TNT Progressive

No Time to Celebrate for new Gov't

2010-05-25T15:32:00.000+01:00

It is great that the people of T&T have demonstrated that democracy is truly alive by letting their vote show that there was a limit to the levels of tolerance that the nation could endure under a delusional, dictatorial and frankly inept government.

Now as the country looks to the new coalition to change the trajectory of the society, it is important to look for the signs than can enable that change, rather than breathe a collective sigh of relief in the hope that the coalition replacing the old regime is enough. We have to recognise that corruption, lack of transparency and accountability, inaction and even race have long been part of our political culture and will have left its residue within the walls of the Red House. The People’s Partnership is after all a hastily put together alliance made up of differing views, with elements of previous regimes that helped create the major problems with our governance. In short, there is no time for celebration when what is required is a unified vision with united policies, that will alleviate the splitting of the party after the honeymoon period is ended and reality takes hold – something that is very possible when many fragments make up the whole. The fervent hope has to be PM Bissesar is strong willed enough to set a precedent that will cast aside the politics of ego; as a nation we have to hope that this government has the courage to radically change the course set by the past by not focusing on it and instead taking a clean slate for the future. The campaign practice of party bashing to the detriment of policy outline has to be put to rest, with clear statements of intent to assure the electorate that they have indeed voted for radical change, not change for change’s sake.

The political blinkers have to be removed with encouragement to the people to be involved in the political process throughout the five year term and not just at the end of it. T&T needs a culture shift to remove the public helplessness that allowed previous regimes to squander and ignore and it now needs this government to enact the constitutional reform to ensure that there is confidence in our political process. The separation of powers, fixed term government, right to recall and referendums are but some of the mechanics to be put into place so that it becomes a case of protection for the people, not protection of the government.

The political involvement did not end on May 24^th, it began on May 25^th. We have to remain involved, seeking the checks and balances from our new government, showing support as they take on the hard task of repair, but also maintaining the reason that we voted them into leadership (given our political past we should perhaps refrain from using the word ‘power’). The reasons are that we want the basic tenets for a society; with this in mind our new government must swiftly address the scourge of murder and crime as its first priority, for nothing else matters if one does not have life.

The fear is that the coalition will succumb to the inevitable split born of the ‘too many man rat in one hole’ scenario and their effect in government is limited. The hope is that the culture of our governance will fundamentally change from the top, with the courage to fulfil its convictions. In that endeavour we have to wish PM Bissesar the very best, along with the strength and courage for the task ahead and the vision born of the potential of all that a stifled Trinidad & Tobago can be.

Sheldon Waithe

Vote with Intelligence

2010-04-19T14:37:00.000+01:00

We are constantly aware that each election is considered a cross roads for Trinidad and Tobago for the simple reason that successive governments fail to bring meaningful changes to the basic issues that continue to stifle this nation. Now we are faced with the bonus of a surprisingly early return to the polls with the opportunity to rectify the mistakes of the past 48 years and take a step towards meaningful change. That we have had a general election thrust upon us itself speaks volumes about the current situation and the despair that Patrick Manning is feeling– from the revelations about the PNM’s very questionable activities, the growing disillusion with a dictatorial Prime Minister who’s vision is clouded by his own delusion, the possibility that the money in the Treasury has dried up as a result of ridiculous wastage in the name of ego and the daily murder statistic that leaves the nation an uncivil society.

There is the opinion that this latest election is part of a move by Manning to also stall any progress that the Opposition forces are making; Manning can no longer rely on the divisive nature of the UNC while the Sunway revelations highlight the growing will of the COP. The Prime Minister may see himself as the most political savvy of the nation’s politicians - playing yet another game with the electorate - but this is one game too far; ask yourself why he would rather go to the polls at a time where the PNM is held in such low esteem rather than face the music from the revelations that have put the Govt in that self-same low esteem position?

The next few weeks will comprise the age-old practices of mud-slinging, idle boasts about empty achievements and the usual promises to gain your vote. We have to challenge ourselves to see past the bacchanal performances on the political platform and look for the policies, the intention of the parties to resolve crime, corruption, the economy, the health system, to provide the basic amenities and to ensure that transparency and responsibility are no longer factors that our civil servants continue to dismiss. We have to challenge ourselves to think differently with our vote if we are to have any hope of forcing our politicians to act differently when in power. We have to look past the sheer idiocy of voting on race, on gender, religion or social background and look deep within ourselves to realise that none of this makes one iota of difference, after all, in successive regimes all races and genders continue to suffer. We all belong to this beautiful and blessed soil and have to start looking to what unites us rather than be so quick to look at our differences. We all have a role to play in each other’s life as we attempt to put this nation on the trajectory to realising its true potential. We are faced with claims that we have surpassed our potential because of the ability to host world leaders but anyone can clean the home for visitors, it is the daily living that counts.

Look to your recent history. We have to be willing to accept that we have been duped but also be filled with the hope that there are real, meaningful changes afoot in our political arena and this is the time to take a step towards a new option, because the old regimes will only continue to fail us.

And they have failed us miserably. A nation blessed with all the resources in the world to lay the foundation for its relatively small population to enjoy the basic needs of existence has instead succumbed to taking the cosmetic route, constructing unwarranted buildings while the ailing health system remains a symbol of failure to care for the population. The thought process that a giant and costly flag somehow makes things better shows the mindset of the government; worse, those responsible for such a debacle remain in their positions of power in complete disregard to public opinion that asks who pays $2 million for a pole and a piece of cloth while our people drink water from drains? The electorate have to ask why is it that in almost 50 years of independence we have no political will to provide water to all in a nation surrounded by sea with a heavy rainfall season, the answer is incompetence and mismanagement with a lack of priorities. It is laughable that the Government jumps on the environment bandwagon when visiting leaders make the topic fashionable, yet they construct brand new buildings without exploring powering them with alternative uses of energy. They lack the planning to heed basic Geography lessons, so that we erode the landscape then claim that annual flooding is beyond our control. The basics have to be the focus. Until a party presents itself as being able to think outside the traditional T&T political arena we will be left with the same old khaki pants in the Red House.

If T&T is to have meaningful change politicians have to declare not just the intention to rectify the problems of the island but a logical explanation as to how those problems will be solved. It will require a mammoth exercise in terms of research but better to do it before an election rather than scratch your heads while in power. As an example, the scourge of crime would logically be targeted by a wide reaching cohesive plan to engage social and education forces with strong investment, plans to split our jails for minor and major offences, plans to separate our police from the Police Complaints Authority (police investigating themselves is laughable), plans to invest seriously in sport and the arts so that our youth are given alternatives to crime and plans to ably monitor and equip our police with training and technology (a nation wide CCTV network) in line with the boast of 2020 instead of an officer taking notes on paper like 1920. There has to be a stated goal of murder reduction through these plans with realistic aims that it will take time but also show that the implementation will reduce the loss of life for instance by 20% in the first year, 50% in the second etc. In all that these parties claim to be able to provide we must demand checkpoints so that we know they are serious with these claims and we can hold them accountable at said time. The nation requires no less.

Those that seek to govern us have to show that they are also willing to empower us, give us back the notion that they are our workers, spending our money. Those that seek to govern need to tell us on the campaign trail that they are willing to implement the idea of a recall for underperforming MPs; that they are willing to implement set election dates so we are no longer subjected to the infamy of thrice postponed local elections or the taunting that a general election date is in someone’s back pocket. Taunting is for the school yard, our politicians need to grow up. We need to see the intention to separate powers of the State rather than seek absolute reign via a changed Constitution. There has to be intention that only elected officials can hold posts in Ministries so that relation/nepotism is not the qualification for heading vital Offices and it is the people’s choice that matters. In short T&T, we have to delve deeper than the rum, roti, t-shirt and free fete campaigns to look at the intention to change the mechanics of our governance. We have to confront every promise with “How? What? Why? When?” New politics does not begin with any of those parties seeking power; it begins with the electorate and their level of acceptance.

Finally, we have to vote. People complain daily about the state of the nation yet we are faced with the sad statistic that 35,000 people do not exercise their right to a voice in what affects every facet of their life; they do not exercise a right for which people in other nations die. Quite simply, if you do not vote, then you accept that you are not deserving of better.

This is not a utopian rant; no country will ever achieve perfection, but despite the inevitable die-hards claiming that the nation is fit to call itself a civil society under the present regime, the avoidance of the issues, the despair of the sick and impoverished, the erosion of our land, our people and civil liberties, together with the inability to provide a secure environment all points to the need of a different approach with our vote. By all means vote for your choice but make best use of that vital right and if you do not like what you hear on podiums promising paradise, make your voice heard. It is time to be fed up with divisive politics – lambasting the opposing parties is looking to the past, I want a party that elevates itself away from the race-based politics and lets its policies do the talking. For the sake of T&T fulfilling even an iota of its true potential and ensuring a basic standard of living for all, so should you.

Sheldon Waithe

Dear Ruth

2010-04-10T15:24:00.002+01:00

Dear Ruth,

I have been with my man Peter Noel Melville for donkeys years, but to say that things aren’t entirely working out between us is a gross understatement. Things with Peter and I haven’t really been rosy for some time now, but you know how we Trini women like to stand by our men through thick and thin and give them the benefit of the doubt. However, over the last eighteen months or so, things have really come to a boil, and I have now reached the stage where I don’t think I can deal with this any more. Now don’t get me wrong Ruth, because Peter is not a violent man by any stretch. Despite what people say about his controlling nature, I still have the freedom to say what I want, and believe me I does pelt some good cuss in his ass when I’m ready. But what Peter doesn’t do to me physically, he more than makes up for with mental and emotional torment. Honestly Ruth, this man wasn’t always so, but over the years he started liming with a certain crew, and is now almost unrecognisable from the smart, young, dashing man that I fell in love with all those years ago.

Peter had a partner Calder, who came down from Canada and was staying by us for a little while. No word of a lie Ruth, as soon as Calder came into my house, money started going missing. I bit my tongue in the beginning because to be fair, Peter had Calder doing some work fixing up the house, and with Christmas coming and all, I was glad for the little help to make the place look nice. However, when I told Peter what was happening after Christmas, he simply didn’t believe me. Imagine, my own man, after all these years, thinking that I am a liar. Peter had a really good friend called Keith who lives in Diego Martin; the two of them practically grew up together. One day Keith pulled Peter square and told him that Calder was stealing from him too. Peter ketch a vaps one time and started accusing Keith of liking too much bacchanal and wajang thing. To this day, Keith and Peter still don’t speak to each other because of that scene.

But as God would have it Ruth, last week Peter came home from work to see Calder rummaging through the chest-of-drawers in the master bedroom. Ruth girl, is a long time I haven’t seen Peter that angry. He grab up Calder and told him to get the so and so out of his so and so house before he so and so damage him. Girl, I was real scared for Calder yes. But he didn’t say a word; he just packed up his things and left quietly- I heard that he has since gone back to Canada. You wouldn’t believe that after Calder left, Peter’s sister Emily had the temerity to come in front of my gate and tell me that I should be ashamed of the way I treated Calder. My children had to hold me back yes girl...

But it’s not just the whole episode with Calder and Emily that leaves me feeling frustrated Ruth; I just don’t know where Peter’s priorities lie anymore. Sometime last year I came home from work to find that Peter had spruced up the entire front garden; he had cut the lawn, pruned the trees and painted the driveway. I asked Peter what was going on and he told me that he had some friends coming down from foreign, and that he was making the place look presentable for them. Ruth, when I asked Peter if in this guava season we could really afford the expense of having so many people over at once; with the costs involved in showing them a good time, feeding and lodging them, he told me to mind my own business. Some of his friends came from as far away as Africa and Asia, and by all accounts, they had a really good time. But it hurt me like hell to know that as Peter was renting out cars by Kalloos and paying for his partners to have dinner in the Hyatt, we barely had enough water in the house for the children to brush their teeth. Ruth, you feel this man right here.

I mean, all the showing off to the outside world and yet when it rains, those children and I have to be shovelling water out of the living room. I can just imagine how the neighbours laugh and snigger behind their curtains as they look at us. But Peter no longer seems to care. The other day he got a pain in one of his kidneys and we didn’t even have aspirin in the house Ruth...aspirin!!! Peter ended up having to go and beg some from the Cuban fella up the road. Now, I have been inside that Cuban fella’s house on two occasions and you could really see that they ketching they nennen. Imagine that we now having to beg from them! People could say what they want about Raul- about how he does beat his wife and thing, but when it comes to the health of his kids, the man never skylarks. However, while all our children have Blackberries and Iphones, God help them if they should catch so much as a cold!

I think that you may have guessed it by now Ruth because it is often the case in these things- There is somebody else who has caught my eye. It didn’t just happen overnight, but he has been paying me attention [at least it feels that way] while Peter has repeatedly taken me for granted. Truth be told Ruth, I did in fact leave Peter for him quite a while back but things ended up turning sour and I went back to Peter. But now this guy’s back and wants me to leave Peter for good. He says that he’s changed but hasn’t really said how he plans to look after my children and me. Ruth, I really do not know what to do now. I will tell you more about him when I write next week. His name? Umar Nigel Chalsingh...

Fed up but confused...

post by the prophet...

Slumdog Millionaires

2010-01-03T16:48:00.007Z

I am not at all certain where he is taking us but old Father Time surely appears to be a man in a hurry these days. For it seems that it was only last week that millions around the world were fretting about possible Y2K glitches in which all the computer systems would fail and technological Armageddon wrought upon us in biblical proportions. Just imagine what a barren existence awaited us in a world without Twitter, a world devoid of our 1,395 Facebook friends, and a world in which neither the I-phone nor the Blackberry was ever invented?! God forbid- we would actually have had to start meeting real people again, forging meaningful relationships and sometimes even writing a letter or two to some long, lost friend or relative. Some of you are left shuddering at those thoughts and we thank our lucky stars that those gloomy predictions didn’t come to pass.

In the words of the great singer, songwriter and entertainer J.R. Timberlake featuring T.I., the first decade of the new millennium is now ‘dead and gone’ and had you so much as blinked then you would have missed it all. The noughties came to be synonymous with big glamour and even bigger splendour, and with extravagance being all the rage, we marvelled at the 7-star luxury hotels in Dubai, the 8-course menus on offer at state banquets, the double-beds on double-decker airplanes, the wonders of high-definition television, luxury this and designer that. At times there really appeared to be more money floating about than sense. And so, armed with L’Oreal’s mantra ‘because you’re worth it’- and our credit cards- we collectively began spending ourselves into financial oblivion. True to folklore and commonsense however, the houses that we had built upon the sub-prime sand came crashing down around our heads. If this decade reinforced anything, it is that the poor and downtrodden matter not one iota to the worldwide aristocracy- be they from the slums of Mumbai, the sands of Darfur, or in a bad hurricane season even the suburbs of New Orleans. Yet the G20 group of world leaders would meet twice in 6 months after a few thousand lost their jobs in Wall Street. And further damage must surely have been done to the Ozone layer after the recently concluded climate change conference in Copenhagen, where a lot of hot air and little else was produced. You see, one of the summit’s main aims was to agree an assistance package to help the poorer and developing nations. What does it then say about humankind when we can continually put people on the moon, yet in 2010 an African child still cannot drink a glass of clean water and eat a hot meal?

The noughties were much defined by a conflict which pitted bearded madmen from the Middle East against clean-shaven madmen from neo-conservative America, with the rest of us caught up in the middle. And amid all the fingernail pulling and testicle slashing, amid all the high-tec gazetry of spy satellites and aerial drones, amid the legions of intelligence agents, special and conventional forces, and amid the myriad of lists and the dreaded axis of evil, a man can still simply hide a bomb in his pants and board an aircraft- even after his own father called to tell us that he was a terrorist. Responding to the incident, one counter-terrorism official straight-facedly remarked that, ‘we simply cannot underestimate the sophistication of the al-Qaeda network.’ And these are the very people entrusted with keeping us safe- God help us! The noughties also gave us the 2006 Tsunami, in which almost half a million people died, as well as the H5N1 and H1N1 viruses- bird flu and pig flu to you and me- and while they seem to have been relatively well contained thus far, their future potency should not be taken lightly.

The decade wasn’t all doom and gloom though, and more than anything else the noughties epitomised an era when the impossible became possible. We witnessed a lightning Bolt from the tiny Caribbean island of Jamaica striking twice in Beijing and then again in Berlin; his body pumped full of nothing but the best yam Trelawney had to offer. He and his fellow compatriots probably went home with as much gold as that rumoured to be in the renowned Fort Knox. In the pool, Michael Phelps accomplished feats not seen in the water since Moses parted the Red Sea coming out of Egypt, while in tennis Roger Federer made winning 15 grand slams look like child’s play. Not to be undone, the two black sisters who started playing tennis in Compton have continued to dominate the women’s game by beating all comers. On the golf course, many attempted to stare into the eye of the Tiger, only to be undone by his sheer ruthlessness and superiority. Unfortunately for the Tiger however, he began showing much more than his eye, and quickly lost his front bumper, rear windscreen and much more as a result. In 2006, my native Trinidad and Tobago became the smallest nation to have ever qualified for a FIFA World Cup, much to the delight of Jack Warner, his son and both their bankers.

And the Davids of this world are increasingly taking on the Goliaths away from the playing fields too. The son of a Kenyan farmer now sits atop the highest chair in a country where mere decades ago, black people weren’t even allowed to vote. India and Brazil have shaken off their former colonial cloaks and are fast emerging as world powers and challenging the status quo. 2010 will see the African continent host its first ever FIFA World Cup while South America follows suit in 2016, with its first ever Olympic Games. We are thus witnessing a worldwide revolution of sorts; one in which more and more people are refusing to let others dictate their destinies and are standing up in the face of extreme adversity to realise their dreams. Let this be us too!

Wishing you and yours a very happy and prosperous 2010 and beyond. Be good to yourselves and be good to others…

kito johnson

2009-03-25T12:32:00.001Z

In a display symptomatic of the delusion born of power corrupting our leaders absolutely, Basdeo Panday dares to tell his party supporters "Remember I have warned you in advance on each occasion when you were about to make a fool of yourself" (Express 11^th Feb 2008). While it is hardly surprising that this customary drivel spews forth from his public platform, it does beg the question as to whom the hell does Mr. Panday think he is? This display emphasises that Panday has no respect for the intelligence of any members of the public that are still blind enough to follow him.

These Trade Union-esque tirades only reinforce his own fantasy of being a saviour to ‘his people’ and worse, they are at direct odds with the logical, methodical and emotion-free approach required from our Opposition, to cope with a Government that is itself in the throws of delusional leadership. Those present at Princes Town should have vacated the premises upon effectively being told by Panday, with his dubious history and double standards, that he should do their thinking for them. Does Panday believe he has an elevated status to think he can lead through demeaning his faithful? Clearly, this is the case. If Panday wanted to dissuade people from investment in the ailing HCU, how about facts and figures backed with alternatives rather than hearsay and ranting? Perhaps not, as this would require a level of maturity that clearly escapes the capabilities of those elected to T&T office (and their supporters). To paraphrase his own comments: has anyone warned Panday about making a fool of himself?

A Prime Minister whose ego drives his own hallucinations and arrogance, countered by an Opposition leader rendered impotent by undertaking the same egomaniacal path? When are we going to stop this astonishing acceptance of what passes as leadership? Meanwhile, our record murder rate continues and our economy shakes without any sign of worthy processes from these parties to resolve these issues.

Sheldon Waithe

No saviour for T&T, just poor leadership and acceptance

2009-01-26T17:08:00.003Z

In the wake of last week’s inauguration, the world’s media is awash with the hope born of a world power displaying the maturity to choose, from the campaign trail, the person that appeared the best candidate for the job of President. The world’s populace now anticipate that this maturity will spread to other nations. Of course, given the deplorable state of leadership in T&T, commentaries point to hopes for our nation of an Obama-type leader to emerge and magically rectify matters. This is the result of frustration and despair with what passes as leadership and cannot be scoffed at when there is no true progress regardless of how many buildings we construct or how many international conferences we host.

If we recall that matters became so dire under the previous regime in the US to allow the clarity that led to maturity at the polls, it would certainly appear that T&T, with serious issues in every aspect of its society, bears a mirror image to the American situation. In fact, considering our current circumstances, with for example, the simple fact that nationals cannot enjoy the basic tenet of a secure environment, then we surpass the US situation. Regardless of whether history records the Obama presidency as a success or failure and long after the references to his ethnicity subsides, the step has been taken to choose based upon the character content that has been portrayed along with the clear structure of plans to resolve the nation’s problems. Loathe as I am to encourage mimicry other countries, the best example that we can take from last week’s events is that we stop accepting what passes for leadership in T&T and become a country that moves beyond tribal lines for the sake of our evolution.

We may call for a saviour yet we do not recognise that our astonishing lack of tolerance is what creates the wide parameters of misrule for our government and opposition. Our acceptance and shrugging of shoulders that T&T is just the way it is, shapes our leaders actions and allows them to get away with the nonchalance they display towards the public.

We have become a society based on the aesthetic instead of the mechanic – those fundamentals that form and drive the society that we know T&T has the potential evolve into. We speak of escalating crime rates but hardly baulk at the fact that we all recognize, despite the best efforts of Acting Comm. Philbert, that our Police Force cannot develop into the unit required to dent our horrendous felony rate while their infrastructure keeps our crime fighting techniques in the 1960s. We ‘steupse’ about the ineffectual blimp while reading of the daily crime statistics that erode our own people while a Prime Minister barely utters a word regarding the situation. We believe the tripe of being a rainbow country when true unity would mean proper outrage at the deaths and abduction of our own people.

We are a nation immersed in the gimmick and not the specific – plans for grandiose projects litter the governments agendas while they literally erode the landscape without accountability and cause the same disasters that these Government departments are meant to prevent. We leave matters in the hands of political parties whose approach to critical issues is an endless circle of infantile banter in Parliament yet they attempt to distinguish themselves with the title ‘Honourable’. That self same political landscape has left parties a mirror image of each other so that the major discerning factor is ethnicity. We let our money be thrown into wasteful pits to satisfy egos and then do not demand accountability or even the details as to the amounts spent. What a generous people we are! We up the ante of our complaints in the quiet aftermath of Carnival, then allow ourselves to be distracted by whatever the puppet masters throw into the limelight while crucial documents such as a new constitution that determines our governance sneak through the door. We speak of gangs creating the bulk of our crime then employ their members for voter loyalty rather than rehabilitate them through proper cohesion with our struggling yet commendable NGOs. We pursue the ultimate gimmick of Vision 2020, which is so laughable when we all but eradicate our food self-sufficiency because energy resources are deemed the sole priority. Yet, I write this because the action/inaction is common knowledge to the populace.

We have failed to be honest with ourselves that whatever successes we have achieved are mainly in spite of our various guises of government and not because of it. Our economic prosperity has always been determined by world market forces rather than our own endeavour; yet our current PM in the year 2008, truly expected us to swallow his ego-maniacal statement that we were immune to a global economic crisis. The heads of the main parties believe that the term 'leader' means that power must be absolute, when a true leader of men should be a unifier, getting the best people suited to relevant roles to work together for the common good, with the checks and balances derived from a sound system of accountability. While our people have their lives brutally snuffed out, these so called leaders cannot even bring themselves to unite around a table to attempt tackling the runaway crime issue.

The old analogy "build it and they will come" lends itself to theory that if those that we elect begin laying meaningful foundations then we will be on our way towards formulating a sound and civil society through the knock on effects of a purposeful environment. However currently there is nothing to suggest that any decisions for our nation are anything other than whimsical and if they posses a purpose then we the population are not deemed worthy of that revelation. As such, this is part and parcel of the disrespect with which our elected leaders treat us in the grab for power (we only matter every 5 years).

So T&T, are you ready to grow up as a society or continue the life of constant complaint? Do you remain in the divide nurtured by the leaders and practised by ourselves and not realise that what affects one portion of our society eventually affects us all? Are you going to remain envious of the scenes of US unification last week, by a nation steeped in divide since a civil war, or are you going realise that you are the catalyst that can bring our own form of change to our unique and wonderful nation? Continue the acceptance and we continue to regress, become tolerant and our society’s maturity will grow; it will grow towards your neighbour, boss, employee, child and student. We have to demand purpose in what our leaders do with our lives and we have to begin last week because we are that far gone and by the time you read this another one of your countrymen will have lost their lives. We have to see key realistic indicators in the plans proposed by leaders and simply stop accepting the lack of transparency. And guess what, there is no saviour to resolve T&T. Obama is not the saviour of the US but he is a forward thinking individual that outlined his plans and backed it up with purpose, surrounding himself with the best people suited to the roles they have been given.

The same system that led to the change witnessed last week, also allowed previous years where an unsuitable leader was at the helm, proving that both extremes can make it into leadership; we are now burdened with this regime for at least another 3 years, it’s what we accept while they are governing us that now matters.

