‘Tek yuh meat out meh rice’

THE EDITOR: The stance of PM Owen Arthur regarding Barbados/Trinidad Fishing Rights reminds me of the calypso of yesteryear in which the smart Bajan decides to have a cook up with an unsuspecting Trini. The Barbadian supplied some rice and the Trini the meat. After everything was well cooked and, of course, all the nutrients flavour and other benefits had been absorbed into the rice, the Bajan found a reason to start a quarrel with the Trini and immediately demanded “tek yuh meat out meh rice.”

As far as I know, the State of Trinidad and Tobago, according to international law, has legal rights that extend for several miles out to sea. As a matter of fact, Trinidad is on a continental shelf and has considerable jurisdiction seaward as a result. That is why we can drill for oil and gas offshore. No licence or permission from Barbados is required. The flying fish are legally within our territorial waters and our jurisdiction and are therefore rightfully and legally ours (of course, once they are caught in our waters). If one is in doubt read any legal text on the Law of the Sea and check with the relevant authority be it Institute of Marine Affairs or the Lands and Surveys Department or any knowledgeable surveyor specialising in the Marine Environment/Marine Affairs.

What in fact the Bajans have been doing for years is poaching in Trinidad and Tobago (especially in Tobago) waters for many years, catching TT flying fish and then passing it off as “the Best of Barbados.” Cor Blimey, their island is known as the Land of the Flying Fish — our flying fish. Clearly, Prime Minister Owen Arthur wants to try a “tek yuh meat out meh rice’ routine on the present government and I am hoping that PM Manning does not make yet another faux pas. But (especially these days) calling our beloved PM an astute political strategist could result in one being damnified with punitive damages for defamation of character.

M HOTIN
St James