Yes, it sounds shocking in these relentlessly PC days, but the thing is, you didn’t kill all of the animals; a few survived and existed undisturbed for several years and now they’re ready to multiply.

What these “dinosaurs”, as they will no doubt be known, were waiting for was the chance to rise to power, and the “that’s inappropriate” brigade have only themselves to blame for not completing the genocide that would have reduced the human population to a shuffling mass of well-meaning imbeciles.

The process is led, as usual, by the USA, where somehow Donald Trump remained true to himself and his forthright nature before having a crack at the world’s top job and finding that even many of those who found him appalling in some ways secretly admired what he stood for.

The Americans have had enough of being nice to everybody. They have finally tired of sitting on the toilet looking at the label inside their Levi’s that tells them that although the traditional buttons and studs proclaim the origin as San Francisco, California, they were actually made in Mexico or Cambodia. They’re sick to death of riding around in Japanese cars and justifying it to themselves and their friends as being because of quality and reliability.

Why should their own products be inferior? And if they were inferior, isn’t the answer to improve them, rather than dump them altogether and go elsewhere? I should declare at this point that this column is in no way an endorsement of Trump, but a quick insight into what got him elected, and that is: nationalism. Patriotism. It’s the sort of thing that people from minority groups (Including smaller, non-powerful countries) feel is their right. It’s the sort of thing that the more powerful, the more high-profile, are not allowed to do in the PC world because if they do it it’s seen as arrogance.

Yes, there is something slightly nauseating about hearing masters of ceremonies solemnly raising their voice as they introduce “The Prezznt a the Unah Stays Ameraca”. But is it any more irritating than hearing Venezuelans banging on about being Venezuelan? We applaud that, because they’re a proud nation in crisis and they’re not shouting at the world, but at their own unwanted leader.

Meanwhile, over in Europe, the quiet, happy family led by German Chancellor Angela Merkel is coming to terms with the fact that the UK has not only decided to divorce them but has appointed Boris Johnson as its Foreign Secretary.

This is a position that involves fostering good relationships with others.

Boris (and you can tell how he is regarded by the fact that he is often referred to by just his first name) is a deceptively clownish figure with a chequered past.

Oxford-educated and coming from a posh background, Boris is cut from the same cloth as David Cameron, but his larger-than-life persona and sense of humour make him less Lord Snooty than lovable rogue. He made a career in journalism, quickly rising to the level of editor at a famous magazine, The Spectator.

Twice married and a noted philanderer, he bonked his way around the south of England and into the gossip columns, yet still managed to get selected as a Conservative MP and served in the Shadow Cabinet before becoming Mayor of London, a position he used to raise his profile with a view (many people suspect) to one day becoming Prime Minister.

Then the woman who actually is Prime Minister, the 100% charisma- free, elderly schoolteacher figure Theresa May, gave him the second most important job in the government, which is rather like giving an 11-year-old an AK47 for his birthday.

So off goes Boris into Europe at this sensitive Brexit time and tells the Italians that if they don’t maintain strong trade links with the UK it’s going to affect their sales of Prosecco, a sparkling white wine that has become phenomenally popular with the British.

This, of course, was a joke, the sort of thing that would be batted like a balloon around the sort of dinner parties Boris no doubt enjoys, but the Italians chose to take offence.

You can’t it seems, be facetious when you’re a politician.

What the success of these two bumptious characters demonstrates is that the political correctness that many see as the foundation of world stability is a ball and chain made of paper, and that given a bit of encouragement, vast numbers of us will break free and return to our old ways. That doesn’t mean we will become monsters, but it will become more difficult for Miss to control the class.

So with these precedents, when Jack Warner returns from whatever exile he is currently in, who’s going to be the people’s choice for PM?

How true as we begin the season of Advent.

Advent invites us to enter into the mystery of waiting which has both its negative and positive aspects. Waiting is generally seen as negative.

The success of world activity is determined by its speed as evidenced by the email, cellphone, Whatsapp and assorted technologies. Our bosses want things ASAP; we want violent crime to stop ‘Now!’, the economy to recover overnight, and our youths want to ‘grow up’ ever so quickly.

Advent, however, is of a different pace. To understand its mystery we have to look at mothers patiently waiting to give birth, hoping for a healthy and safe delivery at a time when our maternal and infant mortality rates are unacceptably high. Mothers cannot rush pregnancy; they have to partner with God, with time, and waiting.

Nature also teaches us about waiting: mangoes bear in their own season and poinsettias that adorn our churches at Christmas bloom in December.

In temperate countries, people have to wait through fall and winter before spring comes.

The Son of God also had to wait in the darkness of the tomb until the Father raised him on high.

