Katenu ikusa ni ikigirashi

Anata ni mi wo kogashita hibi

Wasurechattara watashi ja naku naru

Oshiete tadashii SAYONARA no shikata wo

 

PENAL, CIRCA 1958

Indentured labour from India began arriving in the colony in 1845. In order to establish and propagate a local source of cheap labour, they were offered a cash incentive of five pounds in lieu of a return passage between 1860 and 1880. The incentive programme was abolished since by 1880 , Indians were fully 30% of the national population and therefore were established. Many Indians made use of their five pounds to purchase crown lands at one pound per acre. In the sugar rich Naparimas, the south border comprised a series of marshlands which were poorly drained and mosquito infested. These lands were surveyed by Warden of Siparia, Otto Radcliffe Clarke and sold to Indians who were expert at draining the marshes for the cultivation of rice. Watercresses were also grown in abundance and in a drier area of the swamp called the Pengyal (a Tamil word I am told) , a small agrarian settlement had sprung up with enough Indians to warrant the Presbyterian Church’s Canadian Mission to the Indians, setting up a school and chapel here in 1905. A mosque and cemetery also existed in the village in a place called Batchiya. The area was adjacent to hilly places to the south and east, being just four miles from Siparia. In these hills, small plots of cocoa cultivation began and soon flourished as a cash crop. Cocoa spread as far as a track laid out from the settlement to the Rock River in Moruga. Since the settlement had become Penal on government ordinance maps in 1910, the track was called the Penal Rock Road. On this road were several significant cocoa estates. One was owned by a Scotsman named McIntyre who established a prosperous holding, and constructed a lovely residence, complete with indoor plumbing (a marvel for those days) and archetypal gingerbread fretwork in 1918. His descendants, sired with an Indian woman, still live in the old family home. Another important estate was the property of the German , Wilhelm Meyer, who was stripped of his lands under the Enemy Alien Ordinance of 1914 which saw Germans in the island pressed into a concentration camp at St. James during the hostilities of WWI between Germany and England. Meyer’s estate also had a quarry for gravel in a hilly area off the Penal Rock Road in an area called Morne Diablo or Devil’s Mountain. This became the present Morne Diablo village. The estate was advertised for sale by Siparia warden, Otto Radcliffe Clarke in 1914. Along the Penal Rock Road, a Canadian Mission School was erected in 1920 for the children of the dozens of Indian families who settled and grew cane in the area. The peasant cane farmers had their cut canes carted to a scale in nearby Barrackpore where a terminus of the Usine Ste. Madeline railway existed. Back in Penal, development came when the Trinidad Government Railway extended its line from San Fernando to Siparia in 1913. This was no mean feat of engineering since it meant pushing the line through marshy areas near the hamlet of Cooliewood (now called Ghandi Village) and Debe. The line had to be laid on a bank of gravel to raise it above floodwaters which rushed over the lowlands during the rainy season and two strong bailey bridges were constructed over the Godineau and Curamata Rivers. Since the trajectory of the line passed a bit north of Penal, the Penal Railway station was almost a mile east of the main settlement on a road which led to cocoa and sugar cane growing areas in San Francique. The coming of the railway meant that vast quantities of rice and vegetables could reach the market in San Fernando and Penal flourished. In 1930 oil was discovered around Penal and in Barrackpore. A large tract of land on Clarke Rd. (named for Otto Radcliffe Clarke) was cleared and offices, bungalows, a medical centre, clubhouse and mess hall were constructed by United British Oilfields Trinidad (UBOT). Oil was secured in tank farms at Barrackpore , Penal Rock Road, San Francique and Clarke Rd. and then piped to the refinery at Pointe-a-Pierre. A small power plant supplied electric lights and a large dam was built in 1939 to supply the facility with water. Since the almost completely homogenous peasant Indian population of the area was inadequate for the brute labour of the oilfields , hundreds of negro labourers flocked in and formed a distinct neighbourhood in the area of Penal Rock Road ½ mile mark. Unlike Pt. Fortin where UBOT shared the better amenities of life with the native population, its presence in Penal had no impact whatsoever on the locals who continued without electricity and pipeborne water. In 1939, Sunbeam Cinema was opened , powered by a Delco generator, and was followed by Regent on Clarke Rd. in the 1940s. The latter catered mainly to the white expatriates of the UBOT installation (later assimilated by Shell) by showing the latest Hollywood flicks while Sunbeam aired primarily Indian movies. In the early 1950s, a market was constructed for the large number of produce farmers in the area. Previously, a makeshift market had occupied the triangle of land formed by the SS Erin Rd., Clarke St. and Penal Rock Road where a mall exists today. In 1962, Penal broke from Siparia Parish when the Penal RC. Chapel and School were opened along with the prestigious Holy Name Convent for girls. Nearby on Clarke Rd. the state constructed the Penal Junior Secondary School while a mile northwards in Abdool Village, a government primary school was established. Penal grew by leaps and bounds in the 1960s and 70s both as a centre for the nearby oilfields and became famous for its Saturday market which became something of an attraction. In 1965, the railway closed , but the SS Erin Rd. had already replaced it as the main artery into the village. In 1990, Penal became its own municipality and ceased being part of the Ward of Siparia, when the Wards and Counties system of local government was dissolved and the Penal Debe Regional Corporation came into being. In 2001, the Shiva Boys’ Hindu College was established on Clarke Rd. Today, Penal is a bustling and growing commercial centre and is a far cry from the sleepy village pictured in this 1950s photo.

