PBH / travelers / Russell Etherington

Russell Etherington

Send private message	Activity:	2 posts, 17 comments, 3 friends.
	Member since:	May 2008
	Lives in:	Trinidad and Tobago
	Sex:	male
	Born in:	United Kingdom
	Has traveled in:	all over the world
	Wants to travel to:	Cali Colombia
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	About (hobbies etc...)	THE INTERCHANGE PROJECT The project team on paper looks impressive; however most people’s roles are in name only. Many of which to wonder around site just killing time, dodging the sun and the work has become there main task in life. The few hardworking and genuine (office based staff) are over demoralized by the introduction of what I will call as favors. Favors are people who seem to feed of the fact, that because of there so called higherarcy introductions they thrive on there immunity, sad people leading very sad lives indeed. As to the question of absenteeism, lateness and time off, this is a national epidemic fueled by both the culture, and raising cost of living, coupled with disturbingly low wages brings many to a sense of no hope. The equivalent UK rate for labour of £ 1.76 beggars belief. Who ever said slavery was abolished, the only difference today is the masters are no longer the white so called Europeans. Preventative maintenance with respect to the plant is none existent. Records showing down time caused by the above clearly proves the reality it seems preventative measures are for other companies. For further clarification please refer to the amount of hours to set to plant against, productivity . Frustration is a daily issue, plant breakdowns, operators not turning in or just simply late, poor workmanship due to lack of supervision. Promotion to this level is generally gained through the so called favor system, or simply being a needy relation. It has become obvious to me that the required level of knowledge within the construction industry is somewhat limited more worrying is the logic of wage increase, and additional hours given as a bonus. This is used to work less, therefore taking time off is based on the level of increase in pay. It is difficult to impose a disciplinary procedure due to high degree of absenteeism/ and lateness experience on the Interchange Project, replacement of men is difficult to impossible. Monitoring is carried out but without the proper deterrent implementation of a procedure is not practical. Much time is also lost due to the chaotic infrastructure such as the peoples needs for banks, supermarkets and the transportation system. It is recognized that basic needs we are in a first world, take for granted take many hours to achieving Trinidad. There is a distinct lack of clear policies and procedures emanating from the Claxton Bay Office, which compound the already frustrated site issues which are encountered on a daily basis. Line management reporting is not understood at both office and site level, this results in confusion as a result of the management system failing repeatedly. Concentration levels are reduced, by the hap hazard use cell phones, many meeting is reduced to a shambles, where clear instructions are not being heard with the constant interruptions, compounded by poor quality cell line connections most of the time. I have known instances of site staff making calls lasting for many hours, and in one case the individual fell asleep with the phone against there ear. Petty thief is generally accepted, as an every day occurrence, generally those with company transport are the culprits. We have received many complaints with regards to the lack of supervision on the Interchange Project, no improvement have been made as the individuals concerns are difficult to track on a hourly basis. Even theft has occurred from our sub contracted security company on at least 3 occasions. It seems that a great deed of trust has been placed with the individuals concerned by the family owners of the company, this trust is constantly being abused, by petty theft, instances of shear malicious behavior against other staff members of now the same position as themselves, together with unauthorized trips from the site is tantamount to fraud. The top 3 reasons for leaving site are 1) I have an emergency at home 2) I need to go to the Bank 3) I have to leave site as my lift (Drop) is going home The now entertaining stories are what I call the circle it starts something like this 1) My relative is not feeling to well, so I have to go by the doctor with them 2 Days later 2) My relative is going into the hospital, I need some time off work to visit them 2 Days later 3) My relative is now very ill, I have to visit there relatives throughout Trinidad 1 Day Later 4) One of my relative is not feeling to well, so I have to go by the doctor with them 2nd Relative 1 Day Later 5) I need some time off as I have to go to the funeral, this depending on the religion usually takes between 2 and 5 days. And so the cycle goes on ! Generally people receive no holidays in Trinidad, this is an excellent form of brainwashing from the business who operate both sizable and small company. You almost get the impression that the culture has been adopted as most people are proud to state they not taken any holidays for many years. I do wonder the reliability since lie backcanal is a favorite statement in Trinidad and Tobago. Doing business with independent test houses in Trinidad, is a challenge in itself, I do wonder if most of the test results are fabricated, The setting out of results leaves much to be desired, not many of the test results I have seen, actually confirm to the requirements set out in the American or British standards. Very rarely would you ever get the results on time, constant chasing day in and day out is required. Many times they just ignored incoming calls, hoping that you will eventually forget why you are trying to call them in the first place. That reminds me of site feedback, from instructions passed either verbally or in writing there is none, none whatsoever. All attempts to organize a regular site meeting have failed. Firstly there is always an excuse for not attending secondly and conveniently the memory loss prevails every time, so you try to call and remind them, no answer, cell disconnects, cell dead. Your list of things to do eventually gets to the stage where your brain is overloaded with items you are trying to remind people finally gives in and realizes that this show is by the hour on the hour, planning and programmes are for other people not for Trinidadian. Its familiar with the Chinese whispers the more people involved worse is the end results.
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Russell Etherington says on May 18, 2008, 13:22:

