Ahead of elections in Trinidad & Tobago, one party promises to build a dome to limit ‘illegal outsiders’ · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Trinidad and Tobago's general elections are carded for August 10, and with less than a week to go, electioneering has reached a fever pitch.
A meme making fun of the United National Congress’ proposal to “[create] a dome around T&T.” The image places the country's coat of arms under a dome, with the words “Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, Ministry of Dome, Land & Marine Affairs”; shared via WhatsApp and other social media channels.
Despite the country's rising numbers of COVID-19 cases, it is not uncommon to see political supporters of both major parties — the incumbent People's National Movement (PNM) and the opposition United National Congress (UNC) — gathered around music trucks that parade through neighbourhoods canvassing votes.
While voters may be interested in hearing about candidates’ COVID-19 strategies, no one quite expected the seemingly futuristic proposal, put out by the UNC, of “creating a dome around T&T” to “protect our country from all illegal outsiders and activity.” The idea was put forward in an advertisement detailing the party's COVID-19 response plan.
Widely shared on social media, the ad claimed that the party, if elected, would have said dome “partly operational within 1 month and fully operational in 6 months”:
Screenshot of the ad detailing the United National Congress’ COVID-19 Preparedness and Response Plan, widely shared on social media platforms.
Reaction was swift — and humourous. In short order, a hashtag — #KamlaDome2020 — was trending locally:
The illegal outsiders trying to get in #KamlaDome2020 pic.twitter.com/reXqyEzJcX
— MizztaKe?? (@Notwithoutkhyla) August 5, 2020
#KamlaDome2020
Me forgetting we have a dome: pic.twitter.com/DqrKDgfw0T
— aggressive protagonist (@skhazell) August 4, 2020
Several Twitter users poked fun by wondering how exactly the dome would be constructed:
Construction companies trying to figure out how to build the dome #KamlaDome2020 pic.twitter.com/Jzv7DiNQUG
— Nickolas Roberts (@nickwrld1997) August 4, 2020
So Shuri from Black Panther getting the contract to construct that dome awa #KamlaDome2020
— Deep (@Griffs44) August 4, 2020
Facebook user Quweina Roberts, tongue firmly in cheek, felt that the new dome would create amazing new employment opportunities:
A whole new set of jobs to be created. Dome operator, Dome inspector, Dome janitor, Dome developer, Dome manager, Dome attendant, Dome support officers etc. #KamlaDome2020
— Quweina Roberts (@Quweina) August 4, 2020
It was only a matter of time before The Simpsons reference got a local spin:
Kamla – have you seen the Simpsons? CMO – Say no more#KamlaDome2020 pic.twitter.com/m141eXahUW
— ? Ꮢ Λ Ι (@RaiKhanMusic) August 4, 2020
Other movie references soon followed:
The Dukes of Tobago, Watson and Winston will finally have home field advantage when they lead the troops into Venezuela East/Gulf of Paria West, in the Battle for Helms Deep. #KamlaDome2020 pic.twitter.com/10ooQIMf6b
— Republic of Anthony (@BissieSmalls) August 4, 2020
Meanwhile, one Twitter user kept thinking up scenarios of all the things that could go wrong once the dome was installed:
When current gone August 11th..and we mc steam up like fish broth #KamlaDome2020 pic.twitter.com/2DvgaydzCB
— ?Black Kryptonian (@Dao_D8z) August 4, 2020
Men trying to seduce the female security guard to open up de hatch after yuh break de Dome Curfew.. #KamlaDome2020 pic.twitter.com/DpMTK81kkF
— ?Black Kryptonian (@Dao_D8z) August 4, 2020
Several Twitter users were concerned about their health:
We need air filters in the dome for the Sahara dust tho #kamladome2020
— Shaquille Oatmeal (@Nick_Wildman91) August 4, 2020
#COVID19 #KamlaDome2020 pic.twitter.com/2qfrk8pml5
— Nickolas Roberts (@nickwrld1997) August 4, 2020
Rising temperatures were also a consideration:
I’m just hoping the Dome would have some AMAZING A/C yes because the way the sun set up these days; I’ll be unable to can. #Kamladome2020 ???
— fry_plantain (@fry_plantain) August 4, 2020
There were hilarious parallels to US President Donald Trump's proposed border wall with Mexico, prompting one Twitter user to quip:
Who paying for the dome? Venezuela? #kamladome2020
— v. (@valissarae) August 4, 2020
Others had questions — so many questions:
How they gonna try to spin this dome statement? 360° radar coverage? Satellites? An actual done made of drones to watch us all? ? #KamlaDome2020 pic.twitter.com/IFaMBiL1PD
— Caleb (@d1_dadu) August 4, 2020
UNC leaders explaining to the nation how de Dome go build with Wakandan vibranium #KamlaDome2020 pic.twitter.com/w5i8erJihD
— ?Black Kryptonian (@Dao_D8z) August 4, 2020
Soon after the UNC realised the dome idea was becoming a national joke, it changed the wording of the ad, and its supporters subsequently claimed that the meaning was misconstrued and that it was really a “radar dome”.
While a handful of Twitter users were prepared to have a serious discussion about the dome idea, the majority just couldn't let it go:
It will forever live on as the #KamlaDome2020 in our hearts https://t.co/XRLsbkLpZ4
— Adrian John (@AdrianXVIII) August 4, 2020