Sheldon Waithe

The Audacity of Hope

2008-11-21T17:13:00.001Z

It is often said that the reason they call it the American Dream is because you have to be asleep in order to believe it. And so it was that as Barack Hussein Obama, son of a black Kenyan father and white American mother, stood on the podium in Chicago having just won the elected vote to be the 44^th President of the United States of America, I found that I was indeed pinching myself to ensure that I wasn’t still in a state of reverie. Forty-five years ago, Martin Luther King Jr stood on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC and gave what is regarded by many as one of the greatest speeches of all time. He dreamt of an America that would one day honour the true meaning of the creed “all men are created equal.” He dreamt of an America whereby the sons of slaves and the sons of slave owners could sit at the table of brotherhood. He dreamt of an America whereby his children would be judged not by the colour of their skin but by the content of their character. He dreamt of one day black boys and girls holding hands with white boys and girls and walking together as brothers and sisters; even in the darkest and deepest racial corners of American society…He was some dreamer that Martin Luther.

Modern-day America isn’t quite yet King’s utopia and one only has to look at the disproportionate numbers of black men languishing in American jails, or better still, examine the US Government’s response (read: lack of) in the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Katrina to accept this. By the same token however, modern-day America is also almost unrecognisable from the dire place of extreme racial prejudice, segregation and mass civil unrest and disobedience that it had been on that April morning four and a half decades ago. For some blacks however, Barack Obama will forever remain an exception to an otherwise hard and unbending rule. They will state that had he been just another very good black candidate, he wouldn’t have even beaten Hillary Clinton much less clinched the presidential nomination. And so justifiably, they will argue that for black people to succeed and/or gain recognition in traditional white domains, they have to be so exceptionally talented that even the most fervent of racists would be hard-pressed to deny them their rightful accolades. This remains true for now, but I say to them this: Be patient, for Rome wasn’t built in a day! For others still, Barack Obama isn’t black enough. They say that he is as white as he is black. They also say that he was raised and nurtured by his white mother and by his white extended family. I say to them this: Look at the reaction to the Obama victory on the African continent. Many of those Africans dancing on the streets of Nairobi are, to borrow that well-known American phrase, “blacker than a motherfucker!’’ If Barack Obama is black enough for them, then he is black enough for me too!

Obama’s nomination takes us far forward and on towards the culmination of that long march to freedom. His nomination washes away the notion held by many blacks that we can progress only so far and no more. His nomination rubbishes the flawed ideology that poor, black kids from impoverished neighbourhoods growing up in single parenthood are doomed to failure. No longer is the hope of social escapism solely enshrined in becoming the next Tiger Woods or the next 50cent. Some called Obama a terrorist-associating, turban-wearing, hate- sermon loving, non-American. Others still, referred to him as a drug taking, flip-flopping, illegal aunt-having, inexperienced upstart. And that was from those on his own side! In the end it mattered not, because cometh the hour, cometh the man!

Here in the United Kingdom, we like to pat ourselves on our collective backs and talk about how racially diverse and tolerant we all are. Progress has indeed been made on this side of the Atlantic too but please don’t confuse Aleysha Dixon winning Strictly Come Dancing with genuine racial progress. Have a long hard look within the corridors of influence and power in this country and you will see many a black face. However, they will more likely than not be the ones cooking the food in the canteen, cleaning the office or toiling in the mailroom. I ask myself, where are our Condaleeza Rices, where are our General Colin Powells, where are our Denzil Washingtons, where indeed are our Senator Barack Obamas? It is then that I remind myself that the racial dynamics of the two societies aren’t, if you pardon the pun, so black and white. Black history in America is entrenched in an entire legacy of slavery and spans 400 plus years. For the most part, Black history in Britain can only be traced back to Tantie Merle, dressed to kill in her Sunday best, stepping off the Windrush at Tilbury docks in 1948. It seems that London, much like Rome, wasn’t built in a day either.

The presidency of Barack Obama will mean many things to many people and in the end, history alone will be the final arbiter as to whether this was indeed such a landmark achievement. Until then however, we too can have the audacity of Obama’s hope and the dreams of Martin Luther King. We too can dream of a world where the rule of international law applies the same on Capitol Hill as it does in Kigali. We too can dream of a world where the rich and powerful are not always allowed to ride roughshod over the poor and downtrodden. We too can dream of a world whereby those held in detention at least know what crimes they have committed. We too can dream of a world whereby wars are not fought on the basis of lies and whim. We can but dream…

prophet

Dearest Patrick

2008-11-21T17:00:00.001Z

Dearest Patrick,

I hope that this finds you well, though I must admit that I am very upset by what I have been hearing. The ancient Greek playwright Euripides once opined that ‘‘those whom the Gods wish to destroy, they first make mad” so only time will tell whether this latest incident does indeed mark the beginning of the end for you. But surely Patrick, even you must admit that the antics of a democratically elected Prime Minister complete with an entire cavalcade of motorcycle outriders and protective detail, storming or otherwise, into a radio station to complain about an apparently errant broadcast, speak of a man seemingly starting to misplace his marbles. The jesters among us joke that this is the fastest that they have seen you move in some time; with some even suggesting that you should give Usain Bolt a run for his money in 2012.

But this is no laughing matter Patrick, and what is even more perplexing is the fact that you cannot seem to grasp that what you did was wrong; not illegal in any way, but just plain wrong. You are not Mano Manolal from LP#45, Swamp Trace, Caroni. You cannot stumble out of Smokey and Bunty’s at five in the morning and then vomit on the pavement, nor can you be seen to be ‘doing the donkey’ at Flour Mills fete with some scantily clad female wining in your face- what is good enough for the pastor’s daughter isn’t necessarily good enough for you. You are Patrick Augustus Mervyn Manning, Prime Minister of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, the second largest English speaking entity in the region and a major regional player! Is it really too much to ask that you conduct yourself with a standard of decorum befitting your status? Patrick, I know that this Prime Minister thing isn’t all that it’s cranked up to be, and must indeed get a bit difficult and lonely sometimes; especially with you and Keith not pulling so good these days and Martin not really pulling his weight . You don’t have to tell me Patrick, I know– they reel you in with the talk of the big house, the big car, the big motorcade, the endless travel etc. They never mention anything about leadership, hard-work, constant criticism- alas, not even one word about good governance. It’s only when they have you hooked- line and sinker, that they throw in all that bullshit and expect you to be able to deal with it.

Don’t get me wrong Patrick because I will be one of the first to agree that the general standard of journalism in our country leaves a lot to be desired. Just yesterday I was listening to 96.1FM online and was dismayed by the utter garbage that was supposedly passing for news and entertainment. But you know what I did Patrick, as seemingly strange and far-fetched as the idea might be to you? I switched over and found another station to listen to. I know, I know, a little drastic but hey, sometimes needs must. There are also times when I get fed up with reading the Guardian…so I buy the Express, or the Newsday, or vice versa, or other times, I read none! This concept may seem a bit alien to you at first but I promise that once you get the hang of it, it will soon become second nature. I must also tell you Patrick that pot must be very careful before he starts calling kettle’s bottom black. While this may come as a great surprise to you Patrick, there are many out there who are fed up with the way that you are doing your job. And just as you pine for a more professional media, we too also long for a more accountable government. Just as you pine for more balanced journalism, we too long for a country in which we can live for the most part, free from crime and free from the fear of crime. But Patrick, do you see me standing outside your gate?

Patrick, the man on the street couldn’t care less about what the media says about you, or anybody else for that matter. People aren’t worried about their finances because of something they heard on 94.1; they are worried because the same chicken that cost $40.00 in Hilo last month is now $50.00 this month. People don’t feel unsafe simply because of something they read in the papers; they feel unsafe because the relatively innocuous task of getting out of the car and opening the gate is now fraught with danger. People aren’t cussing the government because of something they saw on the news; they cuss because they have to drive on some of the worst roads in the entire planet in a country that has an endless supply of asphalt.

Anyways Patrick, I think I have said enough for now but I promise that I will write to you again soon. Wishing you God’s grace until we speak again- take care and give my love and regards to Hazel.

Yours ever

Kito

Medusa's Prophecy

2008-08-03T11:18:00.000+01:00

BAM!

BAM! BAM! BLODOY!

4 shots, 4 bodies - 4 less drug kingpins! As a society, we have some gratitude to pay to the gun toters who are cleaning up our streets on behalf of the nation, street justice being the modern day version of Moses' law. Now if the police could only catch these midnight marksmen, Trinidad & Tobago may just about come off of the international crime radars currently alienating it from the global scene, unbeknownst to the Port of Spain oligarchy of course. They continue with the sinking of the capital under the weight of immigrant labour and their structural marvels.

It is excruciatingly depressing to witness the demise of our country, our treasured values and the systematic disintegration of the inherent respect that our islands fostered throughout our short history. So what are we doing about it?

Our elected government, as far as I am aware, is paid by us to manage the public purse so that our essential rights are protected. We PAY the salaries of governing officials, therefore, as THEIR boss, we the people should be making it clear that we are not happy with their callous mismanagement of our livelihoods, our country, our lives. Yet their seems to be a sordid perversion of roles in Trinidad & Tobago, where the "3-letter" gangs believe they are in the drivers seats. Our money is going to their pockets, neglecting the piggy-banks of the impoverished, neglecting the simple tenets of shelter, food and freedom of the people.

There will always be blame cast upon those who are paid to protect us, however, responsibility should also be placed upon the backs of all residents, law-abiding or not, those who turn a blind eye, whose social awareness is exercised in café styled newspaper gossip. As a citizenry, we are all responsible for our lands, turning a blind eye as destructive as aiding and abetting. So we need social campaigns! We need some movement, people in the street demanding that the authorities pull the rags out of their...ears, and clean up the bullshit politicking so that we are in a position to tackle the streets and reclaim our country. We have to demand transparency and accountability by the State - the Prime Minister, the President, the judges, lawyers, police officers, all those who are positioned to CLEAN UP TRINIDAD & TOBAGO. If you can march for a 1% pay increase, you can surely get out of your homes to march for security and safety.

Time to rid our small islands of the curse of medusa, the vicious cycle of pleb politics engulfing Parliament - panday gone, manning head pop up. chadee gone, "kojo" gone, countless other drug "lords" pop up. Seems those midnight marksmen not shooting fast enough! The prophecy shall continue once we're content to read about it instead of act upon it.

Sean Annandsingh

The Greatest of them all

2008-04-14T16:54:00.000+01:00

Many Trinis now feel a sense of dread and despair about the state of affairs in our country, and in all honesty who can blame us? We have become mental hostages to the myriad of disturbing images and stories that play on our minds day after day. Images such as Sylona Constantine’s head split in two after being chopped to death by her jealous lover, images such as Sean Luke’s bruised and buggered body lying in a cane field, and images such as headless and decomposing body of Eddie Koury being found. These are just three of the many images and stories over the years that have helped contribute to this feeling of foreboding and resignation. It seems that many of us have forgotten what being Trinbagonian is all about. We seem to have distanced ourselves from the principles set out by our founding fathers; principles such as warmth, friendliness, courage under adversity, unity and purpose, and equality of all under the sun. The siege mentality has led to an ‘every man for himself’ doctrine and our watchwords of ‘together we aspire, together we achieve’ seem to belong to a bygone era.

Lest we forget however, Trinidad and Tobago is a land of that has produced many a talent over the years. In an attempt to reverse this cycle of negative thinking, I have embarked upon a campaign to identify through general consensus the five greatest Trinbagonians of all time. I do not know how far this will go but I am hoping for a good response and a healthy debate. After all, as Trinis, we are nothing if not very opinionated. Chances are, no two lists will be the same and there will be names and selections that appear odd to some, while making perfect sense to others. There are no restrictions and all genres are open. All I ask is that you contribute a few lines stating the rationale behind your choice. The results will be collated at the end of three months after which the greatest Trinbagonian of all time will be unveiled.

Here are my five greatest Trinbagonians of all time:

Daisy Voisin
Parang Singer

There is nothing that beats a Trini Christmas, and for the little boy in me it means that this is by far and away the most difficult period to be away from home. I miss all the sweet smells of this festive period; the savoury odours of pork, ham and fruit cake baking in the oven, or the more distinct wafts of newly painted walls, varnished furniture and polished floors. Christmas without parang however is akin to Carnival without soca and for many a Christmas, Daisy Voisin epitomised all that was good and merry about this season. No one could hold a note like Daisy and when she was on stage in full flow, with a bouquet of flowers in one hand and a chac-chac in the other, she was unstoppable. Two of her more famous songs ‘‘Hurray Hurrah’’ and ‘‘Alegria Alegria’’ continue to live on despite her death almost 18 years ago. I miss you Daisy!

Winston ‘Spree’ Simon
Inventor of the Steel Pan

Mention the place ‘‘John John’’ nowadays and people run for cover. The place is now associated with civil unrest, lockdowns, firebombing of homes and the like. People often forget that it is in this same ‘‘John John’’ that the 12-year old Spree turned what was until then only a discarded oil drum used for making ‘ole noise,’ into an instrument of sweet musical harmony. Spree’s pan, further developed by his friend Elliott Mannette became the only musical instrument to be invented in the 20th century, with its music now being enjoyed by people the world over; from cruise ships and holiday resorts, to symphony halls across the globe.

Machel Jesus Montano
Soca Artist

This man needs no great introduction. The extraordinary thing about Machel is that while he is only thirty-three, he has been in the music business for 25 years! I can vividly remember the young Machel in Skinner’s Park wearing nothing but a set of pampers singing ‘‘dey say ah too young to soca, oi oi oi dey making joke.’’ The boy is no longer, but his music has gone from strength to strength. Some of the older heads may argue that Machel doesn’t have the same pedigree of a Sparrow or a Lord Kitchener. However, in this era of mass communication, Machel has been able to reach a far wider worldwide audience that those two ever could. While his off-stage antics have been sometimes criticised, he continues to be without doubt, an international artist of the highest order.

Janelle ‘Penny’ Commissiong and Hasley Crawford
Miss Universe and Olympic Gold (grouped because of proximity of achievements)

Hasley Crawford remains the only Trinbagonian athlete to have ever won an Olympic Gold. In this day and age whereby our sportsmen and women have much greater access to international coaches, as well as fitness and training regimes, his feat continues to be insurmountable. His detractors have hinted that in the final of ’76, the field was not as strong as it might have been. You can only beat those that you’re up against and Olympic Gold is Olympic Gold-not if you’re Marion Jones of course!
By winning the Miss Universe title in 1977, Penny Commissiong not only became the first woman from our shores to do so, but also became the first black woman in history to win the coveted prize. Who would have thought that a little darkie girl from Port-of Spain could take on the might of the world and come up trumps? No disrespect to Giselle and Wendy, but Penny paved the way for you two to follow!

Brian Charles Lara
Cricketer

Wisden (cricket’s know it all book) claims that both Donald Bradman and Sachin Tendulkar were better batsmen that he was. Are they talking about the same Brian Lara who in 1994, broke the then Test Record by scoring 375 runs against England? Are they talking about the same Brian Lara who followed that up by going to England and breaking the then first class record by scoring 501? And the same Brian Lara who then reclaimed his World Record by scoring 400 runs in 2004; in the process becoming the only man to have ever scored a quadruple century? Sport is nothing if it isn’t entertaining, and the genius that was Brian Charles Lara was as entertaining as they have ever come. His critics point out that he was often selfish in the pursuit of his goals. During the tour of Sri Lanka in 2001, Brian Lara alone scored 42% of the runs accumulated by the entire Windies team during the whole series. Call that selfish? I guess any stick will do to beat a dog. The boy from Santa Cruz was in my opinion by far and away the best to have ever swung a cricket bat in the history of the game. It is this that makes him my greatest Trinbagonian of all time.

prophet

Imploding Blimp

2007-12-12T17:04:00.000Z

Until there any semblance of a cohesive plan involving the relevant security forces, their ministries and the justice system, any statement about getting tough on crime is another batch of hot air. While the murder rate exceeds the calendar days, while the detection rate remains a single percentage figure, nothing short of a major upheaval from the likes of the Attorney General and the Ministry for National Security will begin to dent the current crime spree. There are logical answers to many of the problems plaguing the Police but instead of proactive plans we are provided with a review of the situation followed by the serve and return blame game.

The Police constantly blame the lack of vehicular resources, yet we have the constant reluctance to install CCTV cameras to act as a deterrent, a law enforcing presence and ultimately, provide evidence. Why the disinclination to invest in technology that negates the lack of both Police and their vehicles? I need and answer please Mr. Manning, Mr. Joseph is unable to provide any meaningful answers.

Staying with technology, why have we invested in modern technology for our banking, even digital television and broadband internet, all along the path to the propaganda on Vision 2020, yet we do not see the folly of police officers still working with paper and pen while operating without an advanced database system? Can Mr. Joseph stop being overwhelmed, while people live under siege and let me know of the forthcoming investment to implement the aforementioned system, tied to the new CCTVs and incorporating training for police officers across the board? The majority of the criminals are not geniuses but our ancient processes make it easy for them to carry out their crimes.

The witness protection programme is null and void and perhaps given the geography of T&T as well as corruption amongst the forces, protection may well be an impossible task. Why then are we still in the practice of witnesses providing evidence in person? Surely every effort has to be made to provide the confidence for individuals to come forth with damning evidence. There is no sense complaining about known perpetrators being given bail or escaping charges if we do not tighten the law regarding what is or is not a bailable offence and do not allow depositions via other methods other than ’in person.’ Mrs. New AG, Mr. next-CJ, have we considered these as the first steps towards supporting the police system?

At the other end of the crime spectrum we have to consider that the lawlessness of the land means that minor crimes continue to rise and when we do catch actually the lawbreakers, we throw them into jail shoulder to shoulder with gang members, killers and their ilk. Particularly in the case of young offenders, do we think that this ‘solution’ can produce anything but a hardened criminal? The whole point of jail is to rehabilitate, not just remove these individuals from society. Instead of Toruba stadium should we not build a Minor Offenders facility to prevent our own jails turning a petty thief into a true delinquent? Can we have the faith that the CoP, the reappointed security Minister and the newly appointed Minister of Education are forward thinking enough to develop a programme to truly rehabilitate rather than condemning our youths for life?

Of course the answer to all of these questions is a resounding “NO!” That itself sums up the approach to crime; no logical solutions and no meaningful change. Until the rhetoric about combating crime takes a radically different approach, we can regard any speech from the powers-that-be as hot air probably better used to keep the blimp afloat.

Sheldon Waithe

Made in Foreign

2007-12-03T00:03:00.000Z

The yuletide season is upon us and there will be no doubt much hustling and bustling as people maketheir last minute preparations for the big day. The docks at Point Lisas and Port of Spain will be teeming with activity as vessels stream in from foreign lands laden to capacity with all manner of different products destined for consumption in the festive period and beyond. Garments, gadgets, curtains, hams, biscuits, alcohol, perfumes and toys are just some of the items that would be unloaded from these freighters and find their way into our shops. Once there, smiling proprietors with dollar signs in their eyes would be rubbing their hands together in anticipation of the subsequent mint to be made. For it has long been engrained in our Trini psyche that ‘‘made in foreign’’ is better than ‘‘made in Trinidad and Tobago’’.

It seems that even our Governments have picked up with this attitude because I have watched with bated breath over the last few years as foreign expert after foreign expert is brought in to solve this or that problem in Trinidad and Tobago - all to no avail. Now the Government wants to go one better and appoint a foreigner as the next Trinidad and Tobago Police Commissioner, for rumour would have it that the shortlist has been whittled down to two candidates; an American and an Englishman. For the first time in our independent history an office of high prominence would be held by someone not native to our shores. I find that extremely disconcerting and the patriotic blood in me has started to simmer, meaning that I could no longer stay silent.

What vexes me more than anything else is the two-faceness of the situation and the dotishness of those purporting to govern us. The Special Anti-Crime Unit of Trinidad and Tobago and the Police Service itself are the closest things that we have to the American FBI or the English equivalent, MI5. To simply join (never mind having any aspirations of high office) either the FBI or MI5, you must be a citizen of either the United States or the United Kingdom, and in the case of MI5, you must have been resident in the United Kingdom for at least 10 years. But it seems that anything goes in banana republics like ours so foreign crime experts are sought out from overseas, sworn in to maintain law and order in a land that they know nothing about, and then given ranks ranging from Corporal to Assistant Commissioner of Police. According to some reports, the two foreign ACPs are on a monthly salary of about $100,000.00 TTD (not a misprint) in addition to perks - all in all not bad work if you could get it.

No one is saying that seeking help and assistance from abroad is wrong, but speak to anybody and they will tell you that things seem to be getting worse not better, since the foreign invasion. Much of the money spent on these imported experts is therefore wasted - much like a man who buys a Picasso and then hangs it in the latrine behind his house. No amount of money spent of hired foreign help will alleviate the systematic problems that have become embedded within the fabric of Trinbagonian society. By this proposed appointment, the government is basically saying that not one of the several thousand men and women in the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service is fit to run it. That is a strong indictment indeed against the rank and file of the TTPS. If things are indeed that bad then I struggle to see how bringing in a single man from the outside and placing him at the head of the organisation will rectify this. After all, the whole can only be equal to the sum of its parts. No foreign Commissioner of Police can make much of a difference when his constables are renting out their guns to bandits. Nor can he effect much change when the police service is still short several hundred men and vehicles. How can he lower the crime rate when we have hundreds of men and women sworn to maintain law and order fixing cars at Traffic Headquarters in Sea Lots or painting the barracks in St. James? Change for our police service, when it does come, will and must come from within. Post-Saddam Iraq is full of British and American experts in everything from construction to technology, yet the country cannot be seemingly pulled out of its anarchic state. What necessarily works in Britain and the USA does not automatically work elsewhere- Or as we Trinis would say Gopaul luck aint Seepaul luck!

For me though, this issue is much bigger than police and thief and much bigger than dollars and sense. For me, it is a matter of national pride and self-interest. What message does this send out to young eager police officers, or to the rest of our young people for that matter? These appointments say to them that in spite of how hard you try, or how honest you are, or how competent you are, the foreign applicant will always be deemed to be better than you. For every imported Professor Stephen Mastrofski, we ignore the likes of our very own Ramesh Deosaran. For every Leo Beenhakker, we ignore the likes of our very own Everald Gally Cummings. How long before the Government decides to appoint a foreigner as the head of the Fire Service or the Prison Service or even the Defence Force for that matter? Before we know it, we’ll be reading in the papers:

‘‘Recently retired British Prime Minister Tony Blair has signed a five-year contract with the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago to be the leader of the twin-island state. The outgoing T&T Prime Minister Patrick Manning was quoted as saying that Tony Blair and his team will bring great experience and much needed insight (hitherto lacking) into the vocation.’’

Messrs Manning and Joseph, I implore you to wake up and rethink your position before you sleep walk my country into colonisation by imperial masters again-this time by proxy. If this is the developed-nation vision that you have for 2020 then I beg you both to test your eyes-for I suspect that you may well have a cataract or two.

Prophet

Madness

2007-11-18T23:34:00.000Z

Trinis seem to be an accommodating lot. For donkeys’ years we have all sat back and watched as our beautiful Trini women are threatened, slapped, grabbed, cuffed, kicked and even disfigured into submission by violent partners. We have also seen that the most extreme of these cases results in murder; usually of woman and child. The general public and institutions of state seem unable or unwilling to provide meaningful refuge and help for the many vulnerable women in our society. ‘‘Dat is man and woman ting…me ain gettin involve’’ is the usual retort. In fact, we have fostered a culture whereby many women feel that they are to blame for the ‘cutass’ inflicted on them by their psychopathic men. Those that do decide to take the matter further find that they are often faced with a myriad of obstacles; indifferent police attitudes, snail’s progress at court and apathetic friends, family and employers. Consequently, many domestic violence cases go unreported and our mothers, daughters, sisters, aunts and nieces are left to suffer in silence. This week, we will cry our crocodile tears for Sylona Constantine, who was so brutally murdered at the hands of her jilted lover. However, before long we will all forget and move on…T’is after all the season to be merry…

It now seems that you have nothing to fear from the police if you are hell bent on pushing drugs, robbing, or killing people like the infamous gunslinger Jesse James. However, should you decide to wear a pair of camouflage pants and walk down the street then expect to literally feel the strong and heavy arm of the law. I am still trying to envisage how in the process of asking a young man to take off his camouflage pants (apparently an offence) a police officer felt warranted not only to take out his weapon but remove the safety and fire a shot or shots. The rest as they say is history and Sheldon Des Vignes from St. Barbs, Laventille is now dead and buried. The Commissioner of Police Trevor Paul has promised that a full and thorough investigation will be conducted. Didn’t George Bush say that the war in Iraq had nothing to do with oil? Some people still think that they could fool all the people all the time…

I have noticed a particularly worrying trend developing in the media reporting of some murder cases. It seems that if you’re a young black man living in an area associated with a high level of crime and violence, then you warrant no more than a mere mention in the papers. It usually follows along similar lines:

‘Around such and such time, residents from such and such heard several gunshots and moments later, found such and such lying in a pool of blood in the road. Such and such had sustained gunshot wounds to the head and body and was pronounced dead at the scene. He was the such and such murder victim this year and police say his murder was linked to his illegal activities and drug dealing in the area.’

The foolhardy among us will read the morning papers and breathe a sigh of relief that this doesn’t happen where we live. No further thought would be given to the victim or the murderer still at large. After all, these things happen all the time in ‘dem places,’ with further ‘investigation’ by the police producing the customary nought. After all, as one blogger on a site (www.triniblag.blogspot.com) stated, ‘‘Who cares if the niggas kill themselves?’’

