You know something? I just realized that it probably would be best not to name storms. Naming storms, especially those that turn into devastating hurricanes, attaches as it were a personality to them…a status that elicits feelings of revenge and trauma at the mention of the name.

The way we feel when an acquaintance, friend or criminal has caused us distress is different from the way we feel when some natural occurrence has caused us similar distress. We tend to see the individual as a target of revenge whereas there is no one to blame as a result of a drought for instance.  Putting a person’s name to a natural disaster tends to blur these two lines.

I would at this time for instance be very concerned for the safety of anyone whose name is Tomas (without the “H” of course). I also wonder how anyone named Allen fared throughout August of 1980.

Alright…these thoughts may justifiably be considered as facetious but let us consider something. Certainly, when affected people remember names such as Allen…David…Marilyn…Hugo…Janet…Gilbert…Katrina…Tomas, there must be some very unpleasant flashbacks that overcome them.

That is the power of a name.

For a leader of a prominent and better off nation in the region when asked for assistance by a hurricane-ravaged neighbour, to embellish her response with talk about how they can benefit from giving help is plain insensitive and selfish (I do also detect a tinge of arrogance in Mrs Persad-Bissessar’s voice). Alright…one can understand that any “accidental” perk or benefit derived from volunteerism (financial or otherwise) can be a welcomed surprise. Nevertheless, even if you may expect or foresee a benefit in you giving assistance to someone in need, it is undiplomatic to let your tongue out of your teeth cage and talk about it.

The sudden and unfortunate condition in which St. Vincent and St. Lucia have found themselves in, turns T&T’s PM’s comments into a tell-off. Placing a condition on potential assistance in such dire and overwhelming circumstances is certainly an untimely move at best.

But let’s talk about benefit regardless. How about the benefit of having the satisfaction of helping a neighbour in real serious need. No? OK. How about the benefit of helping people back on the feet as quickly as they can in order that they can resume their lives and economic pursuits so that your exports can return to full strength. No?

I suppose big T&T will never suffer any disaster, natural or otherwise and that if they do, they will require no help whatsoever. I suppose as well that the plethora of products imported from T&T providing a market for numerous manufacturers there and paying the salaries of many workers meant nothing. Maybe they can just get another market in a snap. I think the our fellow Trinies are cool folks…what was uncool was the statement of the leader.

Let us unite…peace.

Kind of low-key if you asked me. I took in the pan and gospel concert on February 21st at the government buildings waterfront Castries.

Special Blend blending their voices

The attendance could have been much better. However the gospel concert was nice. It was hosted by Clinton Reynolds and started off with young Collesta Tappin and included performances by the likes of Emrand Henry, Special Blend (the organizers) Shirley-Ann Cyril-Mayers and Linda Chocolate Berthier. All in all a peaceful blessed night which ended with a bang at midnight with some fireworks display over the waters.