A healthy environment for future generations

There is no scent in this world more enchanting than coffee flowers, and nothing as refreshing as a river or a spring bath. These pleasures, however, are rapidly disappearing, with only few people these days being able to enjoy them. The only place one can experience the sweet aroma of coffee flowers is driving through Brasso where there is a coffee and cocoa estate. This estate has been there forever. The farmers rise early every morning to take care of their crops, but after working so hard they have to struggle with the fluctuations of the market. What we need is encouragement not only for these farmers, but others, as well, to save and protect our environment.

How many of us can say that we have bathed in a river and felt that instant chill shoot straight up our spine? How many of us can say we sat under the cool shade of a cocoa tree during an extremely hot day and felt the coolness of the dirt under our bare feet seep through our skin and replace the tiredness and heat like some kind of weird osmosis? Well, I can say that I have, and cherished every moment, not only because my grandfather was there but because I know children of the future may never experience things like that. This may sound a bit weird to many of you, but to those who have had these wonderful, invaluable experiences, you would understand what I mean when I say “I believe these experiences are absolutely necessary.”

I am instantly saddened when I think of children of future generations, because I realise the rate at which our environment is deteriorating is amazing. Very soon, perhaps, there will be nothing left but concrete structures, clogged drains, black rivers that stink. Or, maybe, very soon the entire country is going to be a Port-of-Spain. We are all aware that the horrible stench coming into our beloved capital is unbearable, and something must be done soon because our tourist industry, which is already limited because of crime, will be even more limited. So much construction is taking place, so much felling of our trees and burning of the land during the dry season, that all that is encountered when driving through our urban and rural areas is dust. No wonder the government found it necessary to add asthma medication to the list of the Chronic Disease Assistance Program (CDAP).

Not only is crime and pollution on the rise but so too are respiratory problems. Why? Too much construction, too much destruction of the environment and too little assistance for people who care about taking care of it, that’s why! Did I mention the cost of medication for problems like allergic rhinitis? I can assure you the cost is ridiculous. Go to any pharmacy and ask the price of Allegra or Singulair, you will see what I mean. Well I can see how pharmacies benefit, with the number of citizens who have respiratory problems increasing rapidly, pharmacists will soon become millionaires (if they aren’t already). The environment is ours to protect and we are the ones who have to live in it.

I am  certain no one enjoys the stench when driving through Port-of-Spain or seeing a clogged, black river with strange “objects” floating around. If we do not take care of what is ours then we might as well sit around and wait for our undoing. If we plant a tree today particularly one of those immortelle or poui trees, we know we may not live to enjoy its beauty, not to mention its shade, but we know we are providing for our children and their children. We must think of the future and stop polluting the environment. Think of it this way, what you throw out today may soon become your undoing and if not yours, your children’s.