Road Signs In Spanish.

[Pumkinvinefamilee]

I got back from TnT yesterday, and although i had a blast of a Christmas and New Years, I was so confused as to why we now have road signs in spanish and english. I was not aware that we actually have people who use spanish as their main language. Maybe is just me, but instead of this waste of money, women giving birth can have a bed to herself, and not have to share or have the baby on the floor.
Happy New year all.

[Solachica]

They been doing this a couple of years now. It started with the Spanish street signs in POS.
within few mths I bagan noticing it on the North-South Highway.

[guyguy]

They been doing this a couple of years now. It started with the Spanish street signs in POS.
within few mths I bagan noticing it on the North-South Highway.
Buh singlegirl, you shudden have problems wit Spanish signs. Ah tink T&T shud have all signs in Spanish, French, Patois, Hindi, Portuguese, Arabic, Swahilli, Hebrew, German, and of course, English - Trini English, American North, South & Cajun English, British North, South, East & West English, and even pidgin English. Dat go be de bess ting oui. :D :D :D
Guy

[Sirius]

I got back from TnT yesterday, and although i had a blast of a Christmas and New Years, I was so confused as to why we now have road signs in spanish and english. I was not aware that we actually have people who use spanish as their main language. Maybe is just me, but instead of this waste of money, women giving birth can have a bed to herself, and not have to share or have the baby on the floor.
Happy New year all.

We do a lot of trade with Latin America and so it's basically diplomacy and politics for us to have our street signs in dual language. There is also a big push to teach Spanish in schools more because of our trade ties with Spanish speaking nations. Look also at our close proximity to Venezuela. Look at how many Venezuelans call T&T home. Think of how many businessmen whose primary language is Spanish move through our borders every day. Why shouldn't we make it easier for them to get around? This is just what we have to do in this age of globalization.

It is easy to say that the money should be put into health care, but how far would you take that way of thinking? Not repaving roads, leading to more accidents because schools need money? We have a massive national budget and the allocation to health care is very different to the allocation given to transport infrastructure. The country cannot run by clamping off development of one aspect of the nation because another aspect needs attention. This is especially true when we can easily afford to do both.

If hospitals lack beds and money has been allocated to health care then we need to ask why aren't hospitals purchasing beds as a matter of priority. Let's face the facts - the hospitals have the money allocated to them but for whatever reason they can afford expensive ambulances and dialysis machines but not inexpensive beds. If you ask me that sounds more like mismanagement rather than lack of funding.


This is of course all ignoring the fact that street signs do need replacing every couple of years just as a matter of maintenance, and it really doesn't take a whole lot to simply print the signs in two languages when they need replacing.

[Huma]

It's not a matter of money. It's a matter of management.

The authority in charge of the signs gets what little money it needs and does its job well (with a few errors here and there, but that happens).

The authorities in charge of health care get massive funds and inject that money into a fundamentally flawed system. They produce generally unsatisfactory results.

[oecarb]

I got back from TnT yesterday, and although i had a blast of a Christmas and New Years, I was so confused as to why we now have road signs in spanish and english.

And why not? Venezuela is only seven miles from T&T. When I was a kid, most of the shops in POS had little signs saying:

Aquí se habla español

If the stores had a reason for doing it then, I am sure there would be an even greater need now. I understand that there are many Venezuelan tourists and even residents now in TT (from reading previous posts on this forum).

[Falcon]

Why don't we just stop ALL development in Trinidad and feed and house people. Then when we finish with feeding and housing everyone, share out the money equally to all citizens.Stewwwwps.

[oecarb]

Why don't we just stop ALL development in Trinidad and feed and house people. Then when we finish with feeding and housing everyone, share out the money equally to all citizens.Stewwwwps.

Falcs, I don't know if you joking or not but you know I in total agreement.

I believe the oil belong to all citizens and the money belong to all Trinis - which is similar to the view taken by the Kuwaitis and the Norwegians (though the Norwegian Govt don't share out the money but have it invested on behalf of the Norwegian people to take care of their healthcare, education, pensions etc).

Even your pardner Bush say that Iraqi oil belong to the Iraqis - although I never hear him say who Texas oil belong to. :twisted:

And that is the problem - convincing middle and upper-class Trinis that every Trini should benefit.

[Falcon]

[Falcs, I don't know if you joking or not but you know I in total agreement.
You agree? I was saying that in total bewilderment.

Even your pardner Bush say
Now you want to get people vex. :twisted:

[brag]

We are too close to South America to ignore Spanish as a second language and encourage our tourist industry to boom. Trinidad is to South America what Miami and Florida is to North and Central America.

We need to encourage more trade and travel between T&T and all the Americas, and help all Trinis find more jobs. The tourist industry offers a host of ancillary jobs for all in T&T. Mexicans can be encouraged to come to T&T to do all the work for which Trinis refuse to do. Ask the average householder about getting labor in T&T.

What we see happening inT&T is that most of the high paying jobs are going to the foreigners and the low paying ones going to Trinis. That should not happen.

