Are diplomats home for Carnival?

THE EDITOR: Since my funny bone has been rediscovered intact, it was with great humour that I read the Sunday edition of this newspaper. Who would not be amused when they read of the much-touted MV Sonia breaking down and the discarded Panorama ‘‘springing into action’? Wasn’t the Sonia supposed to be like a cruise ship”? I also read that the Cat passengers had to be transferred to the Panorama too. Anyone would be irate at having to make that switch.

In a humorous mood I continued to read about the employees of WASA brazenly transporting marijuana and being caught. Glenda Morean’s loss of items from her car made me wonder why she is not back at her ‘‘diplomatic’’ desk in the Queen’s country. Weren’t her lodgings competing with the queen’s in grandeur? And by the way, are all foreign diplomats quarters’ being renovated too? Are all diplomats having a Carnival reunion right now? Who is manning (no pun intended) their foreign positions?

Then, feeling disgusted by the headline that screamed “45 million for Carnival,” because of the waste of good money while all state institutions are crumbling and roads are boldly proclaiming PNM and sporting large potholes, intermittent patches and stinky drains and decorated on either side with garbage of all description, I skipped the article to avoid poking holes with my pen into the eyes of the picture of a smug looking Kenny De Silva. I fervently wished that rains could continue falling on Carnival days, flooding the streets wherever those accursed events will take place. That would put paid to 100 percent ready!

But then again my prayers however fervent, go largely unanswered by any divine beings they are directed to. So in direct opposition to my wishes, we may see wonderful weather being brought out for the worshippers of the flesh. I personally cannot pass the labasse area en route to Port-of-Spain without feeling nauseous at the smell. That, and the look of the creatures that are inhabiting the whole seafront give the place a blighted look. I also notice that phase four of the Beetham ‘‘gardens’’ is continuing apace westward, only the inhabitants can’t wait for the government to build their shacks so they are doing it themselves meanwhile and no diligent minister of housing is noticing. But in the minds of the tourist bureau and the government who only see and hear what they wish to see and hear, everything is fine — let the tourists come. Give them a dose of ‘‘we Trini flavour.’’ we culture. Of course, the cake-taker is our Minister of National Security.

SUE SANKAR
Chaguanas