The paltry and pathetic offerings of the lame duck event which the THA is trying to promote as the "Tobago Jazz Experience" pale in comparison to the quality, standard and repertoires we had grown accustomed to in what was the real Tobago Jazz Festival or the Plymouth Jazz Festival as it was called. It, however, may be symptomatic of Tobago's own economic decline in recent years. To become just as watered down and pathetic, limping back each year on crutches and bandaged up, seeking its yearly hand-out from the treasury.I have written repeatedly, criticising the THA's failure to continue the rich tradition and high standard of that real "jazz" event. That event had set the upper limits of excellence for jazz festivals and event tourism in the Caribbean, making it quickly into an annual pilgrimage for music and fun lovers from all over the world.
People who did not come to Tobago for Christmas, or for Easter, or for the after-Carnival limes, or for the August holidays or for any other reason, would somehow find themselves in Tobago for that Jazz Festival. That kind of brand loyalty you don't build up easily, and if you have the slightest understanding of just how competitive the tourism market is, you also don't throw it away easily either. However, once again, the myopic, misguided mismanagement of the THA has come to the fore to effectively kill off what was a super world class event. They have left patrons wallowing in the mediocrity and malaise of what is now called the Tobago Jazz Experience, much like how Tobago is wallowing in its own economic malaise.
This has all been a part of their Machiavellian machinations and malevolent massacre of the Tobago tourism industry, which all seemed designed to keep the average Tobagonian dependent on the THA to give us this day our daily bread.Their wild and woolly, fanciful notions of the Cove Industrial Estate as the salvation for Tobagonians are just as misguided and useless, ill-conceived, poorly executed and bringing little or no real benefit to the mass of Tobago's population in terms of economic independence.Their resistance to new ideas and constructive criticism has left the Tobago economy stillborn, moribund and bereft of any stimulus to get it moving.
They are not ashamed to concede that they will not be able to host the Miss World Pageant in Tobago because of an apparent lack of sufficient quality room stock. This after they have deliberately sought to destroy the tourism industry. They eschew innovation and creativity and poured cold water on Gypsy's idea of having the Tobago Carnival in October, and abandoning the paltry, feeble attempts at a pre-Lenten Tobago Carnival.There is so much merit in this idea, as I have said before, because the THA itself admits that there is a lull period in Tobago's tourism between September and November.So if an event can be established which can help fill that void and become an annual fixture on the event calendar, then this must be a good thing for Tobago and Tobagonians.
But of course, the Assembly has to grandstand and ramajay and put Gypsy back in his place like a little black boy and talk about disrespecting the THA.The THA has been disrespecting Tobago and Tobagonians for years by the actions of some of its members. They have routinely insulted our collective intelligence for decades. From Ring Bang, to the acquisition of Pigeon Point to the Cove Industrial Estate to this mediocre Tobago Jazz Experience, the THA officials in their various manifestations have misled, fooled and misguided Tobagonians and yet expect them like sheep, to follow blindly still?
How long will Tobago or Tobagonians remain like orphans or step-children with begging bowls waiting outside the door, "Sir, can I have a bit more please?"How long will Tobagonians sit idly back and allow their own to fool and mislead them, carrying them along the Road to Perdition, while promising them the sun moon and stars?It is time that Tobagonians start to get up and speak out about the issues which affect them in order to bring about meaningful change in their lives and for future generations.
It is time they wake up and realise their tired, old mantras about Tobago pride and that they have their own THA and that they can manage their own affairs. If they are managing their affairs, they appear to be doing a piss poor job of it. In the 30 years of the THA's existence has it really made the lives of all Tobagonians sufficiently better and improved in any lasting, meaningful and sustainable way?
Apart from the fleeting and illusory pride of beating your chest and saying "dat is we t'ing", what else has the common man really garnered or gained in a tangible manner from the 30 years of the THA's existence?The time may be right not only to look at the constitutional arrangements, but also to get a sense from the people as to what they really want the THA to achieve and deliver for them in the next 30 years going forward.If we do not do that kind of introspection and critical analysis and thinking, we are doomed.