My name is Edwin St Louis and I am a hot line supervisor.
I’m living in Arima but I had boy days in San Juan/Santa Cruz, Petit Curucaye-side. In the back of our house, [we] had Stollmeyer Estate. From gru-gru bref come forward, you name it, we had it. Tonka bean, the works. We wouldn’t be able to buy all those fruits today but, thanks to Mr Stollmeyer, we are healthy today.
I have two boys, Kyle in his 30s, Kadel, 21, and my daughter, Karissa, is in-between. Our children’s names is the doing of my wife, Debra. She just love Ks, I guess.
I am working T&TEC close to 31 years but people tell me I look a lot younger. Thanks to Mr Stollmeyer and my good mother and father!
I liked school, but I had to pass the river first, so I made sure I was clean before school. Of course, you would get your little licks, because your teachers would see your foot white, your skin white, but that was the consequence of being a boy.
Parents, long-time, were lacking in some areas, but they understood who was the parent and who was the child. So we had a good enough foundation. The crime rate wasn’t so high. People were probably not as educated — one could debate that — but because we focus so much on education and not discipline, we have the crime situation today.
I strongly believe in a maker who has us here for a reason and a purpose, and an afterlife. But I would not argue.
If I made an appliance or a car, I would write a manual for the people who come to buy my product. God has given us a manual and instructions and, if we follow them, he has the best in store for us.
I volunteer my services on Carnival Monday and Tuesday, to make sure wires don’t burn, people don’t get electrocuted. But the culture part of it never interested me. I don’t believe the jam-and-wine. I wasn’t always saved but I still didn’t like it because of the morals.
A “hot line” is an electricity cable with power in it. We do 12,000V alive, where we leave on the supply and cover up and do whatever work is necessary. To keep the customer on supply while we work. I supervise the crew now but I started off on it, as a C-class linesman. And worked my way up.
We work in the north, to just about San Juan, but it starts at Blanchisuesse. And finishes down-the-islands.
I wouldn’t condemn the inside and say the outside is better, because some people like the inside, but I’m so privileged to be on the outside. Different scenery practically every day, and I’m healthy. A little tanned and all, and I don’t have to go Maracas on a Sunday to get it.
Being a homosexual is not better or worse than thiefing or killing or stealing for me. The Bible says all have sinned and come short of the glory. They didn’t specify that the homosexual is worse than the person who commits adultery. So I would not condemn a homosexual. What I would do is tell him there is a way out through Jesus Christ.
Normally, when I’m doing my job, the 12,000 volts would be on and I wouldn’t be at one point only. I have to be at the point necessary to see all that is taking place. The sole responsibility is mine and it’s a heavy one. I guess the manager would adjust our pay accordingly.
There are some negatives. Sometimes, we don’t notify the public, or get the police support we need. Sometimes, too, the tools we use are not current, to do the job expected in an orderly and timely way to a high standard.
I understand what Eid and Divali are for. I don’t celebrate them, per se. But, of course, I cook curry.
A Trini is a person blessed with much culture, different races and beliefs and is very flexible. From the time we get our visa, we are American.
T&T, to me, means an ability to be free. We could go on any block and sit down and lime.
Read a longer version of this feature at www.BCRaw.com