Well my racist partner, try this for size. Trinidad being Trinidad, chances are that one day this nigga will spot you at some party and decide there and then that he wants to go home with your B52 Sentra-and your wife! See if you find it so funny when you’re staring down the barrel of his .45 Magnum…

I remember learning about Patrick Manning, Basdeo Panday, Winston Dookeran and co when I was in Joyce Thompson’s Standard Two Class at Richmond Street. I am now 29 years old and it amazes me that these men are still at the head of the political class in Trinidad and Tobago. They were running our affairs when Ronald Reagan was president of the United States and Margaret Thatcher was referred to as the Iron Lady. The Union of Socialist Soviet Republics still existed and Berlin had a wall running through the middle of it. Politically, it seems that the whole world has moved on-bar sweet T & T. Come election time, the farce and scandal is laughable and the decision for the electorate must be like choosing between the proverbial rock and the hard place. Basdeo Panday seems to have grasped how arduous the task facing the electorate is when he lambasted ‘errant’ voters for exercising their democratic right. He was right: It’s either vote for the PNM and deal with constant crime and violence or vote UNC and have all your money transferred to undeclared bank accounts in London…

prophet

Devil with one horn

2007-11-06T09:07:00.000Z

It is certainly a shock that the Congress Of the People were unable to secure a single seat in the recent General Elections in Trinidad & Tobago, Winston Dookeran ashamedly losing his prized St Augustine seat to the United National Congress. The People's National Movement won by an 11 seat victory, capturing their foretold safe seats with ease.

Remarked by a friend, "it's a sad state of affairs that we are still voting by race in Trinidad & Tobago", his reaction borne out of the clear divisions of perceived racial divides that currently "segregate" our country, these invisible enclaves not necessarily a racial one, but more so a political one. I do not believe as a people we can be racist, our blood way too diluted to allude to such excuses, but we demonstrate our ignorance or, by Jove!, our natural intelligence on a national level, every 5 years.

We have searched within our communities (read rum shops) for the answer to why we persistently vote along racial lines, doing so in an ever more trendy, derogatory fashion, however, today I propose another strain of thought. I would like to first draw your attention to the fact that demographically, Trinidad & Tobago's population is divided as such : Indian (South Asian) 40%, African 37.5%, mixed 20.5%, other 1.2%, unspecified 0.8% (2000 census) (http://www.indexmundi.com/)

We are all human beings, first and foremost, tribal by nature, following ancient streams of evolutionary instinct to follow, trust those who are "like us", those who conform best to our genetic semblance. I don't think this can be changed, on any level. Human beings will always stick to their own, witness the demographics of Trinidad, whether it be for historical reasons or civic ones, the country is geographically segregated by ethnic similarities. The same goes for London, cosmopolitan, no doubt, however, the Indians live with who they know, the Pakistanis with their own, the "Safas" and Aussies conglomerate in their chic suburbs, the Arabs in theirs and we West Indians have our little boroughs overflowing with breadfruit, bacchanal and babash. I would imagine the same for most major cities internationally.

So if we will perpetually vote for our "ethnic brother", a system that works for the people depending on which party has a stronger following, the "mixed races" and "unspecified" races either not voting or going for the proverbial lesser of two evils (Mr "Red Beret" being the only candidate that I know of with a criminal record) then with all the punters looking for an alternative, all the new parties seeking change through ethic diversification of their line up, I say that this won't work. All you do is confuse people, and to confuse a Trinbagonian means you will make him lazy, he will steups and mark that ballot, at the last minute, after years of bad-talking the other party, bad-mouthing "de coolie party", "de cockroach party", "de whiteboy party", he will vote for his own. His thought process may get severely complicated for a 6am ballot casting, considering the all the speeches, the rallies, the Beenie Man, the teeshirts and bandanas, the new contract, the contracts he may lose, the Bollywood stars! (Bas boy, retire nah man, 74 is not de new 40 yuh know pal!), the voter will rub his head, rub his eye and stain his own.

I like the concept of Proportional Representation, but not on an ethnic bias. I propose we create a new race. Trinidad & Tobago is overrun by young professionals, extremely versatile, creative and vibrant 20-40 year olds. Let us think about how to get these voters out and supportive of the political future our country. A party reflective of the youth, the innate energy and passion of our islands, a force that disregards race on every level. I thought it sad when I saw Mickela Panday in the battered UNC line up, when I saw Nirad Tewarie fall prey to the hawks of COP, Nicole Dyer, Ato Boldon...why would such young innovative Trinibagonians want to follow, instead of lead. A race that represents this cross-section of our country, that understands the international politicking at play and one that knows how to ride the ebb and flow of our idiosyncratic culture. Forget the acronyms, this is just a political vehicle that will inform, educate and support the people who own this country: you and I.

The obstacles that face us will be the existing political entities who seek to perpetually divide the country, (to win elections) and the old school thought that distrusts change. Dooks came out with a positive idea, a vision, but where was the fighter in him, constantly being upstaged by the shenanigans of a silver haired Fox, out-resourced by the Pastor and consequently ousted by his constituents. It's not just change that will bring in the votes. It's also a change of scenery.

The leaders of politics in Trinidad & Tobago have remained unchanged, save a few jail sentences, corruption allegations, heart failures etc. for, well, my lifetime, and with the exception of Bas, who - come on ol' boy, by 79, you should be focusing your energies now on gardening or, come to London, let's have a pint together, relax, put up your feet - should not be around, in 5 years time, we risk seeing the same bullshit rallies all over again.

I don't offer congratulations, but ask for a humble favour that the winner of the elections, the People's National Movement, put aside their personal agendas and take stock of a country in civic decline. I don't want to know about your $3bn per annum budget, I want to come home at 3am, come out of my car, open my gate, and go to sleep. Not forever though.

A Pragmatic Approach

2007-11-06T08:47:00.000Z

In the midst of all the furore surrounding today’s elections, I wanted to present an alternative conceptualisation of the predicament we have got ourselves into in Trinidad.. a pragmatic alternative.

Our first consideration when deciding how we should vote, must be what we agree with each party on. Given that all three parties failed to present their Manifestos until 10 days prior to the election, this falls by the wayside. Essentially, we have not been offered any choice beyond vague references to decentralisation and a fondness of re-establishing the sugar industry. These are neither inclusive, nor ground-breaking, nor original ideas.

So we move on to the question of what is best for the country? I believe the one thing that we can all agree on is that neither the incumbent Government nor the Opposition have a particularly enviable record, and that on balance, they’re just about as bad as each other. One slightly more corrupt, one on balance, more incompetent. And then there is the promise of a “third-way;” a new party - the promise of a step away from the past. This would have been an ideal choice had it not been for a) them having no chance of forming the next government, b) their failure to deliver fresh, good ideas to the political environment, c) the party actually being funded and run by the existing Establishment.

What choices are we left with? I believe the only real choice we have is to maintain a policy of voting against the Government, until such time as they learn to improve their offering. So if Party A is in power, we vote for Party B; and then Party A at the following election. Perhaps, the frustration of political opposition might push them to develop. In this particular case you could argue that the Opposition bent more than it would have done 10 years ago (by forming an Alliance), and that is some improvement of the despotic tendencies we put up with last decade.

Of course, all this is upsetting in reality, because what we all want is a strong, dynamic, principled Government to lead the country forward. And this is where we come in… I’ve met so many talented, balanced, and able young Trinidadians, who are really passionate about their country, that I don’t believe for a second that we cannot turn our country’s fortunes around in time. The Next Generation has to bottle up all this frustration with our existing crop of second-rate leaders, and strategically focus it on developing our country. Forget the passion and sound-bites that define today’s politics; we need to start thinking, and creating new ideas that would allow a third party to realistically challenge the aristocrats of the status-quo.

Let me begin. I believe the only answer to the feudal problem of race politics is Proportional Representation. A coalition government of all the parties would move us beyond blaming each other for our perceived greater misfortunes. It would allow us to focus on the country as a whole, and defend minority interests against majority dictatorship. Proportional Representation and ‘inclusive politics’ need to be the ring words for whichever party forms the next government.

It is our job and moreover, our duty, to make sure the Government hear those rings, and I would encourage everyone of you to write to your MPs, the newspapers, and bend the ears of the Establishment wherever you can, to make this a reality. Let’s set a new agenda; let us take our country back as our own!

Piers Varley

Draft Constitution is autocratic

2007-10-15T14:59:00.000+01:00

The much vaunted new Constitution has now been presented in draft format to the Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago. Unsurprisingly, this draft has not garnered the interest of the public for a document that is so crucial to the future of our nation. As members of this same disenchanted public continue to add to their list of complaints about the mismanagement of the nation, one asks how can the public complain about the running of the country but then not take a vested interest in the mechanics behind the running of the country.

Though the draft paper has only recently been presented (the ‘white paper’), there is, with a general election looming on the horizon, the impetus for this draft to take the next step towards implementation as soon as possible (some expectations state a ‘green paper’ document before the end of 2006). Without the public interest, perusal and involvement it is all too possible that this 159 page document can be passed as the new Constitution of Trinidad and Tobago in relatively quick time, a document it has to be stressed, that will determine the manner in which we are governed. Yet the interest for this all-encompassing draft remains dormant.

The judiciary and Parliament itself has suffered the fate of ambiguous laws, drafts etc. that has restricted their ability to perform in the best interests of the nation, now we are confronted by a draft that contradicts the very purpose for which it was enacted, to restrict the considerable power that the political leader of T&T wields, in the hope of a more democratic process.

A look at the draft shows the favouring of the ‘Executive President’ model as we meander along the road to full Americanism in media, behaviour, thought, deed and now, governance. What this means is that we the public, will put all the power into one individual as this President will be leader of his political party, Head of the government and the Head of State. If you think that the current PM currently makes whimsical decisions without much opposition or regard for public opinion, what do you think will happen with a Constitution that grants almost total political power to an individual? Though the favoured practice of late is for our President to steer clear of all things Party-related, surely we all recognise the folly of eradicating the system of a separate Government and State.

Other points for major concern regarding the proposed Constitution would be the appointment of the Chief Justice by this President. Given the current situation between Mr. Manning and Mr. Sharma, one does not need to highlight the potential issue of a President choosing a leader of the judiciary that favours his/her desires. Effectively, this could lead to a President deciding upon which laws he will adhere to and which ones he will ignore. This type of system will even dwarf the burgeoning autocratic leadership that is raring its head in T&T.

Though there are many more points to be raised from this draft such as the eradication of the Cabinet sharing responsibility (and therefore accountability) for government decisions, the PM has stated that there are more aspects that will reveal themselves as further examination of the document continues. However it is hardly likely that there will be any proposed solutions to outweigh the massive empowerment that the post of Executive President will produce.

It is quite confusing that Sir Ellis Clarke, the man that stated (in 2005 I believe) that the office of Prime Minister in Trinidad and Tobago holds too much power hence the need for a new Constitution, then produces a document that does the opposite to his observation. Though we are continually reminded that this is the first draft and it is now to be debated in Parliament, the general direction of this draft should give cause for concern to a public that already feel helpless when their government makes decisions in a dictatorial manner.

It is equally baffling that the purveyors of our news, the quality media, have not provided much comment or more importantly a breakdown of the major points of this draft. Not everyone has the access or will go to the Parliament website to look at the draft (http://www.ttparliament.org/docs/constitution/20060818_draft_constitution.pdf). One would have thought that the importance of such a document would entail a daily/weekly series dedicated to empowering the people of T&T with the knowledge of this draft along with comment and potential repercussions, be they positive or negative. It is part of the obligation of the media to enact this.

If copy can be given to the berating comments of members of the Opposition and the Government, surely this qualifies as a higher priority in the echelon of worthy news. I trust that my mild criticism will not deter you from the points listed above.

This draft has silently entered the door of Parliament but some of its intentions are quite loud and clear despite its infancy. The importance of this document means that the people of this nation need to understand its affect upon their rights and freedom and be involved in its development , otherwise like the majority of similar projects, we will continue to be distracted by other things and when the changes take place that leave us even more helpless and disenchanted we will wonder how and why we arrived there. The governance of a nation is important enough to garner your attention and your continued involvement, don’t you think? Get involved.

Sheldon Waithe

31/08/06

Crunch Time

2007-10-15T14:57:00.000+01:00

It is crunch time for Trinidad and Tobago. The 2007 election finds the nation at a crucial juncture whereupon the result of this election determines the trajectory of the country in far more ways than the governance of the people for the next five years. The feedback from the people indicates that those that recognise this fact are coupled with the archaic practice of voting based upon ethnicity, social standing and traditional allegiance. As we are engulfed in the haze of campaigning, the minute differences that separate the contenders and the desperate attempts to woo your vote through the need to berate each other while ignoring policy, it is vital that we give ourselves the reality check to rise beyond the promises made on party platforms over the next fortnight.

In my article in August 2006 regarding the draft Constitution I outlined the reasons that the Ellis Clarke drafted document did not suit the political climate of T&T. A little over a year later the matter is of premier importance as the ruling party readies itself for implementation of this document, removing those that may object to it in a new Cabinet, at a time when a common complaint amongst the public is a lack of checks and balances to keep decision making democratic. Why then, one would ask, would you reinstate a Prime Minister already well versed in the practice of autocracy and nepotism (witness the Minister of Education) to an even more powerful position of Executive President? Even considering the lame behaviour of the office of President of late, why would you consider the removal of the office that acts as a major obstacle to bestowing almost totalitarian power to one man, the PM. Mr. Manning may not consider this as he exhibits the symptoms of myopia associated with those that consider that their decisions are absolute but it is a classic example of power corrupting and T&T does not need it to be escalated to absolute power corrupting his ‘vision’ absolutely.

In this reality check amongst the party’s promotions consider the alarming crime situation to which we have allowed ourselves to become accustomed, taking ever more precautions in the hope that when the crime does affect us it will not be of the violent variety. The failure of the PNM and its predecessor the UNC to arrest the appalling crime situation is reason enough to follow the example of St. Lucia and remove a government for failure to curb crime. And if a succeeding Government also fails to make a meaningful dent on crime the same applies. Governments do not throw money at crime in the hope that this maintains some control. Instead investment directed towards training, detection and social programmes that eliminate the scourge of the next set of potential criminals, eliminating the lure of gang culture, while taking a strict approach, with accountability, to a situation that would be considered to be of emergency proportions elsewhere. The role of courts and justice system as the vital support to the police has to be addressed. Crime exists in every nation but think about it while you step away from the silly season arena, T&T: officially less than one arrest per police officer per year, a daily murder statistic in a nation of just over a million and the abysmal failure from a succession of Security appointments. As stated, the crime situation alone, that failure to provide the basic need of a secure environment, warrants thought to your vote. Why reappoint any administration that has seen the situation grow progressively worse during its time in power?

Trinbagonians have to remove their minds from the tradition of being a die-hard (insert party name here) as well as the cult of personality of party leaders before casting this most vital of ballots. You would not put your money in a bank in the midst of disarray, being run without clear direction, changing its managers undemocratically as proof of its instability, so why vote the current Opposition into any position of power? Similarly you would not place your savings in a bank where you have no control over what is done with it, so why not put this thought into how you are governed? Breaking ranks is not the domain of brave politicians alone; voters can, for their own benefit, break their voting traditions.

The majority of the electorate will have already decided their vote, even without the parties producing manifestoes, yet the country has to shake its election foundations to the core. Those same manifestoes need to outline groundbreaking policies; they need to state a novel approach to governing with clearly defined check points and real accountability for failure to perform. The idea of the recall option for MPs is but a start. But for any of this to be meaningful, the electorate have to be willing to listen and therein lays the real problem, voting blindly followed by five years of regret or complaint. The people need to see past the pontificating and force the about turn that our governing requires. This is the cross roads for the nation. The real purpose of this election should be about the maturity of the electorate but the approach of the power-hungry defies this, as the bacchanal and verbal attacks continue to be lapped up by party faithful that, truth be told, have little reason for their allegiance. It is as if we believe that we should not demand better or that we sustain the complex of knowingly having the wool pulled over our eyes. This allows the type of politician that we have in our midst, where with 3 weeks to the voting date, various associations and people are still asking for policies.

Sadly, the need for the electorate to vote with real purpose is a pipe dream, that the choices on offer can be applauded for stating not very much or their past and present actions not causing alarm (party unification, no unification, Executive Presidency, dictatorial practices within their parties far less a Government) highlights this. My fervent hope is that we vote with intelligence and long range vision come November the 5 ^th otherwise we remain political gold fish, harbouring a five seconds memory, locked in a glass bowl and being fed a few daily crumbs of comfort from our masters while hoping that the bigger, bad fish is not going to get to us today.

Sheldon Waithe

Rock the Vote

2007-10-10T18:07:00.001+01:00

I am more than a little ticked off whenever someone tells me I can’t speak on political issues because I don’t vote. As if the fact that I refuse to stamp an X next to the lesser of two evils makes me somehow less qualified to comment on what is gong on in my own country than someone who rolls out of bed every five years and dips his finger in some ink. As if your duty towards nation ends with this act, or your other contributions are negated by not performing this rite.

I am not ashamed to say that I have never voted in my life. As a matter of fact, no person in my circle of friends who is under the age of thirty-five has ever voted either. If they have, they are too embarrassed to admit it. This seems normal considering that upwards of 50% of 18 to 35 year olds didn’t vote in the 2002 election, according to an analysis of the EBC information that is available.

Not that the people I know are a reflection of the general population, but I know for a fact that voting does not necessarily go hand in hand with lack of patriotism or lack of concern about issues of governance. As a matter of fact, the non-voters in my life all make productive contributions to our society in one way or another. Why then are they not exercising their “civic responsibility”?

One friend told me she would never dip her finger in “Babylon ink”. This was an expression of her disdain for the trickery and corruption of the political structure. To vote would be, in her mind, a validation of the useless electoral process. This resignation is so commonplace. Youth in general seem to be disgusted with or disconnected from the leadership of this country, who don’t even feign relevance to this non-voting demographic.

An activist I know said once that he doesn’t understand the point of voting as long as existing structures of governance are in place. The underlying problems must be fixed first. His entire life is dedicated to the reform of these structures and he does work to mobilise, educate and motivate young persons towards this end. Here is proof that you don’t need to vote to do what you think is best for your country.As for myself, my conscience could never allow me to support nepotism, tribalism, corruption and thievery. This is why I cannot vote for either of the two parties with which I am presented at election time. This in addition to the fact that neither of them in my mind deals effectively with the issues that I consider most urgent. They are in no way a representation of my interests or values. I would rather vote for crazy Man-man from Naipaul’s Miguel Street than for someone aligned to either of the existing major political parties. In spite of this, I devote the majority of my waking hours to the service of my country.

Given that our political options are limited, I am comforted by the efforts of those in my generation who are grooming themselves and others to take up leadership positions in the future, and to do away with the failed institutions that people are still hopelessly clinging to. I refer not to those who are following blindly in their parents’ footsteps, continuing the ‘us versus them’ mentality and inheriting their party cards. These persons have disappointingly been unable to shed the limited frameworks that have been handed down to them. When I was on campus it was they who ensured that guild politics was a microcosm of the farce that was national politics.

I refer instead to the new voices: those with a vision for viable political alternatives; those who are taking the time to understand the untold history of this land; those who are engaged in struggle alongside their countrymen rather than trying to understand struggle by reading text books; those who work towards more equitable, just and inclusive ways of arranging our institutions. These are the ones who will rescue our sinking society and they will do it outside of our comfy, familiar, colonial, two-party, clannish political order.

Of the 975,000 persons that make up this year’s electorate, approximately 45 per cent are between the ages of 18 and 35. If the dominant trend continues, half of these will stay away from the voting booths and the other half will cast their vote for one of the limited number of choices. I suspect that new political entities will capture a significant percentage of the youth vote simply because they offer an untried alternative. I dream meanwhile of the day when masses of empowered young people will come out on Election Day to scream for real leadership in the way that only they can.

Shivonne Du Barry

Co-dependency

2007-10-10T18:04:00.000+01:00

I think most people who are even mildly conscious of current affairs would agree that we have a problem with leadership in this country. Those in authority generally seem to lack hearts, backbones and any sense of ethics whatsoever. Paradoxically, the individuals who would make the greatest leaders are not often drawn to positions of great power. They prefer to work quietly and diligently behind the scenes, heading up NGOs, bettering their communities, doing research and maybe serving as independent Senators at the most. So the most powerful positions in government tend to get fought over by those Machiavellian characters that we’ve become familiar with.

How is it that these “smartmen” manage to capture and maintain power? Wait, no, the answer to that question is far too complex for this short column. What I’m really trying to figure out is why on earth do people love them so much? As I write this, I am looking at a picture in the newspaper of joyous people raising a Member of Parliament freed of an obscene language charge into the air. They seem on the verge of tears, ready to present the unproven cuss bird with their first born children. They will no doubt vote for him in the upcoming elections if he is a candidate. This is clearly the type of arrogant son of a gun you must be if you want the support of the masses. I admit that when I see these displays of behaviour, the first thing that comes to mind is that these people deserve everything they are served by those they put in power.

So is it that the smartmen are only able to gain power because the blind party faithful who wear the T-shirts and wave the flags give it to them? If you’ve ever been sober at a political rally it would seem so. These people swallow whole the most obvious psychological tricks, making one wonder if they have any intelligence to insult. They writhe in ecstasy at the words of their fearless party leaders, whose verbal powers rival those of evangelical preachers. They unleash their fury on those who sympathise with silly things like corruption and embezzlement trials. They scoff at evidence of London bank accounts and are willing to invent elaborate conspiracy theories rather than face the obvious. The worst among them excuse what in their minds are foibles and the debate for them is simply about who tief more. So it may be that the reason the liars and swindlers are revered so much is that they reflect the ethical standards of their supporters.

Of course it may also be that the smartmen are the ones who are pulling all the strings and manipulating the masses for their own purposes. A little rum, roti and a ten days to boot – they dangle these carrots in front of the most marginalised persons in exchange for votes. They have no interest in uplifting their constituents through education and informed dialogue; people might then become smart enough to see through their trickery. No, the system of handouts is favoured. In this way, those who most need help don’t see themselves as capable of bettering their lot and continue to depend on external forces. So maybe it’s not so much love as a sick dependence that the supporters of the good MP were demonstrating when they smothered him with hugs outside the courtroom on Thursday.

What exists is probably closest to a twisted symbiotic relationship. The parties and party supporters exist because of each other. I remember an encounter with bus loads of party faithful during a protest in South earlier this year. The people on the buses were wining down to loud music, all the while balancing bottles of rum and plates of food provided by their beloved party. They were arriving by the hundreds for a convention and had to pass through a community that was protesting against the building of aluminium smelters in their backyards. Some of the bus people responded with obscene gestures and curses. What was most startling to me, though, was the look of obliviousness on their faces. They really seemed to be unaware of what was going on, even though they wore “Build d smelter” T-shirts. They were just enjoying the free ride, food and booze, grateful maybe for the chance to escape what was probably the tedium or wretchedness of their daily lives. They would sit through the party convention and clap drunkenly and make up numbers for the TV cameras. It was difficult to feel angry with them.

Afterwards the party officials passed by in their SUVs with the windows up and the air conditioning on. They were an interesting contrast to the people who had passed before. They knew exactly what was going on and the smug smiles on their faces said it all.

Shivonne Du Barry

Clarion call for Trinbagonians

2007-09-20T17:28:00.000+01:00

It has been quite a while since we have updated the blog but a shot of adrenaline has taken over and we are once again opening our minds and spilling our hearts. We ask you, yes YOU, to start contributing to our mission. We want open discussion, no topic is too taboo or restricted. Speak your mind and let others debate or concur. Some of the articles posted so far have touched on very fragile topics and we will continue to do so for as long as we have the strength of will. So help us help the country.

Educational Reform

2007-06-10T12:18:00.000+01:00

It is high time an overhaul of the "mindsets" that run the educational processes in Trinidad & Tobago is undertaken. I applaud the efforts of the local media in focussing some attention on this most pressing of issues.

Having passed through the educational system of Trinidad & Tobago, from "nursery" to "tertiary" level, I can say that were it not for the motivation and inspiration of my parents, first and foremost, then the drive of my tutors (except at UWI St Augustine where one had to excel to be noticed, or learn very quickly how to fend for oneself in light of the stoicism of some lecturers, barring a few "true" educators), it would have been a tough road to travel those 13 odd years. It is widely accepted that the training begins at home, the foundation of any solid child will be forged from a stable, supportive environment at "home".

The idea of a home has changed over the years, no longer being the two parent system that it once used to be, but evolved due to various social influences to incorporate a varied mould. The acceptance of this should be a first step in fine-tuning our system to better provide for its benefactors. A change in the dynamic at home creates a change in the psychology and behaviour of any child, so from an early stage, educators should be identifying their students core needs and moulding their approach, to facilitate a specialist technique to their teaching.

