The Myth of Activism in T&T

During the tenure of the PNM administration I was one of the many voices speaking out against their nonsense: billion-dollar, benefit-less summit, the useless crime gadgets and nonperformance of then National Security Minister Martin Joseph, the megalomaniac episodes of Patrick Manning and the smelter construction plans. I felt as if Trinidad and Tobago was alive with activism especially when you browse sites like Global Voices for reactions to the political happenings of the country. A number of persons and organizations emerged as "activists" during this period or atleast voiced their discontent in some way :










1. Stephen Cadiz 

He launched the Keith Noel 136 committee which became "YesTT" for the purpose of pressuring the government to deal with crime. YesTT was behind a number of activist events including the "death march" attended by over 12,000 people, going nationwide collecting signatures for a petition based on citizens' concern over crime and having quite an influence in print, electronic and social media as their ads became quite ubiquitous after a while. Some of Cadiz's quotes:


"We have sent them a petition of 112, 000 signatures from concerned citizens and to date nothing has been done to alleviate the crime in the country." 


"They have to solve the problem. Something very tangible has to be done," he said. He added, “There is no encouragement from the Government to fix the problem. None...Since the march, no action, after the petition, no action.”


If it is one reason in the world for Patrick Manning and Martin Joseph to go, it’s because of crime in this country.”








2. Inshan Ishmael

He launched the Islamic Broadcast Network (IBN), a TV station at which he hosted a hard-hitting political talkshow "Breaking Barriers". Interestingly Mr. Ishmael is also the President of the "Pre-Owned Automotive Dealers' Association". Like Cadiz he protested the state of crime in T&T at the time and is even referred to in this article as a "social activist". Ishmael went so H.A.M with his protests he got arrested under the 2005 Anti Terrorism Act for not printing his name and other details on flyers distributed calling for a nationwide strike to protest crime. He even launched his "activist" organization of his own called "One Voice" which he declared is to lobby for a change of government. 










3. Verna St. Rose Greaves

A social worker, feminist, counsellor, social "activist" and motivational speaker. Greaves has worked with government, NGO's and as a private consultant in the areas of welfare policy, poverty alleviation, family services, gender and development, adoption of children, violence against women and children, crime and violence in the society, HIV-AIDS, and prison reform. She presented papers locally, regionally and internationally. Her involvement in the practical training and support of social work students of the University of the West Indies informs her ongoing work on the development of a Forum for Alternative Social Work Education (FASWE): “Towards a Radical Social Work Progress and a Caribbean Perspective. The greatest evil facing us today is indifference. To know and not to act is to contribute to injustice.”(Parliament of the Republic of T&T)


Another outspoken "activist". Here she is doing a dance of some sort in protest at the 5th Summit of the Americas held in Port-of-Spain :

Notable quotes :

"I think of the many children we have lost to silence, our voices constricted by fear, our limbs immobilized. I see colleagues every day intimidated and consumed by what "can't be done"; overwhelmed by the concept that people are the best architects of their own lives; fearful of the awesome nature of people power. I think about the frailty of the responses to and the lack of interest in an effective Children's Authority. The children who go to bed empty in the midst of our wealth"

"Verna St Rose-Greaves says if Government moves ahead with its plan to resume hangings she will have no choice but to leave. Speaking to I95.5 FM yesterday St Rose-Greaves said if she could not influence change with regards to the issue she would walk. “I will have no choice but to step out,” she said."

"It's hard to accept the brutal and shameful acts committed against our children; but the savagery of the public response is cruel and disheartening. We focus on harsh, cruel and inhumane punishment. We speculate, blame, judge, arrest, prosecute and call for hanging as a cure for all a 'geri toute' for a sore throat."

4. Percy Villafana

Villafana became an overnight superstar and mascot for the then opposition after he dissed PM Manning by blocking him access to his house on a walkabout:

Villafana reportedly told Manning he isn't welcome on his property for any hand shaking and photo-ops as he is pissed off with his policies, the scandals of the PNM and Manning's leadership. 

Since then "Do So" became a local meme and Percy became a household name:

5. Crazy (Edwin Ayoung)

Crazy is a well-loved calypsonian in T&T.

He recorded a whole song in 2010 which mentioned some of the scandals of the PNM which included the chorus "Patrick Manning have to go".

6. The Original DeFosto Himself 

Another well-known and respected calypsonian.

He too recorded a song highlighting the scandals of the PNM stating he "cya vote for dat".

This list is by no means exhaustive. Two years into the People's Partnership term of governance I've come to the realization that there really are no real activists at all in T&T. If you're an activist concerned with crime in Trinidad one would expect you to speak out when you believe the government has failed to tackle the issue properly. By all accounts nothing has changed for the better with regards to crime since the People's Partnership (PP) came into office, so then why have all the "activist" voices gone silent?

Well how about a "where are they now?"

Stephen Cadiz is now a minister of government. He has said absolutely nothing to criticize the current administration's nonperformance on tackling crime and is now a full-fledged politician as he has not only defended the failed and illegal state of emergency imposed in 2011 but he has supported the government's death penalty rhetoric by voting YES on the Hanging Bill, even after publicly stating his opposition to capital punishment.

Inshan Ishmael was awarded a contract to repair police vehicles. Used-car dealers were also allowed via a new policy to import and sell cars that are 6 years old (up from 4). "One Voice" has been defunct since the People's Partnership took office. 1 plus 1 equals 2?

Verna St. Rose Greaves is also now a minister of government. Despite her saying she will leave if the government pursues capital punishment she remains there even after they already have.

Percy Villafana is nowhere to be seen or heard.

Crazy doesn't seem to think anyone in this government "have to go" due to his silence.

De Fosto didn't vote for Calder Hart's shady procurement practices and the scandals of the PNM, but apparently he is comfortable with the goings-on of the PP due to his silence as well.

A notable mention for "activist" behaviour also includes the Trinidad and Tobago Manufacturer's Association who did an entire report on their opposing position concerning the proposed "rapid rail" public transport system of the PNM, but said absolutely nothing when the PP proposed, guess what? a rapid rail public transport system and the infamous Maracas valley tunnel.

Based on the selective outrage and "activism" of the named parties its easy to conclude that real activism doesn't exist in Trinidad and Tobago. Every concern raised prior to May 2010 when the PP took office seems to have originated from a political agenda rather than that of an activist. They didn't care about crime in T&T, they wanted to get rid of the PNM. If this wasn't their objective, their passion for hating the scandals of the previous administration was indeed shallow, because corruption, nepotism, misgovernance and stupidity, lies, frequent benefit-less international trips, flip-flopping, the mishandling of crime and wastage of public funds continues unabated under the PP as it was under the PNM and not one single "death march" has been held, no calypso has been composed, no dance has been done, not a word has been said, since the embodiment of the political evils they were once opposed to has done nothing more than to change its mask, something they surely should have noticed by now but choose to do nothing. Did Verna imagine her own words would haunt her today? "The greatest evil facing us today is indifference. To know and not to act is to contribute to injustice."