NO NEED TO BE AN OBEAH MAN AND SHAKE YUH BOULEE TO SEE DAT
Mr. Editor,
“I am not an Obeah man. I have been around for a long time.” so said Patrick Manning, Trinidad & Tobago Prime Minister. Mr. Manning was addressing his PNM Special Convention of party faithfuls, on Sunday 21st June, 2009, according to the Trinidad Express of 22nd June, 2009.
His objective was to convince his people of the wisdom of his
initiative to form an economic and political union involving T&T,
Grenada, St. Vincent & the Grenadines and St. Lucia. Mr. Manning
argued thus: The Eastern Caribbean economies are floundering. As such,
they pose a serious threat to the economic welfare and well-being of
the people and economy of Trinidad and Tobago.
Those threats are mass illegal migration of the people of the Eastern
Caribbean states into T&T, an increase in drug activity which
increases the risk of the development of narco-states in the region and
a decline in the T&T manufacturing sector because of the loss of
the much needed Eastern Caribbean markets.
The Political Leader of the PMN concluded; “Whether we in Trinidad and
Tobago like it or not, we cannot stand idly by and watch the Caribbean
in this economic situation and do nothing about it. We will pay in
blood for taking such a position.” According to the report in the
Express newspaper, Mr. Manning then asked his audience, “You agree with
me or not?” The applause indicated agreement.
Mr. Editor, I am moved, therefore, to pen this letter to say, amidst
the clatter in our political forest here in Grenada, that I cannot
applaud Mr. Manning. He and a majority of his fellow countrymen are
trapped in an outdated mindset, popularized by calypsonian Swallow,
that Trinidad & Tobago is the “Caribbean Godfather.” He says,
effectively, that he has to rescue these states because, if he did not,
they will take Trinidad & Tobago down with them as they flounder
and sink to the bottom of the economic ocean.
In other words, these islands bring very little, if anything, to the
table. A falsehood of which Mr. Manning is very conscious. This mindset
was referred to by senior columnist Raffique Shah in Sunday Express of
14th June where he wrote; “Here in T&T, most citizens believe we do
not need closer ties with our “poor-ass” Caribbean neighbours. There
are two camps that oppose any integration. The first comprises people
who are convinced that with our gas-and-oil generated wealth, other
Caribbean countries seek only to ride our backs.”
Mr. Editor, Shah went on to make a point that Grenadians should sit up
and take notice of; “While it is true oil and gas make us the strongest
economy in the region, reality is these two commodities are wasting
assets. And our government seems intent on utilizing gas at a rate that
is not sustainable. Unless we discover one trillion cubic feet of
recoverable gas every year, we’d hardly be in a position to carry
consumption of this critical commodity beyond 15 years. Those who
believe we shall forever remain “sheiks of the Caribbean” must be
prepared to contribute their personal “methane power” to the grid
because we shall soon run out of steam, quite literally.”
By way of background: Raffique Shah is an ex soldier of the Trinidad
and Tobago Regiment. He led the military mutiny in 1970, during the
political upheaval popularly called the “Black Power Uprising.” He has
been union leader, parliamentary representative, newspaper editor and
columnist, among other things.
Shah is not writing “from the top of his head.” He is not biased. He
begins his column: “Caribbean unity is an imperative for the survival
of small island states like ours.” A recent audit of oil and gas
resources of Trinidad and Tobago allows for less than 25 years
lifespan. So, Manning, Panday, tout moon bagaye, have to “take in front
before in front catch them.”
What they won’t tell us is that Trinidad & Tobago wants to
position itself to share in the oil and gas resources that they know
exists in the Caribbean and Atlantic waters around these islands. Can’t
blame them, can we? If our leaders are not educating us as to our
prospects and potential, why should others? Why should Manning tell
Trinbagonians that the islands have a valuable contribution to make in
an economic and political union that is vital to the future of T&T.
Mr. Editor, Can you see a Caribbean in 15 to 20 years in which T&T
is the “poor-ass neighbour” and Grenada, St. Vincent, St. Lucia and
Barbados are the “sheiks of the Caribbean.” No need to be ah Obeah man
and shake you boulee to see that, Mr. Manning.
Reynold C. Benjamin
23/6/09
|
