We post our clean-up pictures, talk about the after-clean-up lime, feel a sense of accomplishment, and wait for the International Coastal Clean-Up to roll around next year to go over the ritual again.

Meanwhile, beach-goers continue to litter the same beaches; disposable cups and containers cover defile the Gulf of Paria, and the crockery of choice at most high level functions is the styrofoam container. (FYI – a Google search reveals that Styrofoam takes 500 years to biodegrade!)

It is not difficult to understand why our coastlines are so polluted.  As an island, our trash gets to the ocean quickly. I long for the day when this annual “beach clean-up” ritual is not so high on our “things to do” list because the beaches are cleaned routinely and citizens take their litter home or dispose of it in an appropriate, appointed bin.  But this will not happen unless there is a robust awareness programme on one hand and a consequence management approach on the other hand.

 

I often focus on consequence management because it is one way of ensuring that we are all accountable for our actions.  Citizens must feel the penalties for littering, and it must be swift.  Unfortunately, the implementation of these penalties lies with the TTPS who demonstrate time and time again their reluctance to do their jobs and are not being held accountable.  If half the level of enthusiasm demonstrated when the TTPS enacted their “day of total policing” is applied to the small tasks of issuing litter tickets, it can have a massive impact on our environment and indeed our understanding of our responsibility to dispose of trash.

 

There is a view that if you are not engaging in consequence management, you are in fact leading the chaos.  We have systemic problems in several areas and we selected a party who promised to lead the change in the way we do things.  The citizens who voted for, and are paying you to keep your campaign promises are still waiting for delivery of the promises.  Let’s do this!

From the simplicity of a medical check-up to the complexity of being in intensive care, the message is clear; even the leaders of our government have no faith in our public medical institutions. If they have no faith in our medical institutions, how can I?  The difference is that John and Jane Public have zero resources to draw from and therefore will have to face whatever public hospital that is nearest to them.

By electing to have his medical treatment conducted abroad, the Prime Minister has squandered an opportunity to demonstrate faith in our institutions and by extension, in ourselves. Instead, the message is “go elsewhere whenever you can,” when it could have been: “Let’s do this, we’re in it together”.

Six months ago, the draft diversification roadmap was presented by the Economic Development Advisory Board, (EDAB) to the Government.  The committee highlighted health as one of the factors to be overcome in our process of development.  There has been no further update on the status of that submission and from his action, the Prime Minister is clearly aware that our institutions cannot even carry out a medical check-up.

Trinidad and Tobago is ripe for a transformation exercise but it must begin with a clear articulation of the goal that is expected to be achieved.  Once that goal is articulated, citizens will then be able to identify the personal impact, figure out their benefit or loss, work out whether the result will be fair, and decide how much support they are willing to give to the plan.

It is a cliché to say, “nature abhors a vacuum,” but the reality is that in the absence of clearly articulated goals and objectives, the vacuum is being filled by chatter about the extent to which the government continues to fail in its election promise.  Worse than that, the actions of members of the government continue to reinforce that notion that we cannot do better.
In its 2030 vision, the aspiration is for a healthy population.  We will not achieve that aspiration with the current approach.  What is needed is an energized government willing to rally Team Trinidad and Tobago behind it.

Come on Prime Minister, “Let’s do this!”

I missed DJK in the Barber Shop on Saturday! Oh I forgot! He went to California (no, not the one in Trinidad) for his medical check-up! Consistency is important when you pick up a new career so I am awaiting the schedule for my favourite DJ!

Until then, I ponder, “Whither goest thou my sweet TnT?” What’s the plan? “Diversification” is the word being bandied about, but how is that manifested? I continue to believe that citizens are just longing for a leader who will level with us and explain where we are heading and how are we to line up. It’s an easy lesson from Carnival; people get in their sections before crossing the stage, and that’s because they know the stage and understand the expectations when the leader makes the call.

After two years in office, the government continues on an unclear path. What is the diversification strategy, and how are we going to get there? Instead the most recent noise is about the opposition not attending the Independence celebrations. That is not new; you are in fact flogging a dead horse and draining your resources with this attack, when you could be engaging our citizens on what the priorities are for the next 55 years.

What kind of TnT do you envisage? What kind of TnT would you like to have shaped? For someone who has been in government on either side since 1987, the benefits of any experience gained over the years have not been evident.

Emeralds are the symbol of 55th Anniversaries but like all gemstones they need to be polished and cared for, otherwise their beauty and shine is lost. Here is an opportunity to unearth our Emeralds and help them shine.

There are citizens who want to make a difference but there is no framework for them to become engaged. It may be beneficial to have some agency that will accept observations and suggestions from the general public and sift through them for ways to improve all facets of life in T&T.

Communication is the engine of behaviour change but our leader needs to communicate!

Prime Minister Dr. Keith Christopher Rowley launched his DJ career on Saturday 26th August on i95.5. Congratulations DJK on becoming the oldest person to launch a DJ Career in T&T and maybe the world. You have joined the ranks of the top oldest DJ’s in the world. You’ve joined Wirginia Szmyt (DJ Wika), the 74-year-old lady from Warsaw. “She decided to become a DJ at the age of 60: she walks around carrying her decks, she knows the newest trends in music, she makes her own mixes and sometimes plays even until 3 a.m. She calls herself “a link” between the new and the older generation”.

