Dos and Don’ts for world leaders visiting Trinidad for CHOGM 2009
Posted on | November 26, 2009 | No Comments
This weekend, over 50 world leaders will descend on Port-of-Spain, Trinidad, for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting. With leaders coming from across the globe, all sharing similar historical values, it look set to be a pretty diverse event. However, visiting a new country can be daunting, so here are a few dos and don’ts for those who may be unfamiliar with Trinidad and Tobago.
- DO ASK for a doubles as one of your snacks during the conference. A vegetarian snack, doubles (singular) is a very popular sandwich of fried bread (bara) filled with curried chick peas and topped with a range of chutneys. Locals devour 3 or 4 for breakfast, but the visiting tourist may be advised to start with just the one. Oh, and you eat it with your hands- no knife and fork please!!
- DO COMMENT on the massive 130 foot high Trinidad and Tobago flag proudly on display at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in the capital. It’s a source of much national pride to Prime Minister Patrick Manning.
- DON’T ASK how much said flag cost. It’s a source of much embarrassment to Trinidadians. If you really want to know, it cost $2 million Trinidad and Tobago dollars. That’s approximately 200,000 British pounds sterling- yes, that much. How does a flag come to cost a developing nation so much? Here’s how.
- DON’T PRONOUNCE Tobago as ‘Toh-bah-go’- it gets annoying. The pronounciation is: ‘Toh-bay-go’.
- DO COMMENT on the racial diversity in Trinidad. Years of colonialism, slaves, indentured labourers, and economic migrants means that Trinidad and Tobago is a real melting pot. Our people are black, white, brown, yellow and all shades in between. Some Trinidadians look so similar to other nationalities, such as the Japanese, that they take part in other activites with them.
- DON’T ASK to see the leaked sex tape of Anya Ayoung- Chee, Miss Trinidad and Tobago 2008, (unless you really, really want to) or you’re requesting a copy for the Prime Minister of Japan whose own beauty queen Hiroko Mima, Miss Japan 2008, ’stars alongside’ Miss Ayoung-Chee in the threesome video. Both ladies have certainly done their bit for international relations.
Otherwise, have fun!
Comments
Leave a Reply