Sad demise of TTT

Trinidad and Tobago Television was born in the year of Trinidad and Tobago’s independence, 1962. Its first manager was one Mr L Goodman. Its owners were the Rediffusion Group, the Trinidad Publishing Co Ltd, each with 40 percent, Columbia Broadcasting Service and the government of TT each with 10 percent. The first and most prominent event broadcast was our independence ceremony, when the Queen’s proclamation was read in Parliament, the British Union Jack was lowered, and our own TT flag proudly raised on the lawn of our historic Red House. Thereafter, TTT was a flourishing enterprise, catering to the arts and culture, sport, politics, and all national events.

It brought us the live coverage of Parliament. As the sole TV station in TT, it enjoyed a monopoly for 30 years until TV6 came along in 1992. The government of TT in the 70’s embraced the profitable TTT and Radio 610, when government tentacles acquired the good, the bad, and the ugly. On January 14, 2005, Mr Manning’s administration will sadly administer its kiss of death. After 42 years of portraying life in Trinidad and Tobago, TTT is an institution we will all miss. Citizens must resolve however, that Manning does not carry our historic Red House with him to his grave. But we need to unearth Manning’s mystique for bringing death where there was once so much life! And hear this joke . . . he is starting a brand new TV station, with his handpicked people for sure. Look out for the political connections . . . and news coverage.

MICHAEL J WILLIAMS
Maracas Valley