My name is Stuart Saldenah and I am a cashier in a gourmet grocery store.
I’m from Diamond Vale. I went to St Anthony’s College. I was happy there, I wouldn’t lie. I did well but, honestly, I’m not a lover of school. I’d rather work: start off small and, hopefully, one day be successful to opening my own clothing business.
I come from a small family: mother; father; one brother, older than me. He’s 28. I’m 21. You could say my life has now begun.
I have no children yet and don’t want anytime soon. I’m looking to find a steady job first. I’m more focussed on working, so I can get some money. Build nest before you get bird.
I play hockey with Fatima Hockey Club. I’m a goalkeeper. If we win, I don’t get noticed, if we lose, I get blamed. But I have faith in my team in front of me. I started hockey with Fatima’s Future Sticks, so I grew up into the club.
When people look in from outside the shop, they think it’s going to be really expensive. But when they come in, “They’re like, ‘Wow! I thought this was going to cost plenty more!’” Some people say our meats are a little high, but it’s the quality of cut you’re getting. I shop there myself. I love our rib-eye.
I can’t cook, but I could barbecue, how men barbecue: the women cut up the meat, season it, make the sauce, put in a bowl. Then the man comes along and drinks two beers and puts it on the fire. My mother does the preparation.
I like Black Label rum and Johnny Walker Black Label. So maybe it’s the label I really like.
My mum and dad have been together for 25 years. A lot of couples nowadays wouldn’t stay married that long. The thing is, my family is very, very close. Every day, we meet in the kitchen and talk about how each other’s day was.
If I get married, I want to stay married. It’s too much stress: having a child and getting divorced. Puts stress on the child, too. It’s not good.
I’m not much of a reader and I don’t like movies much. I’m more of a nature guy. I like the outdoors. I’d rather go to the beach than MovieTowne. I’ve hiked all over Trinidad. But I never went up El Tucuche.
Sunday, my one day off, I wake up early. And spend the whole entire day on the beach.
It is getting dangerous and dangerous every day, but I’m not really scared of crime. You hardly hear of an innocent person dying. Yeah, you get your odd innocent being killed, wrong place at the wrong time, that’s unfortunate – but crime seems more gang- or drug-related. I could be wrong. But, still, you have to watch your back.
People come from places like Barbados and, when they hear five people got killed in a day, they find it shocking. But, by me living in it, I get so accustomed hearing it all the time – okay, six people died today —it’s like no big news to you.
I love Tobago. It’s beautiful.
I love reggae music. My favourite artist – obviously—is Bob Marley, even if he was dead before I was born. That’s the power of his music right there. My favourite song from him is “Redemption Song” because it has so much power into it. If you listen to his exact words, he sends a very powerful message. I love, love, love, love, love, love Bob Marley. I have all his music. Downloaded.
My grandfather, Harold Saldenah, was a mas’ maker. My father is a DJ – Junior Saldenah. That’s my family. So I was brought up into music and all of that. That was kinda in me from the start.
Tobago last year, they had a party in No Man’s, and everybody left their plastic rubbish all over. My friends and I stayed back after the party and helped clean up.
Trini people are happy and inviting. To prove Trinis are inviting: a lot of foreigners come to Trinidad for Carnival. I would say Trinis help one another sometimes. My friends, the people I lime with, are always willing to help a stranger.
Without Trinidad and Tobago, I wouldn’t be myself. Trinidad & Tobago made me who I am. And I’m grateful.
• Read a longer version of this feature at www.BCRaw.com