Circular No 683

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,

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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.

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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