Coal pot, bicycle and Faris

Last week, the Port of Spain South MP, the mild-mannered Keith Scotland, “advised” us about “using bicycle and coal pot.”

He reminded me of the sixties, when, from 6.30 am sharp, I briskly pedalled my Raleigh bike from San Juan Hill to my first job, as a store clerk, in Henry Street, Port of Spain. And riding again, two weeks after, to my second job in Frederick Street as a messenger. I didn’t need to lose weight.

Those morning rides, on which I was joined by scores of other riders racing into Port of Spain, were safe and cost-saving then.

Today you take your life in your hands using a bike.

The coal pot? I had to light up and fan the coals to get it ready to cook roti on the tawah. I childishly used it to roast corn, cashew nuts and chataigne seeds. Being at rock-bottom, my poor single mother and I had nothing to “sacrifice.”

But I knew there should be something better ahead.

Hence MP Scotland’s “advice” intrigued me.

He said: “I heard somebody saying they got the food hampers but they could not cook as they did not have gas.”

He asked: “You want the government to come and buy gas?”

He added: “I have a coal pot where I put my coals and I roast my breadfruit.”

And his condescending advice: “For me, in order to lose weight, I will ride to court. I will take a bike in order to save fuel.” Scotland sounds like Nappy Mayers: “Bring back dem ole-time days.” There were widespread objections to what he said. It was the mindset behind his remarks. Lesson learnt, I hope.

Just before Scotland, the frisky Shamfa Cudjoe made her complaint that “everyone wants everything for nothing right now.” The Tobago West MP “advised” citizens to “sacrifice.”

She said: “We all want the good life right now but people right now don’t even have proper savings for themselves and far less for their children but why is it so hard to sacrifice?”

Hard-pressed citizens went into an anti-Cudjoe rebellion. The Express front page headline roared with Shame on Shamfa, to which she complained of having her words “twisted out of context.” The perception of socio-economic inequity went wild. Some felt it was “her attitude.” Lesson learnt, I hope.

Maraval’s J Deering wrote: “Dr Rowley stated that citizens don’t think about fuel usage when they purchase cars. I wonder why he didn’t talk about the MPs who drive the most expensive cars with the largest gas-guzzling engines.”

He implied that a well-cushioned, taxpayer-funded government cannot ask hard-pressed citizens to “sacrifice” if they themselves don’t.

Alongside Cudjoe at a community centre opening was Public Utilities Minister Marvin Gonzales, who, with fewer decibels, “advised” citizens to eat less macaroni pie, drive less and watch fewer movies. He also got his share.

Citizen Linus F Didier noted: ”The PM and a minister of government currently get a transportation allowance of $6,660 per month and the Opposition Leader $5,880 per month. An MP who is not a minister gets a travel allowance of $4,920 per month.” He wrote: "Read this and weep.”

Social media warriors then referred to MPs' basic salaries: PM $59,680, minister $41,030, Opposition Leader $29,590, MP $17,140. Some referred to the 20 per cent cut in the New Zealand PM's and her MPs' salaries during covid, while India’s PM Modi made a ten per cent cut in his and other MPs' salaries.

My “advice” is for young government MPs to quietly follow the demeanour and tone of veteran MP Pennelope Beckles.

My other advice is for government thinkers, especially young parliamentarians, to carefully avoid aggravating inequity, real or perceived, by their insensitive comments. Today’s public temper and an unforgiving social media do not take inequity lightly.

Meanwhile, Local Government Minister Faris Al-Rawi, sensibly recognising the public mood, humbly explained “the increased costs for government to run the country.”

His strategy, with matching body language, was confession: “We know taxes hurt but the government needs money to provide services, but I am hopeful for a better TT…People, I hear you, the Government hears you, the Prime Minister hears you about the potholes, the state of our roads. It burns us, it aggravates us.”

Nothing here about “coal pot” or “something for nothing.” Al-Rawi cleverly performed like Mark Antony after Caesar’s assassination.