New year, same ole

THE EDITOR: As we enter 2019, what are our hopes for our ourselves and our nation?

Do we dream of a better country? A better healthcare, education and social system? No, we Trinis thinking of Carnival and that's it.

After Carnival, we might realise we are three months into the year but, no, I forgot the long Easter weekend is next so we continue with the party planning.

By mid year, we assume our survival mode and face the many downfalls facing our nation. We drive on the dilapidated roads, we continue to buy the high-cost groceries, we get sick and wait for a bed in the hospital, our kids continue to struggle in our failed education system and so forth.

We complain for little while then Christmas rolls around and we enter our happy mode again and vicious cycle continues.

So you see, do we really wish better for our nation or do we simply ride the new year as it comes. 500-plus murders "we do business" unless we are directly impacted. No water no problem, we will use our tanks. No money for child books, we will send them anyway and so our merry-go-round continues. When will we want a better nation a better year for ourselves?

Michelle Dymally Davis, Cedros