Deploying social etiquette

THE EDITOR: Please permit us space in your newspaper to express our views on the non-use of socially correct manners for eating as it applies to East Indian cuisine and ‘proper’ society dining. Due to our keen observance, we realised that people of Trinidad and Tobago do not practise the correct eating habits when it comes to eating East Indian cuisine or eating in the “proper” society. In this case, the ‘proper’ society refers to the British influence of eating styles that came about in the time of Colonialism. The use of knives and forks were an integral part of ‘proper’ society dining and using these utensils are almost extinct nowadays.

Also, the ‘proper’ manner of eating East Indian cuisine is quickly disappearing. No longer do we see people traditionally sitting on floors eating out of banana leaves. Is the reason for this the fact that there is no documented rule of the correct way for eating East Indian cuisine? Is relying on the traditional inheritance of culture a total waste of time? Trinidad and Tobago is a callaloo of cultures swizzled together, but these cultures are individual in their own rites. Further more, I believe that the proper way of eating should be practised, whether done so traditionally or from documented information.

Group Project for Social Etiquette and Development