[guyguy]

I wrote this a while ago. It may be appropriate for T&T too.
viewtopic.php?f=23&t=1050&p=32004#p32004 (http://www.ttonline.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=23&t=1050&p=32004#p32004)

[oecarb]

[Falcs, I don't know if you joking or not but you know I in total agreement.
You agree? I was saying that in total bewilderment.

Even your pardner Bush say
Now you want to get people vex. :twisted:

Well, I am serious.

viewtopic.php?f=7&t=1210 (http://www.ttonline.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=1210)

[dancerboy]

I think it would have better serve the public, if those signs were writteh in Hindi. WHAT TOURISTS ARE PEOPLE REFFERING TO ? TRINIDADIANS do not have the work ethic to support the tourist industry. Are TRINS willing to say, YES SIR, NO SIR, MAY I HELP U MA'M , WITH A SMILE, even if the customer is a 'likkle' miserable ? I DON'T THINK SO. DANCERBOY

[brag]

Everything can be learned and relearned. In a generation or two, we can begin to turn around the corner, and restore security back to the nation. How long is that once we make a start?

I still remember 1985 when I could walked the streets of T&T, and did not have to worry about my safety. Can you remember how many generations it took the PNM to break down law and order in a most law abiding society that we once were? Can you imagine what could have been done in so many years if we were on the right track?

[snowbird]

Not sure why it's done in T&T, but in some of the major cities a second language on the street signs is just a courtesy to the people who frequent the area, i.e. in some areas of Toronto it is not uncommon to see oriental hieroglyphics along with English writing on street signs, I don't image it is a huge expenditure to get that second language on there.
Another thing you see on some street signs are little phrases that identifies the areas as say...... 'Theatre District', 'Garment District', 'Distillary District' ect.... nice touch and very classy I think. Kudos T&T if you start considering your 'partners'.

[oecarb]

Yeah. When you drive off the ferry from Dover to Calais in France, the road signs are often in English and French.

Coming back to England, they are in English, French and German:

Keep Left
Tenez la gauche
Links fahrt

I never found out who Links was or when he fahrted. :D :D :D

[kemist]

the only problems i have with some road signs is the strategic placement or lack of thereof.

sometimes i occasionally notice a 'NO ENTRY ' sign placed at the middle of a
' Y ' intersection, and the way its facing, its unclear which of the two roads you cannot enter.

[serenity]

I think they should put both the english and spanish transelation on the same sign. It looks crowded and messy with an english sign and then a few feet down, a spanish sign.

They should also put one version in a different colour from the other (though I think there are prescribed colours allowed on street signs). When u only have a few seconds to read a sign, its quite annoying to be looking for the english one.

[Sirius]

I think they should put both the english and spanish transelation on the same sign. It looks crowded and messy with an english sign and then a few feet down, a spanish sign.

They should also put one version in a different colour from the other (though I think there are prescribed colours allowed on street signs). When u only have a few seconds to read a sign, its quite annoying to be looking for the english one.

In town they're generally on the same sign side by side...You'll notice Frederick Street, and next to it, Calle Frederick

[Falcon]

HAhahahahaha...dey translate the word 'street'.. :shock: Hahahahahaha 2020 here we come! :twisted:

[Midnight]

T&T need to produce good road signs and for the people to read it.

it can be translated in Spanish as the PM has a 2020 vision of T&T being more bilingual - good idea.
But, as Guy said above what about the other languages in the melting pot of T&T.


Midnight

[serenity]

I think they should put both the english and spanish transelation on the same sign. It looks crowded and messy with an english sign and then a few feet down, a spanish sign.

They should also put one version in a different colour from the other (though I think there are prescribed colours allowed on street signs). When u only have a few seconds to read a sign, its quite annoying to be looking for the english one.

In town they're generally on the same sign side by side...You'll notice Frederick Street, and next to it, Calle Frederick

Yeah the signs in POS arent the problem. Its those on the highway while going down south. I hadda keep a lookout for the signs so I'll know which is the turnoff. And its really not user friendly. I only have a few seconds to glimpse a sign while going down the highway and its frustrating to have to keep taking your eyes off the road looking for an english sign thats clear on where to turn. Bec of that, I have seen some very ghetto parts of Princes Town, and even toured Ste Madeline..when all I really wanted to do was reach SanFernando.

[Sirius]

:lol: Well thats one way to get to know d country ent serenity? :P

[oecarb]

I still bussing my brains trying to remember the name of that street in Port of Spain. It used to be near a Wimpy and a cinema and it used to have a sign saying:

No Parking
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday

I still trying to work out when I coulda park there. :twisted:

[serenity]

:lol: Well thats one way to get to know d country ent serenity? :P


Not when your gas tank indicator on 'E' and yuh doh know where the nearest gas station is, yuh forget yuh cell phone home, yuh eh have a spare tyre and yuh late for Court - true story.
I nearly cry that morning yes!

[Somebody007]

I still bussing my brains trying to remember the name of that street in Port of Spain. It used to be near a Wimpy and a cinema and it used to have a sign saying:

No Parking
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday

I still trying to work out when I coulda park there. :twisted:


Easy, just go at the stroke of midnight when the days are about to change from one into another....I guess you will be neutral at that point.

[Falcon]

there is no in-between neutral time! Where you get dat from?????? :shock: