ChalkdustT&T needs radical change in education, focus on values

Lead Editor-Newsgathering

ryan.bachoo@cnc3.co.tt

Long before the current debate on the Coat of Arms and the move to replace colonial monuments across the country, Dr Hollis Liverpool, who goes by the sobriquet “The Mighty Chalkdust,” sang in the 1972 Calypso Monarch about renaming some streets in T&T “Roti Road” or “Doubles Avenue.”

It was a humorous calypso but meant to stir the conscience of a nation that was ten years into independence and two years away from becoming a republic. Calypsonians also wanted T&T to be identified with what the nation was known for as opposed to its colonial past. More than 50 years later, the debate to replace colonial monuments and rename streets across the country continues.

As T&T marks 48 years as a republic on Tuesday, the Sunday Guardian sat down with the nine-time Calypso Monarch and historian to analyse the nation’s progress throughout that time.

The full interview runs on CNC3 today at 5:15 pm.

Colonialism and the Constitution

Dr Liverpool said he supports the Government’s decision to replace Christopher Columbus’ three ships on the Coat of Arms with the steelpan.

“The Coat of Arms must show you what makes you. It must identify with your beliefs and your values,” the calypsonian and scholar said.

Dr Liverpool, who holds a PhD in History and Ethnomusicology from the University of Michigan, answered the critics who said T&T’s colonial past cannot be erased and will always be part of who we are.

He said, “You can’t throw away colonial history. You can’t dump it. You must know about it, but you must also see the changes that have made us who we are. In other words, you have to understand Africa, India, Lebanon, and all these are important—all the so-called negative things in history are important, but at the same time, you have to emphasise what makes us Trinidadians and Tobagonians. That is what we must look for in our Coat of Arms.”

He went further in saying the young people of the nation must “identify” with what shapes this country.

He explained, “You want children to identify with Trinidad and Tobago, and lots of our teachers don’t do that. So, children go to school and they understand French and Spanish, but the values that make Trinidad and Tobago—that identification process—to make them understand that they are Trinidadians—if they only understand those things, there will be no crime.”

He would also weigh in on the ongoing process of constitutional reform.

Dr Liverpool, who has been singing for over 50 years and produced over 300 calypsoes, warned that citizens must learn about their Constitution. He said, “Most people today are talking about the Constitution, but they are not talking about the rights of people. Rights of people are a very important part of the Constitution.”

Dr Liverpool said that the Constitution of the country was not just what happens in Parliament.

“Many people only see Parliament. They only see the House of Representatives. They only see Senate. That is only part of the Constitution. The most important part of the Constitution is the relationship with the people whether you are Indian, African, Chinese, or migrant.”

He took issue with the current method of payment for property tax and how the elderly are made to line up to pay the tax. He also pointed out the lack of access across the country for the handicapped, both of which, he believes, tell their own story of our shortcomings.

Radical change needed

Analysing the nation at 48 years as a republic, the lifelong educator said education in this country needs to radically change. When asked about what will be required for the country “to reach its destiny,” he responded, “One of the first things we need to move on is education.”

Instead of blaming the Government, Dr Liverpool said, we need to place more emphasis on education in the country. “We are spending a big budget on education, but the education we are spending our budget on is to read and write and arithmetic. But education to change the mind, to walk a different road, and to change your whole attitude toward life—that kind of education is missing. In other words, it is the education of people we should be spending money on,” he added.

He said the Government must put emphasis on values. “Our children and teachers lack values,” he said.

In fact, he added, the crime problem that T&T now faces is a result of a lack of values and the breakdown in family life in society.

Dr Liverpool said, “Criminals don’t start in Form 5. Criminals don’t start in prison. People breaking the laws of T&T—that’s the scourge of the country now. That didn’t begin in prison; it began in primary school. Unless you have children trained in proper values in primary school, then you’re looking for problems.”

T&T deteriorated badly, but there’s still beauty

From the ordinary citizens of this nation to its politicians, Dr Liverpool believes the destiny lies with all of us. He is candid in his analysis: “This country has deteriorated badly.” He said it was not just in terms of politics or the Government but all around.

He pointed to the values we have as a nation, which he said are “so bad.” “If you could put a gun to a minister’s head, that tells you the country has deteriorated badly. If you could curse the prime minister, the country has deteriorated,” he said.

Dr Liverpool said the current crime statistics only show how far the country has fallen. He had some stinging words for everyday Trinidadians: “We haven’t reached the pinnacle where we could have reached because of the attitudes of many people, the lack of education by many people, many people haven’t done university education, they haven’t travelled; because when you travel you see the world.”

He said you cannot blame governments or republicanism for people’s attitudes.

“Some learn fast and some don’t learn at all,” he added.

Despite his scorching analysis of the country, which marked its 62nd anniversary of independence last month, Dr Liverpool is adamant T&T remains a beautiful place.

“When I look at the republic, from then to now, we haven’t changed much. Some good things remain the same,” he added.

He recalled the beauty of the country while travelling in a maxi taxi recently. Looking out the window, he saw vendors selling on the pavements as the Caribbean sun covered the country. Dr Liverpool insisted that the beauty is there for everyone to see once they lift their heads from looking down on the nation and look up.

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