By FRANCIS JOSEPH
Yes, that’s true!
Free doubles and pies in Port-of-Spain on Monday morning.
How come?
It was World Peace Day 2026 and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) decided to celebrate the occasion with free doubles for servicemen. According to the UNDP Resident Representative, Ugo Blanco, the servicemen have served well for this country and it was only fitting that “we do something for them today.”
The day started off at 6.30 am with five different doubles vendors perched against the fence of the Industrial Court on Queen Street. It was organized by attorney Om Lalla in conjunction with the UNDP.
To bad if the servicemen didn’t appear. The public lapped up the delicacy. Word got around west Port-of-Spain and in no time, scores of people were lining up. One homeless man sampled all five vendors, moving away with 15 doubles “for my friends.” Another person who do not eat doubles, ate doubles on Monday.
A woman who says she eats from only one doubles vendor, sampled all five vendors present. Some people turned up to order and pulled out their money, not knowing it was FREE.
Police officers, prison officers, a few soldiers, lawyers and public servants, especially from the nearby Ministry of Education, lined up. Then employees from the National Library descended onto Queen Street and the lines grew longer.
Queen Street between St Vincent and Edward Streets were blocked off to vehicular traffic.
Asked why this initiative was carried out, Ugo Blanco told Sunshine Today, “I love Trinidad and Tobago. I have been living in the Caribbean for ten years, four years in Trinidad and Tobago, the energy the people. I love doubles and roti and I love bake and shark”
Blanco said he got to like cricket and went to the CPL matches at the Queen’s Park Oval. “I love cricket, I was in the CPL a few weeks ago, we lost all the games.”
The UNDP representative said Trinidad is more than Carnival.
Then came the big question.
Q: Are you concerned about the crime situation in Trinidad?
“Yes, a bit, but this country can change. This country has the potential to change it. For the new generations to grow, we can change it.”
Om Lalla said he decided to bring the service providers together and pay tribute to “those people who have done a wonderful job protecting this country.”
Lalla said the day – World Peace Day – was the appropriate time to celebrate those persons who put their lives on the line every day.