Trinidad 2006 to date. Russell Etherington. Page 1
Something to read

PEOPLE AND HISTORY
Columbus landed on and named Trinidad in 1498, and Spaniards settled the island a century later. Spanish colonizers largely wiped out the original inhabitants--Arawak and Carib Indians--and the survivors were gradually assimilated. Although it attracted French, free black, and other non-Spanish settlers, Trinidad remained under Spanish rule until the British captured it in 1797. During the colonial period, Trinidad's economy relied on large sugar and cocoa plantations. Tobago's development was similar to other plantation islands in the Lesser Antilles and quite different from Trinidad. During the colonial period, French, Dutch, and British forces fought over possession of Tobago, and the island changed hands 22 times--more often than any other West Indies island. Britain took final possession of Tobago in 1803. The two islands of Trinidad and Tobago were incorporated into a single colony in 1888. Trinidad and Tobago achieved full independence in 1962 and joined the British Commonwealth. Trinidad and Tobago became a republic in 1976.
The people of Trinidad and Tobago are mainly of African or East Indian descent. Virtually all speak English. Small percentages also speak Hindi, French patois, and several other dialects. Trinidad has two major folk traditions: Creole and East Indian. Creole is a mixture of African elements with Spanish, French, and English colonial culture. Trinidad's East Indian culture came to the island beginning May 30, 1845 with the arrival of indentured servants brought to fill a labor shortage created by the emancipation of the African slaves in 1838. Most remained on the land, and they still dominate the agricultural sector, but many have become prominent in business and the professions. East Indians have retained much of their own way of life, including Hindu and Muslim religious festivals and practices.

Page 2

Carnival requires no introduction. It is an everlasting party that starts well before lent. Planning and rehearsing for the events starts in the fall and continues until Carnival "officially" gets underway. Trinidadians love to party and this is the place to party. The costumes are out of this world as is the revelry. Below are some picture taken over last week Jan 2008 Carnival

Below is the last Carnival 2008, picture taken at the Crobar in Port Of Spain.

Russell

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Russell Etherington says on Jun 13, 2008, 17:46:

Page 3a

Russell Jnr and me Trinidad Carnival 2008

J'Ouvert Nighttime Masquerade

Jouvert (or jouvay) –from the French Jour Ouvert is the ritual pre-dawn opening of the Trinidad Carnival, when thousands of revelers form themselves into bands and parade on the streets covered in pigments, in what is called Dirty Mass". Come 2am (some say 4am) Carnival Monday Morning, "the day opens" with one of Carnivals oldest traditions. It is time for the sinister creatures of the dark to express themselves with the help of haunting steelband melodies. Don't be afraid of the jouvay mud applied to you by cackling devils barely covered in ragged ill-fitting underwear. Soon enough, when the dawn arrives, it will be time for "pretty mas".
Jouvay began in 1843 with one of the earliest attempts to repress the Carnaval exuberance by the white ruling class saying Carnival could not begin until Monday. This was re-interpreted into a celebration to welcome the day break of Monday beginning anytime after midnight.
Below the link will tell you about the meaning of Carnival
... evolution and symbolic meaning

http://www.mustrad.org.uk/articles/trinidad.htm

Russell

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