Easier said than done. It would take a dedicated educator to avoid smirking at the thought of in depth student profiling. But what of in depth teacher profiling? Is it enough for one to be deemed a "teacher" by possessing a DiPEd or BA/BsC? I think you would find that some of the most passionate, innovative, caring, studious, attentive of our educators, those at the "nursery" level are without such training, yet we indulge them, trust them!, with our babies. By no means am I saying that subject knowledge is not important, but it is certainly not the most important criteria of any educator. Not in the real world anyway. Every day teachers are being churned out like lawyers - smart, focussed, tactless. They possess no creativity, no passion, no heart, core ingredients for that most intimate of bonds between educator and student. If indeed deemed to be a problem, how do we elect teachers who, in possession of the prized BsC, can also demonstrate other key skills that, I believe, are vital to the children's education.

Psychologists should be a staple of any institution, even more so for those that harness young minds. They should be working hand in hand with every, parent, teacher, school principal, ministry director and minister in order to coordinate, discuss and train front line educators how to decipher particular learning patterns, how to evaluate and counsel students and parents alike.

A PTA meeting should never be a one-way meeting, lasting for 10 minutes. A PTA meeting should be a dedicated day, organised at the most professional level, where educators and parents are offered a platform of organised interaction, subsidised by the State, going so far as to authorise official days off for such meetings to take place, surely we can do without a perpetual annual celebration of the arrival of indentured Indian labourers or Republic day!? We should be focussing on the issues at hand- the erosion of the home dynamic, the evolution of modern societal trends, media influence, interaction that makes a difference, not just a reportage from a dog-eared "report book". The PTA should be at the forefront of such change in operation initiatives. They should be screaming for not just more books, but more care, more love.

Over the years, there have been a lot of superficial name changes, structural changes leaning towards our "godfathers" to the north (as if they are to be mimicked in any way!), but no real change in the mindset of our educators. More money does not guarantee more dedication, more respect or more care. A profound change can only be had if it is nationally recognised that we have a problem, that the administrators take the bull by the horn, lead by example and put our children's care, first.

The Pastor and the Businessman

2007-04-26T13:29:00.000+01:00

Danah Alleyne and her parents should be held fully accountable for this teenager's lascivious public behaviour. At 15 years of age, it is culturally narrow-minded for anyone to believe that Miss Alleyne was not and is not fully aware of her actions, and now, we blame the Businessman and the Pastor for her lack of judgement and self-respect. Even pastor Manning wants to voice his opinion, along with his Minister of Tourism - nothing better to do with taxpayers' time?

I am not implying that Zen management should not be fined or reprimanded in some way for their lax security measures that night and any night, anyone believing for one second that their security checks are as tight as they should be, are far removed from "trikidadian" culture, not even the hardest head should be able to be fooled by her baby face, but they are in no way responsible for Miss Alleyne's behaviour. This is typical trinidadian behaviour, most of us growing up learning to dance from our big cousins, in more recent times, learning to "flex", "dutty wine", "hot wuk" and "genie wine" from television, from the numerous parties on the circuit throughtout the year and from our lauded carnival. You think Zen's door policy is to be blamed for the mindset of children like Danah Alleyne, and her father's a pastor? What about the rest of us! I think Pastor Alleyne and Pastor Manning need to start rethinking their sermons to their respective flocks, both of them are failing.

This fiasco is quickly swivelling its focus. The Police are now searching for sex tapes. This opens up an entirely new can of worms on the presumptions being made by our officers of the law, that somehow they suspect pornographic materials being either safeguarded at Zen nightclub, or filmed there! Are they purporting that these tapes are of Miss Alleyne and Akon? The illegality of pornography on its own demonstrates the stranglehold of expression and the archaic thinking of our policy-makers on a whole, but the swift shift of attention from "poor" Miss Alleyne to the dubious workings of an upscale trinidadian nightclub, with Ministers on high calling for the head of Mr Soong is all too suspect, far too soap opera-like for a country soaked in the sadness of criminality.

I wonder if anyone has ever investigated the ages of the young girls that Machel terrorizes with his winer-boy antics, year in, year out.

Patch Mentality

2007-04-24T14:31:00.000+01:00

It is quite appropriate that the Government has decided to pave the nation’s roads to the tune of $600 million in this election year, given that the roads of T&T perhaps best represent the manner in which we govern ourselves. If we initially ignore the coincidence that this age old ‘mamaguy’ election practice follows the announcement of public consultations regarding the scourge of crime in this 2007 electoral year, the resurfacing of the roads is great news. The roads of T&T need urgent attention. The transport of the nation needs urgent attention. But, will the approach of this resurfacing differ to any of the previous paving regimes that were blatant vote garnering ploys?

How do the roads represent the governance and the society? Firstly, consider the resources available, a never ending pitch lake much like the natural and human resources T&T is blessed with, the envy of many a nation but yet it cannot be managed properly to produce a desirable end product--- in this case a semi-perfect road. Secondly, consider that while the normal (and logical) practice is to remove the old layer of asphalt first, we take the approach that we just heap the new pitch upon the old. Not only is this a great metaphor of adding layers on top of the old problems but the side effects results in much more than a road with a humped profile that leaves the actual road higher than the pavement. Consider the flooding woes caused by this practice of which no self respecting engineer would be proud, or how this affects the drivers/cyclists that use those outer sloping lanes. This tradition further creates problems where previously none existed and the attempt to rectify it reeks of the attitude that brings no positive outcome for the vital aspects of society. An example of this? A simple ‘man-hole’ cover is turned into a perfect pothole by layers of asphalt and the answer is to paint a white circle around it in the hope that the driving public will avoid it. The symbolism of this procedure can be used across many segments of our society where the bare minimum is done to address self-created problems and the hope is that it can somehow be evaded.

Even the labour process of resurfacing offers representation of archaic practices that require a novel approach. In a nation 10 degrees from the equator and with a massive traffic problem, resurfacing is carried out during the working hours of the day? Minimise the disruption caused to already frustrated commuters by carrying out the work at night and also gain greater productivity from workers plying their trade of working with hot materials in cooler conditions. This some would say, is 2020 thinking. I will not go into the question of less work being carried out at night by workers, which is down to the deadlines set by the Ministry when planning such projects. (We do set deadlines, no?)

Finally, though the similes can go on and on, the resurfacing over age old roads signify the need to use public funds to gloss over the inadequacy that lies underneath. New roads are a much needed requirement, but it has to be done properly. Engineers point to the heat of T&T and the type of pitch that we use as a disadvantage to building perfect roads, but if sprawling, flawless highways can be built amongst deserts of the Middle East why can the art not be perfected for our roads?

Given his eagerness to respond to letters in the press (a practice to be partially commended as it at least displays his willingness to read the public’s view), Mr. Imbert will not be thrilled with the comments above nor the government with the metaphorical exercise, but it would be refreshing to know that an innovative approach was taken with this $600 million. Is that old bane of many, the old road going to be removed prior to resurfacing? It is so simple in helping perfect the roads that it baffles one as to why it is not done. Have other institutions such as WASA been consulted in this latest wave of road works to ensure that they do not dig up the new roads shortly after they are built, when in fact they can use the opportunity to carry out their own works with the minimum of disruption to the public? A sort of killing-two-birds-with-one-stone tactic (apologies to the bird lovers). Has there been any consideration to conducting the work at off-peak times? Where roads are being resurfaced in flood prone areas, is the road works going to include attention to the surrounding environs that cause the flooding?

Just a few questions to consider ensuring that this valid and much needed resurfacing represents forward thinking in keeping with the Vision 2020 concept and that it is not an archaic election gimmick that is being thrust upon voters as an insult to their intelligence. After all, we would not want the roads of our nation to continue to exist as a metaphor for the country through a $600 million trick, would we?

Sheldon Waithe

In Drastic Need of a Revolution

2007-01-31T10:02:00.000Z

I've just spent the last few days reading articles by kidnapped victims published in local newspapers in Trinidad. It is beyond horrific, it's evil, it's wrong, wrong, wrong, what these people had to endure. The fact that in each case no one was ever caught is even more terrifying. As I can recall, kidnappings started back in 2002. And now, it seems to be a thriving business venture for anyone who wants to make a wealthy living. Never mind the means, the end is all that matters.

It seems that law and order have disappeared in T&T, those living at home who call for police service for any reason will know what I mean. I had a lecturer at University, a polish man, who asked our class 'how, in such a small country, with a population that's not growing, can no one catch these criminals? There are not that many places to hide!'

It's an insult to anyone who has ever been robbed of their belongings, anyone who has been kidnapped, anyone who has had to suffer at the hands of these devils; to know that their captors are still at large, spending THEIR money, while these victims suffer mentally, long after the ordeal is over, it now begins in their minds.

Yet, our corrupt, uneducated police servicemen continue complaining about salary increases, lack of vehicles, and lack of air condition in the office. Here's a question - has anyone ever entered a police station to make a report? Most stations look like they've been hit by a bomb or an air raid - everything's destroyed, furniture mangled, the walls unpainted. Police write statements in huge report logs (which take an ETERNITY), and they show no interest whatsoever.

Now, here's my own little story: I had some equipment stolen years ago, and I did my own investigations and found back my amplifier. Some spineless fraction of a human being still has my two guitars and another amp, but I was later told by the police that I was interfering with their job, by finding back MY OWN gear!!! I was told I should've waited at the pawn store on South Quay where I first saw my amp, called the police and they would've collected my gear for me. When I retrieved my amp, I called the station, at 11.00AM that Saturday morning after I reached home from the shop. I received a return call at 3.30 PM that evening! It's a good thing I took back my amp when I had the chance.

The Police are incompetent! Worse yet, from what the kidnapping articles imply - they are in bed with these kidnappers, getting a 'cut' of the earnings. If that is the case, who do you trust? Whether the kidnappers themselves are ex-pat criminals returning home, or policemen, or soldiers or members of the Jamaat (that lovely organization that STILL terrorizes our nation, 16 years and counting since July 1990!!!), whoever they are, I know one thing, these hooligans must be stopped.

If our dishonourable Government keeps on turning a blind eye and a deaf ear, maybe if they can't hear, they will feel? I'm not advocating widespread rioting, I'm not advocating vigilante activities, after all, you talk freedom, and you get arrested for mere words (case in point -Inshan - I heard he's a terrorist now?)

I am advocating taking back our country. To quote the late Malcolm X, 'BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY'. We have to be honest with ourselves, there is an element that exists in society, their only care is to survive at our cost, and now, they are killing, raping, stealing and kidnapping. So in a matter of life or death, will it be us, or them?

I'm not saying 'shoot first', but I'm saying 'stand up, stop denying what's happening and DO something!' Can you forget about the fete this weekend, and protest, march in the streets, stop the country, make a sign, start a petition, form a community watch-group, take to concerned citizens, write to the UN security council, Amnesty International (Tell them our rights as law-abiding citizens are being marginalised), stage a go-slow, a sit-in, a walk-out, and if all that fails - SHUT down the country! TALK TO ANYONE WHO WILL LISTEN!

If we ALL know where the criminals live (and supposedly the police do too!!), why can't we as decent citizens march into their strongholds and meet them face to face, and TAKE BACK what they stole from us - OUR DIGNITY! After all, they can walk into our homes and take whatever they want, so why can't we do the same. Would we rather build our fence higher, hire another security guard (whose friends will kidnap you soon enough) and go to another “all-inclusive” and just laugh it all off?

An indian friend of mine, wait sorry, an Indo-Trinidadian friend of mine said 'It's ok, they only kidnapping Indians from Chaguanas with money'. But then I thought what if everyone in Chaguanas got up and left, wouldn't these vagabonds look elsewhere? This fight is in everyone's backyard. We all let the devil out of his cage. We have a chance to change things in the next election by voting this great Government out of office, once the die-hards are outnumbered at polling stations, but we also have to stand up, and take back our country.

You know what a patriot is? A patriot is someone who fights for the honour of his country, against all odds, against what the media and the politicians are saying, a patriot knows what's right, what has always been right. It's not that hard to understand right from wrong.

I'm not saying we must kill to get rid of these wicked men, I am saying that the Government, the police force, the regiment, the courts must listen to the voice of the people. And we must make them listen. We've tried various means, now we need to step up the pace, and raise “d heat” a bit. Maybe we should really see these officials as deaf and blind, because surely if they could see and hear, they wouldn't in all good consciousness let us - their own people suffer.

We need a Revolution, in our mind, in the streets, in our Land. We must act now!

Stand up my fellow Trinbagonians, stand straight, and let's take back what is rightfully ours. Stand up!

Francesco

A Trini Musician in Toronto

Listen up!

2007-01-30T09:49:00.000Z

It is disrespectful to ban people from using their legal holidays to protest problems in a democracy. It says that your employer is also your social master and owns your rights as a citizen. This is the opposite of freedom. That is like when you are a little child misbehaving and your father says "so, is so". All people working for such companies must feel like indentured servants. That is so humiliating. Isn't that the sort of thing that we ended with the advent of independence? What a slap in the face!

Start applying and get a job in a company where you are not considered as a second class citizen, if you can! If it's the last thing I did, I would find a way to leave such a company.

Complaining about problems affecting the population is the fundamental idea of Democracy, as opposed to Autocracy:

Protest action is an escalation which occurs when governments do not listen to complaint action;

History tells us that further escalation into violence occurs when protest action is ignored or clamped down;

Freedom is a thing that people around the world would fight and die for. The well-known phrase "give me freedom or give me death" exemplifies this.

Let us learn from what happened in the mighty US. Learn from the French Revolution. Learn from Czar Nicholas in Russia. Learn from the US civil war. Learn from the effects of terrorism.

The power of the common people washes away even the mightiest and most powerful lords and masters.

NO MATTER HOW MUCH POWER YOU HAVE, IF YOU DO NOT LISTEN TO THE PEOPLE, THEY WILL ESCALATE UNTIL YOU MUST LISTEN. THE VOICE OF THE PEOPLE IS THE VOICE OF THE LAND. HISTORY TELLS US NOTHING BUT THAT, OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

Those who abuse power will fall. History also proves this.

GET THE POINT? ESCALATION OCCURS UNTIL YOU LISTEN THE PEOPLE.

LISTEN AND ACT ACCORDINGLY. UNDERSTAND WHAT AN ELECTION IS SUPPOSED TO BE. GOVERNMENT HAS TO REPRESENT THE PEOPLE, NOT ABUSE THE PEOPLE.

Denny Ablack

Let's combine our strengths

2007-01-29T09:47:00.000Z

The Movement for National Development (MND) calls for the immediate commencement of talks among all political parties in Trinidad and Tobago opposed to the ruling PNM with the view of working out their differences and forming one body to contest the next general elections.

Trinidad and Tobago is faced not only with a deteriorating crime situation but with gross mismanagement of our resources both human and natural.

The fact is that never before in my lifetime have I witnessed such discontent and loathing expressed at a government in Trinidad and Tobago.

However, unless there is a genuine coming together in the interest of the citizens of this Blessed Country, there is little or no prospect of the ruling PNM being dislodged in the next election.

We recognize that each of the party groupings will have leaders who see themselves as future prime ministers and to some that might be their only agenda, but in truth none of their ambitions are likely to be achieved at this juncture of our political development and certainly not by going it alone.

In any event the good of the nation must be the paramount consideration NOT the sectoral interest of any one group or person.

The stakes are far too high to take a chance with the future of this nation. Also and most importantly, it is clear from the opinion polls that this what the citizens want since the population too is more mature in its judgment than it is often given credit for.

We have, each of us, to put aside our political differences in the interests of the Country, since unless we do Trinidad & Tobago will simply decline into a state of anarchy, as the PNM returns to power with an even more dictatorial and callous approach than we have seen already.

We cannot afford to have our brothers and sisters to continue to be murdered, kidnapped, raped, intimidated and fearful. We cannot afford to have our resources plundered and given away to foreigners to detriment of our own citizens. We cannot continue to allow our schools to be places of abuse and violation rather than places of learning. We cannot allow our health system to be a slush fund for the family and friends of government officials whilst the poor continue to suffer daily for proper medical attention. We simply cannot continue on this path.

We are perilously close to the edge right now, and unless some kind of credible accommodation is formed between all the parties, and fairly quickly at that, then we are all doomed to failure.

Never in our history has an upcoming election been so critical to the development of our Country, and we owe it to the vast majority of law abiding citizens to heed their call, and work together to try and create a better future for our children.

Garvin Nicholas

Political Leader

Movement for National Development

www.mndtt.com

868 685-1403

MND condemns the behaviour of the government, the Commissioner of Police and the hypocrisy of some trade unions

2007-01-28T12:45:00.000Z

The MND is absolutely appalled at the behaviour of the government, the Commissioner of Police and the hypocrisy of some Trade Unionist in the treatment of social activist Inshan Ishmael.

The MND notes the government's intervention acting through the Telecommunications Authority in cancelling two programmes hosted by Mr. Ishmael on his IBN television station because of his outspokenness against what he sees as the ills of our society and the complicity of the government in the furtherance of these ills.

It is irrelevant to the MND what Mr. Ishmael's political motives may be or what political party he may support. What is important is that Mr. Ishmael, like any and every other citizen of Trinidad and Tobago, has the democratic and constitutional right to voice his opinion and to protest against any democratically elected government in Trinidad and Tobago.

The MND further notes the decision of the San Juan Regional Corporation to revoke permission previously granted to Mr. Ishmael to host a protest rally at the Aranguez Savannah.

This is yet another example of the erosion of our democracy and the clamp down against dissenting voices to this government.

But most significantly, the MND notes with horror, the government's action through the Commissioner of Police, in the detention of Mr. Ishmael under the anti-terrorism laws of Trinidad and Tobago for his outspokenness. This is the most significant action taken by this government to date and is a giant step towards the curtailing of freedom of expression and the right to protest. This government has a history of highhanded action going back to the days of Occah Seepaul and continuing. It is terribly unfortunate that the CoP is being used as a comedic Gestapo type leader reminiscent of Herr Otto Flick in the series "Allo Allo" to carry out the demands of this government.

Further, the MND condemns the hypocrisy of the Trade Unionists who have come out in condemnation of national shut downs as a means of protest. These Trade Unionists routinely call for this kind of demonstration against government policy when it serves their own interests and are not in the habit of issuing special invitations to anyone. The position adopted demonstrates that they do not give a hoot about the national interests but are instead caught up in their own sectional interest and consumed by their own egos.

This is a very serious move by this government to shut up dissenting voices, it is meant to put fear in the hearts of the ordinary citizen to refrain from challenging the government. It is the same tactic used by criminals in their attempt to shut up witnesses to criminal activity.

The nation must not tolerate this clamp down of our democracy. The United States invaded Iraq to establish democracy. They have spent trillions of dollars to remove dictators all around the globe. But here it is, on the door step of the United States and in full view of the Ambassador, the government of Trinidad and Tobago has virtually become a dictatorship and he remains silent.

The protestors in Otaheite were recently treated to a lesser dose of arrogance and dictatorship when government officials and the PNM bandwagon rolled through their community. Senior Cabinet members looked upon protestors with contempt and scorn as they passed in their chauffeur driven luxury vehicles whilst the Prime Minister failed to face the public but instead proceeded to his convention and announced his plans for us the people even as the majority of us do not support these plans.

The MND calls upon all the people of Trinidad and Tobago to stand up against this kind of dictatorship today, as failing to do so will ultimately lead to regret and gnashing of teeth tomorrow when reality hits.

Garvin Nicholas

Political Leader

Movement for National Development

www.mndtt.com

Feature Article - African History Month - More Than a Celebration of Struggle, Arts & Culture

2007-01-26T11:29:00.000Z

If I didn’t know better, during the month of February I will be left with the distinct impression that the Civil Rights Struggle, crafts and music, mixed with a dazzling display of dance and a variety of cultural activities represents the sum of Africa’s contribution to civilization. In spite of the overwhelming scientific evidence and the existence of numerous artifacts, little is ever mentioned in the mainstream about Africa’s contributions to civilization in the fields of science and technology. With the exception of inquiring minds, the proliferation of numerous books and scholarly articles on the subject has done little to dispel the truncated view of Africa as simply a land of exoticism in the consciousness of the greater public.

As the editor of the book, “Blacks in Science - Ancient and Modern”, Prof. Ivan Van Sertima of Rutgers University, USA refers to the lost sciences of Africa ranging from Astronomy as practiced by the Dogon of Mali to the Writing Systems of the Akan people on the West coast of Africa and the Mande or Manding-speaking people who flourished in the Sahara during its period of fertility. In the past few decades, archeologist and historians have made astonishing discoveries shedding new light on Africa and it centers of science and technology. However, these discoveries have been slow to penetrate the mainstream and even slower to become integrated into the science and technology courses of education systems. Among the African sciences identified are architecture, aeronautics, engineering, mathematics, metallurgy and medicine, navigation and physics to mention a few.

Van Sertima makes the point that historically, anthropologists have chosen to focus on the primitive, in particular – the African Bushmen, and to forgo the complexities in the primary centers of large African nations. These are the areas where, according to contemporary archeologist and historians, the technological and scientific life of Africa was located. They include steel-smelting in Tanzania 1,500-2000 years old, an astronomical observatory in Kenya 300 years BC and an African glider-plane 2,300 years old. Using microwave beams to probe beneath the sands of the Sahara, an American radar satellite revealed cultures 200,000 years old and the traces of ancient rivers running from this African center. Some of these buried stream-valleys they concluded are ancient connections to the upper Nile tributaries, where blacks migrated and later populated Nubia and Egypt.

Given the proliferation of wars, famine, refugees in constant flight and the disturbing images of hungry children with swollen bellies, dying - with mouths and eyes infested with flies; it is understandably difficult to envision Africa as a land where science and technology once flourished. To shed some light on this dichotomous phenomenon, Prof. Van Sertima explained how science and technology may rise and fall with a civilization and why the destruction of a center could lead almost to the instant evaporation or disappearance of centuries of knowledge and technical skills.

According to Van Sertima, not unlike modern cities prior to the Industrial Revolution and to a great extent today, centers of science and technology tended to be highly concentrated in areas such as scholastic institutions, among the priest cast, trading posts or in royal capital cities. However, science and technology was slow to reach the peripheries and in many areas were entirely absent. With such a high concentration in selected areas, a nuclear war for example could shatter the primary centers of 21^st century technology in a matter of days. The survivors on the peripheries, although they would remember the airplanes and the television sets, the robots and the computers, the satellites now circling our solar system, would not be able for centuries to reproduce that technology. In addition to the wholesale slaughter of the technocratic class, the interconnection between these shattered centers and the equally critical interdependency between the centers and their peripheries would be gone forever. Like the strands of a web which once stretched across the world, it will be left torn and dangling in a void, and a dark age would most certainly follow.

Given this scenario, one can understand why centuries afterwards, the technological brilliance of the 21^st century would seem dream-like and unreal. Future generations in centuries to come will obviously doubt what has been achieved in the centuries preceding the disaster. This happened before in the world. Not in the same way, but with the same catastrophic effects. Van Sertima stated emphatically, that this is what happened in Africa.

He contends that no human disaster with the possible exception of the biblical flood can equal in dimension or destructiveness, the cataclysm that shook Africa. Beginning with the slave trade and the traumatic effect of this on the transplanted blacks, it is difficult to appreciate what horrors were unleashed on Africa itself. Vast populations were uprooted and displaced. Whole generations disappeared. European diseases descended like a plague, annihilate both animals and people with impunity, cities and towns were abandoned, family networks disintegrated, kingdoms crumbled, the thread of cultural and historical continuity were so savagely torn asunder that henceforth, one would have to think of two Africas; the one before and the one after the Holocaust. Anthropologists have said that 80% of traditional African culture survived. What they mean by traditional is the only kind of culture the world have come to accept as African – that of the primitive on the periphery - the stunned survivor.

Nevertheless, in spite of the oppressive and inhospitable circumstances faced by African on the continent and throughout the Diaspora, there was no loss of black ingenuity and technological innovation. The thread of African genius unraveled like light speeding through spools of the glassfibre lightguides that black scientist Dr. Northover developed. Or like impulses traveling along the transatlantic cable Dr. Richardson helped to lay down, channeling voices from one continent to another, one time to another, bridging the chasm between the ancestral African and the modern black, between root and branch, seed and flower, an old heart and a new brain continued to spark with ingenuity.

The destruction of Pompeii and the ongoing efforts to locate the lost city of Atlantis is common knowledge worldwide despite the fact that the existence of Atlantis is still questionable and mired in mythology. By contrast, Africa’s history of scientific and technological innovation, though meticulously documented and scientifically proven, is less familiar than both Pompeii and Atlantis. The perverse resistance to acknowledge Africa’s contributions to civilization has deep historical roots and would require another paper to explore its genesis and perpetuation. Nevertheless, to quote Dr. John Henrick Clarke – the great African thinker and ardent promoter of Pan-Africanism, “...African history is the missing pages of world history”. When this truth becomes universally accepted and is integrated into the general history of human civilization, the need for Black History Month will no longer be necessary. Africa’s numerous and continuing contributions to the development of civilization will finally be known, opening the door to honest debate of other pressing issues and possibly, to the realization of Dr. King’s dream..

mdegale@hotmail.com

Soca Warrior - post "Germany 2006" analysis

2007-01-19T16:06:00.000Z

It has been approximately just over seven months since the Trinidad and Tobago Soca Warriors graced the world football stage in the 2006 edition of the World Cup finals. The 10^th of June 2006 was an important date for the country as the first time experience of being in the World Cup filled every Trinbagonian’s veins with immense, nationalistic pride. The Road to Germany experience for players, supporters and country was an event not easily forgotten, and always remembered. It is a pity, however, that the value of this experience, its significance and importance is diminished in the absence of any institutional and national framework to develop far reaching sporting programmes that will nurture football and other sporting talent.

