Our TT-DNA

I have been dreaming about the Government’s 1.98 M$ erection, err, flagpole and those 0.02 M$ flags recently. In my dream I was sitting at the foot of the pole, looking up towards its vanishing point. I saw inscribed/etched onto the pole the names of all of our heroes, not just those who receive public recognition and national awards, but those who toil long and lovingly serve others, winding its way around the pole in one continuous line. Then I noticed a separate line of names running parallel to the first. On this line, somewhat faded, were the names of every murder victim, both old and young, every ‘accident’ victim, every executed “community leader”, every ‘failed’ commission of integrity/inquiry. I saw these as representing the two strands of the Trinbagonian DNA – the source simultaneously of our pride and our shame, our celebration and our suffering. And binding this double helix together were the names of every corrupt, lazy, indifferent or dishonest public official, every inconsiderate road-user, every greedy corporate executive, every cowardly citizen, every public ineffectual, and every political party we have ever had govern us.