AROUCA TIDBITS.

A Beautiful Harmony of Human and Natural Resources.

2011-08-07T03:43:00.012-04:00

The Nutshell:

The Lopinot/Bon Air West Partnership Assembly (LBWPA) was formed on April 26^th 2011 and comprises members of the United National Congress and of the Congress of the People and persons of non-partisan affiliation, all of whom share common aspirations for the uplifting and prosperity of the communities in which they live or seek a living -the area presently known as Lopinot/Bon Air West (LBW)..

Since its formation, LBWPA has reviewed the state of Lopinot/Bon Air West, in particular the state of her human, natural and built resources, to determine what remedial, renovating or ground-breaking strategies and tactics must be encouraged and implemented to enable local and external populations at last and in sustainable manner to enjoy the fullest potential LBW has to offer.

This report is the result of that review and is prepared for presentation to the Prime Minister, The Honourable Kamla Persad-Bissessar, to assist her Cabinet in determining LBW’s share of the National Budget for Fiscal Year 2011- 2012.

Aptly-named “Lopinot/Bon Air West -A Beautiful Harmony Of Human and Natural Resources”, it represents the first-fruits of LBWPA’s work, for it proposes something which has never before been done (or, if done, remains well-hidden) -a holistic, practical programme of physical infrastructure works and other interventions geared to improve the quality of life in Lopinot/Bon Air West (which is the initial step in getting the people of Lopinot/Bon Air West to gel, thence, as already mentioned, to unleash their creativity so their constituency would, at last, realize its true potential).

LBWPA estimates the total cost of the identified projects will be TT$495m (see Page 3 for the tabular summary), or just about one percent (1%) of anticipated State Annual Expenditure during Fiscal Year 2011-2012.

The Engine:

The core members of the LBWPA (and their portfolios) are:

1. Stacy-Ann Samaroo Youth, Legal, and Research Matters

2. Dianne Bishop-Bajnath Local Government and Gender Matters

3. Kassie Maharaj Sports Matters

4. Sheldon Lai Leung Security and Public Relations Matters

5. Farouk Khan Historical and Environmental Matters

6. Errol Roberts Creative Arts and Social Relations Matters

7. Michael N. Thomas Education and Sports Matters

8. Rajesh Singh Food Production Matters

9. Winston L. Drayton Strategic Planning and Monitoring Matters

10. Earle Filmore Johnson Social Welfare Matters

11. Anthony Crichlow Logistical Planning and Support Matters

12. Elvis Smith Physical Infrastructure Matters

13. Cassandra Gayah Human Resource Development Matters

14. Ryan Glasgow Information Technology and Strategic Planning Issues

15. Natalie Skinner Member

16. Jennifer Qasim Member

17. Louise Gemma Granado Member

18. Zameer Ali Member

19. Paula Samuel Member; and

20. Richard Wm Thomas Co-ordinator, Governmental and Employment Creation Matters

“...For those to whom much is given, much is required. And when, at some future date, The High Court of History sits in judgement of each of us, recording whether in our brief span of service we fulfilled our responsibilities to our country, our success or failure in whatever office we hold will be measured by the answers to four questions:

First! Were we truly men and women of courage?

Second! Were we truly men and women of sound judgement?

Third! Were we truly men and women of integrity?

Finally! Were we truly men and women of dedication?”

John Fitzgerald Kennedy.

FOOTNOTE: LBWPA’s Co-ordinator, Richard Wm Thomas and its Youth, Legal and Research Director, Stacy-Ann Samaroo, were given the task of collecting and compiling the information needed for this report.

The Techniques:

Because the success of proposals such as herein-outlined requires the participation of local inhabitants at both planning and implementation stages, emphasis was placed upon devising culturally-sensitive solutions to specific problems, rather than on applying across-the-board scripts to varying social and ecological scenarios.

For purposes of this brief then, not only did LBWPA draw from its own knowledge of the area, but it also examined relevant records of the Central Statistical Office, Election and Boundaries Commission (EBC) and Lands and Surveys Division and public-domain documents detailing previously-undertaken studies of areas and natural drainage systems similar to LBW’s (e.g. Caura, El Dorado and St. Joseph, all of which, like LBW, extend from the ridges of the Northern Range to the Caroni River).

LBWPA also reviewed data collected from scientific analyses of the water quality in LBW rivers before, during and after heavy rains.

Plus, it was guided by information gleaned from and from face-to-face interviews conducted with users and occupants of LBW lands and of local and foreign and visitors frequenting the Arouca River in the upper Lopinot Valley for recreational, religious and eco-tourism purposes (regarding those interviews, see the next two tables).

The Flame:

In every democratic society there are certain views which are accepted by all and sundry. One is: governmental policy and action only redound to the benefit of the governed when the governed have meaningful say in how such policy and action are shaped and implemented. Another is: without proper planning (or thereof implementation), people are always hapless victims of circumstance, never masters of their destiny.

Therefore, for each such society to avoid being ground to the dust, it must do three things:

maintain the good things it possesses;
create or devise new things or new ways of doing things; and
abandon futile ways of doing things.

The last of the three is the most vital.

Besides the above, to get a good grasp on the thinking behind this document, several points need to be kept in mind.

Firstly, people occupy land because they are attracted to it; thus, no sensible land-use policy can be devised without first understanding what that attraction is...which, in turn, means the mindsets and expectations of the people who use or will use LBW’s land have also to be understood. Secondly, as with any area of the Northern Range foothills, unchecked land development and use in LBW can and will set off disastrous consequences that go far beyond her geographic boundaries. Thirdly, LBW encompasses the still relatively-unspoilt Lopinot Valley and the Cleaver Woods Nature Park, locations which have long allowed local and foreign residents to enjoy healthy outdoor-recreational and educational activities, in an almost natural riparian setting, while simultaneously creating sustainable (though not yet maximized) profit-making opportunities for LBW’s own residents.

Therefore, one of the major constraints to striking the right balance in LBW land-use planning process is that of appropriately identifying and siting intensive housing, agricultural, commercial, recreational and conservation areas, since a regionally holistic matrix of the best means of LBW land management cannot be otherwise reached.

It’s a tall order, yes, but, without vision, people remain in the dark. Don’t be surprised, then, to learn what fuels LBWPA’s thinking:

Lopinot/Bon Air West was created to be a beautiful harmony of human and natural resources. Let’s make it!

The Nature:

Throughout history, human occupation and land use within LBW’s boundaries have been concentrated in savannah, riparian and foothill areas. That has been the case because geographically, LBW is situated in the Northern Range watershed. The Northern Range itself is an extension of the Caribbean coast range of Venezuela and, geologically, a part of the eastern branch of the Andean mountain chain.

Three main groups of soils are prevalent in the Northern Range, two of which are metamorphic and one colluvial or alluvial. The metamorphic soil structure of LBW is mostly of the Maracas-Matelot Type. This type is found in the steeply-sloping upland Northern Range areas. The Colluvial or Alluvial (Terrace) Types is located in the foothill and valley areas.

All the well-established “natural vegetation” found in LBW is really secondary forest growth, since the primordial jungles were destroyed by forest fires which engulfed the entire mountain range during the worst island-wide drought ever -in 1869.

In the upland areas, soil depths vary between 20cm 160cm, the bulk being of the shallower end of the spectrum. These soils tend to erode when distressed, so, the underlying concern in developing sloping land such as LBW’s is to do no harm, meaning: leave them intact, or, if at all they are to be used, apply sound and approved scientific principles so land erosion and flooding would not consequently “develop”. We shall revert to this issue as this saga progresses.

Archaeology has long confirmed that the key to promoting and sustaining human settlement is the ready availability of potable water; and LBW is drained and or watered by over a dozen ravines and rivers (the three major, if one travels towards the Orient, being: the Tacarigua, the Arouca and the Mausica). Hence, in pre-Columbian times, LBW’s indigenous peoples (the Araucas) settled in three vicinities:

the western end -then and still called “Tacarigua”;
the heart of LBW constituency -then called “Arauca”, now called “Dunder Hill, Arouca”;and
the eastern end -then and still called “Arima”.

They would have also so chosen as the topography there is mostly flat, encompassing the narrow savannah strips north of the Eastern Main Road (from Tacarigua to Arima) which are interrupted only by Cleaver Hill, while the rest of the territory takes in the foothills and the mountainous areas northwards...apart from the savannah called “Lopinot Village”, that is.

LBW’s early inhabitants were a subgroup of the Nepuyo tribe which originated in the Lower Orinoco.