It was with dismay, but not with surprise to witness the national reaction upon the return of the ‘Warriors’ and our inability as a nation to come to terms with the debilitating myopia that grips us in the aftermath of such sporting achievements. Our sporting history has been sprinkled with similar world acclaimed successes in athletics, boxing, swimming, netball, football and cricket. Yet our almost moronic reaction to these achievements of naming structures, planes, streets and giving financial gifts to our sporting heroes, have made them empty and irrelevant. This reaction has become a meaningless and idiotic gesture that makes us looks simply and indisputably, unimaginative and impotent as a nation. This is a malaise that has plagued the island since independence and is a repercussion of dealing with the weight of neo-colonialism.

In certain aspects the island is coping with this burden as evidenced by its position as an emerging exploratory giant in the region. However, it is ironic that we possess this exploratory prowess yet we cannot or appear unwilling to apply the same principles to explore, nurture and sustain the talents of our most prized resource, our human capital. It makes one froth with despair the palpable absence of any meaningful and progressive sporting programmes, degrees and facilities that will create the necessary conditions to sustain such levels of sporting excellence. The establishment of such an agenda will be a long-term investment in social and human capital, contributing to the achievement of societal and cultural goals, which are the basic objectives of any national programme and sentiment. If we are willing to carry out a serious introspection of our political and cultural ideology, there is obviously an obstacle that is preventing us from taking advantage of this and other potentially enriching opportunities. There could be many reasons for not overcoming this obstacle such as institutional failure, ideological deficiency, cultural naivety, social fragility or a volatile mix of all. The inability to identify and overcome this obstacle is having a corrosive effect on our society and wasting our sporting talent. Imagine the level of athletes and sporting technocrats that would be churning out of the island if such forward planning were initiated after the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. It would have been appropriate to embark on a progressive programme at that time to not only celebrate our first international sporting achievement, but as a statement of self-determination having recently obtained independence in 1962. It is unfortunate that the political technocrats of that time were unable to approach these opportunities optimistically in a pragmatic and socially just manner. This issue nor its implications has not been addressed for over 40 years. The issue is not that it is physically impossible, but rather that we are mentally incapable of thinking in such a progressive and far-reaching manner. The main problem in our situation has more to do with attitude rather than aptitude or ability.

In dealing with the above, those at the levers of power adopt ‘policies’ that have been marked by misplaced and myopic causes, expensive both in the monetary and human sense. The present construction of the Brian Lara Stadium and the financial reward of the Soca Warriors is a perfect contemporary example. As a reward for the performances of the football team, each player was given a gift of TT$1m, which all would agree is a very generous and deserving gift. Half a year after the World cup all we have to show for it is memories and the granting of an extensive gratuity. It would have been more far-reaching if a percentage of the approximate TT$11m collective gift, be that the initial payment/donation to the institutional body newly created to oversee the conversion of wasted land into football fields, the transformation of derelict and unused football fields around the country, the building of football/sporting facilities, the establishment of football schools for the youth, workshops, training facilities and coaching programmes around the country, the development of a more established professional league, the establishment of sporting and other related degrees in the universities, all of this funded by public and private contributions, with a few of the "Warriors" lending their skills and experience to various programmes, thereby recycling their talents into the society, to the youth and the development of a vibrant sporting ethos. This is the picture that all Trinbagonians deserve to admire and appreciate.

In the United Kingdom, the former England captain David Beckham has initiated, sponsored and developed football schools to tap into and develop raw football talent. The schools are conduits from grass roots level to professional status, funded by a combination of the personal wealth of Mr Beckham, and allowances and commitments from the private and public sector. There is nothing physical or monetary preventing the Ministry of Sports and Culture to initiate and develop a programme similar to this using the popularity of the Soca warriors or even of the sportsmen such as Yorke and Lara. It is concerning that we have not heard the Ministries’ voice nor seen the private sector’s clout in this matter. Even more concerning is the possibility that both entities do not have a voice to be heard nor speak in a language that is understood by society. On the other hand, we must question the ability of the island’s two most popular and successful sportsmen to come together and use all their sporting contacts and expertise to ignite the inherent development of schools and facilities similar to the aforementioned.

It is common knowledge that these two sporting giants do come together and pool their social resources and expertise every Carnival to throw all-inclusive Carnival parties that have been etched into the Carnival calendar. If collectively or individually they can create a niche for themselves in the annual party circuit, imagine what they could do if they pool their sporting expertise in a much more fulfilling and rewarding project as the Yorke and Lara Football and Cricket School of Excellence. Imagine the quality of young cricketers and footballers that would come out of this institute on a biannual or quadrennial basis. Imagine if this was initiated at the height of Lara’s popularity in 1994 and Yorke’s in 1999. There must be something fundamentally wrong with us as a nation if these icons are unwilling or unable to recycle their talents back into the society. Serious questions should be asked if these two icons are content to be remembered for their Carnival parties rather than for their input to the development and promotion of sport on a domestic and regional level. It is unfortunate that at present there is no evidence to show that by their actions or perceptions, that making permanent incisions into the party circuit is of secondary importance compared to the urgent and obvious need for the development of a national sporting programme.

It should be noted that to place blame for this uncomfortable reality solely on sportsmen like Yorke and Lara is an argument of deeply dubious merit, for as citizens we all posses a responsibility for our welfare and we should be using all our powers to voice our opinion and put pressure on those at the levers of power to discontinue this absurdity and prevent our sporting legacy from plummeting further into new depths of idiocy. The point of culpability is spread to all, society and state and we have an obligation to provide viable and intelligent solutions to the problem facing the nation.

Instead of building the massively expensive and obscenely worthless Brian Lara Stadium, it will be more efficient to build football, cricket and sporting schools all around the country to tap into and nurture the raw sporting wealth of the nation and produce athletes that have a calculated chance to enter and compete in international competitions on a regular basis due to the high level of training, coaching and facilities that the resources and financial means of the country can provide. The two aforementioned icons as well as other specialists in the sporting sector can be used as advisors, their expertise and knowledge filtering down into these projects, creating an assembly line of professional, disciplined and respected sportsmen as well as citizens.

The building of the Brain Lara Stadium and the gift to the Soca Warriors are the unfortunate results of a tremendous confluence of ineptitude and empty cosmetic solutions that is ferociously eroding the very building blocks of the country. The mindset that has initiated these two actions is a recipe for continual inactivity, triviality and proof of our overall inaptitude for self-governance, organisation and lack of vision. It shows clearly the absence of common sense to head towards a new direction. A government and its governed should possess a civic sense and duty, a sense of state, with the ability to look ahead and cultivate the social and political seeds at its disposal and realise when change and not more of the same is needed. The stadium creates an illusion of prosperity, but in reality we are suffering from an entrenched poverty of ideas, and the cheapness of our present ideas if we can call them that, are dwindling our natural, human and financial resources. This is a cause for concern, as the high level of ignorance that has been and is still contaminating our perceptions for the last 40 years, is creating a citizenry that is totally disillusioned and demoralised with the reality that this myopia has created. There is a crisis in the present leadership and style of government which desperately needs to be realigned from a cost led governance to a more design led entity that encourages success and reciprocal benefits and seeks the best solutions to a backlog of huge untidiness. There needs to be a different approach to the design of policies, but the depressing factor is that we seem unable to develop the necessary structures and ideologies that will promote the common good.

The Road to Germany experience more than any other national sporting achievement has brought all of these inefficiencies and misperceptions to light. If we are to move forward as a nation in the 21^st century and beyond it is vital that we begin to deal with these issues in a pragmatic and intelligent manner so that we can arrive at a stage of development to cope efficiently and effectively with all aspects of nation building. It is imperative that we facilitate this, or we run the risk of perpetually wrestling with our own institutional and cultural inertia and remain in a position of impotence and political dysfunction.

Edward Hoskins

Transport under Review - Part 1 - Congestion

2007-01-14T13:09:00.000Z

It is clear that transportation is a very pressing problem in Trinidad today. The Government's proposals of water taxis and rail system needs to be commended even though they are really not very practical, the effort seems to be sincere enough. What Trinidad really needs is a network of inter-related systems that work towards reducing the traffic problem as well as providing adequate transportation for commuters. Here are a few recommendations and you can decide.

I remember as a school boy being pissed off when city gate was opened. It was much easier to just jump into a maxi at the designated corner on Independence Square but looking back it was actually a pretty good idea. The centralization of the maxi and buses greatly reduces the congestion on the streets and ensures a streamlined way of rotation for the drivers. However, there are many flaws in this system which needs to be corrected. Drivers must not be allowed to wait until their bus is filled before leaving the depot. They should be given a time limit and must leave even if half empty or face a fine. Furthermore, all state-run transport systems must be made to run on a pre-planned time-schedule, with arrival and departure times clearly sign-posted on the multiple stops throughout their designated journey. This is a proven, standard model for public transportation in Europe and USA and given our governing body's current preoccupation with attaining 'developed country' status, this should not be a point of contention. If you are not at the bus stop at the time the bus arrives, you wait for the next. This ensures a flowing stream of mass transport vehicles. We only hope that the planned rail-system, inherently designed to work this way, can actually function in tandem with the Trinbagonians innate 'tardy DNA'!

Fares must be standardized and a system must be implemented at national level, for all state-controlled public transport systems to offer free transport to the elderly, disabled, children and unemployed. Incentives to increase the levels of safety, efficiency and quality that private maxi-taxi and taxi drivers offer should encompass a major part of the re-distribution of the oil-wealth that the government talks about.

Car pooling must be implemented and enforced nationwide. The Government must recognize the importance of such a move in order for such a scheme to work. Car pooling has multiple benefits to the country on a whole, the main two being the considerable reduction of vehicles on the roads and the reduction of toxic carbon dioxide emissions generated by auto over-population. The State must undertake a comprehensive research and education drive in to the effects of pollution caused by toxic vehicle emissions in order for public awareness to increase. Trinbagonians are in general an understanding people, however, our laissez-faire attitude towards the environment must change if we are to sustain a healthy balance of life.

The bus route's use needs to be overhauled. This is an anomaly, in effect an under-used asset in our country. The bus route that currently exists can be used as a major incentive for car poolers, minimum of 5 occupancy per vehicle, easing the congestion on the Churchill-Roosevelt Highway during peak hours of transport. Car pooling lanes must also be created on the major highways in the country, with fine-toting officers placed strategically to offset offenders. The Police do not need to be the officers in question to deal with this, but an expansion of legal responsibilities of License officers - a dedicated branch of highway patrol officers can be created in order to control and regulate the nation's roads.

A ban on the importation of foreign used vehicles was issued by the PNM Government, a move that possibly did more damage to the small business entrepreneurs and the economy as a whole than created a reduction of vehicles circulating the roadways. Change of attitude should be the starting point of any state run initiative, however, the Government decided to jump in the deep end. An understanding of pollution, congestion and the adverse effects upon the country's psyche should be a constant drive being funnelled to the populace at all times. There should be an initial restriction of the number of cars per household, as it is unacceptably ridiculous for a family of 5 to have 5 cars in house. The uproar begins, the arguments of distance, time, traffic, general inconvenience are all symptomatic of simple ignorance of the bigger picture.

It is the duty of the State to provide this information, to forge this change of mindset in order to curb the unbearably escalating traffic on our roads. A family of 5 should be allowed to own 1 car. If you choose to buy a 2-seater roadster for your family of 5, then your stupidity is your choice, but not to the detriment of the rest of your neighbours. This problem is a cultural one that needs to be addressed now. As a people, Trinbagonians enjoy luxury, irrespective of its impact on others, or the country as a whole. We are a small island with big egos, and no one is saying we should be small-minded, but to be socially aware, we have to begin with ourselves, our personal needs.

The price of progress is too high in TNT

2007-01-12T05:50:00.000Z

As a Trini musician living in Toronto, my heart is always thinking of home. Life in sweet Trinidad - the culture, the people, the lifestyle and all the good things that we, as Trinis over years have come to expect as 'd norm'.

I have only been gone three years, and yet each time I return for a visit, I'm not too sure if it's the same place I once knew. This year I arrived home for Christmas, and I was greeted by an every increasing crime rate, escalating inflation, road hooligans, an alarmingly booming construction industry and open hostility from my people.

This unwanted change is something all Trinis living abroad lament about, just what exactly is the reason can spawn a debate that can last hours among ex-pats, but it seems to me, that like Sparrow said many years ago 'Things bad in Trinidad, oh Lord, Capitalism gone mad!'

I know progress has it's price, but I'm not too sure if it's a worthy one, especially if most houses in the north are out of range for every middle class income earner, leaving only the few wealthy ones to buy a handful at a time, and re-sell to the highest bidder - which in turn, drives up market prices for everyone. Speculation is a hell of a thing, an invisible force that wrecks havoc on a decent man's life savings. The new Condos being built at One Woodbrook place are a prime example of this, they now go for over a million dollars, each. So now, St. James and Woodbrook freehold prices have skyrocketed.

The end result of this construction mayhem may be that many working professionals might still be living at home when they're 40, being unable to afford to buy a property, or worse yet, rent. More and more rentals are now quoted in US dollars, on an island mainly inhabited by Trinis, rent is quoted in US dollars! Unbelievable!

And what about the 'poor man' who can't even begin to pay a meager mortgage, what is he/she to think when they see castles being built all around them, and they must live in their cardboard box? What social systems are in place to help the less fortunate? How can they understand that 'hard work' is all you need, when at the rate this is going, the only people who will be able to afford Trinidad, might be foreign investors, and other 'shrewd businessmen'. I wonder, is it hard work, or Capitalistic greed?

While home, a friend mentioned to me that there's over 700,000 vehicles in Trinidad, if that's correct, then on an island with just over 1.2 million people (and for sure our population is not growing - check out our country's migration stats), does this mean that every household has 3 or 4 cars? That's kind of ridiculous don't you think? And now, there's an impending ban on foreign-used cars, as highways are rushed to expand to fill our road needs, but traffic is worse than ever before. With most people working in the East/West corridor, why wasn't car-pooling ever raised as an option? Most people in Trinidad are driving as if they're going to hell in a hurry, I myself was run out of my lane many times. Where did this hostility come from? Remember the days of someone giving you a chance to get into a lane? Not anymore, no way, either you wait forever or rush like a madman yourself.
And with most people living on other parts of the island, but working in the north, we have gridlock from hell, morning and evening, every day.

The cost of living is ridiculous now, the rationale I guess is that we all must make a profit, from supermarket owners to investors, carnival fete organizers and mass camps, building developers, government officials and last but not least, our kidnapping criminals. Allthewhile, the small man is marginalized, still trying to survive on the same salary he's been getting for years now.

It seems to me that our common courtesy, our 'version' of order, patience and compassion has been replaced with violence, aggression and greed. Greed to get ahead, to accumulate 'possessions', to build higher walls to keep the masses out which of course does an excellent job of attracting criminals to these high walls, like flies to a light (we all like big shiny objects you see).

With our country's rush for power and status, we forgot what intangible treasures we had before, and now, with the panic to keep the 'unwanted' out, we have bred many bi-products - mainly hatred towards one another, resentment, suspicion, covetousness and a people at odds with one another.

Are these all 'teething problems' of a growing nation, a nation that is being touted as the 'Manhattan of the Caribbean', or is this a society in decay? I'm not too sure, but right now, things don't look too good, with no fiscal and monetary policy in place to curb inflation (just ask any housewife who sees chicken prices go up constantly), with no legal framework to combat the new-age criminal (we have 5,000 police officers, who on average make one arrest per year - each police officer makes one arrest per year), with no social system to help re-introduce into society the deported ex-criminal from the US (and yes, they are coming back home in hundreds), it's no wonder things are out of control.

Maybe we're all just biding time, with those who can pay for a false sense of comfort, they're taking full advantage now, having their parties in guarded quarters, for who knows how long our version of paradise will survive? Who knows how long the money makers can keep away the starving vagabonds - whom, having seen how the other half lives, want their share of the pie now, at any cost.

As the middle class continue to leave the island in search of safer havens in foreign lands, who might be left at home are the haves and the have-nots, battling it out for what once was.

What happened to you, my sweet Trinidad? Capitalism gone mad indeed.

Cesco Emmanuel

The blind being led

2007-01-02T06:29:00.000Z

A recent article by Mr. Gladston Cuffie, in the Trinidad Express entitled "What must Govt do", is just another indication of the blind faith politics that we experience here in Trinidad and Tobago. His rant about all the things that the current government is doing just shows that there are those who actually buy into the propaganda being spread by the ruling party. He is not the only one and this is what worries me.

The government is doing a lot, that is not the problem. The problem Mr. Cuffie is what the government is doing and how resources are being allocated. An aluminium smelter would be a cash cow and provide jobs to many, but do you not find it strange that a country like Brazil rejected the construction of one of these plants? This is a country that willingly destroys millions of acres of rainforest each year to sustain its economy, so why would they not jump at this project? I would ask questions my good sir. The rail project is another excellent idea. However would the money not be better spent on infrastructure to ensure pipe borne water to every corner of the island? Or perhaps implementation of a ferry system between trinidad and tobago from toco? Whatever happened to the interchange system by the Nestle junction? What would happen to all th taxi drivers and maxi operators? Will this solve the traffic situation? Why not just implement car pooling restrictions and have police actually do their jobs?

I am all for providing adequate housing to people who need it but why give away lands that are already set up for farming to non farmers? Have you seen the price for tomatoes recently? Why not invest in persons who are willing to farm the land? Are the new occupants ready to do this? To the government's credit the current budget does have several incentives to farmers, but is the average person aware of this? Are you?

The security measures being implemented are a joke to put it mildly. The real problem with our internal security is the police. It is not a lack of resources but with the people. I am sure most people reading this article know of one officer that has done one thing that is of a shady nature. The police either fear the criminals or are in alliance with them. It is the only logical explanation for the level of crime and the number of unsolved cases. It is the government's duty to correct this and no amount of technology will magically fix it.

CEPEP? Let's not even go there.

Why are foreign professionals being brought into Trinidad and Tobago to fill the gap when there are many, many bright, talented Trinbagonians holding high technical positions in the very countries where you are importing talent? These citizens willingly leave T&T behind because there is no incentive for them to stay. The government is more willing to entice the foreigners to come than to have local talent stay. Buy local does not only apply to fruits and vegetables! India is seeing a rise in outsourced labour with many US companies using the locals for customer service and other jobs. Where is the impetus for the local talent to also be in on this? We have very competent persons and we speak better English too! This would have the double effect of lowering unemployment and increasing the number of families that can make a stable income that can actually buy groceries.

Resources would be better allocated if the government spent more on valid infrastructure development than on a show designed to dazzle the part of the population that has been partially blinded by years of cotton over their eyes. The lack of awareness by the majority of the general population is the biggest problem in society today. We rant and complain but where are the alternative strategies. I do not care which party is in power as long as they make decisions that benefit the people. Our goal of first world status will only be realized by proper planning. However current policies being implemented by this administration do not indicate that the goal will be achieved in a beneficial manner.

Wake Up!

2006-12-29T11:58:00.000Z

As our Government prepares to relocate the destructive, but profitable!, aluminium plants to other areas of our ecologically blessed islands, as they quibble over which jet to accept as an apt kickback for bringing in Bombardier to disrupt the natural harmony of our landscape with ‘modern’ “mass transit solutions”, (we pray to the laws of history that if this urbanisation takes place, they at least have the wits not to invest our money in foreign used goods), as COP, NAR, UNC and PNM leave bitter tastes in the mouths of many, who knew the alphabet could be so corrupted!, our nation is being bled by the ruthless kidnappers, again.

Just as news of an ‘ease’ in crime came, the Christmas season is witnessing the brutality of a free press, as we read every day about the many lives stolen from their families, months, years ago even, grieving trinbagonian hearts unable to rejoice like their brethren, unable to pursue the simple essence of a simple existence, happiness, because of the savagery of those less fortunate, those lazy, cowards who choose the path of pain to fulfil their so-called fates, de-stabilizing the lives of many, dismantling along the way, the fabric of our nation.

Our resources are plenty, sadly the people we have put in place to govern our nation, to protect our people, are too busy looking out for themselves and their ‘party’ financiers, too enrapt in personal glory to feel the suffering of those who have empowered them. The Government does not own this country, but like any CEO, can be replaced by a majority vote if they lead us to a slow demise. If you cannot do your job, renounce your post and make room for a more competent person. Our evangelical Prime Minister is too caught up in the delusional world of religious dogma to lead his ‘disciples’. You are a politician; no one hired you to be a preacher. Stick to your job, do it well or step aside so someone more competent can lead this country.

We imported several officers from Scotland Yard on preposterous salaries to curb the spate of kidnappings, yet to date, the only news we get of their work is when they arrive AFTER the crime has been committed. No doubt, they are enjoying their super lifestyles afforded to them by our Ministry of National Security, whilst we have countless allegations of in-house corruption in the security forces, banking and commercial institutions making merry with the loot.

We have a blimp, still circling the skies, deforming the skyline with its opulent, seemingly omniscient, façade. Where is the progress report for this mammoth waste of money? Is this the phallic symbol of choice for the PNM? Why is the public not made aware, routinely so, of the number of crimes this monstrous waste of resources is helping to prevent? Was it supposed to be employed as a scare tactic for our citizens? Scare them in to crimes that are more defiant, it would seem. Accountability is the weakness of the guilty.

Is it any surprise that we have lost faith in the institutions erected to serve us, that we have now turned to the ghastly-coined “coward tax”, a simple trace of which may even end up in the bank account of one of those imported “bobbies”? I will not be surprised, would you? This blasé acceptance of, expectance of!, corruption at all levels must be a symptom of a nation crumbling.

Someone save us, but not before you save Vindra Naipual, please.

Online Security

2006-12-27T05:44:00.000Z

As we attempt to attain first world status more and more individuals are embarking on the journey of surfing the Internet and as anyone who has ever gone on that ride will tell you it truly is an amazing thing. On can find information galore, make friends, find jobs, entertain oneself and communicate like never before. Over the last few years the number of households having computers and Internet access has increased dramatically with every family believing that a computer with Internet access will give their child the edge in school. There is a whole world to explore and in that world there lurk people who will attempt to hurt you in every way they can. With anything good, there is always the bad and one should always be prepared whenever one takes a journey even if it is from the comfort of your own home.

Cyber crime is at an all time high and with more people communicating and releasing personal information on the Internet it is of the utmost importance that special emphasis be placed on how to protect yourself against potential attacks. Here are a few tips to prepare you for the Internet.

Keep your anti-virus solution up to date. This means that you either pay to renew your subscription and set the program to automatically download the latest updates and install them on the computer for you or you can get a free program that does this for you. Please see below for a list of software vendors that are quite good.
Use a more secure internet browser. Most people only use Microsoft Internet Explorer because that is what comes with the computer but you should really consider using Mozilla Firefox since most internet attacks are focussed on compromising Internet Explorer.
Get a pop up blocker. The Google, MSN and Yahoo! tool bars all have pop up blockers as a feature.
Do not visit or purchase anything from a website that does not look like it is legitimate. Look for https:// in the address bar and a lock in the window indicating that the site is secure, which means that any information transmitted between you and the server will be encrypted so that no one can view it even if they were able to get it. Well that is not strictly true, a very persistent hacker could take years to crack the code but it is possible so just be aware of that. Make sure the site has a security seal from a site such as Verisign, Comodo, HackerSafe, TrustE etc. These sites ensure that the site you are visiting is really owned by a legitimate company and usually insure your transactions.
If you are using a cyber cafe or other shared computer ALWAYS log out of the sites that you visit, even if you are just checking email and clear the internet cache, cookies and the history. Ask the attendant if you do not know how to do it.
Do not open email from people you do not know.
Do not open attachments in emails from people you do not know.
Make sure that your email is scanned by your anti-virus program before you open a message.
There has been a new scam called "phishing" where crooks will send an email seemingly from a company that you know (say your bank) and make the message look just like the one you would get from the company asking you for personal information. When you click on the link you are taken to a site that looks just like the company you know but it really is not. Just remember, no company should ever ask you for personal information. If you get a message asking for information, go to the company's website (by typing in the URL into the browser), find the contact us link and send a message asking if they sent the initial message. It would most likely be that they did not but it never hurt to find out.
Do not EVER click the unsubscribe link at the bottom of junk email since you will just be letting the spammer know that your email address is valid and someone is using it.

The internet really is a wonderful tool but one has to be careful always. The only sure thing is vigilance. Always pay attention to what you are doing and where you are. Do not take anything for granted. As we rely more and more on computers there will be people who will attempt to undermine everything that we do. So enjoy your journey but always pay attention!

