Is politics still a noble profession? In this talk, Hulsie explores the notion of politics as nobel profession and places her candid experience of being a politician on record.

Hulsie has a long history of activism. As a final year University student, she led a national campaign against corruption in the construction of the Caroni Racing Complex. Soon after, she joined fellow villagers in Guayamare, Caroniand, for ten years, stopped works on the Uriah ButlerHighway until the residents were compensated and relocated. Hulsie moved her activism to Parliament upon her election in 1991. When formal representations failed, she led protest demonstrations. Hulsie mobilized the population on rising food prices, and championed a petition signed by 100,000 citizens: she fasted one week on the Parliament steps. When Central Trinidad was submerged in flood waters for several days, she acted on behalf of those affected, including the elderly marooned in their homes and children in make-shift beds in their ceilings. Hulsie blocked the Uriah ButlerHighway, was arrested and spent seven days in in solitary confinement.

This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at http://ted.com/tedx