 In 325, at the Council of Nicaea, Constantine the great creates the Catholic Church after a genocide of 45.000 Christians, where he tortured them to renounce Reincarnation. At the same time, religious books of all the villages of the empire are compiled and thus create THE BIBLE.

In 327, Constantine known as the Emperor of Rome, orders Jeronimo to translate the Vulgate version into Latin, changing the Hebrew names and adulterating the scriptures.

In 431, the cult of VIRGIN is invented.

In 594, PURGATORY is invented.

In 610, the title of PAPA is invented.

In 788, worship is imposed on Pagan deities.

In 995, the meaning of kadosh (subpar) was changed to saint.

In 1079, the celibacy of priests is imposed>> totally Catholic.

In 1090, the Rosary is imposed.

In 1184, the Inquisition is perpetrated.

In 1190, indulgences are sold.

In 1215, confession is imposed on priests.

In 1216, Pope Innocenzo lll was invented, the tale of terror of bread (a god of Greek mythology), which turns into human flesh.

In 1311, the batty is imposed.

In 1439, the non-existent PURGATORY is dogmatized.

In 1854, the immaculate Conception is invented.

In 1870, the absurdity of a infallible pope is imposed, inventing the concept of hiring

There are more than 2500 things made up by this religion to enslave human beings with Christianity...

Religions and their Gods were created as a means of MANIPULATION and BUSINESS. As part of the EVOLUTION of human being is the RELEASE of these means of manipulation. Therefore human being are in the era of WAKE UP.

Young people each day are LESS RELIGIOUS two more generations and Catholic religion will be on its sunset.

Muslim religion will prevail for a little more time but in the end its fate as all religions and their Gods will be the same. DISAPPEAR.

It will all be part of our EVOLUTION.

 1974

acquaintance rapeAfropopagony auntalternative musicAmes testanthropic principleazidothymidinebiofuelbioreactorbirthing roombluelinerbody wrapbottom-fishingboy shortsbromocriptinebunker mentalitybuprenorphinecargo pocketcarpacciochaichalkbroodchop-sockychroma-keyclickerclosetedcoinfectioncolorpoint shorthaircomputed tomographycomputerphobecontrollingcoronal mass ejectioncorporate-wideCT scancyanobacteriumcyclooxygenasecytokinedanazoldark-eyed juncodecade-longdigitizing tabletdirect depositdisc golfDiscoverers' DayditzyEast Caribbean dollarendarterectomyexotic shorthairfibroblast growth factorflavivirusfly-on-the-wallfourth worldgearheadgentleman's clubgeotechnical engineeringglass closetgonadotropin-releasing hormonegotchaGPSgratinéeguilt-tripgulagHeimlich maneuverHiggs bosonhousepersonimmunocompromisedindexingindividual retirement accountInuktitutIRAjunk bondKeogh plankinakneecappinglife supportlilangeniluminismmefloquinemegavitaminsmemory cardmetoprololmicrogravityMoonienanotechnologynonaspirinNuyoricanOort cloudOriental shorthairoverservedpass-through entitypedorthicsposter sessionpost upprobioticpsi particleqigongribavirinringetterotavirusSandinistashuttle diplomacyslumpflationsmoking gunsnow crabSTDstring cheesesupermomsupersymmetrysyliSyrahT4telecommuteteletextTok Pisintouch padtouch screentramp arttransgendertransposonultralightunderdiagnoseunnilhexiumunrevolutionarywake-up callweatherpersonwhatabouterywimp outzin