DJK, are you a link between the new and old? What is the value you are adding to either the new or the old by being a DJ? We elected you to make a difference, to provide the vision and leadership needed for us to survive way beyond your mortal demise and to provide effective governance.

DJK, if this is your new strategy to reach the people, then you’d better keep it up every Saturday, broadcast clear, unmixed messages while demonstrating your belief in being accountable to the people who elected you. If this is your new strategy, then you absolutely must publicly collaborate with your constituents to avoid a recurrence of the recent public protest which occurred on your doorsteps. If you accept this as your new strategy, then you have to demonstrate your commitment to the notion of transparency.

I hope this is not just a whimsical stunt to improve your popularity ratings because meaningful, lasting popularity ratings will only improve when you have a clear, well-considered and articulated plan which you can communicate to our citizens.

For a Prime Minster, sound communications can only be based on a platform of ideas and activities which citizens can understand and grasp the importance. If they do, then they will follow the plan. People are thirsty for good plans. They will remember and speak well of you if the good plans are yours! Until then, Happy spinning DJK!

Change will not come from a place of normalcy. It requires radical accountability… radical collaboration and radical transparency. Radical ACTs.
If that means losing some friends … so what … if your friends can't see the long game then you need new friends.
We need courage to do what is right because it is the right thing to do, not because we don't want to call out a supporter/friend.
Our country needs people of courage to take a stand to change the systems, processes and procedures. Be a change agent and stand in defense if the red, white and black.

Several years ago FirstCitizensSportsFoundation selected Demming Communications to coordinate their Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony.  Karen Da Silva and I collaborated and dreamed up the idea of a young singing MC as opposed to the traditional announcer type.

It took some doing to convince the client but we did and found Jonathan Bishop who must have been about 10/11 years old at the time and overflowing with talent.  He sang, danced and engaged a Hall of more than 300 persons, the youngest of whom must have been at least twice his age.

He gave us a “Cabaret type/Michael Jackson ish” evening of entertainment while still managing to call out the names of the inductees.

Soon after that experience and him being cast in the late Geraldine Connor’s “Carnival Messiah”, his mother moved to London with him because she believed that her son had no future in the land of his birth.  She and Jonathan had a big dream and did what was necessary to achieve that dream.

Several years later, homeboy, Jonathan Johnny BISHOP, Dancer, Singer, Songwriter, Artist, Actor will soon be in the Westend cast of Hamilton – the Musical.  This is big!

His post on Instagram reads: “bishoptheartistAhhh so grateful 🙏thank you Jesus #hamiltonmusical #emsemble thanks Ben @boxartistmanagement”

One of his followers Miniwillets commented: “Your talent is limitless and you truly are a star. The West End and Broadway Need to know who you are! Its time! This is just the beginning. I couldn’t be more happier for you Bishop! Xx”

Another example of the enormous talent springing from Trinidad and Tobago. Whether in the Arts/Academia/Science/Sports our country has enormous talent which is being recognized elsewhere but not at home.

Help me to be patient!

During the month of May, I mourned the death by assassination of Dana Seetahal.  I remember her as embodying the spirit and best example of a patriotic T&T citizen.  I remember her struggling to finish the Marathon.  I remember her gentle yet ferocious spirit.  I remember her relentless struggle for justice and I am still asking, “Where is the justice now for her?  What is the status of the case in the Criminal court?  Will the persons responsible for this heinous act ever be discovered?“

Our nation is in a deep, dark hole where the judiciary is in chaos, the party in power is blatantly supporting misbehaviour in public office and the opposition, though known to be significantly less than suitable is looking like an attractive alternative.  But then we are not quite at mid-term in this political cycle and there is still time for a breath of fresh air to emerge.  I look to the horizon in the hope that enough young people will take their place in this county of their birth and wrest power from my generation who have made their fair share of imperfect decisions.

For now, I move on from Dana hoping for justice.  RIP!

 

Dear 3Canal

You caused me PAIN this carnival.  Pain for the arts, the artistes and my country.  I remembered John, Astor, Beryl, Saldenah, Mc Williams and several other names of artistes of my youthful days.

Our politics and political system continue to “mash up” the place.  Every new administration throws out the institutions of the former because if we are red we can’t embrace the good things of the yellow and if we are yellow, we just can’t see red.

In spite of the chaos and backwardness of our leaders, 3Canal has survived in the space and you continue to thrive.  Congratulations on your 20 years and “blue up the place to cut this blight”.

We continue to tip toe around the problem with our tourism product rather than confront the fundamental issues.  Here are some facts:

1. As long as the THA continues to be the major employer in Tobago, productivity and customer service WILL not improve.  “ah we boys” have no reason to change their behaviours.
2. Until we stop the “double dipping” by the THA in the pot to advertise the destination and parade at travel markets etc. we will continue to have no advertising presence in any outlets.
3. Unless we invest in supporting the dive shops we will continue to lose market share in the diving business.
4. Unless we level the playing field and ensure that all potential investors in the tourism market are treated equally there will be no expansion of the industry.

There are few quick wins in this market.  What is required is openness, transparency and some tough action to communicate to our people that Tourism is a real mechanism for diversification.

This Yvonne Baboolal article in the Trinidad Guardian speaks some truths which the Prime Minister and his Ministers need to hear.