T&T “hot”…………as global ties grow
…….But no souse and bake and shark luncheon for de Americans, only doubles
The Rum Posse had a change to its usual end of week lime and decided this time to lime mid-week due to the hectic weekend schedule of most of the members. They could have had no lime but that would go against the very heart of their very being and so it was decided.no end of week lime, but instead they met on Wednesday by Roshan to have their usual discourse on matters of importance, be it local, regional or international.
For the Rum Posse, if it was “out there”, it could be talked about. The main talk in town for the past few days was the planned US$750 million revival of the former ArcelorMittal steel plant at Point Lisas. This initiative, once materialised, would provide a much-needed boost to Trinidad and Tobago’s economy.
Two of the country’s top economists, Professor Patrick Watson and Dr Jamelia Harris advised that the fine print in whatever agreement be thoroughly checked, urging caution before signing off. Sean Sobers, Minister of Foreign and Caricom Affairs on the other hand was effusive in his comments regarding the proposed deal, saying that Trinidad and Tobago was “hot” right now and is reaping the benefits of strengthened diplomacy with its international partners, including the United States.
Secretary of State Christopher Landau upon his arrival at the Piarco International Airport
Sobers elatedly said that he had never seen such international engagement with Trinidad and Tobago within the last decade and that this is the new form of diplomacy upon which the country and government was building.
Present at Roshan’s were Big Bottom Beverly and her younger sister, Shirley; Alfred; Anand and his wife, Rihanna; Barman; Balkie; Ramesh and Sunil.
The mid-week meal was almost like a Sunday lunch and absolutely not the dhal, bhaji, curried chicken and buss-up-shut that they were expecting and for which they had sharpened their chops. Instead, on the menu was butter cassava; veggie rice; red beans; stew pork; baked chicken; fried fish; and a cucumber-pineapple-green apple chow. The bar was as expected with its premium whisky; premium brandy; White Oak rum; Campari; Tito’s vodka; and an assortment of chasers including fresh coconut water.
Roshan: The usual welcome is offered to all my friends. It feeling kind of strange to have you all here today, Wednesday. But de day doh really matter; the important thing is that we here, together. The good thing is that all ah we could make it.
Big Bottom Beverly: I fully agree with you Roshan. No matter the day, we inside with de Posse lime. So, to follow the usual protocol, thanks for opening up your home to us smack in the middle of the week. And is a special day too. It have a total eclipse of the sun taking place that mostly visible in places like Greenland, Iceland and some parts of Europe and North Africa. We eh go experience it here, but another one supposed to be coming up later in de month. So today is ah auspicious day.
Anand: Thanks, Bev girl. And ah hope allyuh doh mind if I kick-off de old talk. Allyuh know I for one does be critical of this government, but this is one time I feel I have to give Kamla and she government pips for this fantastic turn around in our economic fortunes with the announcement of the revival of the steel mill. I now understand why Kamla was aligning sheself with America so much this past year and a half and kind ah making style on Caricom. Imagine it was US Deputy Secretary of State, Christopher Landau who leave the US to come here to tell us about the US $750m investment which the US government planning to invest in the Pt Lisas steel plant and have it reopened.
Rihanna: Yes, hun. Landau described the project as a major win for both Trinidad and Tobago and the United States. He even say that the plant should have its first production on stream by the end of next year. Almost a whole ten years after ArcelorMittal left hundreds of workers jobless and in de cold; abandon a premier industrial asset like the steel mill, Landau have the steel mill now rising from de dead.
Barman: I glad for dem businesses near this resurrected steel mill. God willing, they go come back in full swing. If ah get ah lil push, I and all might open up a little bar and restaurant business.
Suresh: The American fella praised the Prime Minister and even Minister Sobers for bringing the negotiations to ah completion. Sobers was feeling heself boy. I have it here what Landau had to say. He say he in he job for about a year and a half and the ceremony could be considered the most emotional one that he had the honour and privilege of attending.
The man waxed poetic when he said, “it was the moment in which you can see words and ideas transformed into action…… I think there is nothing more beautiful, frankly, than being able to see a plant like this that’s been shuttered come back to life. It’s really like Lazarus arising from the dead again”. Hear nah, man. All yuh must realise that he in office for the same length of time Kamla and she government in office and look what both ah dem achieve!.
Roshan: That man is a real politician, Suresh. He big up both Kamla and Trump, saying that, “both leaders demand results that benefit their people”. He say he was honoured and delighted to travel to Port of Spain to celebrate Trump’s and Kamla’s joint achievements in promoting energy development, strengthening critical mineral supply chains and combatting drug cartels. Man, Landau thank the Prime Minister, her distinguished team, and the people of Trinidad and Tobago for their warm welcome and for introducing him to our iconic national instrument, de steel pan!
Shirley: Papayo! De man preach! Kamla really tell us better days are coming. De lady know what she was saying. And of course, somebody could tell me why Stuart Young bumping he gum for and claiming that it was de PNM who laid de foundation for all ah dat. Steuuups. If it was dem, why it take so long? What dey was planning for 10 years, Kamla make it happen in 15 months.
Balkie: Stuart and de PNM and dem just eh want to give Kamla she jacket and accept that what has been achieved is ah win-win for Trinidad and Tobago.
Alfred: Allyuh could say what allyuh want about this project and who win and who start it. I see where two economists say dey hope we read de fine print carefully. But that is not my point really. All I know is that it was no win-win for souse and bake and shark and even black pudding when I see how much doubles de American delegation and Kamla and she government was eating, same like de last time when another big pappy American army man was here.
Roshan: I feel is time to bring this ole talk to a conclusion and make it a win-win for what I have here for allyuh to then big me up like how allyuh big up Landau and Kamla and dem.
Until next week
