Since when our soldiers are killers?

In April 1970, during the height of their mutiny, a large convoy of soldiers led by Lts Rex Lasalle, Raffique Shah and Michael Bazie began riding out of Teteron for La Fantasie, St Ann’s, Port of Spain. Armed to the teeth, they were going to lick up the PNM leadership and join up with Geddes Granger, Dave D’Arbeau and the Black Power rebels, or so it was alleged.

A sprinkling of Coast Guard officers on a tinnen boat got the news, drew close to shore and began shelling a hillside ahead of this desperado convoy. The loosened soil avalanched and blocked the road, or so it was alleged.

The convoy ground to a halt. The Coast Guard tinnen boat was maybe 50 metres from the shore. Easy pickings for a GPMG or Karl Gustav, both types of weapons in the mutineers’ hands, or so it was alleged.

Another volley from the Coast Guard impressed on the mutineers they were outmanoeuvred. They, not the CG, were sitting ducks. Some mutineers promptly popped out their sockets, while foul-smelling stuff slipped out elsewhere. With less than a whimper, they turned on their tails and skedaddled back to base, dragging their GPMGS and Karl Gustavs behind them, or so it was alleged.

That was 1970.

Thirteen years later, a US-Caribbean military force mustered and descended on Point Salines to rescue our Grehnny bros and sistren from Coard and Austin. The tempo was real hot. Government boots, left right. Bullets flying, right left. F12s and missile laden choppers. Aircraft carriers. You name it they had it. High testosterone time. Not a single Trini soldier was eager to go. They weren’t satisfied, among other things, that their families would be  properly provided for if something happened to them, so a “principled stand” was concocted, or so it was alleged.

That was 1983.

1990’s sub judice.

It’s 2013.

Tell me again about TT soldiers being vicious killers, or so it is alleged.

Heston Corbie
Upper Prizgar Lands
Laventille