PNM Continues its War on Doubles

I felt a great swell of pride today, as news of Clarence Rambharat's tasteless comments regarding the popularity of Doubles as our nation's national dish began to spread on social media, because it is not often that you find the entire community unite in a common cause as much as they have rallied behind this one. Doubles has always been one of the few food items that appeals to every sector of our society and as such it was heartwarming to witness everyone come together in its defense. 

As the PNM continues to demonstrate how out of touch they are with the reality many of us are forced to live with, especially given the economic turndown brought on by the draconian restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic, the fact is that Doubles is now, and has always been, the most affordable option for anyone looking for a healthy meal on the go, and its availability provides an access unachievable by any by any other establishment. This isn't even to mention the fact that the variance in the recipes of different franchises allows everyone the opportunity to choose their own favorite vendors, and thereby create an open market environment that is viable for anyone with enough skill to enter into.

While there is some truth therefore to the statement made by the Minister of Agriculture regarding the source of the various raw ingredients used in the preparation of the doubles, I would then challenge him to name a meal that doesn't incorporate any imported items. And the fact that he didn't even bother to name an alternative during the nonsensical rant implies that not even he believes that such a thing exists. There is however, another element to the preparation and sale of doubles that Mr. Rambherat casually ignored for the sake of the preposterous argument, and it is even more interesting that the statement came on the same day that the Prime Minister appeared to explain it.

During a CNC3 interview, Dr. Keith Rowley doubled down on comments made earlier in the year, stating emphatically that "If people have to be employed, somebody has to employ them; they don't employ themselves and pay themselves." The Prime Minister was responding to the backlash from the remarks he made in August regarding why his administration has apparently embraced the Regan-nomics Trickle Down theory, despite the fact that this model has never been shown to work effectively, especially in a developing nation as our own. And while the comment is obviously farcical on its own, it is given proper context when it finds itself compared to the Clarence Rambherat statement on Doubles. Moreover, it all properly explains why the PNM have for so long stifled the economy and created monopolies for certain individuals and organizations, while the rest of the nation is suffering and begging for any crumbs they can get.

The Doubles industry has been the most successful small business venture in our nation since Independence, and is responsible for the employment of one of the largest workforces in the food and beverage industry. In addition to that, while there have been several franchises that have grown out of the industry, they are all locally owned, and therefore millions of dollars are not leaving our shores to pay for a brand name such as KFC, McDonald's or Starbucks. And it is hypocritical that the same administration that imports Chinese labour to work on the construction of our national heritage sites, and even materials such as Coralstone that was used to complete the White House for the Prime Minister, would now complain that the National Dish imports certain ingredients. The reason that Doubles has garnered the moniker of the National Dish is because it is 100% made by and enjoyed by Trinis, and there is nothing that the PNM can say or do that will change that. And the fact that Clarence Rambherat would even suggest something to the contrary makes me wonder what percent Trini he truly is. 

Best regards,

Ravi Balgobin Maharaj