Software List:
Anti-Virus:

Norton Anti-Virus - the grand daddy of them all. A bit on the pricey side but worth the money.
McAfee Anti-Virus - Another paid for service but very good.
AVG Anti-Virus - You can get a paid version or a free version if you use it for personal use. i.e. if you use it on your home computer you can use it for free.
ClamWin AV - Free open source anti-virus program for windows based computers

Anti-Spyware:

CounterSpy - The best at real time protection for your computer.
Microsoft Live Defender - It is the same as CounterSpy at its core but adds a few other features.

Spyware Removal:

AdAware - One of the very best tools around
Spybot Search & Destroy - Used in tandem with AdAware for best results
HijackThis! - Excellent at removing programs that take over your browser.

Jean and Dinah Economics

2006-11-29T00:28:00.000Z

"Jean and Dinah, Rosita and Clementina, round de corner posin, bet your life is someting dey sellin, and if yuh ketch dem broken you can get dem all for nutten...." Those are just a few lines of one of the most popular calypsoes of all time and I am sure when The Birdie was singing this tune the average person on the street didn't realize that he was explaining the laws of supply and demand. Lately we have been hearing alot of talk about inflation and unemployment rate, but do we really understand what these terms mean and how they affect each and everyone of us?

The government is particularly proud of the fact that the unemployment rate is 5.9%, and they should be. This means that only 5.9% of the population who are capable of working is currently out of a job, this is a small percentage and this means that more families and individuals are bringing home a salary. From this, one can infer that there is more production, that is more employers are creating goods and services for consumers. Individuals would have more money to spend and depend less on the government, which can then focus their spending on other things, like building a new house for the PM or buying a new jet for CARICOM leaders. This seems like a good thing, no? Hence the big hoorah that was made by the government on this accomplishment. As with everything in life, there is a catch.

With all this apparent prosperity, high oil prices, low unemployment rate the prices of goods and services are increasing. One would think that the opposite should happen, but as many economists have shown when there is low unemployment there is high inflation and vice versa. But what is inflation? Inflation is defined as the loss of purchasing power of the dollar. Basically, the cost of goods and services have increased while the amount of money that you have stays the same. There are many, many causes of inflation and it is beyond the scope of this article to go into detail about all of them but I would like to outline some general concepts. As Sparrow noted in his classic, when there is low demand the prices of goods and services drop (hence the reason Jean and Dinah could be had for nothing), however, when there is high demand for goods and services the prices increase forcing you, the consumer, to pay more. Now, usually the salary that one works for stays the same, however, the cost of goods go up so the money that you have can now buy less.

What causes the prices of goods to go up if we are enjoying high oil prices? Well, the first question is are we really enjoying the benefits of high oil prices or is the government the only ones getting the benefits? Let's see if we can examine why you would pay more for, say, bread. First, the baker needs flour. Where is that flour coming from? The baker would get the flour from the supermarket, who gets it from the flour mills. The flour mills get the wheat from overseas. Now, with the increased cost of oil, the shipping companies would charge more for delivering the wheat because they have to pay more for diesel to bring the wheat to Trinidad. The flour mills in turn would pay more for natural gas to process the wheat into flour. The cost for both of these things would be passed on to the supermarket who would need to raise the price of the flour to cover its cost and this would cause the baker to charge more. Hence, you would need to pay more for the bread! Make sense? The same would apply to everything else. Another cause of inflation is more money being circulated when there isn't more production to justify the new money. Remember that money is just a piece of paper that represents some commodity.

This is all very confusing but in the end we, all of us, need to understand money and learn about it. Money is not just something you work for but something that you need to make work for you. Understanding where your money comes from and what it is worth is very important and if we understand it we can make better choices and force the leaders to employ better policies to benefit us all.

Compass Confusion

2006-11-28T11:10:00.000Z

I fully support the hosting of Panorama in San Fernando. I also fully support the decentralisation of Carnival as a whole to other parts of Trinidad & Tobago, to other towns and cities of our beautiful country, our island for too long divided by obscure compass points, an ‘east man’ ostensibly coming from Arima or ‘Grande, and not from, more accurately Manzanilla or Radix, both Arima and Grande being in the north. Of course that is not to ignore the obvious point of reference, Port of Spain, an ‘east man’ only being labelled such as he resides east of Port of Spain.

So what if Port of Spain is the capital city? Port of Spain is a dishevelled embarrassment to any Trinbagonian who understands the true essence of our patria, most notably not Movie Towne, TGIF or 6am ‘spinners’ at Ellerslie Plaza’s gym. Please. Port of Spain, like most other capital cities is an attraction, I hesitate to say tourist attraction, for I have not met a tourist yet, (I reside in London and work within the travel industry) who has told me the beauty of my country is in its capital city – au contraire, the beauty, they say, is everywhere but Port of Spain, more like Toco, Nariva, Caroni, Mayaro, St Joseph hills, some even venturing to that quaint village of Lopinot upon the behest of other seasoned travellers.

There has been a decision to give the Queen’s Park Savannah a facelift, for environmental, commercial or commercially motivated, political reasons. I think it is absolutely commendable on the part of Mr Regrello, and hopefully the rest of Pan Trinbago’s staff for recommending Skinner Park as an alternative venue, and possibly one that can be alternated, year in year out, to host the wider carnival celebrations, to give the country a more balanced feel, to ‘ease up’ the Savannah ‘lil bit’, to widen the geographical knowledge of our deprived ‘western’ kindred, whose world, as the old joke goes, ends at the lighthouse.

Living abroad gives one perspective. I was born in Diego Martin, but I grew up in Arima. I am an ‘east man’. London, funny enough, is just as compartmentalised as Trinidad, the capital city being home to people from the ‘west’, ‘north’, ‘south west’, ‘east’, each area’s ideology different to that of the other, specific cultural traits heralded as ‘local’ to the area, most probably inherited by the diverse immigrant population, but we’ll save that for another time. One thing that London succeeds in is the efficient management of its very limited space. The Olympics will be hosted in east London, in the borough of Hackney, (the borough with the highest crime rate in the city), however, Christina Aguillera will perform at Wembley Arena this week, in north London, Guns and Roses in west London. Trinidad has the space, the visionaries and the political will to develop the country, and maximise our tierra to the benefit of the entire population, yet, the stigma of Port of Spain persists.

The development of the off–Churchill Roosevelt Highway (isn’t it time for a name change? I propose the Aldwyn Roberts Highway) neighbourhoods, mainly Trincity, are proof that with a little forethought, the land can be developed profitably for the populace and share holders alike.

I fully support and entire re-shuffle of carnival events on a whole, and I leave the planning and logistics to the masters of their fields, waving my flag in north or south, central and Tobago! Are there ‘east men’ in Tobago?

CM 61

2006-11-15T13:47:00.000Z

So this is what Trinidad & Tobago has come to. All I am waiting to hear now is about the wireless broadband service accessible from Block J, Cell 5 Golden Grove Prison, Arouca, where CellMate 23561 was reprimanded by Prison Officers after a package arrived at the towering gates of our Maximum Security Prison, bearing a cheque book, a pack of ‘red box’, six unmarked bullets, one 9mm, a tightly packed ten-piece and a ‘get out of jail slap-on-the-back-note’ purchased online with a credit card issued to a Red House regular tenant. The laptop used was apparently not discovered by security detail, as “CM 61” successfully retrieved it from a gâteau baked by his granny.

Imagine it is public knowledge that inmates are in possession of cell phones. I find this incredulous, even more so that it is treated as such a blasé issue by our “homeland security” (to contribute to the already illicit amercanisation). Moreover, it takes a detailed plan of action by the Prison Authorities, injuring several, possibly not reporting the countless others who were not taken to POS General and thus not logged on the official records, to weed out these phones. How are they recharging these phones anyway? Honestly, what does this say about the accepted lack of responsible prison security, the obvious racketeering going on and the absolutely appalling snail’s pace of a response by Mr Rougier and his team of ‘law enforcers’. What checks and balances were carried out on his own staff to ensure that the ones dealin’ the blows weren’t the same ones dealin’ the prison contraband? Is it not necessary for the already petrified public to be duly informed of the processes involved in this most monumental of ‘prison purges’? How are we to know how to rate your performance, Mr Rougier, if you keep all the juicy secrets to yourself? I’ll tell you what, the fact that it has actually come to this embarrassing, farcical performance by yourself and the men you involve with their rubber bullets shows that you are ready to be ushered out of your seat.

How is it, that we have reporters receiving calls from inmates and not immediately reporting these unlawful acts to responsible authorities? Whose freedoms are they protecting, press or public? Or is that these phone calls are reported but again, somewhere along the workflow chain, the information gets lost so as to conceal any wrong-doing in the first place? Journalists have a responsibility to uphold the simple freedom of accessible information and opinion, but I think in the public’s best interest and given the delinquent nature of our ‘wardens’, WE, from editor to carpenter, should all be working hand in hand to secure our backyards, our neighbours’ backyards and the sanctity of our sinking island.

Whilst we sit idly by and let the politicians ramble on, scuffle like cats in their parliamentary cages, denounce each other, insult the integrity of our Motherland by churning out desultory propaganda, in this day and age where Trinbagonians just want respect, some peace of mind, to relax in their porch listening to some Scrunter begging for some ‘pork’, the country’s infrastructure is crumbling beneath us, hastened by the neglect of the elected guardians, all those untrustworthy talkers milking our coffers, whilst the kids don’t have access to pipe borne water after all the floods, the latest is that “CM 61” received another online-purchase delivery, this time a scroll of pardon by Uncle Max for agreeing to be a state witness in the case against those prison perpetrators. Sad.

Tarouba Politics

2006-09-24T20:46:00.000+01:00

It is slightly embarrassing to travel into work in London and see the headline “Lara stadium not ready” in the English newspapers. It is even more annoying when one considers that the stadium was not required for the cricket World Cup warm up matches as they are at least two existing sites that are more than capable of hosting the four pre-tournament matches. The government created the fanfare about the stadium being a state of the art project that was required for warm up matches for the World Cup despite the correct protests from all quarters, given the costs of $850 million and the aforementioned fact that other grounds exist to facilitate this requirement.

In light of these facts, I have not read about anyone accepting the responsibility for this billion-dollar farce, but then this should be expected from a project that follows the age old practice of a whimsical decision that is unchallenged, unjustified and steeped in the usual lack of transparency.

The reasons outlined for the stadium have yet to be substantiated to the public. Consider first that the home of local cricket, the Queens Park Oval, has rightfully been chosen as the host of the T&T based World Cup matches: No reason for a new stadium. Then the Prime Minister sought further inane validation by the now infamous remark that the stadium will be used, in times of emergency such as a tsunami, as a shelter for the public. Given the location in Tarouba and the fact that our government cannot even efficiently clear Port of Spain when a potential hurricane approaches, how do they plan to enact the necessary logistics to move people from anywhere to Tarouba? Further gems from Mr. Manning include his comment in August 2005 that his stadium could act as secondary venue should a neighbouring isle not complete their own stadium. Well the International Cricket Council (ICC) has now completed their surveys and it is only one nation that has a stadium that is not ready, T&T. However, it does not matter because that stadium is not hosting any World Cup games anyway!

According to the rhetoric, the Tarouba stadium is meant to enhance our future sporting generations with this state of the art facility. However, in the continuing tradition of spending without thought, the only foundations that will be laid for sporting enhancement are those erected in the soil of Tarouba. The real foundations for enhancing our natural sporting potential lay in investment in our athletes, sports medicine, sports psychology, academies, cohesive coaching programmes and enabling our athletes to compete against the best in the world on a year round basis and not just at major Games. Bricks and mortar never produced world-beaters but we have enough sporting facilities littered around the islands that could be refurbished for a mere fraction of the cost of ‘Lara’. Of course, in the haste to use the Caribbean’s hosting of the World Cup as an excuse for this construction, none of these simple factors were considered.

Since Mr. Manning championed the ‘Lara’ stadium, the responsibility for this billion-dollar debacle lies with him. He has even allocated the name of the world’s greatest batsman to this white elephant, the same name that appears in the international press.

I trust that there will be some tough questioning to the government regarding this matter because $850 million can train/recruit a lot of police, buy more police cars, create running water, fix the roads, improve public healthcare and most importantly put teachers into our classrooms. But I fear that will not be the case when ineffective blimps are grounded, billion dollar rail proposals are shrouded in secrecy and a Transport Minister can insult the intelligence of the nation when questioned about jet purchases. It seems that a new one-sided Constitution is not needed for a dictator to emerge.

Mr. Manning’s ego will be his own undoing but my fervent hope is that those with ambitions of holding his office posses the logic required to not repeat this madness, as well as the intelligence to get the basics right as we move forward and the sincerity to stop ‘mamaguying’ the public by practicing transparency. This is what is required; these are the indicators that we need to look for with an election on the horizon.

Our level of acceptance in this nation is astonishing; it creates the lack of accountability as well as our leaders’ thought process that they can waste our money when it is so badly needed elsewhere. The ‘Lara’ stadium is already halfway completed (we think) but there should be a lesson learnt from this financial fiasco that we demand transparency and public opinion for future projects such as the rail project and the smelter(s). Do not complain at the level of wastage if your protests are not directed where it counts.

Sheldon Waithe

Abortion: A Male Perspective

2006-09-21T11:48:00.000+01:00

Discourses have been rampant over this most emotional of subjects, religious, legal, moral and rational arguments put forward by everyone from the Pope to Peasant. The history of anti-abortion activists has been rooted in religious or biblical adherence to God’s wishes, (Bible, Exodus), however, the practise of abortion, the use of abortifacients and numerous physical methods of inducing abortion, from the use of mercury, as recorded by Chinese folklore on the royal concubines, pessaries (although ‘forbidden’ by Hippocrates, under whose oath doctors are sworn) to steaming water, massage, violent exercise and modern day methods of surgery, anaesthetics, spoons, knives and just about anything a desperate woman can find to use.

The Pope emphatically rejects the idea of abortion, dogmatic and outdated as his opinion may be; this is just the start, as I believe that any leading opinion on the subject should be a female one. The Pope is his wisdom, or lack of lately, can never understand the trauma of pregnancy induced rape, can never understand the psychological torment of a sexually abusive father, incestuously impregnating his child at 12 years old. As a man he should be the last person to dictate on this subject. I would hope most women would not be able to relate to such atrocities, but women are that much closer in body and spirit to their kin, and at a clear advantage to take the reins on the subject.

Religious law simply has no place in a medical procedure. The morality of abortion should be discussed at one level – zero. A woman’s right to her body should be personal, intimately so. As a man, I feel that my opinion is just that, an opinion that does not suggest law, an opinion that is alien to emotion, experience or action. In Trinidad & Tobago, growing up as a teenager in the nineties, abortion was commonplace talk, also relatively known to be happening amongst my female peers, they finding the means, financed by the father-not-to-be, or in some cases by friends or parents and they would take care of it themselves, making decisions based on their age, the expected reaction of their parents, family and schools. Religion was an after thought. The reality of the situation was simple: ‘mistake’, youth, rape – “no way can I have a child”. I have also known of women who have had abortions with the consent of their catholic parents, the pressure of the reality overriding any religious sentiment at the time.

Abortion should be legalised and controlled. Women should be given the right, the tools and the necessary post-abortive therapy to direct their lives the way they want to, yet 2006 greets us with archaic laws, close-minded politicians and frenzied religious babble in the face of capital punishment, ‘legal’ wars, genocide and ‘police assisted’ kidnappings. Strides are being made in Latin America, even in our revered USA, where abortion laws are being tweaked to allow women and children who fall pregnant under certain circumstances, to legally abort their pregnancy. This is a great step forward, however, it still feeds the black market doctors whose procedures sometimes prove more detrimental to a woman’s health than necessary. So what happens? The woman goes to the doctor, recommended by a friend, sometimes even cryptically advertised in the media, has an abortion, encounters severe problems post-procedure, and ends up under the care of the National health services anyway. Do we now go and charge her, put her in jail for years, this ‘illegal’ activity and activist hounded by the Police Service and persecuted, as suggested by Lenny Saith, or do we treat her as a victim of the system, take her in to our care and offer her the best recuperative therapy the State can offer? The Minister of Public Administration and Energy being asked for an opinion on abortion laws? In what capacity are you acting – man, doctor or public servant?

Yet again, the naivety, the impotence of our policy makers is rearing its head. Lenny Saith had the opportunity to make an informed gesture, as an educated person, dare I say ‘man’, but he chose to be evasively pedantic. For once I would like to see a Minister put forward his or her opinion without the mask of politics. This is real life here. People die because of ill-informed, machoistic legislation, religious bias and general apathy. Let’s get the debate out there and DO SOMETHING about these so-called “back yard doctors”, bring them in to the mainstream, educate the population, empower parents, daughters, mothers, wives, aunts and children, take the debate in to the school yard, away from the hush of the back room and most importantly LEARN from these ‘developing’ countries that Trinidad & Tobago models itself after. There are numerous case studies done on the subject, experts of every persuasion, lobbying everyday, dedicating their lives to the better understanding of the plight of women, yet we are cornered, because our Minister of Health wasn’t present in Parliament.

Democratic Aristocracy

2006-09-20T11:32:00.000+01:00

With utter dismay I read, moreover, I feel anguish at the present day politician’s sprint for conventional wealth at the expense of the natural resources of our Trinidad & Tobago. Gas, ammonia and oil are spewing like water from a damaged water hydrant in La Horquetta, only this time, we do not see bare-baked children playing and laughing under the cool, spouting water, relishing the ‘bath’ under the heat of the trini sun, ignorant of the plight of millions who do not have the luxury of a handful of water to wash their faces, however, we see the political puerility of our politicians revelling in the revenue, showing disregard, at the highest level, for the dirge of the ‘owners’ of these resources, whose lifestyles warrant not the sly, manipulative dealings of those put in charge of their welfare.

We, the citizens of Trinidad & Tobago do not deserve the mistreating by any Government, the disrespect shown to us is unnecessary, as we struggle to get the simple basics provided economically and consistently. We would like paved roads instead of shiny rail tracks. Has anyone bothered to think of what it feels like to be sardined in a train carriage, under that unforgiving trini sun, with the mixture of smells, temperaments, voices, mobile phone conversations and fare-evasive arguments? Think of a red-band maxi, in rush hour, ten times more expensive and just as uncomfortable. Leave the train for the sugarcane, dreamy politicians.

We, the citizens of Trinidad & Tobago want improved social care. We want our public hospitals running like St Clair Medical Centre. That money you want to use on a private jet for yourselves, use it wisely to improve the health care system and infrastructure. Imagine a hospital in Tobago being given an ultimatum to clean up its act. How did it get to that stage in the first place? We want public facilities for the youth operating like Ellerslie Plaza Gym. What determines the stark differences in operational mentality between the private and public sectors? Why, that cash you want to throw at Bombardier can go a long way in improving the salaries of a good few thousand ‘low ranking’ public sector workers, who may greet us a with a smile instead of a steups in receipt of such a gracious gift!

The Government is public sector. Let us not forget that they are put there by the citizens of Trinidad & Tobago. They have to serve us. When did the roles become reversed? We sweat and toil to fatten their pockets, and we let them get away with such brazen greed and disrespect for us, for our children, our future, whilst their diplomatic passports absolve them of accountability? It should most definitely be the other way around. They should stand accountable for every aspect of socio-economic failure or success of this country. They should be the lowest paid public servants in the land, for their cause, by nature, should be humanitarian. This is not a FTSE listed business; these are the lives of people you are constantly fucking up. When will you wake up and realise that a new BMW, a refurbished Red House for your personal glory, a private jet, free this, free that, is draining the life blood of this country! Your legacy does not depend on how much money you’ve spent, or how many new buildings you’ve sanctioned, this is not Roman times, this is life in the twenty-first century and you have starving, homeless people to take care of. You are not King in this land. We are.

A Challenge

2006-09-14T01:10:00.000+01:00

Another year, another crossroad. The naysayers are out in full force, cleverly attacking as if objectively informed, but their camps reek of bias. Bas is back in action, ‘taking the bull by the horns’, the former boss setting the stage for a battle with his former employee, telling all of his fellow citizens, by his brazen leap to renewed authority, that the only man to handle this ‘situation’, is me! ‘Panday boy, take ah rest nah man’!

A new political party is symbolic of many things, especially in the race-torn sewerage that is politics in Trinidad &Tobago. A new party signifies primarily a stance against monopoly. The way I see it, the PNM and UNC have had their chances, neither of them proving to be enlightening enough to truly take our country forward, always 1 step forward, 60000 barrels of oil backward. They had a good run since 1962, but times have changed since the Williams independence era, times have changed since the sugarcane workers ‘revolution’ and times are changing yet again, with the considerable elevation of social awareness, a nation being forced to reconcile its differences because of the paucity of governing and government, a nation magnetized by the blatant disregard for life, for humanity, for tradition and love. Our country needs new thinkers, fresh politics, and a revised approach to governing. Will the CoP provide this? I doubt, but it is a start.

Dookeran had no choice. Brother, you had no support from the onset, you did what you had to do, and I applaud that. I applaud you because you faced up to the tyranny, the threats, the kids-play that has become synonymous with UNC in-house politics, but also you heard the cry of your supporters, and yes, some do actually believe in you. I do not: you are a politician. Prove me wrong. You have started a movement using shelved ingredients. Where’s your innovation, where is the fresh thinking. Old dogs, old tricks, same disgruntled citizenry. This was the second prospect of a new political party, a chance at some new styles of governing, a chance for Trinidad & Tobago to flex its creativity. The same intuition and drive for independence, for civil rights, for equality, that drive for economic success, why is it lacking in Politics in our country. Dookeran had a chance at this, and his first move, hosting his rally at Centre of Excellence, what a blasphemous act!, instead of in one of the many idyllic open spaces, a more symbolic gesture ‘of the People’. Let us see if Jack rewards you, kindly.

So Dookeran, what is your next move? Apparently, you are heading to Canada to garner support from your foreign nationals. One would think this is the most crucial time for you and your new ideal, a time when many questions will need to be answered, fears allayed, a time for alliances to be forged with your new ‘subjects’ in their backyards, unless of course, with the lack of gas, you’d rather use this time abroad to collect some cash to fill up your tank back home. What are you driving these days by the way?

We await your manifesto. We await the rallies, the promises, the shameless courting, and the mouthy battles to come. Dookeran, you have a mighty task ahead of you, so I hope you are prepared to bring to the table that which we seek: solutions. Yes. Solutions to crime, solutions to poverty, solutions to bridging east, west, north and San Fernando. All the people are awaiting the solutions you and your merry bandits to be are going to propose. Cynical? Me? Nah man. I am tired of the disappointment though, so prove me wrong.

Honesty is one of those virtues that are banned, like smoking (I hope), at the doors of Parliament. Dookeran, you have a chance to change this. Do not crumble too quickly, you will inevitably make room for younger talent, perhaps you can start with Boldon, as he has not been doing much on your old bench. Bring some morality to this country. I implore you. You’re respected, for some reason, personally, I think it’s just the bacchanal caused by someone opposing Silver Fox, you having not proved a thing other than you know when to stay quiet, when to cower, when to run, and okay, I give you this, when to tactically strike. You stood up to Bas and his henchwomen, both of them, so you can take anyone on. Continue the way you would like to end this battle, with the respect of the people, for they see in you, a virtuous trait. Do not let us down.

A Congress of the People is a daring name, Dookeran. Are you prepared to be a martyr? If you want to stand up for us, you should be prepared to die for us. Do you have it within you to go that extra mile for the country you would like govern, that you believe you and your cohorts should be given the chance to, corrupt, I hope not, to develop, stabilize, and inspire, to lead us to prosperous spirituality, to true unity and love, to tribagonianism.

You have the mic, sir.

The Humming-Bird Tree

2006-09-09T21:56:00.000+01:00

I read the book many years ago, but remember nothing about it, apart from the name, testimony to the lasting effects its content had on me. I remember having studied it during the earlier stages of my literature training at Fatima College, reputable in those days for impeccable quality of educational training, trusted to produce a handsome handful of young men who would have shaped the country in some form or other, contributed something to the society, utilised the knowledge gained, formal or ‘on the field’. I’ll argue the principle in this case.

It is not shocking that our Ministry of Education has no backbone. ‘Four letter words’ being the cause of the current brouhaha over ‘The Humming-Bird Tree’ and the subsequent decision by many school principals to revoke its inclusion in their literature training. Four letter words. Are we saying that, by the same argument put forward by these close-minded parents, Crazy’s ‘Nani Wine’, Roaring Lion’s ‘Dorothy’, Tony Matterhorn’s ‘Dutty Wine’, Buju Banton’s ‘Boom Bye Bye’ or Mad Cobra’s ‘Gyal Flex’, just to name a few, should all be pulled from the radio, their content disguisedly, but conspicuously ‘inappropriate’ for our children, mind you, more youths know how to ‘dutty wine’ and ‘flex’ than they know about plot, theme, symbolism, metaphorical reference, poetic license or freedom of speech, for that matter.

Am I missing something here? Is this a triumph for the voice of the people, but a defeat for common sense, evolution and development? How is it that a nation so rich in cultural identity, an intellectual population by any standard, a country injected by facets of so many far reaching societies and their traditions, a country that openly embraces globalisation (read: americanisation), that is saturated with external images and sounds of every theme and tempo, can so brazenly, cowardly, ignorantly argue about a few ‘four letter’ words in what has been described as a marvellous representation of West Indian culture, a journey of development, a text rich in trinbagonian creole language and symbolism, as deftly described by Bunny Rambhajan in her article to the Express newspaper dated 6/9/06, entitled ‘A Literature Lesson for Adults’.

