Article A32 · Book 1 · Scrapbook page p.29
Cedros has come into its own
By LILAC SHANE
PROTEST PAYS. If you have any doubts about the effectiveness of this, ask Fr. Pascall and his parishioners.
Fr. Pascall is the young St. Joseph born priest who when assigned to the despondent district decided that something had to be done to make the people develop a sense of belonging.
At the time some of them were beginning to question whether Cedros was really part of Trinidad and Tobago, or whether the area had drifted across from the Venezuelan mainland, and got stuck to this nation somehow.
PROTEST
In his brisk cheerful manner, the young priest decided to take matters in hand, and from then on Cedros, has never been the same.
The nation's first protest mas' came into being with "Cedros Come to Town" And in this quasi-humorous presentation the problems of the fishing district were highlighted.
The continued effort of Cedros fisherfolk to have what is right now a meagre livelihood turned into a meaningful one, has also struck some response in the rest of the community.
Cedros has also shown itself capable in the cultural field, as the district steelband made the finals in this year's "Independence Competition."
Taking part in contests, or even coming to town to play protest mas' has been however, an expensive outing. And this is where the response from this exercise has been varied.
For those who wondered why Cedros worried to protest, and felt that since good things come to those who wait, the district's citizens should wait, protest has shown itself to be relevant.
Done with dignity as Cedros did, it has shown such non-violent tactics capable of winning meaningful response. If in doubt then just take a look at the beautiful Marine blue bus, which now belongs to the Cedros community.
A gift made possible by Senora Irazabal, it was assembled in Trinidad.
According to Senora Irazabal, the members of the Latin American Women's Club were touched by the story of Cedros, and the group decided to do something to help.
REPRESENTATIVE
At a one-day bring and buy show over $1,000 was collected.
When Senora Irasabal [as printed] was in Venezuela some time last year she spoke with Sir Raymond Smith the representative of Rolls Royce in Venezuela.
Recently the firm handed a brand new Dodge, which was assembled in Trinidad, to the people of Cedros. And as the champagne toast was drunk, at the home of the Venezuelan Ambassador Senor Irazabal, the members of community organisations present, heaved a sigh of relief.
[Photographs: portrait captioned "FR. PASCALL .... a change"; portrait captioned "SEN. IRAZABAL .... a gift"]