Triniview member interviewing 'Mighty'
TriniView.com Reporters
Event Date: June 30, 2007
Posted: July 14, 2007
'Mighty', also referred to as the "Mayor of the Fishing Centre", is an experienced and respected fisherman within the Carenage fishing community. Having spent 36 years in the United States, he came back to Trinidad permanently, declaring that Trinidad is a paradise. On the eve of the St. Peter's Day Festival in Carenage, he shared with Triniview.com some of his experiences and spoke on what makes the Carenage fishing community so unique.
TRINIVIEW.COM: You lived abroad for quite a number of years? When did you leave Trinidad?
MIGHTY: I left Trinidad in 1964 to go and live in the United States of America. I had a plane ticket in my pocket and fifty dollars. My last place of employment before I left Trinidad was at the Alcoa bauxite plant right here in Carenage. I stayed in America and I worked honestly and saved my money. Some of the people I worked with were Jews and Italians. They were wonderful to me. America is a cosmopolitan country and I made myself loved by all of them. I consider myself a good representative of America and a good citizen of Trinidad. I go back to America every year to get my pension.
TRINIVIEW.COM: What made you come back to live in Trinidad?
MIGHTY: I came back to live in Trinidad because when I went to America the first time, I thought it was a paradise. When I reached there, it wasn't a paradise. While I was there I cried a lot. People who I knew from South came and spoke to me. I remember them telling me, "Well look, this is New York and if you cannot make it in here, you cannot make any place else, so dry your eyes." I dried my eyes and I decided to make the sacrifice knowing what I wanted. I wanted to come back to Trinidad. After living in the States for thirty-six years, I came back to live in Trinidad in 2000. I might not be an educated man, but I am not stupid.
TRINIVIEW.COM: What is it like for you now that you are back in Trinidad?
MIGHTY: Things are good for me. I have my own house and I also have my own boat. I have the things that I wanted in life. To me that is a gift from God. Now that I am back in Trinidad, I share what I have with other people. If I lend people money and they do not pay me back, it doesn't bother me. I do my best. I have been criticized but it doesn't bother me. I am not a reader but I am very sensible. I listen to different programs and so on. One of the programs I listen too, the preacher always says, "Do not let anybody change you from who you are. Regardless of what they say, just be you."
TRINIVIEW.COM: Why are you called the Mayor of the fishing centre?
MIGHTY: I am called the Mayor of the fishing centre because I will come here in the morning and sleep, cook, and arrange entertainment like card games for whoever wants to play. Sometimes I would have money in my pocket and if someone needs to buy something I would share what I have with them.
TRINIVIEW.COM: What is the average day like for a fisherman?
MIGHTY: A fisherman would leave and go out at sea with his net, bait, and fish until he makes a catch. When he returns to shore with a catch, he feels good about it because he knows he could sell the fish and also have a meal to put on the table to feed his family. Sometimes the fishermen would buy a little drink and sometimes they would make a little fish broth and so on. At the end of the day they know they could go home with a dollar or two in their pockets.
TRINIVIEW.COM: What makes this community so unique?
MIGHTY: A person could come here and they are always welcomed. They could eat, drink, sleep, play cards and whole lot of other things. They will always feel comfortable. A person with my kind of traveling experiences, I can tell you that Trinidad is a paradise when you compare it with other parts of the world.
As far as the fishing is concerned, a person can come right here at the fishing centre and work. They could eventually get their own fishing boat, sell the fish they catch and make enough money to buy their own house and car. Of course, that all depends on their ambition.
TRINIVIEW.COM: With the St. Peter's Day celebrations taking place here in Carenage, I noticed there is a festive spirit in the air. Is that the usual mood around here?
MIGHTY: That is the usual mood because they are celebrating St. Peter. The people here know what the celebration is all about. It comes like a sacrifice and a celebration. The people would get together to cook and enjoy themselves. That is what St. Peter's Day is all about in Carenage.
Last night we had a nice service for the fishermen. Normally people would make fish broth and bring it. During the week we had Calypso and a lot of other entertainment.
On St. Peter's Day around 8:30am, we usually have service in the church. That service is followed by a procession on the main road and the blessing of the fishermen's boats. Following that would be a bazaar in the church yard. We will have steelbands on the road, a queen show, music, dancing and people having fun. Vendors will be coming out to sell different things and so on. Some people would make the sacrifice to make a few dollars. People from all over Trinidad and Tobago will come here and enjoy the festival.
TRINIVIEW.COM: Do you have any final words?
MIGHTY: We have a very beautiful country even though there are people who are trying to make things uncomfortable for some of us.
As a person who has traveled a lot, I would say we have one of the most wonderful countries in the world. Trinidad is a loving and a blessed place.
TRINIVIEW.COM: Thank you for doing this interview with us.
MIGHTY: I appreciate that and I hope you have a wonderful afternoon. May God bless you.
The Eve of St. Peter's Day 2007 in pictures:
www.triniview.com/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=186402
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