Once upon a time, in the kingdom of Heaven, God went missing for six days.
Eventually, Michael the archangel found him, resting on the seventh day.
He inquired of God. 'Where have you been?'
God sighed a deep sigh of satisfaction and proudly pointed downwards through the clouds. 'Look, Michael. Look what I've made!'
Archangel Michael looked puzzled and said, 'What is it?'
'It's a planet,' replied God, 'and I've put Life on it. I'm going to call it Earth and it's going to be a great place of balance.'
'Balance?' inquired Michael, still confused.
God explained, pointing to different parts of earth. 'For example, over there I've placed a continent of fair people and over there is a continent of dark people.'
God continued pointing to different countries. 'This one will be extremely hot and while this one will be very cold and covered in ice' and so on.
The Archangel, impressed by God's work, then pointed to a land mass in the Caribbean and said, 'What's that one?'
'Ah,' said God, smiling. 'That's Trinidad, the most glorious place on earth. There are beautiful beaches, breathtaking mountain ranges, streams, hills and waterfalls. The people from Trinidad are going to be very good-looking, modest, intelligent and humorous and they are going to be found travelling the world, holding good jobs. They will be extremely sociable, hardworking and high-achievers. They will be known throughout the world as diplomats and carriers of peace, they will be great party-planners and costume-makers.'
'They will have the most beautiful women in the world from every possible racial mixture I have created these last six days. They will make melodious, rhythmic music called soca, make the sweetest music out of drums and barrels and host the greatest extravaganza in the world, which they will call Carnival.'
Michael gasped in wonder and admiration but then proclaimed, 'What about balance, God? You said there would be balance!!!'
'Ah,' God replied wisely. 'Wait until you see the idiots they'll have in their government.'