 

THE TRINIDAD WE ONCE KNEW

DAYS BEFORE SELF SERVICE GROCERIES AND SUPERMARKETS

THE VILLAGE SHOP ERA

When one examines the past, it can often be broken down into specific eras. In each of the eras there are clearly times when both types of food retailing existed. For example the village shops though still in existence today began fading away gradually , making way for supermarkets and groceries.

Food retailers of long ago tended to be small corner shops spread throughout an urban area or village. The owners of these shops knew all their customers as in many cases the travel distance to the village shop was only a few blocks and most people walked. The shops carried basic non perishable items and grains , which were exactly what the clientele wanted back in the 50s and 60s. These village shops mainly sold non perishable food items and grains which did not require refrigeration . These items they brought from wholesalers.

Usually, the shopkeeper and his family lived in the building over or behind the shop. This was the era that customers , including young children will walk with their lists and would ask the shopkeeper for what they wanted . The shopkeeper served them over counter.

Instead of glass doors the village shops had two large wooden doors which when opened served as the main entrance and exit points. When it was closing time the doors will be pulled in and a long , heavy wooden bar would placed into two heavy duty metal clasps at each end across the doors .

A must in every village shop was a scale like the one shown in the photo. Today most of these ancient village shops have been replaced by groceries and supermarkets.

This photo was taken inside a village shop in Grande Rivierre in 1970.

Can anyone explain why village shops were closed half days on a Thursday of each week?

 This is my story: 

 In April of this year get the first shot of the Pfizer vaccine, then in May I receive the second shot.

After receiving the first shot I spent about 10 days with a mild fever, mild headache and alternating periods of being too hot or too cold.

In May I received the second shot and starting about 1 hour hour later I started experiencing joint pain and weakness in my muscles. while shopping I fell down in the store because my legs just gave out, something that’s never ever happened to me before. This progressed for about a month until I was barely able to stand, walk or use my arms. I have spasms at the neck and shoulders and twitching in my face. My hands and feet are swollen and I can barely hold a pen to write.

Went to the doctor and they did a few blood tests’ and the only thing the blood test shows is elevated calcium levels, my A-1 C is high and my cholesterol is a little bit high. 

I’ve been put on muscle relaxers(Tizanidine) and A mild pain killer(meloxicam), but these are barely helping.

 The only thing it may be considered a positive is that the symptoms haven’t gotten any worse, of course though they’re pretty bad right now.

The doctor keeps saying that it may be my A-1 C it’s affecting my parathyroid glands which is causing the elevated calcium levels and that is causing the issue with my muscles. She did also say that the vaccine may have triggered this since there are documented cases of it affecting people negatively.

All I know is that I’m in that lot of pain and it is extremely difficult to move I still have to get up and go to work and stand on my feet for 10 hours a day.

I don’t see an end to this suffering in sight and I don’t think I’m going to make it through.

 

  "8/3/21: Nasa finds a mirrored Earth, opposite gravity, physics, motion."

."9/14/21: A Category 6 hurricane hits South Carolina, the worst in history."

"10/20/21: 8 humans receive superpowers from extreme energy of the Sun."

"12/14/21: 3 Teenagers find a T-Rex egg and a device to open a portal to an alternate universe."