Waiting creatively is a great grace. There are sins against waiting.

One is violence. We find God is taking his merry own time. We cry out: ‘God, put ah hand!” and he doesn’t. Then we take things into our own hands. We give in to a criminal mentality and create our own brand of justice: revenge, extortion, murder, corruption, religious extremism.

In relationships that we cannot control-especially those involving wives and girlfriends, we use force: domestic abuse and often death. But relationships do not go sour overnight and fixing them will not happen overnight. We have to pray for the Advent grace of waiting, trusting that God will work in his own way and his own time.

Another sin against waiting is despair. We have to admit waiting brings its fair share of angst-existential fear or dread.

Many feel this way following the election of Donald Trump: will illegal immigrants be sent back home? Are we looking at rising international political tensions and the possibility of war? We find ourselves not only hoping but hoping against hope, as we do for the children of the Middle East, defending ourselves against the charge of a heartless God. Our angst reaches the point where we too scream from our own crosses: ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” But all lamentations of this sort were redeemed at Calvary so that we too can say to despair and its bedfellows: ‘I know that my Redeemer lives!’ Advent hope springs from a resurrection that went into hell.

Our comfort therefore is real and the hope we offer sincere for we know that God, in his own time, does “put ah hand”.

What is it that one is trying to achieve and why? It should start with the needs of the people in the communities.

Those needs include among others, a reliable water supply, safe communities, a swift response to fire and health emergencies, adequate sporting facilities, access to government services and a clean environment.

The next stage ought to be discussions as to the best ways to achieve the objectives agreed upon. Finally, the discussion should shift to cost and means of finding sustainable ways to maintain the quality of the services offered.

Those are the basic steps for local government reform. Only after a thorough examination of the needs of the communities can there be buy in to a new vision for local government reform. I have suggested in the past that the present system of regional corporations has no relevance to the communities that has been established of the years.

Consequently, the cooperation and “buy in” necessary for a successful execution of a modern local government system cannot be achieved by the structures currently in effect. There is need to establish the following: • borders for the communities • the services that are required for the community • the personnel and skill set required • the infrastructure required and the management model for income and sustainability. After that has been determined, only then can one enact appropriate legislation to meet the demands of a modern local government structure.

Serious local government reform cannot be a top down model with no specific goals.

God Bless Our Nation.

STEVE ALVAREZ via email

When I am offshore on a Thursday and told, ‘’AV, Roti,’’ I reply, ‘’Say it again.This is not a drill.’’ My grandmother, surname Francis, made excellent roti.

Roti originated from the Indian subcontinent. It is made from flour. Roti is enjoyed in India, Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Maldives, Malaysia, Bangladesh, South Africa, Fiji, Mauritius, Trinidad/Tobago, Guyana, Suriname, Jamaica, Grenada and St Vincent and the Grenadines. I have had good roti in New York, Texas and Washington. My mother-in-law makes the best roti for me.

Roti basically is a bread wrapped around a filling and eaten as a sandwich. The filling can be curried meat.

There are different types of roti. For instance, Sada roti, Paratha roti, Dhalpuri, Aloopuri, Dosti, Pepper and Piper roti.

Roti can be eaten with curries and stews. Vegetarian options are also available.

Roti can be served with chicken, duck, goat, beef, conch and shrimp. Rotis are time specific, my dad makes a pepper roti on the morning of a wedding. Puris are eaten in Guyana when a child is born.

All this talk about roti has made me hungry. Man cannot live by bread alone so I will buy roti.

I am going by a roti shop.

‘’What, no pork roti?’’ Now that is discrimination. Roti is not racial. Roti is universal.

AV RAMPERSAD Princes Town @newsday.co.tt

When I am offshore on a Thursday and told, ‘’AV, Roti,’’ I reply, ‘’Say it again.This is not a drill.’’ My grandmother, surname Francis, made excellent roti.

Roti originated from the Indian subcontinent. It is made from flour. Roti is enjoyed in India, Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Maldives, Malaysia, Bangladesh, South Africa, Fiji, Mauritius, Trinidad/Tobago, Guyana, Suriname, Jamaica, Grenada and St Vincent and the Grenadines. I have had good roti in New York, Texas and Washington. My mother-in-law makes the best roti for me.

Roti basically is a bread wrapped around a filling and eaten as a sandwich. The filling can be curried meat.

There are different types of roti. For instance, Sada roti, Paratha roti, Dhalpuri, Aloopuri, Dosti, Pepper and Piper roti.

Roti can be eaten with curries and stews. Vegetarian options are also available.

Roti can be served with chicken, duck, goat, beef, conch and shrimp. Rotis are time specific, my dad makes a pepper roti on the morning of a wedding. Puris are eaten in Guyana when a child is born.

