Road Trip!!!

On Saturday 7th April, various Trinis from all over the UK (but mostly London) made a trip up to the Stadium of Light in Sunderland, to witness our three national players playing in front of their club home crowd.

Need less to say, it was stress! For me at least. When dealing with Trinis you must always be doubly prepared and have back up plan A, B and C. After so many people indicated that they would be going by coach, the majority of Trinis who went there as spectators chose to drive up, or fly up, or take the train up in the end. By the time we got to Sunderland I wished I had done the same.

I managed to get a smaller coach the afternoon before the trip by sheer luck. Mostly everyone got to the coach pick-up point on time. Some were there a whole hour early, which while commendable meant they were gonna be waiting a long time to leave London. The steelband members got there first because they were told an earlier time. But the carnival girls/models got there up to an hour late. So we left London more than an hour late.

As if that wasn’t bad enough, we had some “mature” folk on the coach who apparently had been drinking alcohol since we left London, and of course “had to go” often as a result. So on top of being late, we’re stopping more than we should. Then there was the catastrophe where the driver tried to make some short cut onto the A1. This did not work out. We went around in circles and eventually made it back on to the M1, but lost half an hour in the process.

End result? We got to the stadium just in time for kick off. Off course by the time we got in about 10 minutes of the match had already gone. But those were the lucky ones. I had to get the models and the steelband settled in. So I was very busy for awhile. By the time I got to my designated seat in the stands (right at the touch line mind you), it was 5 minutes to go in the first half. I missed nearly all of the first half, couldn’t believe it.

At least I got to hang with some Trinis in the stands at half time. And of course hear some soca playing on the loud speakers whilst the models made their way around the stadium. Talk about reaction. It was very funny to see the crowd react to the girls. It’s probably the first time many of those men have seen girls in carnival costumes before, much less dancing a jiggling about.

Anyways, second half starts and at least I’m right there to see the game. Enjoyed that bit. But when it was over, it was back to co-ordination and running around time. The steelband were all set to perform in the hospitality bar, and I had to round up all the Trinis I could find to let them know that we’re not gonna go off to look for a pub, we’re gonna party right here in the bar. With the steelband. Sweet!



But before I could soak up anymore atmosphere, it was time to go do the serious bit – the presentation of gifts by the Information Attache of the High Commission of T&T, Ashton Ford, to the three players, the club Chairman, the Manager and the PR Manager who was so helpful in getting the day organised. So I met the players and went up to the Director’s office with them, and stayed for the presentations.

Let me say that Niall Quinn, the club’s Chairman, is one tall man! Good looking as hell, and oh so tall. That was nice…..lol Anyways, the presentations were made, and lo and behold, one was made to me as well, for organising the day. After that little bit, I was asked to stay on a bit by Mr. Ford, and help him give out some memorabilia to the people in attendance. Of course they wanted to ask all sorts of questions about T&T, and the players. So didn’t get to leave for awhile. But I did let the players know that our supporters were in the bar having a jam session with the steelband. And they decided to go down and greet the fans and thank them for coming all this way.

Of course by the time I left the Director’s office and made my way back to the bar, the steelband was all packed up and a massive photo and autograph session was going on with the players. I just kept missing out on stuff all day….lol But did manage to get some photos with the players. Wish I had remembered about that and taken out some with Niall Quinn and Roy Keane. Sigh!

At about 6:45 pm it was time to head back, so we made our way to the coach, and even got a last minute wave and shout to the players as they came out to wave goodbye. It was a very memorable day, and from all concerned I’m told highly enjoyable. I’m glad everyone enjoyed themselves, though I wish I could have gone there as just a fan like everyone else too.

Before we could even get back to London, I’m handed a mobile phone and told someone wants to speak to me. It’s another of our national players here in the UK. He wants to know when we’re gonna do a Road Trip to his club now.



Good Lord! Here we go again………

Are you having a laugh?

Living here in the UK, it is imperative that you get some laughter and enjoyment in your life. The very bleakness and boredom that exists here means one of two things: either you become depressed by it all, or you do whatever it takes to lighten your spirit. I choose the latter, after about two years of wallowing in homesickness.

Never before have I valued the importance of American Black comedy. Yes, alot of it is beyond me, after all there is a cultural difference. And then there is the high volume of cursing that black stand-up comedians seem to think is vital to their repertoire.

But there are a few who bring on the laughs, even if you have to put up with the “cussing”. I find my collection of black stand-up comedy growing these days. My heroes, and current saviours from Sunday afternoon boredom-insanity are:



Richard Pryor























Eddie Murphy

























Steve Harvey

























Bernie Mac

























Eddie Griffin


























Dave Chapelle

Sporting Culture

Yes, Trinidad and Tobago has a sporting culture. From a very young age sports and competition is introduced to us. All those primary school meets and leagues. Even churches have their own heavily contested sports days. It carries on with even more intensity at the secondary school level. And now there are so many pro- and semi-pro leagues for all manner of sports.

Is it any wonder with a culture like this we have produced some world class sports men and women? But you might ask, how is it that a country with a population of just over a million, with no obvious funding channelled into sports, can produce such champions. It it the genes? The competing at such young ages? The food? I don't know, but that we are a sporting giant is in no doubt.


Here are a few of our country's finest (I'll update and add profiles in time):

Ato Boldon - Track & Field
























Brian Lara - Cricket


























Carlos Edwards - Football




















Cleopatra Borel-Brown - Track & Field

























Darrell Brown - Track & Field



























Dwight Yorke - Football

George Bovell 111 - Swimming





















Hasley Crawford - Track & Field






























Marc Burns - Track & Field

Shaka Hislop - Football

Stephen Ames - Golf

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?