HIGH unemployment rates and fluctuating job demands in Trinidad and Tobago are undermining our capacity for sustained protests and effective boycotts.

This economic instability hinders our ability to enact significant social and political change, creating a loop of discontent that is difficult to break.

The persistently high unemployment rate reflects broader economic struggles, making it challenging for individuals to participate in prolonged protests or boycotts.

Preoccupied with securing employment and supporting families, many people have little room for collective action. Fluctuating job demands exacerbate this issue as businesses frequently hire and fire with little predictability, creating constant job security concerns.

In George Orwell’s 1984, collective action is systematically dismantled by the state’s control over resources and employment, rendering individuals powerless and isolated. Similarly, our fragmented and economically vulnerable workforce struggles to unite effectively.

Who can afford to jeopardise their livelihood for long-term protest efforts? Yet, as a nation, we must foster a sense of collective identity and mutual support that transcends individual economic concerns.

When will we say enough is enough? How many more lives must be lost over a few hundred dollars or an iPhone before we take collective action?

TiaMarie Lander Sangre Grande