Though they lived in villages -for they were essentially farmers, tilling the fertile and well-watered alluvial soil to grow mahyoc (cassava) and taino (maize)- the Araucas also were excellent hunters and fishermen; and the dense tropical forests were profuse with wildlife, such as armadillo (Dasypus novemcintus), iguana (Iguana iguana), opossum, or manicou, (Didelphis marsupialis), deer (Mazama Americana), lappe (Agouti paca) and agouti (Dasyprocta aguti); while clear waters of the region’s many rivers and streams teemed with fish, including catfish (Rhamdia sebea), sardine (Cichlasoma bimaculatum), guabin (Hoplias malabaricus), tayta (Hypostomus robinii) and crayfish (Macrobrachium spp.).

For hundreds, thousands of years, LBW remained in the boondocks, as it were -the land was essentially untouched...its indigenous people (the Araucas) lived in peace...food was abundant...population centres were established in a way which gave inhabitants space to breathe...man understood how utterly dependent upon Nature he was, so he treated his natural environment with awe, love and respect. Then the Europeans came...looking for gold and silver. They didn’t find any in Iere, but established small bases in Cumucurapo (near to where Fatima College is today) and in Chaguaramas, whence they restocked and launched expeditions to South and Central America and the larger Caribbean isles. So, for a long, long while, the original natural landscape and flora and fauna of Lopinot/Bon Air West remained unscathed.

The Generation:

It took nearly three hundred years following Cristobal Colon’s sighting the isle of Iere for LBW to be transformed from an area of pristine forest and grasslands, populated by thousands of harmoniously-living indigenous people, to a land of huge and privately-owned estates given over to growing sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum), cacao (Chrysophyllum cainito), citrus (Citrus sinensis), tonca bean (Dipteryx odorata) and cashew (Anarcardium occidentale), or rearing of ruminants for the benefit of Europeans. (By the way, Colon sighted Iere from off the Galeota and Manzanilla shores...never mind what they taught at school, he never saw Moruga!)

But for the majority of LBW’s occupants, the attendant demographic evolution did not come easily -it was driven by a few exploiting the many, as the Spanish introduced the Encomienda System; it was supposed to protect the Araucas (from what? Heaven knows!); in reality, by it the Araucas were made to slave for the Spanish and paid a very heavy price as a result, so much so that, by 1765, when Governor José Antonio Gil did a census, the inhabitants of the three encomiendas of Arauca, Tacarigua and Caura numbered just seven hundred and three (of which the encomienda village at Arauca accounted for two hundred and seventy-nine souls). By 1785, the number had fallen to six hundred and twenty-six.

Shortly after the second count, another Spanish Governor, José Maria Chacon, had all remaining Araucas forcibly removed to the Catholic Mission in the Arima River Valley. He did this to make room for the huge influx of French colonists (and their thousands of African slaves) from the French colonies, where African slave rebellions, inspired by the French Revolution, had turned European life on its heels.

The arrival of the French dramatically altered the LBW demographic -instead of indigenous people, it was now dominated by Africans -slaves greatly outnumbered the European massas; then, after Emancipation, by a mix of Africans and Indians -the latter came as Indentureds. Since Indentureship ended, the profile remains unchanged.

Yet, harsh as the times were for the majority of LBW’s population, those who controlled LBW’s natural resources understood how utterly dependent upon the land for their livelihood they were, so they made sure the natural environment was handled with awe, love and respect

So it was that LBW land-use status quo remained agrarian, until around the outbreak of World War Two, when, just south and east of LBW’s borders, vast expanses of agricultural land were given over to the American and British armies -for the establishment of military bases.

The motto of the Americans was “Time Is Short!” They were deadly serious (no pun intended), as they needed to hit the ground running -a war was on, remember? To help construct those military installations, the bases needed artisans, by the thousands. Some they brought; some they sought. All were paid top dollar. But available LBW labour was insufficient in number or not skilled enough to meet the demand, so job-seekers came in droves, from places beyond, even from up the Caribbean...just like in the decades after the French Revolution.

The newly-arrived needed lodgings, but the lands were overwhelmingly under profitable cultivation. However, the fundamental economic theory of demand-and-supply prevailed, for plantation owners soon realized they could make just as much or more profit, with less hassle, if they converted some additional acreage to residential use. Parts of Dinsley, Paradise, Cane Farm, Five Rivers, Bon Air and Garden Estates were carved out for sale, lease or rent to persons providing services related to the new military bases. Oddly though, most of the residential plots ended up being taken by incumbent workers of the long-established estates, or by their families. The implications will be later described. When the war ended, the military bases were converted to a prison -Golden Grove.

The main agricultural operation (the Orange Grove Sugar Factory) remained in control of most of LBW’s lands, until, finally, in the late 1980s, it was closed. Cessation of those operations so facilitated the conversion of vast acreages of former sugarcane lands to intensive housing that EBC figures detail how, between 1990 and 2010, the number of registered voters (all adults) jumped from sixteen thousand and twenty-three (16,023), to twenty-three thousand, one hundred and fifty-seven (23,957), a leap of seven thousand, one hundred and thirty-four (7,934). In other words, during the twenty-year period spanning 1990 to 2010, the adult population of LBW shot up by a minimum of forty-nine point five two percent (49.52%)!

So it was the final evolution of LBW’s landscape began, for the dramatic increase in residential population required a concomitant boost to the housing stock. We shall next see how those changes unleashed a miscellany of woes upon LBW’s physical appearance and quality of life.

The Degeneration:

Ever since Orange Grove Sugar Estate folded, almost all of LBW’s increased housing activity (which is on former Orange Grove Lands) has come by way of thoughtless State-funded/facilitated housing schemes...and, by residential squatting, for it cannot be coincidental that the advent of these housing schemes and residential squatting heralded the emergence of LBW’s human populations’ wanton disregard for her natural environment.

Indeed, the above graphic grimly says it all, as it pinpoints the essence of why the modern-day LBW has veered off the excellent pathway carved by her ancient occupants, for, in the case of State-funded/facilitated housing schemes, gaining or reinforcing political control of LBW was the main determinant. Thus, whereas for eons LBW housing development was a measured thing -residential occupants invariably worked on estates which owned the land where they lived, thus community spirit ran deep- the new thinking was to build houses in choke-up, choke-up (very, very dense) fashion and stuff them with occupants transported wholesale from locales far beyond LBW’s borders!

The transplanted neither worked nor had familial ties to LBW. That meant LBW communities which had fraternally and symbiotically coexisted for generations suddenly found themselves vastly outnumbered or rent apart by strangers in their own backyard, as it were.

It is noteworthy that nearly every one of the new residents earned (and still earn) their livelihood outside of LBW! Therefore, during weekday daylight hours, vast areas are virtual ghost towns, ghost towns which attract the sticky-fingered as the porch light does the bugs. The long and short of it is that scarce resources had to be redeployed to ensure adequate policing of those districts when the occupants were away.

Abandoning long-established and excellent land-use traditions paved the way for greater evil, via ecological disruption, as neither the then existing natural watercourses, nor main thoroughfares were supplemented by housing developers to accommodate the respective inevitable increased flows emanating from lands essentially denuded to make room for the massive housing schemes.

The upshot is that, nowadays, daily, from before dawn to well beyond dusk, navigating the road networks leading into, through and out of LBW is become a harrowing experience, even for the most resolute; and, sadly, too many beneficiaries of State-funded/facilitated housing remain unconcerned with preserving (or agitating for the preserving of) the ecological integrity of their wider neighbourhood, except when they feel the brunt of Mother Nature’s wrath. Maybe it’s because, being first generation occupants, they still view LBW merely as a place to sleep, not as a home.

The phenomenon of illegal land occupation (squatting) in LBW is as pervasive in scope as its presence, since it is of several types -residential, commercial, light industrial and agricultural- and manifests itself in every LBW district -from Tacarigua (in the west) to Arima (in the east).

Because of their nature -the early bird catches the worm and the devil takes the hindmost- residential squatting districts tend to follow neither rhyme nor reason where the siting of buildings is concerned...except where the land was already properly laid out for human occupancy before the first squatter descended; and hodgepodge housing development arrangements of the sort witnessed in Lopinot/Bon Air West leave little or no room for proper installation of infrastructural facilities, public utilities and eco-friendly sewerage and household effluent disposal and rainwater runoff systems...except after a long, tedious and very costly, taxpayer-funded land-use-regularisation process.

