LOOKING AHEAD

Government’s decision to begin the teaching of Spanish, albeit conversational, in primary schools from September on a phased basis is a far-sighted one given the growing development of sporting, cultural and trading links between this country and its Spanish speaking Latin American neighbours. Hopefully, the Ministry of Education has not only already initiated a careful selection of persons familiar with and fluent in Spanish, but a programme of training of such persons in how to effectively teach the language. The move is a recognition of the increasing interaction between Trinidad and Tobago and Latin America, exemplified by the entry into Caricom of the Dominican Republic and Costa Rica and this country’s membership in the wider Association of Caribbean States. There are medium and long term implications for added business and investment thrusts into Latin America.

Clearly, the earlier Trinidadians and Tobagonians become familiar with Spanish, particularly with a needed emphasis being placed on their being able to converse in it from a relatively young age, the better equipped they will be when many of them as adults and businesspeople seek to develop trading contacts with businesspeople and Government officials in Latin American countries. The development of these contacts is made that much easier when the country’s entrepreneurs and investors and/or their representatives are able to speak Spanish fluently while seeking to transact business in Latin American countries, rather than communicate through interpreters. Already, many Latin American entrepreneurs intent on pursuing business contacts in English speaking countries have recognised the need to speak and be readily understood in English.

There is speedier communication and exchange of ideas as well as being placed in a better position to negotiate the best possible prices and/or business deals that clearly cannot be as readily achieved through a third party acting as translator. Admittedly, this is looking down the road, but a formidable number of Trinidad and Tobago’s citizens, if only because of our close proximity to South America, should have been literate in Spanish decades ago. In turn, the insistence of all too many of our business community over the years of dealing largely with Anglophones, and in the process looking to North America and the United Kingdom may have robbed them of the chance to long ago expand their earnings and profit margins.

But it is better late than never as the cliche says. Today, with increasing globalisation, NAFTA, and the determination of the US to establish the FTAA, the need for English and Spanish speaking countries of the Caribbean and South and Central America to expand business ties assumes greater significance. Government clearly recognises this, and its decision to introduce Spanish into primary schools will, in the medium and long term, act as a facilitator. And as an old Chinese proverb says: “With time and patience the mulberry leaf becomes a silk gown.”  But one word of advice to the authorities. Our children need to be taught standard English before we go forward with any other language.