Look who’s laughing now

I have visited a number of nightclubs and restaurants in and around the Miami/Pembroke Pines area and it appears that Jamaicans and Guyanese are much more advanced in their arts than Trinidadians.

As a matter of fact they produce our local food and entertainment much more than us and I am totally ashamed to see that other Caribbean countries promote Trinidad and Tobago than Trinidadians in Florida.

The few Trinidadian restaurants that do exist are not welcoming enough for a second or third visit.

We tend to laugh at the Guyanese for the way they speak and the primitive lifestyle they lead in Guyana, but come to Florida and you’ll see who is laughing, the Guyanese people have united themselves in such a way that is totally remarkable, unlike we Trinis.

Guyanese have some of the best restaurants, well kept, full of food, flavour and music. I went to this restaurant on Pines Blvd. The atmosphere reminds me so much of Trinidad and Tobago, the food is excellent, Soca music fuh so, I could have sworn that I found a good Trini spot only to realise it is owned by Guyanese.

I was amazed and disappointed at the same time, not at the Guyanese people for the wonderful effort they have achieved but for us Trinis for not taking pride in ourselves as we should. We rely on our sportsmen, beautiful women (pageants), calypsonians, chutney and crossover artistes and natural resources to do all the work for us.

Sometimes I feel ashamed to walk into another Caribbean restaurant and ask for a roti or a crab and calalloo or pholourie or doubles (bara) knowing well that we are the masters of these exotic cuisine and much much more.

When are we going to open our eyes?

Kurt Harnamji

Pembroke Pines

Florida