The just-mentioned does not exculpate the agricultural squatter, for the favourite methods used by both types to appropriate land involve clear-cutting, or burning of forest tracts.

The consequence of such malpractices is perhaps most tellingly-evidenced in the transformation of LBW’s rivers whenever it rains.

Although within the past twenty years, the term “ecosystem” has become a buzzword in Trinidad and Tobago, many use the expression glibly -not understanding an ecosystem is a community, for each ecosystem comprises a group of interrelated organisms and their physical and chemical environment.

The operative word there is “interrelated”, because even the most solitary beings must interact or form relationships with their kind or strangers, whether it’s just to ensure survival of the species. In essence, one may describe the ecosystem as a web -intricate, yet simple, resilient, yet delicate- therefore, very easily ripped apart, whether by intentional action, or not.

Anything, therefore, which disrupts such interaction, upsets the ecosystem; matters not if breaking point is reached by some catastrophic event, or by the accumulated impact of intemperate activity over a protracted period, the consequences are so deleterious and widespread that life as we know it is permanently altered for the worse.

And history has shown how the greatest (scratch that!) most notorious nemesis of the ecosystem is man himself.

Because of its human population, LBW’s physical environment has been in the decline.

It’s not paradoxical for a symptom of such decline to expose the extent, as we shall next see.

The Contamination:

One August, 2010 afternoon, gifted environmental landscaper and agriculturalist, Ravi Sieupersad, BSc, Dip. Cert, Rics, was assisting the supervision of cleanup operations in the aftermath of yet another flood, when, on the spur of the moment, he decided to take some samples of floodwaters raging in the Bon Air River (near Kelly Cocoa, Arouca) in order to calculate the sediment content.

What he discovered so alarmed him, that, over a one week period, with the help of Earl Filmore Johnson, a resident of Five Rivers, Arouca, he did more tests -of the river in normal and flood flows and of the Miss Gutter River, so that a proper picture of the extent of flooding and waterborne land erosion in LBW could be determined, then for him to recommend how best the problem could be addressed.

Tragically, Ravi died before finalising his report, except for the tabular assessments shown on the previous page and below. (The pond to which Ravi’s foregoing table refers is a retention pond; it’s described in more detail in Item 15 (Page 39), as “Bon Air River Rehabilitation”).

As if Ravi’s calculations don’t speak sufficiently for themselves, there’s need to paint an even more depressing picture than what they highlight (the horrendous amount of LBW soil carted away when the rains come), for earlier experiments also done by him indicate that the faecal coliform count in both watercourses exceeded the “acceptable” limit by as much as one hundred times! In other words, according to those analyses, the waters of the Bon Air and Miss Gutter Rivers are so contaminated that neither humans nor domesticated animals ought to come into contact with them!

The alarming situation has to be symptomatic of what elsewhere obtains in the constituency, for every natural watercourse is impacted the same way as the two inspected.

Therefore, the bells peal loud and clear for prompt and almost single-minded focus to be paid to arresting and reversing the drainage malaise of Lopinot/Bon Air West, before tackling anything else, so that Lopinot/Bon Air West can once again become a place whose human resources sit well with her natural.

The Frustration:

While all those aforementioned factors confirm that both types of housing development -State-funded/facilitated and squatting- are significant contributors to ongoing ecological convulsion, the full furore of which is felt even by the innocent, the reality is that, in LBW, such eco-hostile behaviour predominates because the guardian of LBW’s natural resources and maker and ultimate enforcer of rules and regulations -the State- has virtually abandoned the post -for, over the past thirty years, State agencies and mechanisms have became so stymied by bureaucracy, that wherever one interacts with officials holding positions of authority, one gets the distinct impression their authority is diffused by of their zeal to persuade rather than direct, make suggestions rather than give an order, worst of all, follow convention when a situation cries out for innovation.

Indeed, the situation is so ridiculous, it is now the norm for even the minutiae of public policy to be decided or implemented via committee.

But, history has taught that committee-made decisions invariably are facile (in their eagerness to arrive at consensus, most committees adopt the motto: “Don’t offend anyone! Don’t Rock the boat!”). Is it any wonder, to most, the State has now largely morphed into a remote and lethargic dinosaur -totally unable to act decisively in defence even of her own territory in the face of clear and present danger faced by it?

Sigh! The actions of “officialdom” often make one recall the opening stanzas of a Horace Leighton-Mills poem (Dress Reform):

“Away Convention! Thou stiff-bosomed fool

That pins a man to pettifogging rule,

Dictating what is wrong and what is right

For reasons that are often senseless quite...”

Over the past generation, such bureaucracy has fostered a sense of helplessness in LBW, even to the point of many of her citizens coming to feel they were born to be subservient to decision makers seated in high office physically and otherwise far-removed from the circumstance of those affected by their decisions, waiting in vain hope despite Leroy “Black Stalin” Calliste’s ancient warning:

“...Children! Children! Stop your crying!

Cause, better, better days are coming!

Pay your taxes!

Wait! And dead!”

The looming danger is sure to come...if, like the proverbial ostrich, we ignore the current scenario, i.e., if LBW is allowed to remain a cavalierly-expanding dormitory, with resource-draining commercial activity concentrated on the Eastern Main Road ribbon.

The irony of it all is not lost on LBWPA -most of LBW’s lands are owned by the State; nonetheless, let’s see if and how catastrophe can be averted!

The Regeneration:

Earlier, under the rubric “The Techniques” LBWPA revealed how it went about formulating and shaping these proposals.

The end result of those efforts revealed that a six-point range of land uses exists in LBW.

The matrix outlining the results of that analysis and the details of those formulas are to be found in the table subtitled: “How Sectoral Land Usage In Lopinot/Bon Air West Interfaces And Impacts”. It enumerates the sectors as follows:

a) Hydrology

b) Forestry

c) Agriculture

d) Housing

e) Recreation and Sport; and

f) Culture and Religion.

Having identified those issues, further scrutiny was done -to see how and to what extent land usage by those six (6) critical sectors has, over time, negatively or otherwise impacted on each other, thence to formulate the appropriate solutions (which is the best way to eradicate or diminish future upheaval related to such uses).

The bottom line revealed the State, having dropped the ball is now required to make amends (Remember! The State is the largest landowner and most of the haphazard or illicit land use occurs on State lands!), for, if LBW’s lands are allowed further to be mutilated, soils will continue to erode, sedimentation will continue to alter the quantity and quality of surface and underground water and flooding and riverbank erosion will continue to occur, but at an accelerated rate, damaging or wiping out built infrastructure and cultivated areas, all-in-all, severely affecting life within and far beyond Lopinot/Bon Air West’s geographic borders.

Hence, no reasonable-minded person would balk at the range and intensity of the State interventions herein recommended.

To reinforce the point, these interventions are urgently needed to ensure, in respect of the abovementioned six (6) critical areas, the following is done:

a) Hydrology:

· Placing all watershed areas under strict management, to guarantee copious quantities of good quality water in aquifers and WASA raw water intakes.

b) Forestry:

· State-acquisition of all private lands above watershed line; aggressive reforesting, geared to fruit crops and timber in a sustainable manner.

c) Agriculture:

· Expansion of farming on Class 1-3 lands, with emphasis on fruit crops above watershed line; increase subsidies and extension services to farming communities; strictly regulate agro-chemical usage, perhaps altogether switch to organic farming methods; improve/construct agricultural access roads; provide vigilant policing against praedial larceny.

d) Housing:

· Limit village expansion; regularize or relocate squatters; improve infrastructure, government and basic services; facilitate commerce.

e) Recreation and Sport:

· Strictly supervise the development and use of riverine and forest areas for outdoor recreation; upgrade or build facilities elsewhere. And,

f) Culture and Religion:

· Strictly delineate, restore and maintain historical / religious sites (especially the original Arauca Village site, African Slave Cemetery and the Lopinot House).

The complete matrix is next reproduced.

Another ecosystem-rehabilitating measure which LBWPA also strongly recommends is the use of the Biogas Digester.

Waste generated by humans and other living organisms can be broken down by certain bacteria that thrive where there’s no oxygen (anaerobic bacteria). The related decomposition process exudes biogas (principally methane) which scientists describe as “clean fuels”, in that they produce carbon dioxide and water when burnt.

