Although the Roman Empire appeared to be at the height of its imperial power around 100 AD, all was not as it seemed. The Romans operated a mercantilist trade system with its colonies. Whilst this gave the illusion of richness, in reality it meant that very little wealth was created from within Rome itself. And, as those conquered in battle were put to work in Rome building up its infrastructure, the indigenous population grew lazy, fat and idle.
Before long, Romans became totally dependent on their government for handouts of grain and other staples. Roman politicians soon realised that the path to power lay in simply promising more free food and entertainment to these simpletons. They added more and more holidays to the calendar, until Roman citizens spent most of their days watching gladiatorial contests, attending chariot races, and witnessing public executions.
In despair at what his once great nation had become, the political commentator, Juvenal, penned his famous lament, "A people that once bestowed commands, consulships, legions and all else, now meddles no more and concerns itself with just two things–bread and circuses." Within two centuries, the Roman Empire had wined and dined itself into oblivion. Exactly what Juvenal would have made of our twin-island republic as we celebrated 50 years of independence, at the end of a month in which we had four public holidays, is anyone's guess.
But, substitute 'bread and circuses' for 'eat-ahfood and fete', and the old sage could just as easily have been talking about us. Amidst the fanfare and self-congratulatory mood of the last few weeks, though, one only had to scratch the surface to notice a rotten core where the people are fast perishing without any sort of vision. Albert Einstein defined insanity as doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.
For 50 years, we have done just that. As we feted in the East, with ministerial motorcades, road march tunes, tassa drummers, et al, the annual rainy season exodus due to flooding continued apace in the West. How difficult can it really be for a nation seemingly awash with money to ensure that all major rivers and waterways are clear of debris? Or, that low-lying areas have adequate flood and landslide protection for the heavy rains that we know will come?
Every year there is wailing and gnashing of teeth at this so-called curse of nature. Then, the politicians pose for pictures and hand out hampers to the stricken residents, and the never-ending cycle of human misery goes on, ad infinitum. Billions have been spent on 'make-work' schemes, such as URP, Cepep and Colour Me Orange, with precious little to show in return.
Isn't it time we acknowledged that what mainly exists in certain parts of Trinbago is a poverty of ambition, rather than poverty itself? Entire generations in entire communities have grown up never being weaned off the government breast. Consequently, initiatives that should only ever have been conceived as temporary relief measures are now seen by many as gainful employment in their own right.
Last week, a government minister was quoted as saying in relation to Laventille, "We will look at the job and sports initiatives which we have in the area and these shall be expanded and enhanced." Plus ça change! Many complained that the Canadian sheriff and his deputy were not performing, and so we ran them out of town. The perceived logic was that their 21st century policing initiative was a piece of nonsense not worth the paper it was written on.
I held no particular flame for either man, but Gibbs and Ewatski must have known that it was the mentality and work-ethic of the boys in grey and blue that had to change if we were ever to see meaningful results in the fight against crime. However, we dispensed with their services and returned to the tried and failed methods of simply throwing money at a woefully underperforming institution; more cars to jaunt around in whilst on unofficial business, and more guns to take home and rent out to bandits.
A skewed sense of justice means that you will probably be jailed if you are a spranger who steals $200. Thief $20 million from the likes of Udecott, Clico and HCU, however, and it is a condominium in Miami that awaits, rather than a stint at the Grove. How can 21st century anything be of use to a people so backward in their thinking? My critics will argue that no country exists as a utopia, and that things are really not that bad here.
There is an old adage, though, which mandates that to whom much is given, much will be expected. For 50 years and counting we have settled for mediocrity when better could and should have been had. Patrick Manning and the PNM talked for years about delivering developed-nation status by 2020, and hired Chinese companies to construct a string of vanity projects in Port-of-Spain and elsewhere-as if. It was telling that when the former prime minister unfortunately suffered a stroke in January, his family quickly surmised that the medical services here were not up to scratch, and sent him abroad to seek palliative care.
Let us put that in our 2020 developed-nation pipe and smoke it. The challenge for the next 50 years surely lies in us, the ordinary people, raising expectations by demanding better from ourselves. For we can blame those who purport to govern us all we like. But, as evidenced in Rome, a lazy and apathetic people only ever get the leaders they deserve.
