Newsletter for alumni of The
Abbey School, Mt. St. Benedict, Trinidad and Tobago, W.I.
Caracas, 06 of December 2014 No. 683
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Dear Friends,
Emails below.
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BC Pirfes
...and,
as usual, for the www.BCRaw.com-stickers/Viagra ad seekers, here's the
text-only version of TRINI TO D BONE
As Told
to BC Pires
A Very
Trinidadian Philosophy
My name
is Burton Sankeralli and I am a founder-member of the Philosophical Society of
Trinidad & Tobago.
I spent
most of my life in highly boring Valsayn and no one “comes from” there, really.
So I’d have to say I come from the whole of Trinidad. I’ve roamed the country
and tried to intersect and deal with the different aspects of people and
culture.
It has
some nice memories for me, growing up as a child, but Valsayn doesn’t really
conjure much. There is a certain privilege involved in living in Valsayn but
there’s also a certain screwing up of one’s consciousness.
Every now
and then I get [told] that I look white but, in other parts of the world, not
so much. When I was in Caracas last year, it was very strange being in a city
with millions of people and blending in! That was very weird for me, blending
in; I don’t know how most of the human population deals with that. In Trinidad,
I stand out. Unless I walk through West Mall. And even there is a kind of a
ghettoized space: it’s not where the mass of the population exists.
Indo-Trinidadians
find my name funny, because “Sankar” is Hindu and “Ali” is Muslim. And, of
course, I grew up Catholic. The name would have been like Shakur Ali,
originally, when that branch of my ancestors came from India. But the clerk at
the docks wrote it down wrong when they came off the boat: so it’s a
Trinidadian name!
Within
the context of Trinidad society, I’ve been getting whiter as the years go by: I
did not really grow up being regularly called white. I also get called
“Spanish” or “Chinee”. Now and again, maybe, an “Indian” might pass. But
Trinidad is like that. You can’t judge by last names, as any schoolteacher
would know. You look at a class roll, call an Indian name, and a Chinese boy
sticks up his hand.
I grew up
loving what we call in Trinidad, “Indian food”. But, more recently, I find
well-cooked African food, from Africa, can be exquisite. When I can afford it,
I am not averse to European fine dining.
I went to
private Catholic school, primary and secondary. St Xavier’s in St Joseph. This
is kinda like, “the Valsayn Profile” – and then I went to St Mary’s College.
Until
form five. I was an academic failure. I guess that qualified me to become a
philosopher.
I wasn’t
an academic success: I didn’t really like school much in the first place; and
then I found religion. I was Catholic. I’m in the Orisha tradition now. I
belong to an Orisha shrine. Needless to say, I stand out there, too. Can’t act
anonymously. I don’t think I really fit into the conventional academic – or
even social - milieu.
When I
left the regular school system, I decided to pursue a degree in theology. The
Catholic tradition in theology is a very intellectual one and draws a lot on
ancient philosophy. So I was exposed to that. I was at Mt St Benedict, in the
seminary, with seminarians, but I wasn’t a seminarian myself. It no longer
functions as a seminary but the theology programme still functions.
I did a
four-year UWI programme at Mt St Benedict. The theology faculty was and is
still located in Humanities in the three campuses. The one in Trinidad is run
by the Catholics, the one in Barbados, Codrington, is run by the Anglicans and
the one in Jamaica is run principally by an ecumenical Protestant organization.
Black Power passed through there, so there was a lot of the Black Power
theology floating around. There was talk about the theology or liberation. It
was an important intellectual development for me.
I began
exploring the relationship between religion and culture and decided to throw
myself into my own culture. What does it mean to be Trinidadian? You belong to
this institution that is a European institution, you’re exposed to European
ideas – who is “we”?
The year
David Rudder had his “Calypso Music” album really changed me. it was the first
time I had a direct encounter with Orisha. Because David Rudder had those
intimations and connections in his singing and performance.
I like to
move around to Orisha feasts. It gives you a chance to see the whole country.
Sometimes at midnight or two in the morning.
I know a
lot of calypso but my main focus now is parang. I describe myself as
philosopher, a vocalist and a political dissident. I think those three terms
sum me up. I’m a lead vocalist in two bands, one a traditional parang
movement.. I sing for entertainment but, right now, it’s also my day job. At
least at Christmastime. I’m hoping to at least have something like a regular
income three months in the year: I’m shooting for that. I’m on a very, very
irregular income. My last regular-ish income was, I did a few months’ work with
the First Nations.
