“Let it be known around the world, that we can boast in unity and take our pride in our liberty.” God Bless our Nation, national song of T&T. Being a Republic means that as a country, we are no longer governed by the Queen and our Head of State is an appointed President. Out of the entire Caribbean we are one of the few countries with the status of a republic. This milestone was celebrated on the Mona campus with a flag raising ceremony on the AZ Preston Hall. Residents were encouraged to come out in red, white or black and look on while our national flag was raised. There was also a song competition where the students had to create a jingle of 20 seconds that embodied any aspect of our culture. It was an occasion where national pride and patriotism was on full display.
While obtaining tertiary level education is our main purpose, here at the Mona Campus there are always opportunities to relax and enjoy a true Caribbean experience. One such event was club fusion. Club Fusion is an explosion of colour, taste and vitality. This annual event took place on September 18. All the different clubs, societies and island associations on the campus had the opportunity to showcase themselves. It was held on the lawns, opposite the Assembly Hall. In the case of clubs and societies, this was their opportunity to showcase their goals and objectives and invite students to become members. For the island associations, such as the T&T Students Association (TTSA), it was our opportunity to display T&T in every possible way.
Our theme this year was Taste Trinbago: History, Politics, Culture. Our booth presentation took the form of a food display, which included items such as buss-up-shut, sada roti, curry channa and potato and ginger beer. Persons who visited the booth had the opportunity to sample these items as well. Our presentation also included models wearing Carnival costumes, a sari and even a moko jumbie. It was truly a sight to behold. Many non-T&T students were quite intrigued by our multicultural society and promised to visit the island one day. T&T students were taken back home, even for a short time by our display. According to one student, “I real miss home now boy.” Students were able to come together, appreciate their culture, while gaining the opportunity to learn about others.
While this may have been a pleasant time for many, for others, especially those living on the different Halls of residence on the campus, they had to make the trek back to hall, to face the ever-persistent water crisis. Jamaica has been facing a water shortage since March. This means that sometimes, students are not able to wash their clothes, drink or even bathe on a regular basis. This has presented an obvious challenge for many and has put a strain on student’s finances, as they are know faced with the burden, of buying drinking water, food and sometimes, making trips to the laundry mart. The University is trying it’s best under the current situation and has equipped each hall with many storage tanks. On a brighter note as well, rain has begun to fall more regular, so the reservoirs are filling back up. In my next article look out for: tips for studying for mid-semester exams, Homesick Lime and Culturama.
• Rawlisa Sylvester is the president of the TTSA in Jamaica.