I am very incensed as I write this article. Why? I have just finished speaking to a friend from Tobago about the high-powered talks between the Tobago House of Assembly and relevant ministers of the Government concerning the island's declining tourism industry and the need for immediate action.
In March, 2011, members of my group presented the Government with a golden opportunity to promote Tobago on a global scale. We submitted for consideration a document that we had been working on with the Miss World Organisation since 2009. The international chairman of the organisation, Julia Morley, even flew to Tobago with the then reigning Miss World and first runner-up and a team of technical people to assess Tobago's readiness to host an event of this magnitude.
Everyone was impressed by the island-it's warmth and charm and the infrastructure, particularly the Hotel Magdalene and the Cultural Centre at Shaw Park. It was hoped at the time that in celebration of our 50th anniversary of independence, 2012 would have been the year to do it. Almost one year later, that document, into which we put our blood, sweat and tears, has gone unacknowledged. Hosting Miss World would have had obvious benefits for Tobago.
While I understand the Government's reluctance following the Miss Universe debacle of 1999, it is important to note that Miss World is an organisation which prides itself on leaving a well documented legacy in any host country. I expected at the very least a roundtable discussion with stakeholders to present our case and be heard fairly. Just for the record, the interest is still there to have Tobago be the first Caribbean island to host this prestigious event.
The second thing that upsets me is an article concerning Minister Bhoendradatt Tewarie and statements made about Machel Montano and the need to promote him on a global scale. Last year, ahead of the Miss World finals in London in November, I approached (via letter) a government minister about the possibility of having one of our top soca stars perform at the event in front of a worldwide audience of two billion people.
Miss World is recognised as being the most watched televised event on the planet and having Machel Montano, Destra Garcia or Shurwayne Winchester (the names suggested at the time) perform would have catapulted any of them into the realm of super stardom and, more importantly, brought international focus to our indigenous musical art forms.
I do not know any of these individuals personally but I am a fan of their music and their performing skills and I was willing to risk my reputation and my position as a member of the Miss T&T World Committee to try to make this a reality.
The minister in question responded saying that this was not something his ministry was prepared to consider. No dialogue, no personal communication, just a dismissal letter. I was truly hurt because of my deep love for my country and my desire to see us progress beyond Third World status.
What hurt even more is the fact that Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and her entourage were in London at the time of the competition, returning from a trip to Australia and I even extended an invitation to them to attend the dress rehearsal for the final. Admittedly, I was a bit late but I would have moved Heaven and Earth to make it happen had they showed any interest.
Perhaps because I have no letters after, in front of or in the middle of my name, nobody is prepared to take me seriously. Perhaps it is because I am not highly placed or favoured in political circles. All I have are my passion and my deep love of my country but it seems that these are not enough.
I have also suggested that tourism officials look at the possibility of having the producers of the hit television show Survivor film a season in T&T (possibly on Little Tobago). I called the production company in Los Angeles and left a voice mail suggesting it to Mark Burnett, one of the most influential executives in the world of television. I am sure I will hear from him because he seems to be a man willing to takes risks.
What the Government and its ministers do with this opening is entirely up to them at this point. I can only hope, bearing in mind that Survivor is seen weekly by millions in the US and millions more around the world, that this is something officials are at least willing to consider. I used to think that being passionate and loving one's country meant something. Sadly, it seems, I have been labouring these long years under a false assumption.
With all due respect, I call on this "Government of the people, by the people and for the people" to wake up and listen to the voice of the people. You never know where the next good idea is going to come from and Lord knows we need some good ideas right now.
Daniel Seebaran
San Juan