Why all the fuss about the abolition of slavery?

This year marks the 200th anniversary of passing of the act of parliament (in the UK) to abolish the slave trade. It is important to note that while this was done, those who were already slaves were not yet freed. This would happen many years later. But at least it was a step in the right direction and an admission, in a sense, that slavery was wrong.

It is also curious to note that the goverment of the day set aside £1Billion to compensate slave owners. However, none of the slaves themselves were compensated, ever. They thought to compensate owners for depriving them of property that they paid money for. Property. People as just property to be claimed against insurance for.

Is it any wonder that racism is still a problem in the world today with this mind set firmly ingrained in the european population for hundreds of year? I don't think 200 years has erased all of it.

In any case, I came across the lyrics of a song by The Mighty Sparrow, The Slave. This ladies and gentlemen is basically history in a song. It charts each stage of the slave's life, right up to finally being freed from slavery. It is a very sobering listen. Here it is:


The Slave
Performed by The Mighty Sparrow

I'm a slave from a land so far
I was caught and
I was brought here from Africa
I'm a slave from a land so far
I was caught and
I was brought here from Africa
Well it was licks like fire
From de white slavemaster
Everyday I dong on knees
Weeks and weeks before we cross de seas to reach in de West Indies

And den he make we wuk (den ah wuk)
And den ah wuk (he make meh wuk)
Good lord no pay
Ah toil
Ah toil, Ah toil
Ah toil so hard each day
I'm dying
Oh oh-oh...oh oh
I'm crying
Oh oh-oh...oh oh
Oh Lord I wanna be free

Many times ah wanted to run
But de (?) slavemaster standing dey wit de gun
Oh I know he go shoot to kill
So ah stay, stay and ah pray
But ah planning still
I study night and day how to break away
Ah got to make a brilliant escape
But everytime ah tink about de whip an' dem dogs
Meh body does start tuh shake

He make we wuk (den ah wuk)
Ah said ah wuk (he make meh wuk)
Oh lord no pay
Ah toil
Ah toil, Ah toil
Ah toil so hard each day
I'm dying
Oh oh-oh...oh oh
I'm crying
Oh oh-oh...oh oh
Oh Lord I wanna be free

La la la la la...

In my heart, there was much to say
Ah always hope de boss woulda listen to me some day
Although he knew (damn well knew) my request was very small
But de sting ah the whip there to answer me when ah call
We had to chant and sing to express ourselves
To dat wicked and cruel man
That was the only medicine to make he listen
And is so calypso began

He make we wuk (den ah wuk)
Ah said ah wuk (he make meh wuk)
Oh lord no pay
Ah toil
Ah toil, ah toil
Ah toil hard each day
I'm dying
Oh ooh-oh-oh...oh oh
I'm crying
Oh ooh-oh-oh...oh oh
Oh Lord I wanna be free

(La da da da dey....)

And den times change in so many, many many ways
Then one day somebody said "Free de bloody slaves"
I was then
Put out on the street
Ah ha' no clothes, ha' no food and no place to sleep
Worst of all
Had no education, no particular ambition
This I cannot conceal
Forgot my native culture
Ah lived like a vulture, from de white man ah had to steal

Because he make we wuk
Ah said ah wuk
Oh lord no pay
Ah toil
Ah toil
Ah toil, ah toil
Ah toil hard each day
I'm dying
Oh ooh-oh-oh...oh oh.....
I'm crying
Oh ooh-oh-oh...oh oh.....
Oh Lord I wanna be free

What is a Trini?


Trini is the shortened version of Trinidadian, used to describe a person who is from the twin-island republic of Trinidad and Tobago.

So where are we?

Trinidad is located a mere 7 miles off the coast of Venezuela, with Tobago some 20 miles north-east of Trinidad. Check out the Caribbean map below.





























Who are we?

We have quite a population mix. It’s a little like London. There is a majority (some 70%) comprising people of African or Indian descent. In addition to these you have a sizeable Mixed Race population, Whites, Chinese/Asian, Syrian/Lebabnese, Spanish (Latin American, mostly from Venezuela), along with a sprinkling of Jews and Native Americans (called Caribs).

What are we like?

Well, we are known as party people. There’s a saying that come hell or high water, Trinis will party. We believe in enjoying life. So you find certain things are important to us – socialising, food (serious variety), drinking (we have some of the strongest rums in the world), education, jobs/working/status (an unemployment rate of only 5.8%), property/housing, nice cars, vacations/travelling, sports (football & cricket in particular), even beauty pageants. We are also very patriotic. Doesn’t matter if you were born in the US/UK, and never visited TnT before, as long as you had a Trini parent, or even grandparent, you’re a Trini till you die. Or as we like to say “Trini to de bone”.

Our economy is mainly based on oil, natural gas and various other petrochemical products, resulting in some of the largest industrial plants in the western hemisphere. Other major economy contributors include the finance sector, manufacturing sector (food & household supplies) and most recently the tourism sector.

What might you like about TnT?

First, there’s carnival. Two months of parties and festivals, music, food, drink and people. All major religions are recognised in TnT, so there are lots of festivals to celebrate (there are 16 national holidays on the calendar). Our people are some of the friendliest, warmest people you’ll meet. There are loads of places to go socialise, whether you’re into the club scene, malls, cinemas, restaurants, concerts, theatre, sports / fun days, cricket & football matches. Then there are the usual island things, like going to the beach, hiking in the rain forest, rivers, waterfalls, kayaking, bird watching, scuba diving, snorkelling….or just lazing around.
Now, we all speak English. Very well in fact. But given the population mix, and our previous history as a Spanish/French occupied colony, some of those languages have been kept. Throw in the sizeable Indian (or as you say “asian”) population, and we mix in a bit of Hindi as well. We have our own dialect, which involves mixing some words from these various languages in with normal English sentences, as well as shortening words and phrases.

For more information on Trinidad and Tobago, check out the tourism website:

http://www.visittnt.com/

Trivia: Did you know that Trinidad and Tobago is the number one supplier of natural gas to the US, supplying them with some 80% of their total natural gas imports?