Going too fast for myself I missed
more than I think I can remember
almost everything it seems some-times
and yet there are chances that come back
that I did not notice where they stood
where I could have reached out and touched them
this morning the black shepherd dog
still young looking up and saying
Are you ready this time
-Turning by WS Merwin
Are we ready in T&T to unite to conquer the monsters that are threatening to destroy us? Can we unite to develop a vision? Do we have the courage to tear down walls and build bridges? Hands and Cans of Hope represents a profound effort to move proactively in this fragile era. It was a fantastic and dynamic affair aimed at encouraging youth and their parents to make positive, healthy lifestyle choices. Imagine the Port-of-Spain Pathfinder Band giving an awesome display, playing the National Anthem with scintillating ease. The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Wade Mark, delivered the opening address and started the walk. After the walk the St James Police Youth Club Steel Orchestra played six inspirational items that motivated the crowd at the Queen's Park Savannah. Hundreds of people walked around the Savannah on September 18, proud to participate in the 2nd Annual Hands Across the Caribbean Newstart Walk, Exposition and Research project. This mega event was coordinated by two groups: the Adventist Health Ministries and the Caribbean Health and Research Promotion Institute.
It was a multicultural, interfaith exercise that featured the Islamic Relief Centre, Jericho Project, Eastern Emergency Response Services Ltd, Loveuntil Foundation, massage therapy, agricultural display, Ferreira's Optical, Adventist Book Centre, Clearwaters, vegetarian supplies, Community Hospital, Mega Mission Star 7, medical screening etc. A feature that captivated the imagination of teenagers while simultaneously improving their health was the teen and young adult novelty races coordinated by Le Roy Pierre, physical fitness director at the University of the Southern Caribbean. Youth came from San Souci, Enterprise, Erin, Princes Town, Tabaquite, Curepe, Diego Martin, Mayaro, Rio Claro and had a ball. Another sparkling innovation was the marriage between Hands Across the Caribbean and Cans of Hope. This marriage produced a bouncing, robust baby: Hands and Cans of Hope. Participants were required to bring two cans of food that would provide hope to the suffering, starving masses of war-torn Somalia. The youth from Pinto Road Friends Forever displayed their creativity when they presented a stunning monologue on abortion. Master's Touch from Princes Town thrilled the audience with their sign language phenomenon.
Then came the drummers and the ambassadors of the St James Police Youth Club. It was as if the whole Savannah stopped to view this event. It was more than a touch of class. It was a soul-stirring, passionate exhibition of the cultural strengths of the youth of T&T. The grand climax was provided by the Eastern Emergency Response Services Ltd who staged a dramatic scenario involving a rescue mission for a person in need of urgent medical help. While the drummers hurled pulsating sounds throughout the exposition, the ambulance that arrived sent a shrill sound across the carpet of grass. Citizens from every race and religion got their eyes tested, their bodies massaged, their health status analysed and their hands and feet exercised. The prison officers aerobics team did not disappoint. In their vibrant red and white chessboard jerseys, they demonstrated true fitness. Then they got volunteers to come to the stage to move to the right and then move to the left. The musical accompaniment was infectious. There was a speeding-up, warming up and a cooling down.
Former Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs and now Director of Sports Tourism, Manohar Ramsarran, gave a timely speech and reminded the audience of the dangers of the drug trade. He called for increased efforts to ensure that the godfathers are caught and brought to justice. The Health Ministries' Director of the Caribbean Union Conference, Pastor Alexander Isaac, flew in from Guyana to take part in this health-enhancing activity. He complimented the organisers and encouraged the citizens to promote the Newstart programme in a vigorous manner. People of all classes and cultures united to make this multi-sectoral programme a marvellous success. This was the ethos of the event: an appreciation of diversity. They came from the East, West, North and South. Remember the Newstart formula: N for nutrition, E for exercise, W for water, S for sunshine, T for temperance, A for air, R for rest, T for trust in God. This year it is estimated that there will be more than 75 walks in more than 25 territories and 10,000 people will be walking throughout the region. The next step will be an elaborative effort to introduce Newstart in the schools across the Caribbean area.
A very profound dimension was the number of families who were actively engaged in the Newstart Festival. The family that prays together, stays together and the family that prays and plays together, stays together forever. During the novelty events, adults observed the keen interest and the boundless energy of the teenagers. They were involved to the max and many learned team-building skills. They could only win if there was cooperation among the members of the team. Sans Souci produced the most winners and perhaps this was poetic justice as they exerted so much effort to reach on time. Mrs Browne must be congratulated. This outstanding youth officer has conquered many mountains and tragedies and gives the youth a sense of belonging and acceptance. Samuel Sankar and his team made colossal sacrifices to ensure that the Hands Across the Carib-bean was an extraordinary success. They made enormous sacri- fices which guaranteed total-quality management of every aspect of this health festival. Annie Small and her hospitality ambassadors provided a huge comfort zone. We look forward to 2012.