Household waste in LBW is collected by contractors of the Tunapuna/Piarco Regional Corporation then hauled away to state-controlled landfills. But, a significant amount of waste gets dumped in watercourses and deserted areas by unscrupulous persons. Some of the waste comprises animal offal. Plus, the presence of coliforms in the watercourses mean raw sewerage is entering them. With the right incentive, such garbage can be gathered and used as fodder for a Biogas Digester. Lopinot Village, because of its unique location and attributes, can be the first place to site one, with the methane produced being harnessed for use by villagers in their homes or to generate electricity for public places.

Item 20 of the list of Capital Projects Recommended (page 41) contains all the details, so no need to rehash them here.

The Partnership:

The quality of life in no community can be improved, unless the local inhabitants, farmers, bureaucrats, land developers, environmentalists and politicians are on the same page. Plans which require a radical and even permanent alteration of the resource base and allocation can be part of the ecodevelopment concept and, in fact, are critical for general progress. Inevitable conflicts must be outweighed by the positive changes contemplated by a development proposal.

However, it would be folly to assume renewable natural resources are of infinite supply, or to deny that wanton use of any resource for short term profit does not reduce recovery rates in the long term, or require additional/other resources to be applied merely to maintain day-to-day demand.

In other words, it is impossible to optimize all development alternatives in any region at any given time, unless trade-offs are implicit in any multi-sectoral plan.

The above table: “Extent Of Land Development Objectives”, grammatically depicts what was just said. And that is why, in the end, LBWPA has taken the decision that every development plan for the Lopinot/Bon Air West constituency must not only be comprehensive, but, moreso, comprehendible -which it can only be if it addresses the reality of the constituency being a major watershed area, therefore, water being supplied upstream needs to be maintained (in terms of quantity and quality) to support and encourage downstream uses (including domestic activities, agriculture, recreation and commercial and industrial enterprise).

Furthermore, certain parts of the LBW natural landscape call for special restorative intervention by the State and State-management if they are to yield continuous benefits...particularly the forested watershed areas, which, due to their steep configuration, soil profiles, rainfall and flora and fauna, require types of management that protect natural resources and serve as a basis for development elsewhere in the district.

LBWPA believes all is not lost, as fortune favours the brave. In the ensuing snippet about one of LBW’s earlier inhabitants, confirmation of such wisdom may be had for those aren’t yet inspired by what they have thus far read.

Sometime around 1806, shortly after being appointed Brigadier-General of the Trinidad Militia, a Frenchman name Charles Joseph (the transliterated pronunciation is “Shalls Jhozef”, okay?), was offered Crown lands of his choosing by Governor Ralph Abercromby.

On one sortie into the dense tropical forest north of the old Arauca village, some of Joseph’s African slaves led him into a very fertile, lush valley ten kilometres up the Arouca River.

The valley was a large expanse of flat land, encircled by steep mountains; and it covered all of one hundred and ninety-four hectares. Joseph was awestruck! This was the place for which he was searching!

Quickly thereafter, Crown Grant in hand, he put his African slaves to work clearing the trees to establish an estate named “La Reconnaissance”.

Within a few short years, La Reconnaissance was developed into one of the most productive cocoa estates in the whole island.

By now, the reader ought to have realized that Charles Joseph was the man after whom Lopinot Village is named -the Compte de Lopinot.

In English, “La Reconnaissance” means: “The Lookout”.

Fast forward to 2011, two hundred years after Compte de Lopinot set up his Lookout) and one finds the people of twenty-first century Lopinot/Bon Air West also on the lookout, but for floods of water, not wafting cocoa aroma, as, whenever rainclouds darken the skies, they at once start brooding over whether the ensuing cloudburst would again wreak havoc on their neighbourhood.

Left untouched, the present scenario invites the madding crowd to continue setting the pace. However, every such crowd has a mind of their own -the same as lemmings- so, when crowds are left to dictate, bet your bottom dollar the end product will always be more injurious to everybody than salutary!

The State has capitulated to the lemmings for too long! LBWPA’s recapitulation must therefore now commence!

Please, turn to the next leaf to begin unravelling the tapestry which depicts how, in the mind of the LBWPA, the State must get involved, again to make Lopinot/Bon Air West a beautiful harmony of human and natural resources!

The Recapitulation:

The LBWPA reiterates:

The State, having dropped the ball (it is the largest landowner and most of the haphazard or illicit land use occurs on State lands) must now make appropriate amends, else the quality of life will be severely affected within and far beyond Lopinot/Bon Air West’s geographic borders.

2. It is time to get on with fixing Lopinot/Bon Air West’s physical infrastructure problems, for we have been wringing our hands too long!

3. Lopinot/Bon Air West is so naturally-endowed that, to encourage her further development in a manner which does not integrate social and economic objectives based upon the maintenance and, at times, improvement of her ecological attributes and worth, would be a grave travesty of the trust placed by The Creator in all mankind regarding the care of Mother Earth.

4. Lopinot/Bon Air West’s circumstances and prospects (as adumbrated by this report) are so desperate they cannot be ignored any further.

5. Lopinot/Bon Air West’s situation is what it is because, for too long, where LBW’s interests are concerned, it has been a case of the bland leading the bland, resulting in State-sector inefficacy or procrastination being the norm, rather than the rare exception.

6. Without urgent State intervention of the scope hereby contemplated, the resources required properly to remedy and reinvigorate the condition of Lopinot/Bon Air West’s natural and built infrastructure would remain elusive...which would be a shame, for,

7. Lopinot/Bon Air West was created to be a beautiful harmony of human and natural resources...and it’s our duty so to make it!

Implementation of the following LBWPA proposals will obviate impending disaster because they constitute the product of informed input by proactive citizens thoroughly familiar with their community’s problems, but who, though individually holding different views of how to solve such problems, yet have continually engaged in amicable exchange of ideas until acceptable decisions were made. Hey! Does that mean LBWPA is a committee? How can it, when the appellation “assembly” was a deliberate choice -it signifies a confluence of disparate parts to generate a wholesome continuum, while Parkinson’s Law has long proved a committee holds out no such prospect.

The following ten (10) tables specify the twenty-one (21) projects which LBWPA agrees the State must now undertake in Lopinot/Bon Air West.

Please note that, regarding Item No. 8, as an interim measure LBWPA proposes the vehicular traffic rearrangements outlined herein in the map on page 46.

The Means:

It is all well and good to make excellent plans for the regrowth of Lopinot/Bon Air West! It’s quite another kettle of fish to see such plans come to fruition, for, like too many constituencies in Trinidad and Tobago, over the years The Frustration described on Page 22 has so browbeaten LBW’s people, many more or less now feel they form the farthest fringes of influence, thus their ability not only to dream of a better life, but to make it happen, has withered, as if in tandem with the decay of LBW’s natural and built infrastructure.

As already detailed, it’s the predicament born of rigidly-imposed but ill-considered and uncaring external control of local affairs, which has precipitated head-in-the-sand land-use and land-oversight systems and, ultimately, the host of negative impacts upon LBW’s natural resources, for example: lack of community-driven pride in property ownership, as evidenced by the ramshackle appearance of some areas -trash strewn about, unkempt open spaces and derelict vehicles on the roadsides and in yards- and overcrowding, which significantly contributes to a high rate of criminal behaviour.

When the large agricultural operations ultimately ceased, the burden of maintaining much of LBW’s infrastructure then fell to State bureaucracy. Over the past thirty (30) years, by LBWPA’s reckoning, for such purpose over TT$2 billion has been spent on the constituency; yet, judging from LBW’s present-day condition, none can see what therapeutic value has been received in return.

That’s why a growing chorus of residents now says people-oriented and people-controlled initiatives would help change things for the better, with the end result of people having to rely less on the government to meet their needs.

How come?

Because everywhere one turns in LBW, despite the cacophony, one sees potential -it radiates like the idyllic rhythms LBW’s own Dr. Jit Samaroo deftly coaxes from a well-tuned tenor pan.

Consequently, whenever the Heavens open up, the optimistic of Lopinot/Bon Air West also view the downpours as cries from on High for a new dispensation!

Hence, to attend to the projects herein-proposed, LBWPA has concluded an oversight and executing agency based within LBW and modelled along the lines of the Point Lisas Industrial Port Development Company of Trinidad and Tobago (PLIPDECO) would be the best option and, for obvious reasons, suggests it be named The ARAUCA DEVELOPMENT AND MANAGEMENT Company Limited (ADAM).

ADAM, like PLIPDECO, will be -a State-owned Corporation in which all publicly-owned property within LBW will be vested and its geographic scope will be confined to Lopinot/Bon Air West. But, if deemed practical (and LBWPA believes such is the opening case) ADAM’s domain can be expanded to cater for the constituency of Arouca/Maloney.

