This topic has really been on my mind for the past week. Especially in this time of recession in Trinidad and Tobago, how are we taking steps towards sustainable development? Sustainable development can be defined as “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”. It is said that island tourism is one of the largest industries in the Caribbean, and plays a major role in Sustainable development. Through research and observation I have realized that while industrialization is becoming more prominent, it’s leading to the draining of our resources, as well as a loss of culture and aesthetic. Loss of culture to me is what is most troubling. As we seek to become more developed, our culture seems to be dwindling and taking a back seat to that of the European culture… With regard to sustainable development, my main concern is food security in the Caribbean. 
I believe that we have a high import level and not enough energy and money is placed into cultivating our own food. Our high level of dependence of these first world countries leaves no room for us to be able to survive without them if something is to go wrong..
My question to you guys is simple. How do you think Trinidad and Tobago can lead by example by trying to lower our import level and focus more on producing our local food? Is it possible for us to move towards sustainable development without being so heavily dependent on first world countries?
References:
Apostolopoulos, Yiorgos, and Dennis John Gayle. Island Tourism and Sustainable Development: Caribbean, Pacific, and Mediterranean Experiences. Westport, CT: Praeger, 2002. Print.
By Dario Gonzales
The 'Third World' In Global Development 
My answer to your question is simple! We need to focus on growing our own food. We have the land, we have the human capital, all we need is for the government to initiate this venture and we would be heading in the right direction. I do agree that our food import bill is extremely high and something needs to be done about that!! The issue with the CEPEP workers not being very productive can now be very useful in starting this great venture. We can now train these people to plant food to help sustain our beloved country! All we need is that one step to begin the journey….. If we truly aspire to be like the U.S, we must be able to support ourselves! Very good post!
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Excellent response! Grow our own food. Boycott tinned foods (which are slowly killing us). Say no to drugs-FAST FOOD
I would also add that we have a very large human resource supply maintained on taxpayers money (inmates)….wouldn’t it be a step forward if we train this reserve labour force in skills such as carpentry, masonry, engineering, plumbing, electricals etc then use them for basic infrastructural work and maintenance? A small stipend can be placed in their accounts and upon their release they have accumulated a small fortune, skills AND work experience to get them re-integrated into society to make a more positive contribution.
Squatting lands! Lets talk about that….how about if you want a portion of land to squat on you go to a particular office, make your request and it is allocated to you ONLY on the condition that you also farm the land?? Or that you develop some business initiative while you are there…sell pholourie, mango anchar, suck-a-bag etc….
If each person in some way becomes self-employable, then we would have to rely on each other in a constant circle of supply and demand of goods and services.
How about we legalize the sale and use of marijuana? establish the biggest fields of high grade marijuana and regulate its sale and consumption in the same way we would for alcohol and cigarettes?
Our avenues are endless, all it takes is for us to be innovative and willing to support one another’s businesses rather than the outside wor
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I think that it is possible for Trinidad and Tobago to achieve sustainable development without being highly dependent on these first world nations. Not denying the fact that it would be a great challenge, all we need is the right leadership and guidance. We also need to focus on the mindset of the people of the country because we have all grown so accustomed to all these foreign goods and services that it would be very hard to transition into ‘supporting local’. We need to educate people from a young age that investing in our local products would be more beneficial to us as a country and in that way we can slowly become less dependent on countries like the U.S. It is very unfortunate that things like these are not discussed and focused on. The government fails to realize that we have so much to offer the world and so much to offer ourselves!! All we need is for them to put things in place for us to really stop importing so much when half of those things are made locally!
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I agree with both comments! We do indeed have the relevant resources to achieve the goal of sustaining ourselves with regard to food security. I believe that the government really needs to focus on encouraging people to start to plant their own food. Especially in this time of recession, people can save a lot of money by having a garden at the back of their homes. Food security is a very important part of sustainable development and we need to put it first on the list! Nourishing our bodies properly is the first step in making the human race a better place! Thank you guys for your views!
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With regard to lowering food import level and growing our own local food development of the human resource aspect of the agriculture sector is necessary in order to remove the negative attributes associated with an agricultural lifestyle. This can be done by educating the upcoming generation and providing incentives for the present generation to engage in agriculture in a more meaningful and long lasting way.
In order to become less dependent on developed countries it is necessary for us to foster stronger regional ties as an insular economy cannot strive. Should we choose to change the dynamic if our relationship with developed countries it will become necessary to forge new economic relationships so as to ensure economic continuity.