Penury
helps philosophy: it gives you time to think. Since the whole patronage system
broke down a couple centuries ago, it’s been rough for philosophers. In other
cultures, patronage and – let’s be frank – begging is considered holy but it
has this awful cultural stigma in our time.
I benefit
from a lot of circumstances. And try to use that in a profitable way. And not
just in dissolute behaviour.
The
Caribbean has a great intellectual tradition. But it has been shrinking. There
has been a marginalization and breakdown of this tradition, to where we have to
seek refuge in rumshops. Because we don’t really have universities in this country
–with the possible exception of the Adventists… Ironic, huh?
Caribbean
intellectuals established the global pan-African movement. Marcus Garvey
organized a newspaper that had millions of subscribers around the world – which
we can’t even do now, with an Internet.
The
Philosophical Society was formed in late 2005, early 2006 by three of us:
myself; Darryl Naranjit, a real philosopher in the proper Western sense; and
John Borelly, who is more of a student of ancient Greece. It grew out of a
philosophy class under the umbrella of the then UWI School of Continuing
Studies. Right now, Studio 66, run by Makemba Kunle, has taken the burden of
administering the group.
We
discuss all kinds of stuff, from philosophy in ancient Egypt to aspects of
postmodernism German philosophy. Right now, we just have open meetings and
people are free to come. There has been some attempt to institutionalize a
membership. But I don’t know whether philosophers and artists make the best
organizers.
The best
thing about setting up society is that, when the history of Trinidad is
written, they’ll say, “Well, at least there was a Philosophical Society”. No
matter what other else was happening here.
Trinidad
is really not good at process and institutions and Trinidad may sink or swim on
that issue. All the institutions that work relate, somehow, to banditry: gangs;
political parties; conglomerates etc.
It’s part
of the crisis we’re in, that we don’t see the value of, not just philosophy,
but even education for education’s sake. And we don’t see the intellectual
process as important. We wrong and strong, we ain’t ‘fraid a soul in Town.
There is
a definite need for a philosophical society in modern Trinidad, absorbed in
materialism. One of the great things about Trinidad is that, every two or three
years, this place kinda shifts. We just have to put it out there and hope it
takes root: it wasn’t raining when Noah built the ark.
Someone I
parang with was strumming his cuatro, and began to sing Abba’s “Fernando” – the
history of Mexico, people fighting for freedom. And I was ready to cry; because
I realised we are not a great people: but we can be. And that’s a Trini.
Trinidad
& Tobago happens to be in a very bad part of our history over the past
couple decades and, because a human life is only 70 years or so, it seems long.
But it’s really not that long, in terms of history, but we have the potential.
Trinidad
& Tobago, to me, is like a marriage gone disastrously wrong. But you know
you can never walk away from it. At least not permanently.
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Nigel Boos
Nov 27
Dave,
I hadn’t
heard about Mike Darwent until I got your note. Thanks for letting me know.
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On
Nov 27, 2014, at 3:36 PM, Glen Mckoy <mckoy43glen@hotmail.com> wrote:
Hello Sir
Bandit,
You are
also loco amigo ha! ha! Any how, this should make Sir Ladislao happy, he asked
for information and he got it almost the next day. I must say this Club is
working like a clock again, nice to see so many replies. I am glad Sir Laz got
us working again, we lazy old timers ha! ha!
Bandit, I
am also avoiding any world news this month, ha! ha! Just got back from Isla
Mujeres.
2 years
to retire, life begins at 60 hombre,
Adios
Glen.
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From:
calypsobandit@live.com
Date: Wed, 26 Nov 2014 00:00:13 -0500
Hi glen,
Vitalis
Gomes, was a border in my days the poor fellow studied and studied like crazy
but could not retain what he studied -hence he failed to pass Senior Cambridge
exams twice --passed on the third try went on to study in England became a
doctor there practiced in England and is now retired in st. Catherine in
Canada. By the way Michael Darwent died about 6 months ago.
The old
boys are dying off- I go be the only left to bury their ass.
"Bandit"
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Date: Tue, 25 Nov 2014 14:53:09 +0000
From: mckoy43glen@hotmail.com
Hola My
Dear Sir Ladislao,
You are
looking for 5 brothers -
Allan
Romeo - 1968- He is on our Mt. Face-Book site. Will get Sir Kazim to get his
email & phone number for you.