This type of arrangement is not dissimilar to when agriculture was the mainstay of LBW, for, as already discussed, back then there were a just few large landowners who either resided or remained close to the ground (pun intended), thus ensured the natural resources of LBW were treated with awe, love and respect.

However, despite the similarity, there is a fundamental difference -this time LBW’s majority, who before was just a servile cog in the plantation economy, is articulating how and for whom LBW’s natural resources must be applied and managed, which is why ADAM’s Board of Directors and staff must exclusively comprise residents of its territory, as such a policy will greatly facilitate and ensure domestic resource input and benefit before, during and after every project...and why the people of Lopinot/Bon Air West earnestly and regularly recite this ancient Josiah Holland prayer:

“God, give us leaders!

A time like this demands strong minds, great hearts, true faith and ready hands,

Leaders whom the lust of office does not kill,

Leaders whom the spoils of life cannot buy,

Leaders who possess opinions and a will,

Leaders who have honour,

Leaders who will not lie,

Leaders who can stand before a demagogue and damn his treacherous flatteries without winking,

Tall leaders, sun-crowned, who live above the fog

In public duty and private thinking!”

The Epilogue:

Any action by any factor inside or outside an organism which causes the organism to respond is called a stimulus. And, in the instant context, there is no stimulus more sublime and majestic than that borne of persons who willingly set aside their individual desires in pursuit of the common good.

Having done precisely that, Lopinot/Bon Air West Partnership Assembly anticipates this effort -regarding Capital Expenditure Projects For Fiscal Year 2011-2012- will stimulate the State to begin at once the task of rectifying the infrastructural woes of Lopinot/Bon Air West in the manner and time herein-outlined.

Accordingly, these recommendations of the Lopinot/Bon Air West Partnership Assembly are herewith presented by its undersigned members, on behalf of the people of Lopinot/Bon Air West, to the Honourable Kamla Persad-Bissessar, Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago and Political Leader of the People’s Partnership government administration.

............................................ (Zameer Ali) ............................................ (Stacy-Ann Samaroo)

............................................ (Dianne Bishop-Bajnath) ............................................ (Paula Samuel)

............................................ (Michael N. Thomas) ............................................ (Rajesh Singh)

............................................ (Earle Filmore Johnson) ............................................ (Anthony Crichlow)

............................................ (Elvis Smith) ............................................ (Natalie Skinner)

............................................ (Jennifer Qasim) ............................................ (Richard Wm Thomas)

To Peewee and Death! May God grant you rest!

2009-11-15T07:55:00.007-04:00

This is dedicated to the memory of two Five Riversians who passed away during the week just concluded: Annerelle "Peewee" Stoute, of Manimore Road and Ulric "Death" Connor, of Eastern Main Road.

Noted Five Rivers crooner, Philmore Johnson, has been asked by Death's family to render this immortal calypso: in dirgeful tribute at his final send-off. Not being able to locate the lyrics anywhere, Philmore sent out an SOS to me. Eventually, I had to transcribe it all from listening to the best recording I had ---the original.

The final rites for Peewee and Death would be conducted almost simultaneously, on Monday 16th November 2009: Peewee's, at Curepe, Death's, at Arouca.

May God grant them and all the departed of Five Rivers and their loved ones, only peace and rest! And may God also grant only mercies to Sparrow for having created this mighty oration which stands head and shoulders with the doleful classics composed in the days of yore.

MEMORIES OF “DEATH”

adapted by Richard Wm. “Johnny” Thomas of Five Rivers, Arouca
from The Calypso “Memories” [© Slinger "The Mighty Sparrow" Francisco]

Why? To facilitate Philmore Johnson’s dirgeful tribute to:
Ulric “Death’ Connor
on
Monday 16th November, 2009.

Every year, somebody dear,
Gives us cause to shed a tear,
And mourn,
For they are gone.
Now all that's left is a faint memory,
Based on the theme of a strange melody,
Still, we must think of them and recall their image with pride,
Telling people from deep inside,
This is dedicated to those who died.

Hector Sealy, I'll always remember,
Cecil Phillip too,
Stalwarts in truth.
Silently!
Quietly!
Those two buddies did slip away from us.
Boots and Cecil! Wherever you are comperes,
Just for you, here I am singing this song, you hear?

Each and everyone I know,
Someday will have to go,
Right back, from where they came!
But, good or bad, we must try all the same,
Not to be sad, or heap scorn on their name!
And every girl and boy who are sharing my sympathies,
I must tell you this song is just
Dedicated to memories!

Annerelle Stoute, I'll always remember,
Doing her thing with no fuss,
Like all of us.
Silently!
Quietly!
Last week she too slip away from us.
Peewee, baby! Wherever you are my dear,
Just for you, I’m also singing this song, you hear?

How many have known a friend,
Enjoying life, down to the end,
Who will never, again?
And though we lay,
Now and then thoughts will stray
To that dear one who has long passed away.
So! This coming season, while you feting up,
Take a break!
Try and take in this song I make,
To remember for old times sake!

Nattie Crichlow, I'll always remember,
Fighting for the sufferer,
Without quarter.
Silently!
Quietly!
Nattie took his leave of us.
Nattie Crichlow! Wherever you are compere,
Just for you, I’m also singing this song, you hear?

Simple words cannot define
The memories that fills the mind
Of those who are left behind.
To some of us, it's a kin, or a friend.
Or a great love that was shared to the end.
So! It is our duty, I mean this on everyone,
See that their memories live on,
Even though they are dead and gone!

Ulric Connor, I'll always remember,
Strutting his stuff without a fuss,
Always focused.
Silently!
Quietly!
Sometimes you eh even know he pass.
Ulric Connor! As we bid you goodbye, compere,

Just know that we would forever love you, you hear?

**************************

MEMORIES

(The Original Lyrics)

by
Slinger "The Mighty Sparrow" Francisco.
as transcribed by
Richard Wm. Thomas of Five Rivers, Arouca, from the online version at:
http://hypem.com/track/775362/The+Mighty+Sparrow+-+Memories

Every year, somebody dear,
Give us cause to shed a tear,
And mourn,
For they are gone.
Now all that's left is a faint memory,
Based on the theme of a strange melody,
Still, we must think of them and recall their image with pride,
Telling people from deep inside,
This is dedicated to those who died.

Bert Inniss, I'll always remember,
Jumping when a steelband pass,
Playing mas'.
Sugary!
Peppery!
Bert was never ever one for class.
Bertram Innis! Wherever you are compere,
Just for you, I came out with real fire, this year!

Each and everyone I know,
Someday will have to go,
Right back, from where they came!
But, good or bad, we must try all the same,
Not to be sad, or heap scorn on their name!
And every girl and boy who are sharing my sympathies,
I must tell you this song is just
Dedicated to memories!

George Bailey, I'll always remember,
Jumping when dem big band pass,
Playing mas'.
Sugary!
Peppery!
George was never ever one for class.
George Bailey! Wherever you are compere,
Just for you, I came out with real fire, this year!

How many have known a friend,
Playing mas' down to the end,
Who will never, again?
And though we lay,
Now and then thoughts will stray
To that dear one who has long passed away.
So! For this Carnaval, while you jumping up,
Take a break!
Try and take in this song I make,
To remember for old times sake!

Jack Braffit, I'll always remember,
Jumping when dem big band pass,
Playing mas'.
Sugary!
Peppery!
Jack was never ever one for class.
Jack Braffitt! Wherever you are compere,
Just for you, I came out with real fire, this year!

Simple words cannot define
The memories that fills the mind
Of those who are left behind.
To some of us, it's a kin, or a friend.
Or a great love that was shared to the end.
So! It is our duty, I mean this on everyone,
See that their memories live on,
Even though they are dead and gone!

Al Burtonoir, I'll always remember,
Jumping when dem big band pass,
Playing big mas'.
Sugary!
Peppery!
Dear Albert! Wherever you are compere,
Just for you, I came out with real fire, this year!

Earthquake @ 10pm, Sat. Sept 5, 2009.

2009-09-05T23:03:00.001-04:00

Did anyone, sides me, feel the earthquake that hit T&T at 10pm Sat Sept 5, 2009. I lasted about 2 seconds and was mild. I was in Petit Valley at the time. Done reported it to the earthquake trackers ppl @ http://earthquake.usgs.gov/eqcenter/dyfi/

Feel free to comment!

