Trinis creating own monster hurricane

THE EDITOR: Every hurricane season you can hear most Trinidadians giving praise to the high heavens that our beloved island was once again spared the devastation which was visited upon our neighbours. Some of us say that we’re just lucky. Some attribute our good fortune to the existence of the Trinity Hills. Most contend that we are just a naturally blessed people, that God favours Trinidad. Allow me to enlighten you people. The truth of it is that Mother Nature took a long hard look at Trinidad and decided that she does not need to expound her energy on us. She’s come to the realisation that we are about to manufacture our very own man-made, home-grown hurricane, which will be much more deadly than anything she can conjure up.

This phenomena, which is looming on the horizon, will not be known by any such mundane name as Hurricane Ivan or Jeanne. No my people, it will enjoy the more distinctive sobriquet of “Hurricane Discrimination.” And the irony of it is, that contrary to the views espoused by some members of Parliament and certain radio talk-show hosts, our beloved country is not being torn apart by discrimination. The real trouble lies with the indiscriminate use of the word, which has become the catch-phrase for everything that ails us. The word discrimination, is now akin to the word shark. You know, that in the sea, if anything nibbles at a Trini’s foot, the cry is, “Oh Gawd, shark!” Recently, a fellow called in to a radio talk-show to complain about the interruption in his TV cable service.

Now this cable service problem occurs quite regularly all over the island, but because this fellow happens to reside in Laventille, the first word out of his mouth was, discrimination. Can you believe it? When will it end? Or where? Wake up my people! You’re creating a monster of a hurricane. I find myself, lately, reminded of that hotel magnate, the late Conrad Hilton. Back in the nineteen sixties, Mr Hilton sent a team of experts down here to do an assessment of the people of Trinidad and Tobago. He, Mr Hilton, wanted to build a hotel that would be reflective of the island; upon receiving his team’s report, he then promptly went ahead and built the very first upside-down hotel.

TYRONE EVANS
Belmont