So, what of cuss-words in literature? Isn’t literature an expression of art, isn’t art a representation of life, derived from the profound, sometimes incomprehensible souls of those blessed few who can create with ease that which humans use to identify its own humanity? Shakespeare, Chaucer, VS Naipaul, they all invoke the spirit of their chosen gift with, authenticity. This is what makes a credible work of art, understood.

Censorship at any level is not only repressive, it is also insulting to a developing society. Naturally, when the shit, oops, hit the fan, the MoE passed the buck, stating that it was the schools’ responsibility to choose apt books for study, critique and enjoyment of its student body. The choice was made, someone barked, the MoE cowered, and now, these same parents take it a step further, in true trini mocking style, by approaching bookstores for refunds. Come on Trinidad & Tobago. If all you were seeking was a lil’pocket change for a beer or an upcoming all inclusive, then you shoulda say so! Let us not deprive our kids the benefit of literature, in exchange for what, Cinemax after dark? MTV Cribs? Big Brother?

Parents don’t want their children learning 'cuss-words' from literature, arguing that the MoE is irresponsible for not vetting the booklists, the MoE stating that this is the schools’ responsibility. Fair enough. The schools go on to choose this particular text, which mind you have been on the syllabus for many years, perhaps not year in year out, but given that I graduated in 1996 from Fatima College and having read it before that, then is it that children ‘in de ol’ days’ were more mature to read and comprehend, critique and learn from prose, than the children today whose parents feel sheltering them, at this late stage!, is some panacea for the ills of society today? Instead of depriving your children of good West Indian literature, why not uninstall the cable tv. That’s a perfect start. You want to shelter your children from the simple reality that is the evolution of language, yet the internet is at their fingertips. Do you know how to surf the internet? Perhaps when you try, you may want to sell the computer too.

It’s sad that Hazel Manning didn’t have the foresight, perhaps not the time, to put forward an informative, intelligent argument in defence of one of the oldest bastions of human cultural expression, it’s even sadder for the children who do not have a say, but perhaps, when they learn how to use expletives responsibly in ‘form 4’, they can borrow The Humming-Bird Tree from a friend and find out for themselves what all the brouhaha was about. Ian McDonald, kudos to you, please don’t be offended, for they know not what they do.

Ground Zero

2006-09-09T17:50:00.000+01:00

Tuesday September 11^th 2001 probably began like any ordinary day in America. As millions of people in the central and pacific states still slept soundly in their beds, many millions more on the East Coast had just woken up to begin the routine of daily life. In homes from the Florida Keys all the way up to Portland in Maine, the daily squabbling over the family bathroom had already began. Lunch-boxes were being filled with ham sandwiches and Sunny Delight, and women fussed over whether this or that blouse would make them look fat. The paper-boys had already done their rounds and as ESPN relayed the sports stories in the background, men poured over the early morning news with their customary cups of coffee. The main traffic arteries linking suburbia and city were clogged with commuters, many of whom were no doubt listening to their favourite morning radio programmes and thinking about what the day had in store for them. Tuesday September 11^th 2001 probably would have ended like any ordinary day in America too, but for the nineteen mujahadis who had passed through passport control at Logan, Newark and Dulles.

To say that America had woefully under-estimated the threat from Al-Qaeda is like saying that the Klu Klux Klan is racist. This is no better illustrated than by the fact that as Mohammed Atta and Marwan Al-Heshhi were slamming their hijacked planes into the Twin Towers, the man in overall charge of the nation's security was reading 'My Pet Goat' to a bunch of pre-school kids. Since then however, America's response to this atrocity has been wide and far reaching. An ''axis of evil'' was quickly identified and the President launched what he termed to be a ''crusade'' against those enemies of freedom. The President and his men claimed that there would be no hiding place for the purveyors of terror, and vowed not only to go after those delivering terror, but also those who had harboured and sponsored them. The United States called on all responsible nations to unite in the now infamous war on terror. Collectively, they promised to make our countries safer and to rid the world of terror. They promised that democracy would not be shaken and that our way of life will prevail.

For a while our leaders had us believing that we were indeed winning this fight. When coalition forces rolled into Kabul, it was hard even for the man on the Arab street to argue against the expulsion of the Taleban. After all, these were men who had confined the people of Afghanistan to the most barbaric of existences, and few questioned the ferocity of the attacks to exterminate Bin Laden, his followers and his landlords. An illusion of order was created amidst anarchy, and for the first time in living memory, Afghans had a government chosen by the people for the people. In 2003, the ''crusaders'' then turned to Iraq. Iraq under Saddam Hussein they claimed had been stockpiling weapons of mass destruction and there was incontrovertible evidence in the form of satellite photos showing mobile and fixed chemical and biological laboratories. Intelligence sources had also apparently uncovered Al-Qaeda training camps in the north of the country. The combination of weapons of mass destruction and Al-Qaeda left little to the imagination. We were told that pre-emptive action was in our best national interests and that America and its allies could no longer stand idle while others willfully plotted our downfall. The march to Baghdad took less than a week and the defining moment at that time was when Saddam's statue was pulled down from central Baghdad and many Iraqis danced long into the night...Iraq was liberated at last. Having tasted blood, the hawks were by no means satiated though and they now set their sights on the Ayatollahs of Iran and the Baathists of Syria. So perturbed was Libya by all this sabre-rattling, that Gaddafi decided to 'fess up' about his own nuclear weapons programme. He offered his apologies, promised to follow the 'straight and narrow' and was subsequently ushered back into the fold; the prodigal son that he was. The 'coalition of the willing' had laid down its marker in the Middle East and in the wider international community; their actions heralded as a triumph for peace, democracy and freedom for all mankind.

Soon enough, however, the smoke screens that were put up in both Afghanistan and Iraq were fast dissipating and the stark truth could be seen lingering in the background. The Taleban have resurfaced at an alarming rate and Afghanistan is slowly slipping back into lawlessness with an increasing number of warlords reasserting control in several regions. Shortly before the British took over control of the NATO security forces in the south a few months ago, the then Defence Minister John Reid remarked that it was highly likely that British troops would carry out their mission without having to fire a single shot. He stated that their mission was to re-build and stabilise rather than to engage the Taleban. To date, more than thirty soldiers have died in the last few months and it seems as if it is the Taleban who is doing all the engaging. For all its obvious troubles and concerns however, Afghanistan is Utopia compared to the situation in Iraq.

Saddam's rag-tag army no longer even posed a threat to any Arab regime yet we were led to believe that his bunch of malnourished conscripts represented a clear and present danger to our very existence. The country was scoured by thousands of US-led inspectors for months on end but no weapons of mass destruction were ever found. For the thousands of war dead, the irony of this war is especially poignant as many have died fighting against an enemy that never was. It is also clear that the terrorists followed the Americans and British into Iraq. There was no Abu Musab Al-Zarqawi nor his group 'Al-Qaeda in Iraq' until after the American and British invasion of the country. Yet still our leaders persist in fooling themselves that Iraq is making steady progress... ''Democracy conquers all'' they are often heard to say. It is telling then that many Iraqis are now worse off under democratic rule than they were when Saddam and his co-tyrants were in power. Many Iraqis now go without basic amenities such as running water, electricity and communications. The country is now gripped in the midst of a seemingly endless cycle of sectarian violence between the majority Shia population and the minority Sunni and conservative estimates put the average monthly death toll at anywhere between 300 and 400. And just ask the Palestinians about this democracy. Democracy can't be all that bad they convinced themselves and after Yasser Arafat's death, they came out in their droves to vote for Hamas. But Hamas, militant faction that it is, was not what the Europeans who held the purse strings of Palestine had in mind and they subsequently withdrew all financial and logistical support to the regime and thus the people themselves. The Palestinian people had clearly not read the fine print before signing on the dotted line.

Most alarmingly for me, however, is that this war on terror has seen us abandon the very principles on which our free and just societies are based...the very principles that we are told, time and again, that we are fighting to protect. Out have gone time-honoured practices such as treating all persons innocent until proved guilty, giving everyone the right to legal access and a fair trial, and in have come things like Guantanamo Bay and military (read: kangaroo) tribunals. The Geneva Convention suddenly became 'out of date' and was replaced with never before heard phrases like ''enemy combatants'' and ''extraordinary rendition'' (read: torture) The erosion of civil liberties does not only stop at the door of the assumed terrorist. Ohhh no, it has trickled down into the daily lives of you and me. We have seen the most flagrant disregard for the principle of an individual's right to privacy with the wanton and illegal surveillance of electronic communications in the United States. Here in Britain, we have seen ever-increasing numbers of Asian men and women stopped and searched for no other apparent reason than for simply being Asian. As is often the case, many of these people are not even Muslim, but Sikh and Hindu. Just recently, two Asian looking men were forced off a British plane at gunpoint...they 'just didn't look right' remarked one concerned passenger.

Who would have thought on September 12^th2001 that Osama Bin Laden, Mullah Omar and Ayman Al-Zawahiri would still be at large today? It now seems highly likely that this trio will outlast the political lives of both Bush and Blair, the key architects in this war on terror. Funny thought that, isn't it? Amid all this, we are often told that we are winning the war against terror. Hmmm...if this is winning, then I shudder to think what losing would be like. From where I am sitting it seems as if we are no safer now than we were five years ago. In fact, terrorism seems to have been exacerbated by the very war that was designed to stop it. From Bali to Madrid, from India to Morocco, to London and beyond the jihadists, continue apace. I ask you to reflect upon this as you stand in the snaking queue at Heathrow with a small clear plastic bag in your hand where your Samsonite used to be...five years on from that fateful morning, are we still at Ground Zero?

prophet

Get Involved - A look at the draft Constitution

2006-09-02T16:14:00.000+01:00

Though the draft paper has only recently been presented as the ‘white paper’, there is, with a general election looming on the horizon, the impetus for this draft to take the next step towards implementation as soon as possible, some expectations state a ‘green paper’ document before the end of 2006. Without the public interest, perusal and involvement it is all too possible that this 159 page document can be passed as the new Constitution of Trinidad and Tobago in relatively quick time, a document it has to be stressed, that will determine the manner in which we are governed. Yet the interest for this all-encompassing draft remains dormant.

Other points for major concern regarding the proposed Constitution would be the appointment of the Chief Justice by this President. Given the current situation between Mr. Manning and Mr. Sharma, one does not need to highlight the potential issue of a President choosing a leader of the judiciary that favours his or her desires. Effectively, this could lead to a President deciding upon which laws he will adhere to and which ones he will ignore. This type of system will even dwarf the burgeoning autocratic leadership that is raring its head in T&T.

Though there are many more points to be raised from this draft such as the eradication of the Cabinet sharing responsibility, therefore, accountability for government decisions, the PM has stated that there are more aspects that will reveal themselves as further examination of the document continues. However it is hardly likely that there will be any proposed solutions to outweigh the massive empowerment that the post of Executive President will produce.

It is quite confusing that Sir Ellis Clarke, the man that stated, in 2005 I believe, that the office of Prime Minister in Trinidad and Tobago holds too much power hence the need for a new Constitution, then produces a document that does the opposite to his observation. Though we are continually reminded that this is the first draft and it is now to be debated in Parliament, the general direction of this draft should give cause for concern to a public that already feel helpless when their government makes decisions in a dictatorial manner.

It is equally baffling that the purveyors of our news, the quality media, have not provided much comment or more importantly a breakdown of the major points of this draft. Not everyone has the access or will go to the Parliament website to look at the draft. One would have thought that the importance of such a document would entail a daily or weekly series dedicated to empowering the people of T&T with the knowledge of this draft along with comment and potential repercussions, be they positive or negative. It is part of the obligation of the media to enact this.

This draft has silently entered the door of Parliament but some of its intentions are quite loud and clear despite its infancy. The importance of this document means that the people of this nation need to understand its affect upon their rights and freedom and be involved in its development, otherwise like the majority of similar projects, we will continue to be distracted by other things and when the changes take place that leave us even more helpless and disenchanted we will wonder how and why we arrived there. The governance of a nation is important enough to garner your attention and your continued involvement, don’t you think?

Get involved.

http://www.ttparliament.org/docs/constitution/20060818_draft_constitution.pdf

Sheldon Waithe

A Matter of Priority

2006-09-02T10:52:00.000+01:00

A Matter of Priority

Talk about missin’ de boat. De UNC fightin as if dey have nutten betta to do wit dey time, money or life, de PNM runnin’ de country blindly, Mannin’ an’ he boys strugglin’ to win public favour, peltin’ money way on all kinda gran’ gran’ schemes, ‘fuh de bettament of de nation’ of course, new highway, new smelta plant, new buildin’ here, new buildin’ there, no new jobs doh, no new healt’ system, no new ideas fuh easin’ up de crime, de kidnappins unda lows, buh maybe not, maybe it jus eh makin’ de papers no more because why?, de damn chirren in de UNC smilin’ wit all de attention dey gettin’ from de media, all de while, de gunman still runnin amok, de smugglers doin dey ting on de side, nobody studyin’ dem, de politicians doin dey bobol behin’ de curtains of parliament, Ellis re-draffin de constitution and NOT AH MAN sayin ah word in about it in de papers, yet, dey make so much fuss bout dis problem, dat problem, and dey lettin’ ellis and he cohorts turn we country in to ah model of yankee politics?? Papayo, allyuh people does make me laff wi, dat is why ah love allyuh so, because none ah we go eva change in dis country, we too happy wit we life, we eh have de belly fuh hard work, change might make we poor, so who wha change, ideas does cause trouble, who want ideas, we too stubborn to accept ah new, fresh way ah tinkin, Dooks willin’ to try something new, Wade fightin’ he dong wit one setta stupid talk bout WAR. WAR??? Steups. Allyuh eh play allyuh dotish in allyuh political circles nah. Ah bright man like Fitzgerald go stann up an bawl Trinidad & Tobago on par wit London when it come to crime! Hahah, an we eat dat garbage de man talk, nobody eh study dat London have 10 million people, wit one hundred and sixty five murders between July 2005 and July 2006, Trinidad have 1.3 million, how much man dead, THREE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY SIX between January and December 2005. Why he talking rubbish to de people, to what end ah man mus get up in public office an’ purposely try to insult we intellek? Man like Bas talkn bout comin out ah retirement. Bas why yuh doh buy ah lil house in Mayaro and relax yuhself. We eh want nutten from you no more. Yuh come in, yuh do yuh ting, yuh make ah lil kakada, res’ yuhself now nah man. Wha’ you could possibly do fuh de country again, yuh do enuf, an all de cane workers love yuh fuh wha yuh do fuh dem back in de day, buh you jus wha keep man in de cane field while you perch atop de hill, nah dah hard life fuh de people hadda done man, keepin’ man dong wit one setta race talk, nobody cyah move forward ‘cause allyuh jus fillin’ man head wit ah setta racial ting, dividin’ happy neighbours, wha wrong wit allyuh? We have ah nice set up here man, allyuh politician jus playin’ games, cyah even make tings right in yuh own house, wha yuh go fuh we country? Wha Abu up to dese days by de way! I eh hear bout he in ah long time, like he mus be cut ah small deal, relaxin dong de islands somewhey. An wha bout Senator Ato! Haha, dah man make me laff wi, imagine he come in de game braps, dry so, de man eh say one word to de public, as far as I know, de man eh do nutten, buh ah see him limin in germany doh, yea, de new senator on vacation takin in de football, good fuh he ah say, buh why on we back? Wha plan ah action de man have? Wha we go do, at least dey hol ah man fuh poor Shazad life, yuh know dat wouldn’ta happen long time, de ‘forces was ah lock dong clique, ah bruddahood, but de people getting smart, dem charlieville people do de right ting, dey stann up fuh deyself, dey recognise ah injustice an dey eh take no BS from dem officials bout wha, ah pirogue rammin ah CG vessel? Steups, please. Nex ting yuh know if yuh hit ah man car from behind, he pullin out gun to shoot yuh, dry so, but yuh know wha, it have some good people out here, man who know whey he priorities lie, man who eh fraid to stann up an scream at dem monkeys makin’ ah mess ah we country, an dem is de men we need in de front to lead we, to take de country forward, to provide innovative, fresh ideas fuh we people, dem is de men who care, not bout dey own pocket, buh dey care about de welfare of de nation. All ah we is one family, leh we start actin so nah.

A spliff, a mango and a football

2006-08-27T10:04:00.000+01:00

I remember moving to Almond Drive, Morvant as a young boy. This was a time of great excitement for my family and me, for after years of scrimping and saving, my mother finally managed to buy a place that we could call home. It was not Trincity nor was it Diamond Vale, but it was the best that she could do in her circumstances.

Many a wise and trusted head questioned her judgement to move to a place so notorious for crime and violence. Who could blame them? However, I was to embark on one of the most enjoyable and memorable journeys of my young life. For it was here where I would feel a sense of belonging like I had never felt up until that point and consequently, have never felt since leaving. It was here that in the absence of a father, I would look up to men like Booty, Choko and Lato for strength and guidance. It was here that I would meet many of my life-long friends and many others who helped shape and mould me into the person that I am today. It was here that I met Obatiye Bruce.

I first met Oba shortly after he and his family moved to the area from Laventille. His mother Dianne is the typical Trini matriarch; big, bubbly, full of life...and mouth too I might add!! Oba was the only boy in a household of four siblings. He had two older sisters, Mara and Makeda, and a younger sister called Orchid. Oba was unique in that he was the only boy around our age who had a dread. I am not talking about any ''picky-head'' business...I am talking about locks down to his back!! Like many around him at the time, Oba wasn't really interested in school or academics, and to be fair, school and academics weren't really interested in him either. His passions lay elsewhere. Oba was no saint and it was not long before he became involved in petty crime and larceny and started having his first brushes with the law. It was a route that would eventually lead to him being imprisoned twice. Despite his shortcomings however, he was a popular and well-liked personality in the "drive".

It was the summer of 1995 and my friend Colin ''Pa'' Roper had decided to set up an under 15 football team in the area. The team was to be called Brotherhood United; Pa would be the coach and I would be his lieutenant. For the few weeks before the Queen's Park Savannah League started, we would train twice a week in the Morvant Savannah. The team comprised players of varying skill levels and I can just about remember some of the key players in the side. Shurland Reid was our tried and trusted goalkeeper (nobody else wanted to keep!!) At sweeper back was the man-mountain Rocky Bridgeman, while pulling the strings in the midfield were Obatiye ''Oba'' Bruce and Darrell ''Jimmy Swaggart'' McNicoll. Up front was none other that the mercurial Indian, Marcelo ''Madinga'' McNicoll. At well over two hundred pounds, Pa was no Leo Beenhakker though. He would sit in the stands, smoke hemp and bark out his orders. If he had to get up from the pavilion to come down onto the field then you knew that trouble beckoned. Oba, Madinga and Swaggart were the ones who felt his wrath often enough. The team managed to secure a sponsor to donate fifteen T-shirts, while a local benefactor made the pants. Socks and boots were down to the players and their parents.

Living in one of the more deprived areas in the country, money was always going to be a problem. The morning of the first match saw organised chaos. There were about ten different shades of blue socks, while the football boots, salvaged from God knows where, were in varying states of disrepair. Many in the squad couldn't even afford the $3.00 needed to take them into town and back. We ended up 'mopping drops' from vehicles passing over the Lady Young Road on their way into town. Accompanied by a battered Panasonic tape-deck blaring out Buju's ''You cannot carry it on a plane, you cannot take it on a train'' we traipsed across the parched Savannah to take on the Samba Boys from Carenage with our chests puffed out and our heads held high. By the time the final whistle went, Brotherhood United had lost 10-0!! It was back to the drawing board. We practised and then practised some more. For boys who up until that point had only ever played ''small goal,'' this was a steep learning curve. Pa even started coming down onto the playing area during training sessions. By the end of the season we had improved dramatically...we were only losing games one and two nil!! Our outstanding player that season was without a shadow of a doubt, Obatiye Bruce. His determination to succeed overshadowed all. No matter the scoreline, he would never give up, while his enthusiasm and understanding of the game was beyond his tender age.

Oba also had a taste-or should I say thirst- for mangoes. He was the most daring and prolific mango thief in Almond Drive. He would 'tief' mangoes morning, noon and night; rain or sun; storm or calm. He could climb any tree in any condition. As the owners of a starch mango tree, we more often than not felt the effects of his pilfering hand. On the many occasions that he was caught red-handed, he would sheepishly grin and offer a casual ''sorry''. He would leave without fuss, but not before offering us the spoils of his ill-gotten gains as renumeration. However, both we and he knew that before long he would be back again. For the life of me I couldn't understand at the time what he did with all those mangoes. The answer was simple really. I later found out that he was stealing mangoes from us in order to sell them and support himself. Mangoes that we would never have eaten anyway. Mangoes that would have simply ripened, fallen and rotted in our back garden. It is only now when I think about it that I wish he had taken more. Oba was also the local 'chemist' and he was the man to take with you if you were going to buy any 'herbal remedies'. One sniff was all that he would need in order to tell you if your ten or twenty dollar purchase was money well spent. There were few who could wrap a joint faster, and fewer still who could wrap a joint better than Oba. As a rule, Oba would have a smoke when he got up, after each of his three square meals and before he went to bed. Anything less would have been sacrilege.

To many people, the murder of Obatiye Bruce on Tuesday 15^th August 2006 passed without so much as the batting of an eyelid. His life was over in the short time it took a lone gunman to pump eight bullets into him. In all likelihood, it probably ended slightly sooner. His murder followed the all too familiar tale of a young man killed in cold blood in a seemingly motiveless crime. Many will trumpet their 'live by the gun' and 'no smoke without fire' philosophies for all who would care to listen. However, in the tiny community known as ''9-storeys,'' there will be much sorrow and sadness at Oba's passing. A few will recall Oba as being a bad egg...a troublesome child who grew into a troublesome young man. Most, however, will remember him for his fondness and enthusiasm for life, his willingness to help others and above all, his infectious smile.

Rest in Peace dear friend...

********In memory of Obatiye Bruce********

1980-2006

the prophet

Army of One

2006-08-25T17:36:00.000+01:00

Last night, East London was treated to a vibrant soirée, Trinbagonian style, ushering in the spirit of Carnival, Notting Hill style. Nicholai La Barrie staged a truly eclectic night at East London’s Masque Bar, flanked by the masterfully creative Sheldon Blackman and by the poetic prowess of writer/performer, Malika Brooker. The mood was set with the candlelit tables à deux, the intimacy of performer and audience, stage and ‘pit’, preparing the eager patrons of varied nationalities for a night of top class entertainment.

Malika Brooker opened the night with her poetry, depictions of love in its many forms, emotions and stages. Her courage alone penetrating her attentive listeners, guiding them through various themes: abortion, lost love, machismo, tough love, and sweetest of all, uncontrollable love. Her style was delivered simply yet effectively, its message clearly manipulated by her responsive gesticulations and enthusiasm for her chosen subject.

Malika also doubled as MC for the night, and welcomed Sheldon Blackman – The Believer, to the stage, a man respected for his many artistic talents, for his message, his role in the Rapso and Jamoo movements, but tonight, he was the supporting act. Another note to his humility and determination to help steer the course of his fellow ‘revolutionary’ brothers. Performing ‘Maracas’, ‘Revolution Reloaded’ and ‘London Calling’, which he admittedly had to ‘improvise’, having not performed the song for some time, however, after knocking around a few notes on his guitar, found the key and delivered to an elated crowd. He utilised the age-old kaiso tradition of call and response, to which the locals had to warm up to, but soon got involved. (www.sheldonblackman.com) His presence alone would have been sufficient to energise and inspire his longstanding friend, Nicholai La Barrie.

Superhero to many small insects. His flowing dreadlocks tantamount to his patience, dedication, talent and determination to showcase his work in this adopted city of London. La Barrie has always been a force in the arts and is one of the true Young Leaders in this world, sustaining respect from Trinidad & Tobago as well as the British and European public. His work in the London arts scene is visibly concentrated on the youth, with his role as Head of Youth Arts at the Oval House Theatre, anchoring him to his work and cause. (www.ovalhouse.com)

His opening set was an instrumental piece that gave a taste of the talent on show. A mélange of sounds, styles, beats and instruments gave the eager listeners a taste of the eclectic musical talent of Nicholai La Barrie. He then launched in to his set, summoning the energy of his audience: friends, friends of friends, his students, patrons of the bar upstairs who were simply drawn to the vibe downstairs. His rendition of ‘Army of One’, a powerful song depicting the strength of individual perseverance to foster positive change, moved the crowd, Nicholai strutting his vocal capabilities by varying the tempo of the song to allow a full comprehension of the lyrical content, too many times one would imagine, the lyrical substance of a song being overshadowed by instrumentals or singing style. His inevitable encore paid dues to the mastery of the song, ‘Army of One’.

The show was a great opener to a carnival weekend full of promise. Rapso and its various offshoot movements have always been a positive source for inspiration and enlightened fulfilment. Another little piece of Trinidad & Tobago that can surely be used as a confident showpiece of talent, art and music, a veritable expression of our people, our struggles, our passion, our Trinidad & Tobago.

