Opinion
- Editorial- Commentary
John Spence
:
Small country, grand ambitions
My interest in world affairs, politics, social issues and governance developed when I was at university in the United Kingdom, although this interest was built on a sound education at Queen's Royal College (QRC). I was fortunate to be at QRC at a time when the masters at that institution were some of the best brains in the country.
It was at a time when there was only one scholarship so if a student's parents could not afford to send him/her abroad to study (there was no university in this country at that time) the teaching profession offered a well-respected career. So the likes of the late Vernon Gocking, who I believe came second in the country in the scholarship examination, became teachers at QRC.
It was an exciting time in the United Kingdom (I was there from 1947 to 1952 -with no returning home during that time as is the norm with students today) soon after the Second World War with tremendous social changes taking place, and discussion or expression of support for socialism was not yet taboo in the western world! Further, the colonies were achieving independence, starting with India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
At Bristol University, where I did my Bachelor of Science degree, there was a small but active number of students from the colonies. Much to the irritation of the university authorities we formed a society, affiliated to the Students Union, which we named the Colonial and Young Dominions Society in order to include India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka (then Ceylon) but to exclude Australia, Canada, New Zealand and South Africa!
In 1945 the Labour government under Clement Attlee came into power and the welfare state was developed. And so it is even today that to be old and retired in the United Kingdom need hold no great anxiety for ill-health, in contrast to Trinidad and Tobago where for a retired person to have a major illness can be a disaster of catastrophic proportions.
One of the major points of discussion at that time was for the British to adapt to the idea of no longer being a world power. From having an empire over which the sun never set, the British would now be confined to ownership of a relatively small island.
But like the Scandinavian countries and the Netherlands, there could be a large measure of social justice without the burden of a military force to police the world. There was always the conservative element who could not accept this new place for Britain. This element surfaced again in full force under Margaret Thatcher exploding in the Falklands war and later Tony Blair's excursion into Iraq with George W. Bush.
I make the analogy to Trinidad and Tobago where with the good fortune of (temporary) income from oil and natural gas this country could have built a near ideal community were it not for the grandiose ideas of our leaders.
In all seriousness what is a small country like this doing hosting two international summits in one year, or at all? If we want to benefit from such summits then our strategy should be to prepare a well-reasoned presentation to the summits, wherever they are held, and sending a first class delegation to represent us.
What do we need with a monorail when with proper planning we could decentralise our administration and avoid the necessity for large numbers of persons to travel into and out of Port of Spain daily? I have always felt that if I want big city life (where I would have to put up with traffic problems) I would live in London or New York where there would be other attractions such as live theatre and concert halls etc. But to live in a small island and have to put up with big city traffic problems is to have the worst of both worlds.
So I am comparing the British reluctance to accept their new place in the world after loss of the empire with the concept in Trinidad and Tobago that, because we have fleeting wealth from a non-renewable energy source, we must set ourselves up as the leaders of Latin America! International Financial Centre (to go bust with the big boys), headquarters of the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) still-born as it seems to be, owners of prime ministerial jet aeroplanes and luxurious diplomatic centres!
Is it too late to change our path? What of the 2020 Vision? How many Government Ministers have read the 2020 Vision documents? Recently in the newspapers there is reporting on upgrading of the Emperor Valley Zoo and the Minister of Tourism quoting the 2020 Vision as justification for what I judge to be an ill-conceived development (more on this later). I cannot find this in the 2020 Vision documents in my possession - perhaps the Minister could point us to the relevant sections.
It is my view that we have the talent locally in all areas (notwithstanding the Minister of Works' - who is a Trinidadian - scathing comments on the local construction industry since this is balanced by a foreigner's statement of faith in that industry) to build a grand country. If only we could acquire the knack of putting forward the right leaders and then electing them into Government!
Prof. John Spence has made a multi-faceted contribution to local agriculture as a spokesperson for Agriculture in the Senate of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago; a university lecturer, researcher and administrator, his service to national bodies including NIHERST and CARIRI; and his long practical experience as a farmer, is also a columnist of Trinidad Express. Petroleumworld does not necessarily share these views.
This
commentary was originally published by Trinidad Express, Thursday, April 9th 2009 . Petroleumworld
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