One of the most memorable events of my teenage years was on July 24, 1976, when Hasely Crawford became the first Trinidad and Tobago national to win an Olympic Games gold medal, capturing the men’s 100 metres in Montreal, Canada.
Imagine, a Trini, the fastest man on earth.
He sprinted into history and gave an entire nation a reason to believe that greatness knows no boundaries. I remember watching TTT when the broadcast was interrupted for a few seconds. When the signal returned, Crawford had won.
The pride and excitement I felt that day became one of the defining moments that shaped my love and commitment to this country.
On Crawford’s return, Prime Minister Dr Eric Williams and Crawford’s mother were among those who greeted him. As a gift to the nation, he presented the Prime Minister with his winning spikes and dedicated his gold medal to his mother.
His message to young Trinidadians was simple: “When you see your mother or parents supporting you in sport, you must pay them back by always doing well.”
He knew poverty and hardship, recalling that he had “only one school pants and shirt.”
At age 14, his father died, leaving his mother to raise 12 children. The night before his historic race, he read the Bible. A lesson to others that a mother’s love and faith in God can bring success.
A BWIA aircraft was named after him. Stamps bore his image. He received the Trinity Cross and, in 2000, was named T&T’s Athlete of the Millennium.
Crawford’s victory was more than a sporting achievement. It remains a symbol of courage, perseverance, resilience and national pride.
Crawford will celebrate his 76th birthday on August 16. This four-time Olympian, six-time national sprint champion, and winner of countless international medals is a national treasure who deserves to enjoy his twilight years in peace.
And this brings me to the indignation I feel.
On February 14, Crawford raised concerns about noise pollution and public nuisance concerns from the Soca Brainwash fete at the St Mary’s College Grounds, just metres from his home.
He recalled the distress caused by St Mary’s College’s Carnival fete in January, saying, “My house will be just shaking. So, I will go to my room, lock it up, and hope that I can survive… During the year, from here on to around Easter, just about every weekend there’s some kind of activity or sport, and the young sound system people jam very, very loud.
“You know what’s amazing? They put the toilets in front of my house… some of the people pee just like that. They stand up and do their business. It’s madness. And no one’s coming to take a look. I’m tired. I’m fed up.”
I was totally appalled by the negative social media comments that followed. Many people seem not to appreciate the stature of this national icon or his plight.
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar had previously warned of the “proliferation of noise pollution emanating from homes, fetes, bars and clubs, intolerable to the persons living nearby.”
She promised to amend the noise pollution laws in these noisy residential neighbourhoods and to review the system of granting bar and party licences.
Her administration can consider that in central Trinidad, there are idle lands that could be converted into dedicated fete zones with adequate parking, acoustically dampening walls and trees—a permanent venue for Carnival events.
On April 6, 2023, I chaired a Joint Select Committee that examined the operations of the Environmental Management Authority, with specific reference to noise pollution.
I proposed an on-the-spot ticketing system with substantial fines for noise offences.
Such a system would provide immediate relief to residents, reduce the burden on the courts, increase government revenue and encourage greater respect for the rights of others.
New York City offers an interesting model. There, anyone—not just law enforcement—can issue a citation for loud noise from a business and be compensated through a share of the fines collected.
This can empower citizens, provide some with additional income, and ease the workload of the police and the EMA. We can even train “noise wardens” to enforce regulations, and gather video and audio evidence that can withstand legal challenges.
Today, the Citizens Against Noise Pollution of T&T is having a public forum on noise pollution. I hope its president, Joey Maharaj, might be able to expedite this administration’s promise of action and answer the call of Mr Crawford, who deserves some peace and quiet in his home.