All this talk about roti has made me hungry. Man cannot live by bread alone so I will buy roti.

I am going by a roti shop.

‘’What, no pork roti?’’ Now that is discrimination. Roti is not racial. Roti is universal.

AV RAMPERSAD Princes Town @

On a track made sloppy by overnight rain, the three-year-old son of Performing Magic/Bitter End owned by Dr Rupert Indasr Jr, tracked early leader and evens favouerite Bigman In Town for most of the 1800 metres trip.

And when jockey Brian Boodramsingh asked for an effort, he joined the three-time winner of the race 800 metres out and galloped on to a 1 3/4 length victory over the 2014 Derby winner.

For Bigman In Town ita a tremendous effort having not raced for more than 11 months and giving ythe winner 4.5 kilos.

Earlier, Set Sail displayed her devastating speed in winning the Futurity Stakes for locallyu-bred two-year-old over 1100 metres.

Sent off as the odds-on ? favourite, Dave Chadee’s daughter of Gold Market/Luv Boat, took up the running in the 1100 metres event after 200, metres and the previously unbeaten Cactus Treasure tried to go with her.

But when jockey Sheldon Rodrigo gave her the office 800 metres out, she set sail for home and won in a good time of one minute 06.62 seconds, hand timed, leaving runner up Blind Date four lengths adrift. Cactus Treasure plodded on and finished third another 1 1/4 lengths back.

Ronald “Tiger” Ali made another big stride toward winning this year’s jockeys title when he landed Jesse’s Girl while defenxing champion Prayven Badrie had a blank day. He now leads 42 to 37. It was another good day for favourite backers with only one of two Hi5 dividends reaching $7,055.80.

No jockey managed more than one winning ride, but Lester Alexis and John Leotaud stood out among trainers..co.tt

Hector opened his account in the 20th minute before Toussaint notched his fifth goal of the season __ which took him to joint-first along with Jabloteh striker Willias Plaza and Central FC defender/ midfielder Darren Mitchell, in the 29th.

Jabloteh’s Tyrone Charles could have halved the deficit in the 52nd, when he made a good run from the left, but his right-footed shot sailed overbar. Jabloteh had a couple chances to score from a corner-kick in the 59th minute, which they failed to do, and paid dearly for it when Aikim Andrews led a counter-attack and the move was finished by Hector, who slotted his right-footed shot past goalkeeper Shemel Louison, on the second attempt. On Tuesday last, in a double-header at the Ato Boldon Stadium in Couva, Police whipped Defence Force 2-0 while Ma Pau Stars eked out a 1-0 win over Morvant Caledonia United.

The other set of Round One Match Day Eight encounters will be staged this Tuesday, with a pair of games at the Mahaica Oval in Point Fortin.

At 5 pm, Central FC will battle St Ann’s Rangers and, at 7.30 pm, Club Sando will oppose Point Fortin Civic.

In related news, the semi-final round of the First Citizens Cup will be staged today at the Ato Boldon Stadium, with Caledonia facing Defence Force at 4 pm, followed by the showdown between Police and Ma Pau Stars two hours later.

After day one on Friday was completely washed out due to rain, only 57 overs were possible yesterday due to inclement weather.

The hosts were cruising at 162 without loss but lost four wickets for 10 runs in the closing stages as the Red Force closed on 173/4. Spin bowlers Rahkeem Cornwall (2/39) and Kieran Powell (2/16) shared the wickets to leave the match interestingly poised heading into day three.

Kyle Hope continued his top form stroking his third half century of the season but could not convert his score into three figures as he fell for 86. The right-hander played positively hitting 10 fours in his 119-ball knock. Hope scored 56 and 79 not out against the Windward Islands Volcanoes in Round One. Left-handed Isaiah Rajah looked solid at the crease on his First Class debut contributing 69 off 161 deliveries which comprised 11 fours.

With many overs lost to rain TT Red Force played aggressively maybe in an effort to bat once in the match to force an outright win.

However, wickets tumbled in the closing stages which stemmed the flow of runs for the Red Force. Hope was the first to go as he was given leg before to Cornwall, before Rajah fell shortly after to Powell.

Red Force captain Yannick Ottley fell for one off Powell as his poor run of form continued this season. Ottley scored 10, 13 and two in his previous innings this season.

The Red Force sent in nightwatchman Marlon Richards but the strategy did not work as he was dismissed first ball to Cornwall to leave TT on 172/4.

Yannic Cariah (seven) and Jyd Goolie (one) avoided any further damage seeing TT to the close.