Unless otherwise declared, ALL rights to postings in this blog are reserved by me, Richard Wm. Thomas, Five Rivers, Arouca, Trinidad and Tobago.

Roger Bonair-Agard, Poet.

2009-08-31T06:15:00.003-04:00

Photo by Jermaine Cruickshank.

Roger Bonair-Agard is not the struggling poet, but he accepts that he may never become a millionaire doing what he does for a living. Yet he continues to write his poetry, essays and short stories as well as travel across the United States doing performances at poetry festivals...

Bonair-Agard is an Arouca boy having grown up there and attended the community's R.C. primary school before going on to QRC where he attained his A'Levels in 1986, one year before leaving for the United States where he now shares his time between Brooklyn and Chicago. Bonair-Agard attended Hunter University and was preparing to move on to pursue studies in law when a night at a poetry recital changed everything...

Read the full story in the Trinidad and Tobago Express.

Feel free to comment!

Unless otherwise declared, ALL rights to postings in this blog are reserved by me, Richard Wm. Thomas, Five Rivers, Arouca, Trinidad and Tobago.

It's Jack's jacket! Let him have it, then!

2009-08-08T10:43:00.004-04:00

Regarding the love-him-or-hate-him man from Five Rivers, Arouca, named Austin Jack Warner:

No one can deny that, where the businesses of sports and Carnival is concerned, he has attained heights which not a single other Caribbean person has. Nor that for him to have attained and sustained such heights, it required, on his part for him to exhibit the qualities for which Aroucans are world famous:-

guts: like Le Compte de Lopinot, who wended his way through the dense jungle to found the place that now bears his name;
brains: like Professor Dr. Ken Julien, who was the first Ph.D. graduate in electrical energy systems from the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada in 1962;
skill: like trade unionist Nathaniel Crichlow showed time and time again in seeking his union members' interests;
deep and unwavering determination: like Lord Learie Constantine, who began his studies to become a lawyer at the age of forty-five, after his cricketing career ended;
belief in the impossible: like Henry Sylvester Williams, who is described as the True Father of Pan-Africanism;
foresight: like George Padmore, whose life may be summed up as being entirely devoted to creating a world unburdened from the arrogance and tribulation of empires and dedicated to equality, solidarity and hope, thus to connect the Caribbean, Africa, Europe, North America and Asia as one.

Plus, the Obama-like ability to flick the messy stuff off the shoulders ---without batting an eye-- then move on with the task at hand.

Thus, anyone who harbours any doubt that any Aroucan, before, during or after delving into any different venture, would craft, embrace and or employ whimsical or half-hearted/baked strategies, tactics or notions geared towards its success, at best may only be described as suffering from some delusion, however triggered.

History, being what it is, will confirm the accuracy of the above prognosis. Caveat lector!

Mih old school: Primary School Cricket Champs, again!

2009-07-08T07:00:00.004-04:00

Mih old school again: Primary Schools Cricket Champs, 2009!! Well done lads and yall did it without Brian Christmas. Well done! Ah beaming with pride!

"...Before a packed auditorium which included president of the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board (TTCB) Deryck Murray and representatives from the Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs and the Ministry of Education, the best of the best of the nation's young athletes crossed the stage to collect awards, including medals, trophies and other prizes for their achievements on the cricket field during 2009.

St Pius RC Primary School topped their peers once again to be crowned Super League champions..."

(See: http://www.trinidadexpress.com/index.pl/article_sports?id=161501684)

Farewell Miss Elsa Ferguson! Farewell!

2009-02-05T08:46:00.003-04:00

Please go to >> mangochatnee.com <<

Except for their excellent footprints.

2009-01-15T09:56:00.012-04:00

Clear it is that Trinidad and Tobago is become a land where the people have lost the will the fight for their rights, preferring instead to kill at will when wronged.

But, also, sad it is to witness such a degeneration. Especially on considering the outstanding contribution to the upliftment of the downtrodden that Trinbagonian sons and daughters -in particular, those who came out of Arouca- have made, over the course of history.

For instance, that the liberation of the Caribbean and Africa from Euro-colonial rule owes a lot to the likes of Henry Sylvester Williams, George Padmore and, although not native, Learie Nicholas Constantine, Aroucans all, who, by dint of their intellectual prowess and brilliant organizational skills, led the intellectual and on-the-ground assaults to render the West Indies and black Africa -as Padmore described in his 1955 book Pan Africanism or Communism:

"...mentally-free from the dictation of Europeans...".

And sad, too, to think that, without doubt, so it is because the current generation of Aroucans has not been exposed to knowledge of such history through the inadequacies and irrelevancies of an education system that's largely-designed to churn out stinkers rather than thinkers.

Thus, in an effort to right that wrong -and because it takes a village to raise a child- this!

Henry Sylvester Williams was born in Arouca, Trinidad, on February 15th 1869. He left, as a young man in his early twenties, for North America to further his academic studies.

Shifting over to Britain in 1896, he met and linked up with another brilliant Trinbagonian champion of the people, Mzumbo Lazare. In 1897, in London, the duo established The African Association -later renamed "The Pan-African Association"- as the vehicle to transform the appalling lot of Africans by challenging paternalism, racism and imperialism.

These words of his best depict what drove Williams:

"the time has come when the voice of Black men should be heard independently in their own affairs".

Not long after that, in 1900, he co-ordinated the first ever Pan-African Conference held in England -London.

Henry Sylvester Williams

The hosting of the conference was a natural consequence of the Association's previously-stated aim of becoming the vehicle to transform the appalling lot of Africans:

"...to promote and protect the interests of all subjects claiming African descent, wholly or in part, in British colonies and other places especially Africa, by circulating accurate information on all subjects affecting their rights and privileges as subjects of the British Empire, by direct appeals to the Imperial and local Governments..." (Wikipedia: Henry Sylvester Williams "Historical Notes")

From the same source one learns that though W. E. B. Du Bois participated in the 1900 conference and later came to be known as the Father of Modern Pan-Africanism -his famous Address to The Nations with its prophetic statement "the problem of the 20th century is the problem of the colour line" is regarded as the defining statement of the conference- were it not for the Williams-organized conference and Pan-African Association, Du Bois would never have been exposed to the right influences that spurred him on to his share of greatness.

A much-overlooked notable is that Henry Sylvester Williams, Trinbagonian, is also the first black man admitted to practice law in South Africa. (Wikipedia: Henry Sylvester Williams "Pan African Development")

Then there's George Padmore -born: Malcolm Nurse- who -during the late 1920s and 30s- headed the USSR-based Negro Bureau of the Communist Trade Union International (NBCTUI). Padmore used the NBCTUI as the honeyed glue to bring and to gel Caribbean and Africa vast but disperse anti-colonial sentiment together as one.

George Padmore

Such was Padmore's impact, that he was described as

"the mentor and influential theoretician to an entire generation of Black leadership, including Jomo Kenyatta of Kenya and the charismatic Pan-Africanist Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana". (Race and History: "Remembering George Padmore" by Manning Marable" )

And, as C. L. R. James insisted:

"It is impossible to understand the development of the revolution in the Gold Coast that brought Ghana, unless you realized from the start, the man behind it was (george) Padmore." (Ibid.)

The George Padmore Institute briefly biographs him as a man whose:

"...vision was of a world unburdened from the arrogance and tribulation of empires and dedicated to equality, solidarity and hope. ...the traditions which shaped his life: independent, radical vision and outlook connecting the Caribbean, Africa, Europe, North America and Asia." (http://www.georgepadmoreinstitute.org/)

Yes, he was born in Petit Valley, but, for a part of his youth he lived in Arouca where, for a long while, his father, Lebrun, was the District Warden Officer. Hence, to this day, Arouca proudly claims Learie Nicholas Constantine as her own and it's there that his mortal remains, till time ends, rest.

Learie Constantine

He entered this world on September 21st 1901 and most call cricket to mind when his name's mentioned. But Learie Constantine's contribution went beyond the boundary. His dad was a gifted cricketer, in fact, played for the first West Indies teams that went on overseas tours -England: 1900 and 1906- and scored the first century by a West Indian batsman in England: did it, too, at Lord's, in 1900, a fine 113! Natural then for Learie to follow, to eclipse.

And eclipse he did, for, not only did he play in more Test Matches than he did, but he was invited to play professional cricket, with Lancashire, whilst on tour of England in 1928. And accepted.