"2/2/2022: Atlantis is found in the Atlantic Ocean, housing human-fish life."

 In Full: The ‘Independence Day’ Speech 2021 Needs

“Good afternoon.

In less than a week, we hope to fire up our grills,

And launch one of the biggest Fourth of July celebrations

In the history of the United States.

The United States. Those words have new meaning for us all today.

And whether you drive a pick-up or a hybrid,

You live in the heartland or on the coast,

Or whether you pronounce it ‘America’ or ‘Murica,’

We’re all Americans.

Seldom on the same page but reading from the same book.

On holidays, anyway.

Perhaps its fate that this Fourth of July, we gotta’ once again come together

To lend a hand to those less fortunate.

To those whose fate still lies in the balance.

We’re fighting for freedom for all.

Not from alien invaders.

From separation.

From being cooped up while baking bread.

And ignoring basic hygiene.

The time has come for us to get fresh,

Gather the crew, and eat veggie and meat burgers until we sweat.

And then, let’s work together towards a future

Where everyone can come to the party.

And should we win the day,

The Fourth of July will no longer be known as an American holiday,

But the day when the world declared in one voice:

‘We will not go quietly into the night!’

We will fill the sky with so much light and freedom,

This thing will rue the day it ever messed with us.

Together, we celebrate out Independence Day.

Go Forth, America.”

BORDEN'S DAIRY

4010 Lois Ave at Tampa Bay Blvd

In 1960, a new state of the art, ultra modern, multi-million dollar Borden's plant opened in Drew Park. 

The facility at the corner of Lois Ave and Tampa Bay Blvd covered approximately 450,000 square feet with more than 100,000 square feet devoted to processing operations, buildings and offices.  

The remaining 350,000 square feet was laid out in parking areas, loading facilities and maintenance shops.

Spread over the 15-acre site, it would become the largest milk and ice cream producer in the Southwest.

The plant was officially dedicated to the public on November 19, 1960 by Mayor Julian Lane. 

Following the dedication ceremonies, an open house celebration was held with plant tours.

The new plant replaced the former location at 3319 Florida Ave and the Borden's Farm Products Company at 13th and York St

 

 I have no gay pride because im not gay... i also couldn’t care what you fuck. throwing your sexual preferences in the face of others isn’t normal either so fuck off and act normal if you want to be treated normal. stop with the WOOHOO BIG SUMMER BLOW OUT

 White evangelicals are the American Taliban.

 Nations that have the highest secularization rates, including Scandinavia, Australia, Canada and Japan, also are among the healthiest, wealthiest, and safest in the world. Secularization highly correlates with belief in science, higher education levels, increased vaccination rates, stronger societal safety nets and greater protection for minority groups.The decline of reactionary organized religion can clearly be a progressive force for good.

One early morning.

Lifting the dark

misty veil of the night.

From the pillow of its mountain

peak, the sun rose and saw..

The valley is filled

with the season of love.

And the branches of

memories have sprouted..

..innumerable

blossoms of past moments.

Unspoken, unheard yearnings.

Half asleep, half awake.

Rubbing its eyes, it watChes.

As it flows in wave after wave..

At once new, also the same.

Yes, the very same life which

encompasses love and desire.

Meeting and also parting.

And a sense..

..that time is flowing like a river,

whispering as it flows..

..that the valley is

filled with the season of love.

And the branches of

memories have sprouted..

..innumerable blossoms

of the past moments.

 

 "All I know is that in this world, you have no choice but to either be an oppressor or be oppressed and I don't want my child to be either."

 Paul David Hewson turns 60 years old today. You will know him better by his stage name, Bono.

The lead singer for U2 has been praised and criticized for his activism and involvement with U2. He has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize, was granted an honorary knighthood by Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom, and, with Bill and Melinda Gates, was named Time Person of the Year in 2005, among other awards and nominations.

And, he has sold a couple of records and a few concert tickets....

Happy Birthday Bono!!

 the collective psyche is indignant at being forced to be born only to swim incommensurably more often under an ice pack of dissatisfaction than in a lagoon of completeness.