Play resumes today from 9.30 am weather permitting

Serrette will return as president after receiving 65 votes compared to Paul Voisin’s 32 at the Annual General Meeting at Radisson Hotel in Port of Spain. Most of the former regime returned to their previous positions. George Commissiong was re-elected as first vice-president with 64 votes to defeat Brent Elder, while Allan Baboolal will serve as second vice-president after earning 49 votes compared to Kevin Sorillo’s 42 and Albert King’s three votes.

Carlene Haynes (54 votes) will serve as treasurer of the NAAA again, defeating challenger Aisha Martin who earned 40 votes. Both Dexter Voisin and Andre Leung Woo Gabriel returned as the secretary and assistant secretary respectively after going up unapposed.

Five directors were also elected yesterday with Dawn Washington, Durly Lucas, Robin Brereton, Lucretia Burns and Ronnell Barclay earning places. Barclay is the only new director elected replacing Ian Carter.

After being re-elected as president Serrette said the Association’s Development Meets is one of the priorities on the agenda. Serrette stated, “I was always confident (of victory). I brought the Association to a particular level and I think we have work to complete and we have already had an agenda for the Development Meets moving forward for next year as well as we have awards functions. We have quite a few things to address.”

“The reality is that we do have to eat as well,” he states.

Still caught in the era of the stage performer, the music industry in Trinidad and Tobago has

now formed a bottleneck – many people vying for one ground – the stage. But Navid Lancaster many years before, recognised that music simply didn’t mean just stage performances.

“See, I quickly realised that you can put music in anything. So I started attending conferences

that had nothing to do with music. And that’s how I got into Anime Caribe. I had just

gone to market myself.” It’s as simple as that. The business of music is an infant field here

in Trinidad and Navid Lancaster can very well be one of its pioneers. Lancaster’s early love of music manifested itself at age five when he remembered listening to the songs of Styx, particularly ‘Babe’ and George Benson’s version of ‘The Greatest Love of All’, both songs that he learnt by heart. His ear caught the sounds of instruments as well that captivated him. The

violin remains one such.

“It was entirely by chance that I ended up in film,” Lancaster said.

Highly doubtful, Lancaster’s career thus far had shown evidence of his drive to follow his musical calling. It was one that had allowed him to identify areas which needed to be tapped into.

“People say it’s difficult to make a living through music. While in this economy it is, it isn’t impossible.” What follows after Buck, would be a series of films that won numerous awards for which Lancaster served in the capacities of music producer, music editor and composer.

Among them Jab In The Dark (2013) – Winner of People’s Choice Award. Best Short.

TT FF – Navid Lancaster (Film Composer).

Pan: Our Music Odyssey (2014) – Multiple Award Winning Feature Film / PBS Broadcasted – Navid Lancaster (Technical Assistance).

Pan: Our African Odyssey (2015) – Winner of Best T&T Feature Length Documentary.

TT FF – Navid Lancaster (Music Editor / Sound Mixer).Tomb (2016) – First ever feature length Science Fiction film shot entirely in T&T – Navid Lancaster (Music composer of the launch sequence in the film) and ‘The Old Higue’ Trailer (2016) – Collaboration of three countries.

(GAN – Guyana Animation Network / SAN – Suriname Animation Network and music composed by Navid Lancaster).

It’s no surprise that he can say with conviction that “If you want your film to win an award, it has to pass through my hands first.” Lancaster’s drive to tap into markets that others are not focussing on has led him from genre to genre, from recording pan, to music for mobile apps and video games.

His latest is Banana Boat – currently seeking crowd-funding – an animation film for children where he will work as music producer and sound designer.

If he were to advise young producers, Lancaster says, “Listen to a lot of music from different cultures. It’s the only way to expand your brain. Once you start doing that, your brain will climb out of that box of 4/4 rhythms, bacchanal music, dead on Ash Wednesday kind of music. Go to musicians who actually play their instruments and question them about the instrument. Get some grounding in the actual reality of it. Even if you work with samples, instead of downloading sample packs, you can record the actual instruments so you can do your own samples.

At least you then have some connection with what you are creating.

You are trying to create something out of nothing.

“And truth be told, all of us borrow from the past anyway. Nothing works in a vacuum.” Navid Lancaster’s work is evidence of his openness to various genres and constant interaction with the latest happenings in the music industry. He exemplifies the new, technology- age musician, one who moves between stage and technology, between the real world and the virtual world.

Even in the Internet, social media age, to be a producer, “if you can’t relate to people, your music is not going to be heard. It takes a lot of practice and a lot of failure. But it is still the end user, the listener, who puts value to your work.” Navid Lancaster’s work can be viewed and heard on his website www.lancastltd.com.

Search for it and enjoy the layers of music from this very versatile music producer/sound designer.