30km Protest ‘Swim’ from Tobago to Trinidad Turns Into ‘Another Post-Colonial Tale’ · Global Voices
Screenshot from a Facebook video of the livestream of <PERSON> arrival in Toco, on Trinidad's north-east coast.
Trinidad and Tobago politician <PERSON>, who vowed earlier this month to swim the 30-kilometre distance from Tobago to Trinidad, took the plunge this morning, August 28. The stunt by <PERSON>, who is president of the Public Services Association (PSA) and minority leader of the Tobago House of Assembly (THA), was in protest at the unreliable ferry service between the two Caribbean islands.
Social media user <PERSON> streamed <PERSON>'s takeoff on Facebook Live from the Scarborough Fishing Facility, where people from “all sides of the political divide” had gathered for the occasion.
The Swim, as <PERSON>'s undertaking is being called, was due to begin at 8 a.m., but was delayed by nearly an hour, due in part to a speech the politician made by loudspeaker from the tray of a pickup truck. His message: “If something is for Tobago, Tobago must decide.”
Comparing the THA's relationship with Trinidad and Tobago's central government with a dysfunctional parent/child dynamic, he accused the latter of excluding Tobagonians from the consultation process about the inter-island ferry service. While the two islands should be equal partners, <PERSON> said, it was clear to him from the government's actions that Tobago is “a colony of a colony.” He maintained that the THA must be the final decision-maker on matters concerning Tobago.
Admitting that his team was not one of expert swimmers, <PERSON> said the point of the whole endeavour was to emphasise that Tobago has been “put in a position where swimming may be the only option. . . 957
Because swimming is the only thing we have control over.” He also said that “the time for Tobago's deliverance is now,” a statement that could be seen as either careless or calculated, and which might have put the fraught issue of secession back on the table.
Hitting the water
But there was still the matter of that 30km swim. This morning, <PERSON> updated his Facebook cover photo with a drawing done by his seven-year-old son, commenting that:
As young as he is, he understands the issues of his Dad leaving home in Tobago East with a brave face, with Tobagonians and the Sea Bridge on his mind…goes to the ocean and swims to raise the matter of Tobagonians pain and hardship over the poor Sea Bridge.
Once <PERSON> began his aquatic undertaking, several media outlets began to livestream the event. Among the things that amused netizens was the fact that <PERSON> wore a life vest; and that, quite early in his swim, he climbed into a kayak, which then overturned. As the drama turned into comedy, Facebook user <PERSON> republished the words of an observer:
He swam a bit, then got towed by a canoe, then the rope burst, then the canoe capsized with him in it. He tried getting towed by a jet ski for a bit before getting into the pirogue.
He said that waves were ‘ten meters high’
<PERSON> quipped:
Facebook status update by <PERSON>, which reads, “So – I guess they have to change the hashtag #theGreatJetSki”.
<PERSON>'s outing quickly changed from a relay swim to something entirely different, and social media newshound <PERSON> had a lot to say about it on Twitter:
<PERSON> tells the crowd that they will not be “swimming all the way” & that the expected arrival time in Trinidad is 1PM. #TheGreatSwim pic.twitter.com/8COqTiBQBo
— Clydeen McDonald (@ClydeenMcDonald) August 28, 2017
He compared <PERSON>'s media tactics to those of US president, <PERSON>:
Remembering that faux-populism is the reason we have President <PERSON>, maybe we should proceed with caution with it comes to “men of action”.
— <PERSON> (@ClydeenMcDonald) August 28, 2017
Trumpism 101: Stating something HUGE will be done/happen and in the end putting forward a minor gesture. 142