Glimpse of an old charm lost

THE EDITOR:  As an inhabitant of our fair Capital, it is difficult to be unmoved at the sight o the construction that is taking place in order to raise the wall at Lapeyrouse Cemetery.

Those denizens whose businesses take them past the Airapita Avenue side would have noticed that the Graveyard will soon be shrouded. As a Muslim, when passing by what is the only cemetery in the heart of the city, upon seeing the tombstones, I am reminded of my religion’s prescription to invoke blessings upon those believers who have gone before: “Peace be unto you, O believing dwellers of the grave. You have preceded us, and we are on your heels.” For me, therefore, there is something poignant in contemplating even while on the run, the idea of those folks who have gone before, and that in a relatively short time, I must join them; only to be replaced by others, yet unborn.

Does anyone else care to be reminded of the passing parade by this device? How about being allowed a glimpse of the place before we are actually carried there? Of course, no tragedy will occur when this exercise of construction is completed, but something would have been lost. Something of the old charm that was once Port-of-Spain, and even Trinidad. Incidentally, as a society, in a general sense it seems that in our quest to lose our innocence we have lost our minds instead. I am certain there must have been compelling “reasons” in deciding to raise the cemetery wall and I’m therefore not going to lobby to change that decision. This must be progress, I suppose.

MICHAEL RAHMAN
Woodbrook