. Worse than de fact dat what dey 'imparting' via de private lessons is what dey was supposed to be doin' in de classes durin' de day is dat all dey actually doin' both in official school an' private lessons is preppin' chirren to pass exam. It ent have nuttin' to do wid de havin' chirren learn skills an' acquire' knowledge dat go stand dem in good stead fuh de rest of dey life, is all about gettin' passes an' scholarships dat go make de school look good.

We talkin' big talk 'bout Vision 2020 an' Developed Nation status, but yet all de youth seein' is de politrical leaders an' business 'visionaries'
gettin' haul before de courts fuh tiefin' an' lyin' and cheatin' de country of as much as dey could grab. Is what kinda future de youths seein' fuh demselves? We long ago throw away de mantle of community spirit an' family dat used to ensure dat while chirren could have an' enjoy dey 'boy days', dey did know quick sharp not only when dey cross de line of acceptable behaviour, but when dey was spproachin' it.

As dey sayin' goes, "It takes a village to raise a child..." So, doh jes hold yuh head an' wonder how an' why Orange Valley did happen...take a good look around yuh own 'village' an' see what YOU could do to help save a life or three.

 

BACKCHAT: Issue 13


So wearing black as a sign of mourning I can live with.

But driving with car lights on to protest crime??? Walking against crime?
Signing a petition to be delivered to our "figurehead" president?
WHAT exactly do, or will, these actions EVER accomplish?
To whom are we protesting? Neither the criminals nor the politicians care!

Volunteer your time and expertise to a civil society organisation working to alleviate our myriad social problems....and THEN talk to me about crime solving.

Donate a part of your paycheck to one of these same organisations, or to a family that can barely pay its rent and eat when the month comes, and THEN talk to me about crime solving.

STOP driving on shoulders, putting on your seatbelt only when you see a police officer, and breaking rules whenever you have the chance....and THEN talk to me about crime solving.

Sensitise your children to be compassionate for their fellow humans, to love everyone as they come, and to be generous with the gifts that the universe so bountifully bestows....AND THEN TALK TO ME ABOUT CRIME SOLVING!!!

Leave your comfort zones behind. Judge not, lest you be judged. Love thy neighbour as thyself. Increase the talents given to you by the universe, and use them for the good of your downtrodden fellow people.
//Trinidad

I was so shame. I gone in meh office in Canada and telling meh boss who is a big time golfer dat allyuh cud take Tiger but leave our Trini Mr. Ames to we trinis.

Doh try to claim Ames is no Canadian......only to get the answer "That's alright, we'll keep Tiger in North America because we would not like such a cocky hero".

I did not see the game or the interview but from all accounts Tiger's father may need to tutor Mr. Ames! Sometimes the big head that we get when we reach does be too big fuh we shoulders......
//Trini in Canada