Joie de Vivre

There are many challenges for our beloved country which require urgent attention.  However, as this New Year begins, we choose to focus on some positives, for this country is indeed a blessed one and we all have the freedom to contribute to its further development.

Just two weeks ago, we celebrated Christmas, a Christian festival celebrated by all, Christian or not.  We all greeted each other and enjoyed the season, with hopes expressed for blessings and prosperity.  Such grandeur is not confined to Christmas, for the Hindu celebration of Divali and the Muslim of Eid-ul-Fitr are enjoyed in the same way by all races and religions.

Despite the challenges of dealing with escalating crime, we know how to have a great time and still open our homes to each other, go out to party and enjoy a vibrant cultural life.  This joy of life is what so many foreigners love and what brings them back a second or third time.  One visitor told me “if you could bottle this joie de vivre and market it, Trinbagonians will never need to worry about the price of oil or gas again.”

Our sense of humour too, has been a saviour in many situations, not least of which is our national politics.  While many – ourselves included – have deplored the political culture, we remain a democratic country in the true sense of the word.  Over the last decade we have participated in 5 general elections.  Each witnessed a change of government, as it were, yet without the attendant violence that so many other countries experience.  Our elections have always been conducted peacefully, in a well-nigh exemplary manner and each individual retains a sense of comfort to cast his vote for the representative of his choice.  No small accomplishment for a country just forty-eight years old!

Europe and North America are now experiencing one of the most bitter winters. The record low temperatures and blizzards snowed in thousands and disrupted air and land transportation.  Thank God for our warm weather!

Perhaps our climate gives natural warmth to our people, who mingle so freely and comfortably.  Many a visitor might be bemused by our careless references to race.  To prove this we have only to look to our small towns and villages, each laying claim to residents fondly nicknamed “Spanish”, “Dougla”, “Creole”, “Indian,” or “Chinee,” no offence meant and none taken.  On the other hand, our real conversations about race are just beginning even as our “mixed race” population grows.

T&T has had seemingly miraculous escapes from natural disasters.  For more than a century we have been protected from serious damage from hurricane, earthquake, – save those of our own making, like floods.  Let us not take for granted the saying that “God is a Trini,” and throw caution to the wind.

Last but not least, we must be thankful for our blessed abundance of natural resources.  Not just the deposits of oil and gas, but the fertile soil which produces premium grade cocoa and coffee.  In fact, we are just now waking up to the commercial potential of some of our ‘wild’ fruits and vegetation.

There are many, many more things in addition to these for which we should be thankful, and perhaps my programme today may serve to invoke some listeners to consider that with which they are blessed and bring this positive force to bear in 2011.