Why we are how we are

The brother whose family operates the fruit and vegetable mart where I buy my papers on St Anns Road, is a reader, critic and “adviser” of what I write. He recently told me: “For anyone to try to understand what is happening in Trinidad today, they have to read a book called From the Gates of Aksum. That book, a historical novel by Gerard Besson, describes the origins, the tone and standard for our buccaneering, rebellious, corrupt and “all for self” behaviour which is now deeply ingrained in our society, possibly in our DNA.

The story is one of intrigues, plots and betrayals which only a living Trini could appreciate. It is obvious that the foundations of our society, cast in the years between 1770 and 1845, truly support and guide our behaviour today. Our disregard for law, ethics, morality, decency, cleanliness and order was conceived and nurtured in those years, and no matter what genes or religions were tossed into the cauldron, our vices, rather than our virtues, flavoured what we have become.

Accepting this of course is difficult. We posture as decent individuals, going to church, mosque and temple, praying to our Gods, as we break every law and disregard every custom of decency or charity. We expect respect, we give none. We take advantage of every one and every situation, but we are furious when others “advantage” us. Whoever is in charge is in the right, and those below have long learned to just accept that. But as soon as any of us manages to climb to the apex of wealth and power, we totally adopt all of the ugly arrogance and bumptiousness of the Governor.

Let me remind you of some examples of this behaviour; I have listed some of these before:

It was 1976, election year. Government was building several schools with World Bank funding, suddenly wanted to rush four more schools, and asked contractors if these could be built within nine months. The company for whom I was working said yes, they could build three, provided they could modify the design, which was accepted. Nearing the September election, there were major shortages of materials, and it was obvious that not all the schools could be completed. At a meeting summoned to decide what to do, the Head of the Schools Task Force, a powerful man in the system, announced the “solution”: Materials would be prioritised in the following order: First to Mucurapo School, then to Arima, and then Chaguanas, because, and I quote “we are not going to win Chaguanas anyway.”

I asked for that instruction in writing. I thought the “big man” would dead! He actually spluttered, but said the instruction would not come in writing.

In 1986 we are discussing a Design and Build project downtown. The building owner asks the architect what is that second staircase for? The architect says it is needed in a public building, and it will not be approved unless the staircase is there. The owner declares that he will get the plans approved without the staircase, and he does! In 1987, I am at St James Police Station, to renew firearm licenses for a construction company. The overweight, unpleasant sergeant greets me by holding up a newspaper. The headline is about the new NAR government clamping down on theft of linen, detergents and foodstuffs from government hospitals. Sergeant tells me that people like me have caused this: “my wife is a matron at the hospital — you know how much this will cost us now”!

It is 2004. We are preparing the stadium for an international football match. A group of primary schoolchildren are leaving the stadium. A few little boys walk on to the field, a security guard politely asks them not to walk there. They begin to walk off, but a female teacher raises her voice: “Who say allyuh cyant walk on de grass? Chirren, allyuh walk on de field if you want!” Little boys give the guard “cuteye” and strut on to the field in defiance, in obedience to their teacher.

This is who we are, folks — from “Supernumerary” to businessman to police and matron t’iefing from the hospital, to little boys, maybe now dead, being taught defiance. We rise to positions of buffoonery and banditry, showing off how immature and childishly defiant we are. And we hope to find salvation from within?