Tuesday February 9th, 2010
- Last update:14 hours 24 min ago
Mayor Brown lauds Syrian/Lebanese
Published: 28 Sep 2009
Port-of-Spain mayor Murchison Brown accepts a
token from President of the Syrian/Lebanese
Association of T&T, Gaby Azar, during the launch
of an exhibition commemorating 100 Years of
Syrian/Lebanese presence in T&T at Nalis Library,
Hart and Abercromby Streets, Port-of-Spain,
on Friday. Photo: Sean Nero
From lands famous for cedars, bazaars and olive groves, came the Syrian/Lebanese clans. For 100 years, their presence has been felt on the economic, cultural and social landscape of T&T. Port-of-Spain Mayor Murchison Brown lauded the Syrian/Lebanese Association for their contribution, and implored them to continue practicing their culture alongside mainstream local mores.Brown was delivering the feature address during the launch of an exhibition on the community at Nalis, Abercromby Street, Port-of-Spain, on Friday.
Historian and writer Louis Homer was responsible for co-ordinating the exhibition with Nalis. It featured art, family history and biographies on famous sons like Chairman Emeritus of ANSA McAL, Dr Anthony N Sabga. Brown said: “As migrants coming from a distant land, you brought with you your culture and tradition. I implore you to continue practising your culture and make every effort to sustain it alongside that of ours. “I am proud many of you have embraced our calypso, and are prepared to sail on the same boat (reference to Mighty Trini).
“Many of you have excelled in the art of steelband music, and as for the sport of kings, you have reigned supreme through the involvement of Hadeed and others.” Turning to economics, Mayor Brown said: “New opportunities emerged, and many entrepreneurs seized the opportunities to invest their capital in goods and services.”
No Mother Syria
Brown reminded them they were not aliens in this land, and like every migrant community, they too, had a place. Quoting the nation’s first prime minister Dr Eric Williams, he said: “There must be no Mother Africa, no Mother India, no Mother China and no Mother Syria or Lebanon.” He noted from 100 immigrants during World War 1, the census of 2010 revealed there were 10,000 Syrian/Lebanese families living in T&T.
Kudos for Homer
Homer came in for kudos for his research and the presentation of the historical occasion. “Homer has been in the forefront of identifying and ‘historising’ the activities of several communities, and it is always an honour for me to be present and witness the production,” Brown said. The exhibition also boasted snatches of Arabic writings, poetry from Kalil Gibran and Arabic cuisine, including olives (zaitoon). Quoting from the Prophet Kalil Gibran, Brown reaffirmed T&T’s pride in the Syrian/Lebanese community and Homer’s work.
Mayor Brown lauds
Mayor Brown lauds Syrian/Lebanese:
These people came here and worked hard just like the Indian indentured labourers and the afro-Bajan and French Creoles.
I grew up with several of them and they worked hard in their business and their children did the same in their studies hence we see them as Doctors, Engineers, Lawyers, etc., and yes, even a priest.
It is a pity that they are still not "accepted" in this country except maybe when election comes around and we want their vote and money.
By the way, I know several who are poor and they even had a vagrant roaming the streets of Port of Spain.
http://www.voanews.com/englis
http://www.voanews.com/english/2009-09-01-voa31.cfm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BIYBf2ZvE2A
http://guardian.co.tt/news/po
http://guardian.co.tt/news/politics/2009/09/27/too-much-power-one-hand
Syrian/Lebanese Celebrate
Syrian/Lebanese Celebrate 100 Years in T&T:
CONGRATULATIONS.
Like every other ethnic group that came to T&T, to work and make this land their home, the Syrian/Lebanese community have contributed to the building of this country and have been here for 100 years.
They stand very tall in the knowledge that they are citizens of T&T and are descendents of a proud people from Syria/Lebanon. They practice their culture and cherish who they are as a people. That's a very good thing. T&T is now their home, but they too hold dear the land of their ancestors, as they have roots there. It is theirs and like the rest of us take pride in this knowledge.
We as a country have a rich heritage of peoples of different races, religions and culture who live side by side and respect each other's similarities and differnces. We share in the richness of the differences of all our peoples. We are a very lucky nation.
Mayor Brown, they do not need you to remind them that they are not "aliens" in this their own country of T&T as they are intelligent and know this fact: And they do not need permission from you, or anyone else, to acknowledge ownership of T&T. Why is it that at every opportunity, persons sitting in senior government positions keep repeating this statement of "motherland" to peoples of different ethnicity. We do not appreciate this line of thinking. Please refrain from speaking down to us. So please do us a favour and educate yourself and enter into the modern world. You may quote Dr. Eric Williams all you want, but we do not appreciate being reminded of this statement. I can either choose Africa, China, United Kingdom, India, France, Germany, Spain, Syria/Lebanon, etc. as my motherland, as I do have the freedom to acknowledge any identity I desire, while at the same time holding dear to the fact that I am a patriotic citizen of The Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.
To my country- men/women of Syrian/Lebanese heritage I join with you in celebrating your 100th year of arrival in T&T. Take great pride in who you are and enjoy your heritage during your celebration.
"Generosity is giving more than you can, and pride is taking less than you need." {Kahil Gibran)
Congratulations to our
Congratulations to our Syrian/Lebanese brothers and sisters on their achievements over the years. Their hard work and vision carry many lessons for our community, not that we did not have such experiences from among all the other peoples who came before.
I could remember the days when these door to door salesmen would come calling with their assortment of goods like watches, claiming they came on a boat which was due to sail shortly and were willing to offload their goods at bargain prices as they did not wish to return with their stock.
Then there were others in the suitcase trade with their "grips" full of cloth fabrics, as they called out something sounding like "partik, partik" to announce their arrival. They would offer the housewife a pretty dress length extolling its beauty, quality and low price and offer it at 50 cents per week. They first came weekly on foot, then on a bicycle, then by car and then after a few years of hard work, opened a cloth store. They did not get rich overnight, but they had a dream and were steadfast in its pursuit.
Their children later built on the foundation of what their parents set down and the rest is history. But like with any other group, there might well be some unscrupulous elements who might have built a fortune on some other type of trade, if we are to give credence to some of the rumours circulating. But this should in no way detract from the achievements of the vast majority who have an excellent work ethic and family values and we must also recognise the good work that the Syrian/Lebanese ladies do in the field of charity work.
The people of Syrian and
The people of Syrian and Lebanese descent have given a lot to Trinidad & Tobago, and we thank you!
I was recently speaking to a
I was recently speaking to a gentleman I work with who is from Lebanon. I told him about the Syrian/ Lebanese community in Trinidad and he educated me that historically the two countries of Syria and Lebanon actually have a very strained relationship and most Syrians dislike Lebanese and vice-versa.
It is even more remarkable then that these two nationalities have come together in Trinidad & Tobago for the betterment of the country.
Congratulations to you!