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In my honest opinion i believe that we can strive to achieve sustainable development during this perilous economic time. Firstly as a state we need to adjust internally to this situation. We need to cut back on various forms of spending in areas that reap no profit or benefit the state in any major way. Diversification of the economy. In a country such as Trinidad and Tobago we have other resources apart from oil and natural gas that has not been utilized to its fullest potential. One agriculture. As a state why dont we capitalize on this and grow our own food. Grow for the purpose of export, this is a form of aquiring funds for state use which would eventually help to stabilize the economy.
Secondly Tourism. T&T more so Tobago can boast of a somewhat thriving tourism sector, but is it thriving enough? No! I believe that enough isn’t being done within this sector, and this is one of the things that can aid in economic restructuring. In the caribbean when we hear the word tourism we immediately begin to think sun sea and sand but that is not all. Why dont we explore all the avenues of tourism such as sports tourism, business tourism amongst other things. That way we can attract a wider audience which brings in more foreign currency into our economy. Having these variations not only satisfies our economic hunger from an external standpoint but it eases the stress from an internal standpoint as well. Jobs are created therefore as a state we won’t have to worry about a high unemployment rate, a high poverty rate etc. The idea of still aiming to achieve sustainable development during this time of recession should not be discarded, it should rather be more of a collaborative effort between the government and the members of the citizenry to make the necessary adjustments that builds us economically as oppose to sinking us in to place of economic poverty which may lead to civil unrest.
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I like this contribution, very good points. Don’t know who to give credit to though. But I like that everyone can see that development can be achieved right within our own shores rather than outsourcing through ‘industrialization by invitation’ and the like.
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We can lower our levels of import and start growing our own food. While this is a very good step to further our plight to sustainable development, there is a great issue about the human capital to do the work. Has the society of Trinidad and Tobago left the agricultural sector on the back burner for too long? How are governments going to motivate young agile persons to become farmers? Culturally, globalization has introduced new avenues for jobs and persons have moved away from the agricultural sector. It would be very challenging to start sustainable development ventures when most members of the working class are set on instant gratification with a laissez-faire attitude. Nobody wants to get their hands dirty and procuring human capital may be the most challenging part about the idea of growing our own crops.
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I will like to add that in doing research and stumbling upon articles online, certain things were highlighted as being the reason why black people are behind economically. Though the writer was speaking in regard to the US, I believe that the same concept applies. Apart from the obvious, which is the initial exploitation of black labour in slavery that generated wealth for whites and none for blacks, the writer points out that because of the brainwashing of blacks we are more likely to support white-owned businesses because their products will be considered superior. The Jewish community on the other hand managed to grow substantially on the basis of supporting one another’s businesses. They shopped at Jewish-owned groceries, went to Jewish-owned dry cleaners,hired Jewish workers and every single good or service was purchased from a Jewish establishment, allowing their money to change hands more than 6 times before actually leaving the community. Blacks on the other hand support every business except another black person’s business. Some people are even of the opinion that black/white segregation was better for the black community because they had no choice but to support black. This is the reason why there was once a thriving Black Wall Street.
This tells me that cutting off certain ties and relying more on self is the key to this whole idea of sustainability. Don’t just support local. We all have to be a local business in some form or fashion. As a matter of fact, the Caribbean has a budding fashion industry but people continue to import foreign clothing, and complain that the prices of locally made designs are too expensive, disregarding the rule of supply and demand: if there is high demand and supply increases to meet this demand (often surpassing it), prices will fall. Our demand for these goods will determine whether we will ever be able to afford them. As with our demand for brands such as Aeropostale and Hollister, the supply increased drastically with the popularity of the brand and now buying these items are relatively cheap compared to in the past when it was an expensive commodity. NEDCO is willing to help small business initiatives some to fruition, it is time we not only utilize them, but support those that do.
Also, there is no reason every adult person ought to own a vehicle. This money supports an international manufacturer and neglects our own local transportation system, which if invested in wisely to upgrade and maintain its efficiency, will prove more helpful in the sustainability goal (providing transport to everyone to all destinations via buses, trains etc and expanding the job market for drivers and administrative operators of the service). We have adopted the mentality that a nice house, care and white picket fence defines us as developed but this is far from true and continues to fuel our consumption habits most of which are unnecessary.
It is also my opinion that people convicted of crimes, especially white collar and those involving the top levels of the drug trade, should relinquish their assets to the state to put to reinvest into the economy (money laundering, corruption, drug busts etc)
Various resources are all around us: people, land and illegal money. we simply need to strategize and use them wisely
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