Ian
Alfonzo - 1972- He is in Ottawa- I don't have his phone number, but will check
with my brothers Sir Hudson & Glen Evelyn, they may know more.
Conrad
Boney 1975- I will check with Sir Shaun & Sir David.
Vitalis
Gomes & Thomas Jardin 1948. Now Sir Laz. Are these guys alive?
I will
bcc. some older brothers on these guys.
Cheers,
Let’s wait and see what pops up. Hope all is well. Take Care. Best
Regards Glen...
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Date: Sun, 16 Nov 2014 14:35:26 +0000
From:
kertesz11@yahoo.com
Dear Glen,
I am
sending five emails to you so that you may use your detective powers to good
use.
The email
of these oldboys have been lost to the circular list, as the email address does
not work.
I sent
you all the info that I have, missing fingerprints, sending it to you latter.
Since I
have not filed the attachment please give me an early answer after you make the
five phone calls.
I know
that I can count on you
Ladislao
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Glen Mckoy
Nov 26
Hi
Guys:
You can
try these ph & emails...not too sure if Ian Alfonzo still has this ph &
email...
1) Allan Romeo: c. 404-272-9543 -> allan_romeo@comcast.net
2) Ian Alfonzo: c. 613-832-0097
-> alfonzo@rogers.com
Good
luck.
Hudson
McKoy
818-813-5149
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Anthony Cintra
Nov 25
Hola
Amigo/Cher Mon Ami, Ladislao and Hail Sir Glen,
I heard
that Vitalis, Vitty, Gomes is a medical doctor. I think he lives in Canada.
Good to
hear that you are back on the "E waves" Sir Glen, Chief Knight.
Kind
regards,
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------.
From:
mckoy43glen@hotmail.com
Date: Thu, 27 Nov 2014 21:42:37 +0000
Thank you
for this natural way of healing, I will note, cheers glen.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------.
From:
Redstone_6@sympatico.ca
Date: Thu, 27 Nov 2014 16:32:50 -0500
Two Table
spoons of Coconut Oil per Day,… & Turmeric Tea,…(1/2 Tea spoon),…for
Dementia.
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On
Nov 27, 2014, at 3:14 PM, Glen Mckoy <mckoy43glen@hotmail.com>
wrote:
My Dear
Sir Trevor,
Thank you
very much for this information. This should help Sir Laz in his investigation,
on these two brothers. I believe this is the brother Arthur Knaggs spoke about
to me, a few years ago, but he was ill then. I believe he also was the 1st. boy
scout on the mount
Best
regards, have a good day my friend, cheers Glen.
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From: tevelyn@rogers.com
Date: Thu, 27 Nov 2014 13:06:25 -0500
Glen
Thomas
Jardim lives in Halifax, Vitalis Gomes in Ontario. Thomas Jardim is in a home
and does not even know his wife
Vitalis I
cannot find his email when I find will send to you
Trevor E
1945 to 1949
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Second list
The following oldboys appear in
the general listing as having left us for better pastures, RIP
If we have it wrong, please let
me know.
Can you give me information on
dates and other for our records
Lacour
Maurice
Lang
John Gordon
Lange
Alistair
Lange
Bernard
Laquis
Abraham
Lipavsky
Roberto
Llanos
Anthony
Lloyd
Maurice
Look
Pat
MacLean
Hugh
Marcelin
Andrew
Marcelin
Hamil
Mayuen
Joseph
McEnearney
Charles
McLean
Hugh
Mekdessie
Michael
Mekdessie
Raymond
Mekdessie
Wilfred
Mendes
Bishop John
Mendes
Emmanuel
Mendoza
Ramon Eduardo
Moffat
Nigel
Moffie
Andres Eloy
Moreno
Fernando
Nacimiento
Martin
Narraine
David
Nassief
Michel (sic)
Ng-Hem
Errol
Nunez
Simon
Odderson
Moses
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Photos:
Bandit p08 The Early Times
73SC0011SCOUTGRP
11AR2688ARO, Allan Romeo
13WR2630FCUWRA, Fr. Cuthbert and Winston Ramsahai
Father Cuthbert, how are you? so nice to see a picture of you smile. I will have to come visit you when i take a vacation to Trinidad.
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