Coming of age with brutal kickstart

THE EDITOR: Slow down, mash brakes, Trinidad ahead. It is always wonderful to return to the dizzying m?lange of Trinidad after spending time in the bland developed realms. Sights, sounds and tastes, all the sensational clich?s that make up the rhythmic whole. However, 72 hours at home and the land is rocketed with kidnappings, alleged police corruption and claims of racial discrimination, just look at the headlines and editorials.

Everyone is fighting for a social jihad. Everyone is better than the rest; which other? which rest?  Each group is raising their venomous heads and shining their fangs. Who is kidnapping who? What corrupt police? What racist? — “not me!’ everyone shouts. Everyone feels targetted, everyone feels they are the victims. Finally, people are feeling empowered to express their right to what are their just rights. Slowly our people are coming of age, sadly with brutal kickstart. Regretfully, none of those in power seem to be listening. Okay, a commission for this and that; the Sats and Cudjoes would simmer here and there; and crime, just follow the action-plan, one, two, three — splat — Who is taking responsibility for any of the above? If the Prime Minister is serious about leading and gaining widespread societal support, now is his time to seize the moment. Passionately reassure the populace about crime fighting and public safety. Ease the racial repercussions and distrust by visibly mingling with both sides. Confront the people ready to destroy our rainbow liberty. Do not wait for a coup of our democratic traditions by self-proclaimed “jihad” leaders.

Act now, Mr PM, and prevent the vagaries of Fiji and Rwanda from robbing our land of its prosperous future. Do not set aside the plebian rum-shop analyses of the proletariat, but rather heed the warnings in their utterances. A ripple becomes a wave, as one man’s terrorist is another’s freedom fighter. Which wave shall we ride? We shall all ride together. We are all floating in the same water; or are we sinking? As responsible citizens of Trinidad and Tobago let us celebrate and ride the wave of our unbeatable academic prowess; our plethora of natural resources and our light-hearted carnival heritage. It is time to lead the whole and not the halves, take heed before the halves destroy the whole.

DR N S NATH
Port-of-Spain