Pre-emptive Strikes

2006-08-03T12:30:00.000+01:00

As Fidel has handed over the reins of authority to his longstanding comrade, Raúl, the bowels of American Foreign Policy grumbled at the prospect of a healthy feast in the waiting. The first secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba, Fidel Castro, is aged, physically weakened and the world is trembling at the thought of possibly the most arrogant move by its goliath neighbour, to invade and take hostage the essence of its most feared capital: Havana.

And so the world is glued to their television sets and newspapers, watching, reading and waiting, quite like what they are doing now with the devastating war crippling the Middle East, sides being taken owing to the investment and oil revenue potential of the countries involved. I wonder, would it be the same reaction when they invade Cuba? Will Caricom sit aside and watch their sister be plundered, raped, desecrated all in the name of puerile vengeance? Will South America allow the invaders to humiliate their Cuban siblings in to democracy, in to a life of subservience? Will Cuba become another Haiti?

You may ask yourselves, who are we to oppose the might of the USA? Aren’t WE the oil, natural gas and methanol producers, aren’t WE the providers of sugar and cocoa, of holidays internationally revered? WE should place and embargo on them! We should take the helm NOW and let it be known to the rest of the world that the Caribbean stands as a united force, that we will not accept an invasion or allow the threatening of our neighbour, Cuba, the smallest country to stand up and WIN the fight against American capitalism, to truly deserve their sovereign rights, to lead a country the way that suited them best, for if not, the last 55 years would not have played out the way it did.

Cuba has enlightened the Caribbean, moreover, the rest of the world, from Russia to Africa, the United Kingdom and yes, even stubborn USA, with their talented doctors, nurses and sportsmen, their cultural influences, cigars and son, their political prowess. Fidel has proven that democratic capitalism is not the only system that is sustainable, and he has done so for a relentless 55 years. An article recently posted on a leading UK media website talked about the 638 attempts by the CIA on the commandante’s life, so much so, that a documentary on these pathetic follies will be aired on the BBC soon.

As a united front, we will sustain autonomy, some amongst our democracy cradling the American institutions and way of life as if KFC can ever replace Royal Castle, as if Burger King burgers can ever come close to a doubles with “slight pepper”. All that we have is our Caribbean spirit, our unique blend of cultures, races, languages, traditions, an evolutionary melting pot of beauty spread across on the one archipelago the world admires. We are the Caribbean, we have a voice and we must curtail the infringement of our way of life, the beliefs we have come to respect and stand up to the oppressors, defend our neighbours and allies as they defend theirs.

Glasshouses and Stones

2006-08-03T10:18:00.000+01:00

The lid on the tinderbox that is the Middle East has once again come off, and while Israel and Hizbullah trade Hellfire for Katyusha, the world watches with bated breath. The school of thought surrounding this conflict is wide and varied. World opinion is stacked against the Zionist regime. It is said that a picture tells a thousand words, and images from places like Beirut, Qana, Tyre, Sidon, Bint Jbeil and a host of other areas inside Lebanon speak volumes. They are full not of dead Hizbullah fighters but of innocent men, women and children caught up in this macabre cycle of violence. Pictures last weekend from Qana were especially telling. Thirty seven children lost their lives when a Israeli ''precision'' missile smashed into a building in which they were seeking refuge. Contrary to popular belief however, innocent lives are being snuffed out on the other side too. Hizbullah's katyusha rockets are aimed at civilian districts and they too exact a heavy toll; if not on the same scale as that in Lebanon. Moreover, we see that the international community is as divided as ever in its response to the conflict. A problem exacerbated ten-fold by the impotence of the United Nations; which while continuously hissing and baring its fangs, never has a venomous bite.
Many in the West blame Hizbullah for starting the conflict. They claim that Hizbullah's cross border raid which resulted in eight Israeli soldiers being killed and two abducted, was an act of aggression tantamount to war. Israel, they claim, had no choice but to react in order to defend itself. This is a view shared by among others the Brothers Bush, George and Tony (nee Blair.) Their assessment is naive at best. Let's for an instant forget the Palestine issue, forget the Hizbullah fighters languishing in Israeli jails and forget the occasional IDF shelling of southern Lebanese villages prior to this conflict. Let's forget the countless UN (there they are again) resolutions ignored by Israel over the last forty years. Let's forget Israel's continued occupation of the Shebaa Farms and let's agree with the Brothers that Hizbullah did start the war. There is no denying that Hizbullah is a terrorist entity. One of its main aims is to bring about the destruction of the Zionist regime by any means necessary. The face of Hizbullah, Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah and its other leaders have without doubt ''strategically'' placed launchers and fighters in densely populated areas; actions specifically aimed to bring about the kind of results that we are now seeing. But how then does the notion of self-defence equate with Israeli actions thus far? We have witnessed the wanton destruction of civilian infrastructure and the total disregard for human life...terrorist or otherwise. What I found strange at the start of the war was the haste with which Western powers evacuated their citizens from Lebanon. For all the rhetoric about Hizbullah being a nasty and pugnacious anti-western terrorist regime hell bent on killing innocent civilians, Western tourists were flocking to Lebanon in their droves. It was only when Israeli bombs started dropping yards away from their hotels, that these people and their respective governments were compelled to act decisively. Who is terrorising whom?
So many people in the West are missing a trick in this so-called war on terror. How can we claim to be fighting against an ''axis of evil'' with one hand, when with the other, we dish out more death and destruction than those whom we fight? We lost the moral high ground a long time ago. How dare we condemn Hizbullah for kidnapping two Israeli soldiers when the US, UK and others have conspired to kidnap over four hundred ''enemy combatants'' and keep them in Guantanamo? Why do our leaders think that to die as a victim of terror on a plane or train in London or New York is far worse than dying as ''collateral damage'' in Kabul or Baghdad? We talk about bringing freedom and democracy to failed states yet soldiers flying our flags rape and defile those they were sent to liberate. There has been a clamour here in the UK for Tony to condemn the Israeli actions in Lebanon. You people are asking the impossible. How can he reasonably do so when but three years ago, he and his brother laid waste to tens of thousands of Iraqi lives in a campaign referred to as ''shock and awe'' by the hawkish Donald Rumsfeld? How can he possibly speak out when several British and American soldiers are in the dock for murdering innocent Iraqis in cold blood? How can he voice dissent when unlike Israel, he took us to war on the basis of an imaginary threat? How can he?
I firmly believe in Moses' law of an eye for an eye. Those of you who know me will attest to the fact that I am no ''peacenik". I do not believe that simply altering the way we conduct foreign policy will make our lives safer...we have gone too far past the post for that. It is not our right to self-defence that is in question but rather how it is done and at what cost. I believe that the terrorists must be fought with resolve but more importantly guile. In this modern era of mass communications, the responsible sovereign state must act and more importantly, be seen to act to a higher moral code that the so-called terrorists. We must start walking the walk if we are to convince others lest all our efforts...and lives...be in vain.

Prophet

Ceasefire

2006-07-26T10:49:00.000+01:00

A ceasefire will be had, when the USA decides to end their puppetry. Every day new calls for a ceasefire are rumbling through the media, falling on the indifferent ears of the two key holders, brothers Bush and Blair. Public opinion stands for nothing in the eyes of opportunistic, sadistic, men like these two so-called leaders, leading the world to inevitable hatred and destruction. They believe when it’s all done, the “infidels”, the “uncivilised people” of the Middle Eastern nations, of the lower classes will suffer, but lo and behold, when the time comes, their crimes against humanity shall not go unpunished. Where will they escape to when holy war is waged against them?

We got a glimpse in to the blasé attitudes of both men, who are only important because they are too coward to realise the true essence of their stations, both men caught on record undermining the severity of the crisis between the Israelis and the Hezbollah group, showing utter disdain for the hundreds of innocent lives that are being ‘sacrificed’ to satiate the avarice of the USA, Blair being Bush’s bitch, unable to voice an opinion of his own, unable to stand up for his country, his people screaming at him every day to break the noose around his neck, Blair single-handedly embarrassing the sovereignty of his country, enraging the people he is supposed to represent and certainly not reflecting the emotions of public opinion.

These two men are playing a waiting game, the ceasefire will come when Rice irons out a good deal in favour of US foreign policy, when Syria and Iran decide to play ball with the US, when Bush shows the world that no matter what the peons think, he will do as he wishes because they have the military power to inflict injury to any nation, including the international United Nations, that stand in his way.

I feel pity for Tony Blair, for he has let down an entire country by is cowardice. I feel ashamed by the inaction of the EU states to ignore US bullying tactics and do what is right, to stand up for peace, the humane way. I applaud the French for getting their political hands dirty; I applaud Syria and Iran for standing their ground.

What we need is for the world to end the charade. How is it so plain for some to recognise that US foreign policy is ruining the equilibrium of the world? The USA is not the global father of this world we inhabit; their military muscle should not bring fear to any other sovereign nation, their dollar not the most important currency in existence. We are all inhabitants of this world, we are all responsible for the happiness of our brothers and sisters, however, we do not seek such at the expense of others. They enter our homes uninvited, assuming arrogantly that their opinion, their muscle is valued. Business is business, leave it at that.

Israel, Lebanon and Hezbollah need to end the war.

Friday Night Politics

2006-07-16T19:17:00.000+01:00

To what end does Mr Trevor Paul, who seems to be the only person alive to read, digest and make such a poignant decision on the life of another man, indeed the course of the Judicial and Constitutional integrity of Trinidad & Tobago, hundreds of files, in record-breaking time, act in expediting the arrest of Chief Justice Sharma?

It seems highly plausible the the Commissioner of Police based his decision to arrest the Chief Justice, not on the careful consideration and understanding of these so called files, months in the compiling, but on the ambiguity that existed in the mandate ordered by Justice Jones preventing the Assistant Commissioner of Police, Mr Wellington Virgil, in carrying out an arrest, Mr Paul swayed by opportunistic heavy handedness, sending other police officers to carry out the perverse deed. In that case, he should have gone himself to Fairways, the smartman that he pretends to be.

It would be courageously narrow-minded for any intelligent person to believe for any length of time that the Police cannot be ‘encouraged’ by the Government to carry out their duties, whether legally risqué or simply to fornicate the course of Justice to suit the needs of a required act, it being common knowledge that if yuh neighba is ah babylon, yuh could call him dong to sort out ah man on de block who givin yuh trouble. Why would we pretend to be surprised that this has taken place, someone in high office wanting something, and willing to use his muscle to get it?

Sadly, the only loser in this is Mr Paul, who seems to have not mastered the art of politisicing, being an officer of the Police, after all. He is a pawn, like the rest of us. Do not gawk Trinidad & Tobago; open your eyes to the BS taking place in our country. Let us demand accountability for this unecessary, blatantly defiant act that has now threatened the credibility of the highest Police office and has ruffled feathers for no reason.

Mr Sharma is still in his room, shivering, Mr Paul. Your confession sheds no light.

Cuba - a stance

2006-07-12T11:02:00.000+01:00

In our backyard, one of the most atrocious crimes to humanity is taking place, the blind eye being shown by strong, influential brothers and sisters widening the divide with their persistent non-chalance. The battle stage is set for a revolution of unimagined proportions as the world prepares, unfortunately, seemingly without intention of intervention, for USA v Castro. If you think the illegalities of Guantánamo are horrendous, inhumane and treacherously contradictory to any human rights laws established by so called developed nations, wait for the unleashing of $80m USD by the Bush Administration on the last bastion of successful socialism. A catastrophe has been announced and the world, not surprisingly, sits in bated breath for the show to begin.

This cannot be allowed to take place. Where are the lobbyists? The Bush Administration, by no coincidence, decided to ‘abide’ by the Geneva Convention and allow the human beings who are offered no recourse to life, prisoners existing in cages, tortured, under-nourished if fed at all, access to their human rights. What? The world has stood by and let this happen for countless years, the Cuban Government itself unable to defeat and purge the disgusting habits of the Government of the USA from their land. Upon the heels of this revelation, this gesture of concordance, nothing more than an obvious political smoke screen, comes the offering of the century: aid to the effect of $80m USD, to restore democracy to a land that has not known democracy for the last 50 odd years, a land whose life is a Socialist one, who has gained the respect of the international community, of Caricom, a country who has contributed immensely to the global cultural trends sweeping the world, (who doesn’t own a Che t-shirt?) who’s contribution to the medical field is unsurpassed in comparison to nations of its size, moreover, its imposed disposition, a Patria depended upon by many countries for the expertise of its doctors and nurses, a willing, if not usually the first nation to offer its people for humanitarian projects in Africa, South America and the Caribbean. Let us not forget the backbone of baseball – faux cricket – Cubans.

What does the world believe the Government of the USA will do when Castro is gone? I don’t recall any Cuban politician, or official representative asking for help from them, especially in establishing a proven failed political system, whose root begets some of the biggest problems we face today as a global society. Capitalism is a dangerous by product of human greed. Is this what the American Government want to install in Cuba? What business is it of theirs? Is this Bush’s last ‘achievement’ as a failed President? Hasn’t he done enough damage already, uprooted enough families, and killed enough people worldwide? Are we going to allow him to come in to our neighbourhood with a bag of sweets to start a process of decay?

I for one certainly hope that as a true Caribbean Community, we shall NOT let this take place. They have made their stance, the American government brandishing the only true WMD – USD - and we shall make ours. Let us unite, with the strength of our neighbouring South American Superpowers, yes, let us unite, Chavez, surely will not sit still at the thought of such a blatant threat to Cuba, a country that redefined the ideals of accepted social politics. A country that has proven that life does not have to imitate the emptiness of a land distraught by the ulcers of capitalism.

It is evident what the millions of wasted USD will be going towards. To wage war to satisfy decades of hurt American male pride is ghastly, but to sit back and let this happen in our backyard is even worse.

Warrior Inspiration

2006-07-06T14:59:00.000+01:00

Amidst the current debate regarding the financial rewards bestowed upon the Soca Warriors, there has not been any impetus shown by the government to use the vehicle of current football euphoria as a means to implement initiatives that can bring true benefits to the ailing nation.

The players now have confirmation of a substantial monetary reward for their efforts, so the debate is now a moot point. The government has also pledged; on the back of the evidence of the unification, joy and exposure that World Cup participation creates; to ensure that every effort is made to ensure our qualification for 2010 in South Africa.

That is all good news for the Soca Warriors but what about using one of our greatest sporting achievements to lay down something meaningful for a nation ailing from the effects of crime and social depravation?

Some of the Warriors have mentioned that they will now be ploughing their rewards back into their community, in a classic case of “giving something back from whence they came” but our Ministries should be leading the way in this endeavour.

One suggestion would be to set up a nationwide youth football league in honour of those Warriors that made that initial step onto the world stage, as a means of fostering the community spirit that has been eroded from T&T society. This erosion is major factor in the development of a generation of criminals as well as the divisiveness that currently tears apart many segments of the population.

While we have leagues such as the school based Intercol for our youths, it is hardly all-encompassing and does not provide a team with which an entire community can identify and unite in common support. We are all aware of the benefit that sport provides in providing direction and discipline for youths that are so easily led down the criminal path, in a nation where the few social programmes that exist continually fail them. Imagine instead a team for which an underprivileged youth can aspire to play or the burgeoning excitement amongst fervent and united supporters of a clash between teams named after Shaka Hislop and Kelvin Jack?

But naming league teams after sporting heroes is not enough. It would be no different to the naming of DC-9 aircraft after our heroes of yesteryear. For this suggestion to be effective it will need the proper structure behind it where NGOs were involved and administration staff, technical directors, coaching and backroom staff and even officials were all drawn from the relevant community. Certainly the current Warriors will be involved in the capacity of ensuring a successful launch and consistent participation in the progress of this scheme. The spark generated from a community league can then be used to ignite other proposals as the needs and wants of the various communities will come to light and the community is then involved in the decision process as how best to solve them.

This type of initiative can be successful if managed properly and the country certainly has the funds to enable it to become a reality. There is also the major plus that from of this structured league, the next generation of Soca Warriors will emerge. This is the level that we have to be thinking upon if we are to address the factors that help create the criminal element or the social inequalities in T&T, so why not take the innovative step of using our beloved football as a means to helping eradicate the scourge that is inflicting this country?

Magnificent stadiums in Toruba do not produce athletes and foster the much needed community strength to overcome the ills of society, grass roots initiatives will do so. We can build the foundation and make our wonderful inclusion in the World Cup really mean something for our nation.

Oh, and a few suggestions for some of the teams: The Latapy Lads, The Yorke Youths, The Birchall Boys, The Sancho Sons…..you get the idea. Over to you Mr. Boynes, we have heard the plans for 2010, let us hear the plans for now, our communities await.

Sheldon Waithe

The Warrior Spirit

2006-06-18T12:07:00.000+01:00

Over the last two weeks, I have had the splendid privilege of dipping in and out of Germany to take part in one of the world’s greatest sporting events, the Fifa World Cup, 2006. The setting for the tournament cannot be criticised as some of Deutschland’s magnificent cities host hundreds of thousands of visitors throughout June and July, displaying the core German attributes of impeccable organisation, envious transportation infrastructure and the most impressive and overwhelming amicability of the Germans.

My first impression on arrival to Düsseldorf Airport was sealed by a smiling immigration officer, who, once ascertained that I was part of the Warrior Nation, could not help himself lauding the Soca Warriors and their valiant efforts thus far. I don’t know about the rest of you, but I have never met a smiling immigration officer in all my travels! By the end of the match against England, on my departure from Düsseldorf, I was alarmed by someone in the airport calling my name: the same immigration officer! He remembered my name! He shook hands with me consolingly and assured me as only a German officer can, that we would triumph over Paraguay!

Being based in Dortmund and Nurnberg thus far, I have been absolutely blown away by the hospitality of the Germans, furthermore, if no one knew, you know now, in Germany, Trinidad &Tobago has become the underdog kings, Trinbagonians, the spice of Deutschland, and we are loved by everyone! At every corner you hear the cry ‘Soca Warrior’! We’ve become an adopted people, the team even the Germans want to meet at the final! Warrior supporters will attest to my sentiments, but I believe we have become a veritable symbol of ‘Fair Play’, in that we have the spirit that truly encompasses the sport and this is appreciated and yearned for by even the most die hard of football fans in Germany, fans who would like to ‘lose’ 2-0 and still make more noise than their rivals and party just as fervently as all the other nationals in town!

WM 2006 (Werde Meisterschaft 2006) teaches an invaluable tenet of life and at a very critical time, that the unity sought on a national scale, drummed up from the streets of Port of Spain, San Fernando, Curepe, Laventille, Scarborough and Castara can be reflected internationally by the simple formula of teaching by example. I am proud to declare that Trinbagonians epitomise this unity in Germany, our scintillating presence far surpassing the clichés of old and for the world to see, a country of unified, multicultural smiles that are a true representation of a Soca Warrior. We have lifted the spirits of the World Cup and will leave our mark on Germany for time to come.

Soca Warriors vs Paraguay – 20th June – Kaiserslautern. We done mash up!

Good Luck TNT

2006-06-10T05:14:00.000+01:00

We would like to wish the Trinidad and Tobago Senior National Football team the best of luck during the World Cup finals. One dream has come true for the entire nation and it is nice to know that there are still shining stars in the dark sky over the country. The nation is with you and every Trini, no matter where we are located in this world, is in support of our fellow nationals.

Win, lose or draw we are with you to the end!

A Step in the Right Direction

2006-05-30T23:38:00.000+01:00

If the age-old adage of ''if it aint broken don't fix it'' holds true, then surely the opposite must apply as well...''If it is broken then yuh better damn well fix it!'' The Trinidad and Tobago Police Service has stagnated in the realms of mediocrity for way too long. Practices from a bygone era are followed chapter and verse and any attempt to alter this course is greeted with accusations of blasphemy. However, subtle cracks are beginning to appear within the thin blue line. Senior police officers are up in arms (pardon the pun) over plans to promote those more junior in service ahead of them. At the centre of this debate lies the new Merits-Based Promotion System being pioneered by the Police hierarchy and the Police Service Commission.

For those unfamiliar with the new system, it determines an officer's suitability for promotion by assessing a number of categories. An officer is awarded 30 points for Performance and Appraisal, 20 points for Fitness, 15 points for Discipline, 10 points for Length of Service, and 5 points each for Academic Qualifications and Commendations. The aggrieved parties claim that the junior officers considered for promotion have manipulated the system. Their grievance stems from the misconceived notion that while they were busy maintaining law and order and ensuring national security, these junior officers were allowed time-off in the form of study leave to gain academic qualifications. If ever there was a case in point as to why some of these senior officers should go back to school, it is this one. The system allows but a mere 5 points for academic prowess. In a total of 85 points, that is not a hell of a lot. An officer can return to work with a P.H.D. in Criminology after having seven years leave. Should he or she choose to go for promotion, their maximum entitlement for that qualification would still be 5 points. So, when the system allows more points (10) for the experience gained by being a longer serving officer, it is hard to see the validity of their argument.

To quote the Trinidad Express, the officers by-passed for promotion claim to have been,'' busy enforcing the law, bringing cases against criminal offenders and attending court to present cases while their colleagues are allowed time-off to enhance their academic qualifications and manipulate the system.''1* Do these officers think that we are stupid? Do they think that we do not read the papers and watch the television on a daily basis? Do they not believe that we know people whose day to day lives are seriously troubled by crime and disorder? The Trinidad Express was also at great pains to point out that many of these officers work in specialist units. Is it not these same units that time and again fail to catch murderers, fail to stop kidnappings, fail to stop the bombs in Port-of Spain, and fail to stop the influx of guns, drugs and ammunition onto our streets? Must I remind these officers that Trinidad and Tobago recorded its highest ever level of homicide last year? Exactly how many of those murderers were apprehended and brought to justice? How many kidnappers? How many robbers? So, in an age where any Trinidadian with an ounce of sanity will acknowledge that crime is definitely on the increase, it begs the question. What exactly have these officers been so busy doing?

Don't be fooled by the scaremongers. The new system is being maligned because it goes against the grain. Promotion can no longer be viewed a a divine right of passage for some. The system is well-balanced and places the needs of the organisation ahead of the wants of a selfish few. Hard-working officers will have nothing to fear. They will continue to be rewarded by the provisions of the new system. Lazy officers on the other hand will find it increasingly difficult to ''gum-beat'' their way to the next rank. The Merits-Based Promotion System will inject some much needed life-blood into an institution that many feared had been drifting aimlessly into oblivion. It can only be viewed as a much needed step in the right direction.

1* Taken from The Trinidad Express Newspapers online edition dated 28/05/2006.

prophet

The root of all evil

2006-05-28T03:29:00.000+01:00

One would be daft...or moreso, deranged, if he or she were to say that T&T isn't fast descending into an abyss of unthinkable dread. During my time abroad, I have listened to many pontificate over how best to rescue the nation from this certain doom. The impetus of their agenda is misdirected however, as they too often focus on the symptoms of the disease rather than what causes it in the first place. It is all too easy to blame the men from Morvant, Laventille and Carenage for the constant siege that they lay to the places that we call home.

In my opinion however, the BIGGEST SINGLE problem facing T&T at this present time is the seemingly unstoppable influx of narcotics, weaponry and ammunition onto our shores. We need to ask ourselves, ''Where does it come from and WHO brings it in?'' I wrote a piece a few years ago highlighting this very point. As far as I know, there are no major ports of entry in Morvant, Laventille, Carenage, St. James or any of the other so-called 'crime hot-spots.' Many of the people notorious for committing these despicable acts of violence do not own passports, much less visas...neither do they own boats or light aircraft.

The seizure of TT$700m in cocaine last year, as well as an assortment of guns and ammunition on Monos Island is truly a case in point. Which group of citizens has the enormous financial and logistical muscle to import almost ONE FUCKING BILLION DOLLARS worth of cocaine and guns into Trinidad? Who are the types of people who own homes and are familiar with the nooks and crannies ''down-de-islands''? I know for a fact that it is not my brethren RAFA and TOXIC from "'9-storeys".

Intelligence here in the UK has T&T as a major transhipment point of cocaine destined for Europe. This is because of our close proximity to South America as well as our modern docks and cargo handling facilities. HOW MANY MORE CONSIGNMENTS OF SIMILAR VALUE HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFULLY BROUGHT INTO T&T THIS YEAR ALONE?? Is it therefore a surprise that a lot of this contraband ends up on the streets of Morvant, Laventille, Carenage, St. James as payment by the drug barons for services rendered? They then descend through the ''food-chain'' and into the hands of people like RAFA and TOXIC. Unlike Great Britain, France and the United States to name but a few, &T does not have to worry about things like people smuggling, proliferation of nuclear weapons, terrorism (Jamaat apart) etc. How hard would it be to STEM the flow of guns and ammunition into the country? How hard would it be then to pool the necessary resources to combat just these two things-THE IMPORTATION OF DRUGS AND GUNS (INCLUDING AMMO)? An answer in two words-NOT VERY! It is simple really...less illegal guns in the country, less illegal guns on the streets...less illegal guns on the streets, less shootings...less shootings, less murders!!

prophet