We Trinis name our flus. Yes, if you're a true true Trini you know exactly what I'm talking about. The current flu circulating that has our PM in its grasp is called the Arafat, in honour of the passing of Palestine leader Yasser Arafat. I wonder if he ever knew the impact he would have on Trinidad and Tobago?
How the name is decided and propogated, is anyone's guess. If anyone has a clue, please let me know. I think its an insight into the macometer index of our society (scroll down to 'M' on the link). Usually, the name is reflective of an event which has a negative impact on society or part of society, maybe something gruesome or awe inspiring. One of the latest flus was called " D' Ringbang". A typical conversation would be, "How yuh doing, man?", Response: "I doin' so so, I have d' ringbang"...
Some of the past flu names were:
Jaws - after the movie
Ten Percent - a 10% pay cut of civil servants during the NAR regime
VAT - or Selby Wilson? - When Value Added Tax was introduced
COLA- When the cost of living allowance was suspended
Saddam - during the Gulf war
Abu Bakr - after the 1990 coup attempt
Hijab - after a conflict which arose when a new student entered a catholic school wearing the hijab
Dole (Chadee) - after the "druglord" who was hanged in 1999 together with his 8 companions
Hangman - after the 1999 hangings
Donald Trump- After he was here in 1999 during the Miss Universe show- this cost the country 70 million dollars
y2k - needs no explanation
Ringbang - Eddie Grant's bust Ole Year's fete (1999/2000) which was televised around the world from Tobago , costing 40 million TT dollars
Impasse - (between President Robinson and Prime Minister Panday 2000)
Wang Yu- Called after the Kung Fu movies which were the craze in Trinidad at that time
The Dhanraj- After "The Sheriff", Dhanraj Singh - January 2001
The 18/18- The election results of 2001 with an 18/18 deadlock of the PNM and the UNC
The Bin Laden- speaks for itself, after the Sept 11th 2001 attacks in the US
I think I'm getting The Arafat.
How the name is decided and propogated, is anyone's guess. If anyone has a clue, please let me know. I think its an insight into the macometer index of our society (scroll down to 'M' on the link). Usually, the name is reflective of an event which has a negative impact on society or part of society, maybe something gruesome or awe inspiring. One of the latest flus was called " D' Ringbang". A typical conversation would be, "How yuh doing, man?", Response: "I doin' so so, I have d' ringbang"...
Some of the past flu names were:
Jaws - after the movie
Ten Percent - a 10% pay cut of civil servants during the NAR regime
VAT - or Selby Wilson? - When Value Added Tax was introduced
COLA- When the cost of living allowance was suspended
Saddam - during the Gulf war
Abu Bakr - after the 1990 coup attempt
Hijab - after a conflict which arose when a new student entered a catholic school wearing the hijab
Dole (Chadee) - after the "druglord" who was hanged in 1999 together with his 8 companions
Hangman - after the 1999 hangings
Donald Trump- After he was here in 1999 during the Miss Universe show- this cost the country 70 million dollars
y2k - needs no explanation
Ringbang - Eddie Grant's bust Ole Year's fete (1999/2000) which was televised around the world from Tobago , costing 40 million TT dollars
Impasse - (between President Robinson and Prime Minister Panday 2000)
Wang Yu- Called after the Kung Fu movies which were the craze in Trinidad at that time
The Dhanraj- After "The Sheriff", Dhanraj Singh - January 2001
The 18/18- The election results of 2001 with an 18/18 deadlock of the PNM and the UNC
The Bin Laden- speaks for itself, after the Sept 11th 2001 attacks in the US
I think I'm getting The Arafat.
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