Trinidad and Tobago's National Library archives records that:

It was cricket which took him to Nelson, Lancashire, in 1929 as a professional player and he lived there for the next 20 years with his wife, Norma and daughter, Gloria. (The) family encountered tremendous hostility and mistrust which (were) only slowly overcome and, despite his fame and popularity on the cricket field, Constantine knew very well the discrimination and prejudice faced by black people in the Mother Country.

He became involved in the League of Coloured Peoples, a body active in the 1930s-1940s fighting discrimination in Britain and later became its President.

...Constantine was famous in Britain, he was honoured by the King (MBE 1946) - but that didn't protect him or his family from discrimination or slights on the street. In the 1940s he sued a famous London hotel for denying his family accommodation (it said US servicemen there would object!). This was a high-profile case, which he won. He felt he had an obligation to fight these causes on behalf of less privileged black people. This is why he wrote his book, "Colour Bar" (1954), an insider's view of race relations in Britain from the black perspective.

...It's a tribute to Constantine's powers of hard work, determination and self discipline that - as a man who never went to secondary School at home in Trinidad -he educated himself at home in Nelson, then began legal studies- a struggle to pass all the law examinations which took him eight years. Despite the frustrations and the occasional failures, he never gave up, and was called to the Bar in 1954, aged 53.

...He returned home to Trinidad...in 1955 - a dynamic political moment. He got involved in local politics and fought the Tunapuna seat in the 1956 elections as the People's National Movement (PNM) candidate. He won -narrowly, by less than 200 votes, from the PDP- and became Minister of Communications, Works and Public Utilities... (1956-61).

...But Constantine was not a natural politician. He disliked the bitterness of party politics and resented Opposition attacks in the Legislative Council...

...In 1961 (he was) appointed Trinidad and Tobago's first High Commissioner to Britain...an obvious choice, but not an altogether happy experience for him. He was so famous in Britain that everything he did or said received heavy media attention...

In 1963 he intervened in an incident where West Indians were denied jobs as bus conductors in Bristol. His public utterances on the issue were deemed by some to be undiplomatic. ...Prime Minister Eric Williams objected, partly because the West Indians in Bristol were Jamaicans and, so, not Constantine's responsibility. Williams felt Constantine had exceeded his brief and attempted to do what he did so well: put Constantine in the doghouse. Constantine promptly resigned.

(At the age of 63, after his resignation), early in 1964, Constantine embarked on legal practice in London...and got involved in a wide array of public causes, usually blazing a trail for blacks in Britain.

He was a member of Britain's Race Relations Board from its inception and made important contributions to it.
In 1967, he was appointed the first black Rector of St. Andrews University (where his daughter went).
In 1968, the first black Governor of the BBC. (He continued to do free-lance broadcasting for the BBC, which he had started in the 1930s).
And in 1969 he became the first peer of African descent, as Baron Constantine of Nelson and Maraval; his introduction to the House of Lords was a great occasion. (http://www.nalis.gov.tt/Biography/LearieConstantinebyBridgetBrereton.htm)

Sadly, by 1969 Constantine was already in poor health, wracked by lung cancer. He died in July 1971 and was given a hero's funeral, in Trinidad, out to which all of Arouca, in sorrow, turned.

Much more can be said, but time does not now permit. Suffice it, though, to be said that the hope is this relating, again, in brief, of these odysseys shall capture the attention of the current generation. And excite, of them, those who are on wasteful paths, to divert after observing the lives of these three noble Aroucans who are no longer visible in this sphere. Except for their excellent footprints.

Only a lightning-like Bolt could better them!

2008-08-16T12:31:00.002-04:00

Well done Marc! Well done Richard! A silver medal to Richard Thompson in the men's 100m final today, in Beijing. But, Usain Bolt!!! Wow! New world record of 9:69 seconds!!!???? Wow!!! Usain's da bomb!! Imagine! The last-placed runner came in at 10:03 seconds!! Wow!
Full results >> here <<

Marc on fire!

2008-07-26T09:47:00.002-04:00

Trinidad and Tobago track star Marc Burns sounded a stern Olympic warning yesterday, diving under ten seconds for the second time in his career to seize silver in the men's 100 metres dash, at the Aviva London Grand Prix, in England.

In spite of a 0.5 metres per second headwind, Burns stopped the clock at 9.97 seconds, finishing strong to grab second spot, behind Jamaica's Asafa Powell (9.94). Another Jamaican, Michael Frater (10.00), copped third spot...

Burns has been in fine form this season, and is rounding into his best form ahead of the August 8-24 Olympic Games in Beijing, China.

Last month, the 25-year-old sprinter produced a 10.01 seconds run to strike gold at the Sagicor National Open Track and Field Championships. And twice last week, he was victorious in Europe. At the Vardinoyiannia meet, in Rethymno, Greece, Blazing Burns was the class of the "A" field, winning in 10.03 seconds. And then, at the Golden Gala Golden League meet in Rome, Italy, he won in 10.14.

But none of those performances could match yesterday's impressive dash. Drawn way out in lane eight, fast-finishing Burns stormed to the line in a fast 9.97 seconds, just one-hundredth of a second outside his 9.96 personal best. If he can overcome the problems he has been having with his start, the two-time World Championship 100m finalist could be a serious contender for century honours at Beijing 2008.

(Kwame Laurence: Trinidad Express: July 26, 2008)

Marc Burns again!

2008-07-15T07:21:00.002-04:00

VICTORIOUS: Marc Burns

Marc Burns produced a solid performance at the Vardinoyiannia meet, in Rethymno, Greece, yesterday, stopping the clock at 10.03 seconds to triumph in the men's 100 metres "A" race. The Trinidad and Tobago track star dominated his rivals, finishing well ahead of second-placed Frenchman Ronald Pognon (10.13) and third-placed American Mark Jelks (10.19). According to reports coming out of Greece, Burns was slow out of the blocks but stormed back to seize control of the race, building a comfortable lead and then shutting down before the line.

(From the Trinidad & Tobago Express: July 14, 2008)

What????!! No Brian Christmas????!!!

2008-07-11T03:00:00.000-04:00

West Indies Under-15 captain Steven Katwaroo will lead the Trinidad and Tobago Schoolboys' Under-16 team in a development tour to Guyana from August 3-11.

The Secondary Schools Cricket League has announced a 16-man training squad which also includes East Zone Under-15 players Duane Cockburn, Anthony Jawahir and Adrian Geeban.

T&T training squad:

Stephen Katwaroo (captain), Shaquille Allick, Duane Cockburn, Mark Deyal, Adrian Geeban, Anthony Jawahir, Kieron Joseph, Emmanuel Lett, Kern Matheson, Idress Mohammed, Dillon Pattia, Dwight Pope, Mitra Ramroop, Rajiv Singh, Stephen Sooklal, Elton Walcott.

What???!!!! Without Brian Christmas from St. Pius Boys' R.C. School, Arouca????!!!! Jeez!

BREAKING NEWS! Brian "Lara" Christmas leads his boys to victory!

2008-06-14T08:03:00.003-04:00

They did it! They did it! They won the National Primary Schools Cricket League! St Pius Boys' Roman Catholic Primary School of Eastern Main Road, Arouca, are THE Champions!
The match was played last night before a packed Guaracara Park, Pointe-a-Pierre crowd.
Details to follow in later update. Meantime, congrats, boys! Well done! You made Arouca proud, again, like Lord Learie and Jaswick Taylor did
See also>>

We called her "Ma".

2008-06-11T08:14:00.006-04:00

The closing pages of the last chapter of her life were blotted by medical complications, which, given her age, surprised not many.

We called her, "Ma", for, to all of us, in keeping with the "village to raise a child" tradition, she was indeed, too, our Ma. Ma passed away at around 10 p.m. last Sunday at the Sangre Grande Public Hospital, Ojoe Road, Sangre Grande. She had suffered a stroke not long after the entire family celebrated Mothers' Day with her, festivities in which she took full part. At death, she was ninety-one years old. She lived a humble life, well-respected in the community of Cane Farm, Five Rivers, Arouca, in the house where she lived with George "Pa" Burns Sr. for many a year, the house, right on the Eastern Main Road, just west of Jamnah's Shop at the Cane Farm Road junction, the front yard shaded by the huge Rose Mango tree. That tree has got to be over one hundred and twenty-five years old, since Ma always would regale that it was a huge, already-bearing tree when she was a little girl. Ma an Pa were Trini to the bone, though she came her from Grenada and he, from Antigua.

