chinese workers being treated like trinis

[d spike]

But I say that a page or two ago. Why exactly should we impose our standards on them?

d spike, just because something is thought-provoking doesn't mean it's absolute. There are some similarities between slavery and this situation, but the differences are overwhelming. This is not slavery. Exploitation, perhaps, but far from slavery.

Regarding jingoism within altruism, I said it's a good point, but there were other important points raised that concern standards in our country. Should our health authorities allow what they (the professionals) perceive to be unhealthy conditions to continue existing? If they live like that back home, and they are comfy so, all well and good - but this ain't China. If you flog women for wearing lipstick back home, dat is you and dem. Don't come here and want to do dat here. If they started preparing and selling food to supplement their income - now that you know the state of their kitchen - would the authorities allow this?

Your second point regarding a provoking thought and an absolute is quite right, I agree - but it is obvious that we do not share the same concept of slavery. Far too many Trinis' concept of slavery is fixed to a past era and ethnicity. If your concept is hinged on freedom (and well it should be), then at what point does freedom start? Being granted freedom does not mean that an ex-slave never was a slave. Slavery exists, the length of time it exists for does not affect its definition.
One example of a definition of slavery (on de internet - too lazy to go and dig in de dictionary):
# bondage: the state of being under the control of another person
# work done under harsh conditions for little or no pay
wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn

[Humes]

d spike, there are Chinese laborers in Trinidad walking around with cell phones and walking around liming after work.

Your definitions of slavery there would apply to your average minimum wage (or less) store clerk in Port of Spain. You're stretching too hard to link two different things and belittling the reality in the process.

Also, please stop assuming that my only knowledge of slavery is of Africans during early colonial times.

[Chimera]

But I say that a page or two ago. Why exactly should we impose our standards on them?

d spike, just because something is thought-provoking doesn't mean it's absolute. There are some similarities between slavery and this situation, but the differences are overwhelming. This is not slavery. Exploitation, perhaps, but far from slavery.

Regarding jingoism within altruism, I said it's a good point, but there were other important points raised that concern standards in our country. Should our health authorities allow what they (the professionals) perceive to be unhealthy conditions to continue existing? If they live like that back home, and they are comfy so, all well and good - but this ain't China. If you flog women for wearing lipstick back home, dat is you and dem. Don't come here and want to do dat here. If they started preparing and selling food to supplement their income - now that you know the state of their kitchen - would the authorities allow this?

Your second point regarding a provoking thought and an absolute is quite right, I agree - but it is obvious that we do not share the same concept of slavery. Far too many Trinis' concept of slavery is fixed to a past era and ethnicity. If your concept is hinged on freedom (and well it should be), then at what point does freedom start? Being granted freedom does not mean that an ex-slave never was a slave. Slavery exists, the length of time it exists for does not affect its definition.
One example of a definition of slavery (on de internet - too lazy to go and dig in de dictionary):
# bondage: the state of being under the control of another person
# work done under harsh conditions for little or no pay
wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn

But they are not selling food. They are construction workers. Here to do a job and roll out.

Health inspectors should be, and are concerned with things that affect Trinidadians.

These are problems affecting foreigners, let their embassy deal with it. Trinidad's LIMITED resources are meant to deal with problems affecting Trinidadians

[d spike]

d spike, there are Chinese laborers in Trinidad walking around with cell phones and walking around liming after work.

Your definitions of slavery there would apply to your average minimum wage (or less) store clerk in Port of Spain. You're stretching too hard to link two different things and belittling the reality in the process.

Also, please stop assuming that my only knowledge of slavery is of Africans during early colonial times.

For argument's sake: What does owning cell phones and liming after work have to do with what I was talking about? A cell phone is now part of one's daily existence, and people (being gregarious and curious) will walk and lime.

If my definition (or Princeton's, to be more precise) applies to minimum wage earners, then you are now privy to my unspoken opinion of the state of these people. If we do not share the same concept, then there will be a disagreement - that is to be expected. However, I have raised points which have not been refuted or shown to be false. Your opinion is that I am stretching (what? truth?), my opinion is that similarities exist... What reality am I belittling? A reality is precisely that - a reality. By my statements I have shown that I believe it exists and I believe it is quite wrong. How am I belittling it? Far from it, obviously. And by your last statement I have to assume you are not referring to a memory of something past - which is something that can be belittled.

As far as your last statement is concerned, my actual words were, "Far too many Trinis' concept of slavery is fixed to a past era and ethnicity". If you do not fall into this group, then I am most thankful.

[Humes]

If I hadda actually explain to you how access to a cell phone and the right to leave a work camp freely and lime in public in the evening invalidates any claims of slavery, I think you need to spend a lot more time at Princeton.

You're stretching similarities and playing around with semantics. You're crying wolf, and that sort of exaggeration is what makes people steups and move towards a more dismissive stance.

Focus on the reality of the situation, poor living conditions and possible worker exploitation, instead of trying to make it into something it's not. What...poor living conditions and exploitations aren't big enough problems to deal with?

[d spike]

Okay, laddie, I guess we'll agree to disagree... I appreciate your last statement though.

Cheers

[10-01]

The People responsible for the Chinese not Getting paid is a local company called UNIFORM BUILDING CONTRACTORS LTD , who had the contract to the works in tranquility school in pos , this said same contractor is doing government contracts all over the country and not paying people , and they getting new contracts without paying workers & sub contractors , i guess once u know manning good anything is possible , robing poor people of there hard earn $$$ while they full people pockets with bribe money Trinidad is the best country in the world yes

[SmokeyGTi]

and they dont complain..............

That recent gathering was a Double 10 sing-a-long session, then?

that day excellent stores had sale...

[kuchurV2]

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