Fungus separates Ganges and Nile

THE EDITOR: Contrary to a recently-accepted revelation, the Ganges has not only just met the Nile. No sir! That is not the truth of it.

Many lifetimes ago, right here in Trinidad and Tobago, the Ganges and the Nile met each other and instead of going on their separate ways they decided to join and become one beautiful river flowing along contentedly with love. And so it went for years and years, sparkling under sun and moon, growing with the falling rains, gurgling along harmoniously, giving joy to the diverse peoples who dwelt beside its banks.

Now it happened that from time to time, some imp intent on mischief, desiring to destroy the harmony would toss some foul object into the river causing an unwelcome ripple. But the river always managed to reject the intrusion and would maintain its peaceful flow. Until now that is. Because finally, one of the more persistent imps has succeeded in contaminating the beautiful water. This fool has tossed a deadly fungus, called a hyphen, into the river. And strangely enough, this ugly fungus seems to have affected only two of the many peoples who dwell along the river, causing them to think differently of each other.

The river as a consequence has separated, becoming two, each with its own name: Afro-Trinidad and Indo-Trinidad. And so my friends, until the Ganges and the Nile embrace each other once more, here’s hoping that the fungus does not spread to the other peoples of this beautiful land. It’s a terrible thing to be hyphenated.

TYRONE EVANS
Port-of-Spain