The union of Pa George and Myrtle -that was Ma's real name- produced eleven children, viz: Jean, Jenny, Neddy, Mary, Alec, Gladys, Margaret, Bernard, Susan, Billy and Pat, all of whom, except for Neddy and Mary are alive and in good health. Those were her flesh and blood children. So, too, were her grands, all twenty-six of them -that's the number I recall- and her thirty-plus great-grands. As to her "village" children? They numbered in the thousands!

Some of her biological descendants went on to distinguish themselves nationally and internationally. To name but three, may I mention her son, Alec Burns, who played international cricket for Trinidad and Tobago, having been nurtured under Wes Hall back in the 1960s? Alec should have played for the West Indies as well, but then, say what. Alec is now a national coach with the Trinidad and Tobago Ministry of Sports. And grandson, Stern John, top professional footballer in the English Leagues for several years and member of the Soca Warriors? And, another grandson, Marc Burns (Alec's son), track and field superstar? There's a fourth, Billy, known to all as "Cholo", whom the wiser ones swear was the most-gifted sportsman of all the Clan Burns. In his day, Cholo graced many a sporting field throughout Trinidad and Tobago, thrilling all, even opponents, with his skills.

Among the grandchildren, Albert must receive most special mention. He was her doodoo darling, her mammy nice child. We call him "Bullkak". Don't ask me why. Just know that, to Ma, he was she sweetest.

Among her many friends I shall mention Miss Sybil, ever at her side, providing support, a keen ear and sharing in whatever vicissitudes life, as we know life does, sometimes would send in Ma's direction. And Teacher Edna (Roach), who, not that long ago, departed from our company, for the Higher Realm.

Funerary arrangements for Ma Myrtle Burns are yet being made. It is planned that she will be given her final send-off on Tuesday next, June 17th 2008, which would allow enough time for the multitude living abroad to return, on time, to pay their final respects by praying for her and sprinkling graveyard dust over her coffin as it's lowered into the all-consuming Earth that we call home.

Ma! Now that you're gone, Cane Farm, Five Rivers, Arouca, would not ever, again, be the same. As you leave, let me, on behalf of all of Five Rivers and the Clan Thomas in particular, say, “Thank you, Ma, for all you have done! Go now! Claim your reward that The Most Beneficent One has set aside for you!” And from me, I simply say, “Thanks Ma! You are numbered among those who helped shape me into the person that I am. May The Most Merciful One grant you mercy and peace as you sleep the long sleep!"

St. Pius R. C. Primary School, Arouca, into 2008 Schools Cricket Finals.

2008-05-30T11:03:00.003-04:00

From the Trinidad and Tobago Newday, 2008 May 30th.

ST PIUS Boys’ RC Primary School had an easy passage to the final of the Super League Division of the 2008 Atlantic LNG National Primary Schools Cricket League when they registered a comfortable 107-run victory over Guayaguayare RC in the first “Big 4’ semi-final played at Inshan Ali Park, Preysal, on Wednesday.

Star batsman Brian Christmas, 86, partnered with opener Kyle Ramoutar, 72, in a mammoth 148-run stand for the second wicket to propel St Pius to an imposing 211 for seven after the Lopinot Road, Arouca, school won the toss and elected to take first strike.

NEW BRIAN LARA?: St Pius RC all-rounder Brian Christmas

Although Guayaguayare put up a plucky display, they were never up to the chase and were bowled out for 106. Competing in the premier Super League for the first time this year, St Pius will face the winner of the second “Big 4” semi- final.

They will meet in the Grand Final to be played at Guaracara Park, Pointe-a-Pierre on Friday, June 6. Rochard Douglas Presbyterian and Rancho Quemado Government will battle it out for the right to play in the final when they meet at PowerGen Ground in Penal on Monday.

With St Pius losing their first wicket with only18 runs on the board, Christmas joined Ramoutar at the crease, virtually putting the match beyond the reach of the Guayaguayare boys with their excellent partnership.

Batting sensibly, they were seldom troubled by the wayward Guayaguayare bowling, scoring easily on both sides of the wicket. Christmas was within sight of his second century of the season when he was caught on the boundary going for a big hit. His polished innings included eight fours.

The St Pius’ innings lost its momentum following Christmas’ dismissal, with three batsmen going for ducks.

Ramoutar, who almost batted through the innings, hit five boundaries, and was bowled as he advanced down the wicket, looking for quick runs, in the last of the 35 overs. The Guayaguayare bowlers found it difficult to keep a good line, conceding 28 wides as they boosted their opponent’s score with 36 extras. Brian Pegues was the best bowler for the boys from south-east Trinidad, with two for 34.

In their turn at the crease, Guayaguayare were never in the hunt, losing wickets at regular intervals to be bowled out for 104 in 26.3 overs.

All-rounder Pegues and Brandon Ferrier, both scored 17, but they had little support, except from extras which accounted for an embarrassing 41, mainly though wides.

Anthony Jaikaran (three for 14), Keagan Simmons (two for 15) and Kyle Ramoutar (two for 17), did the damage for St Pius. For his excellent all-round performance, Ramoutar was named “Man- of-the-Match”.

Making a substantial contribution to the victory charge was wicketkeeper Ronaldo Ramoutar, who displayed sharp reflexes and anticipation behind the stumps, taking two catches and effecting a brilliant stumping to end Guayaguayare’s innings. Jaikaran, St Pius captain for the match, said he was proud of his teammates, who all practised hard since the competition began. “We knew that if we played to the best of our ability we would come out on top,” he added.

The St Pius team: Anthony Jaikaran (captain), Brian Christmas, Kyle Ramoutar, Keagan Simmons, Aklil Thomas, Christopher Williams, Shaquille McDavis, Ronaldo Ramoutar, Isaiah Mapp, Jamel Hunte, Dwayne Williams and Jeremiah Taylor (12th man).

Coach/teacher, Sylvester Sandiford, said his boys played to plan and did not take anything for granted, although they had beaten Guayaguayare easily in the preliminary round.

“We knew our opponents and we were well prepared. But we haven’t won anything as yet. We still have a final to play,” said a realistic Sandiford.

After the match, Lestyn Arjoon, coach/teacher of Guayaguayare, said: “The boys tried hard but they were always up against it when St Pius put up their big second-wicket partnership. It has been a learning experience for our team. We have some very good players for the future,” he added.

Read also >>More accolades for Brian Christmas<<

New Brian C(hristmas) Lara on the way.

2008-05-15T06:16:00.000-04:00

Christmas leads St Pius to fifth victory

Arouca's St Pius RC Primary School chalked up their fifth straight win in the Super League Division of the 2008 Atlantic LNG National Primary Schools Cricket League (NPSCL), when they comprehensively beat Rancho Quemado Government by ten wickets at Inshan Ali Park, Preysal, on Friday.

Playing a postponed fourth round match, St Pius were again steered to victory and a perfect record by stand-out all-rounder Brian Christmas.

MAN OF THE MATCH: St Pius RC all-rounder Brian Christmas

Batting first, Rancho Quemado rattled up a respectable 132 for nine from their allotted 35 overs, with Tarell Cedeno hitting 52 and extras amounting to 42.

Christmas (two for 19) and Isaiah Mapp (two for 35) were the best bowlers for St Pius, while Keagan Simmons, Kyle Ramoutar and Anthony Jaikaran took one wicket each.

St Pius then cruised to their target, scoring 134 without loss in 16.1 overs, with Christmas maintaining his good all-round form, undefeated on 56, and opening partner Ramoutar 50 not out.

Christmas, who has scored a total of 388 runs from five matches with one dismissal, was named Man-of-the-Match for the fifth time.

St Pius, promoted after emerging runners-up in the lower Inter-Schools Boys Division in 2007, lead the Super League standings with five victories, followed by Rochard Douglas Presbyterian, with four wins.

The NPSCL premier division consists of eight teams, each playing the other in a round-robin format and the top four advancing to a Big Four playoff to determine the champions.

In action today, the final of this year's Inter-School Boys Division features a North versus South clash with Tunapuna Presbyterian coming up against Siparia RC at the National Cricket Centre, Balmain, in a 30-over match starting at 10 a.m.

NPSCL president Anthony Ramjit said the standard of cricket at all levels of the league has been exceptional so far.

"We are already seeing new stars emerging from the primary schools and this augurs well for the future development of not only Trinidad and Tobago cricket, but the West Indies as well," he noted.

Read another tidbit about Brian Christmas >> here <<