The difference between Creole and standard English
Posted: Sunday, April 28, 2002
THE EDITOR: Again, I would appreciate space in your paper to respond to an article entitled "A Different, not an incorrect, way of speaking, Part 3" carried in the 2002 March 24 publication of the Newsday. In this dissertation, the author, Dr Winford James, responds to certain issues which I raised in my rebuttal (of sorts) of his original article "A different, not Incorrect way of speaking", both previously published in the same newspaper.
Essentially, Dr James suggests, or rather, reiterates:
1. That any argument to the effect that Creole is a corruption or aberration of Standard English is "misinformed ... erroneous ... baseless, emotional talk", and is an "unsupported bias towards English and against Creole in terms of differentiated social function".
2. That Creole is really a "restructuring" of standard English not a corruption.
3. That I have provided "no argument for the propositions of corruption, failure and inability to communicate with the rest of the world", which I had articulated in my original rebuttal.
4. That since there are several SE's and "regional dialects of English in UK, US and other internationally prestigious English-speaking places, the "corruption" argument is moot ab initio (from the beginning).
5. That "students can master English while keeping their Creole intact".
6. That the argument between standard English and the "lowlier Creole" is one of prestige.
In response to point (1) above, and since I have neither the research, reference nor intellectual resources so abundantly available to Dr James, may I suggest a small experiment in support of my "corruption/aberration" position? Let us extract from Creole for a moment all English words, including all misapplications and misspellings thereof. What do we have left? Surely nothing that can facilitate the communicative process ... even remotely?
I suspect that Dr James would simply rejoin that the foregoing is entirely consistent with his "restructuring" thesis, as per point (2) above. In this regard, I can only proffer that, when the resultant changes are the consequence of both/either a passive ignorance and/or the deliberate ignoring of the ground rules of the original language, I call the process a 'corruption', not a 'restructuring'.
Re point (3), on too many occasions have I encountered fellow Trinidadians and Jamaicans abroad, who, as intelligent and as articulate as they might have been in their respective creoles, could effect barely more than the simplest of communications without a great sense of frustration. This was simply because Standard English was as foreign to them as their respective creoles were to their foreign audiences.
With respect to point (4), it would appear to be somewhat inappropriate for Dr James to now attempt to use the existence of several Englishes and regional dialects thereof to shoot down the 'corruption' argument, since it was the very Dr James, in his original article, who introduced the concept of standard English. He cannot now conveniently define it away.
To the suggestion that "students can master English while keeping their Creole intact", I say, without fear of contradiction, that this can happen only when English is the primary mode of communication and Creole is relegated to the occasional lime and ole talk. Once the automatic default language is Creole, trouble tek dem chirrun in de exam.
In the former scenario, the process simply involves thought followed by the English articulation thereof. Whereas, the latter requires thought, followed by a Creole 'in-head' articulation, then followed by a Creole-to-English translation, which is most confusing and time-consuming.
If some among us have failed to make this simple scientific observation, what can I say? Re Point (6), I wish to assure Dr James that the issue for me as far as this matter is concerned is not prestige, it is functionality. So, in closing, I again call upon all parents and teachers to insist that your charges speak, write and read proper English voraciously.
Your children/students will benefit immensely from it. I guarantee it!!!
E-Mail (P)
Language Conscious 'Trini' Parent
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Citizens of TT are the collateral damage
Posted: Thursday, April 25, 2002
THE EDITOR: Mr Panday's ability to divide the nation along racial lines was facilitated by a long-standing deficiency in our social structure. The citizens of TT, for as long as I can recall, have never been able to seek justice or security through the social institutions mandated to protect and serve them. This insecurity and frustration naturally makes them gravitate to forming alliances, be it among religious, political, financial, or, as with Mr Panday's drive, along racial lines.
It was both surprising and disillusioning to hear that the events which transpired in Parliament on April 5 and 6, appeared to stun the nation, when, for as long as I can remember, Parliament has always been a circus of opportunists dressed deceptively as leaders seeking the interest of the country, but partaking in activities that can only be construed as negligence on the part of both the government and the opposition.
The repercussions of this behaviour has manifested itself in the present situation in TT and Mr Manning, instead of addressing his and Mr Panday's culpability for the detrimental state of our society, is presenting a facade of resolve by utilising the war on crime to penalise the citizens that are, to borrow a term from our infamous allies "the collateral damage" of both the Panday and Manning administration's self-serving attitude toward governance.
The maintenance of this profile of denial by our two main political parties, would never achieve stability among our people and as seen with our neighbouring Venezuela no amount of guns and ammunition can suppress the anger of an oppressed and exploited people, and the seat of leadership in our country would never be a comfortable one.
Governments would come and go, but the mainstay of security and stability in our country is not being addressed, and that is integrity, scruples and moral value in all our state institutions.
And the opposition to a stable environment would only become more militant and deceptive.
The present drive against crime and corruption, shows no equity among social and professional levels in our society and there is no semblance of repentance or remorse by the PNM or the UNC, for their role in the situation as it exists today. Neither the PNM nor the UNC, has presented itself to the citizens of TT as servants and mentors of the people, and furthermore, it seems as if all other potential candidates for governmental positions have adopted a "wait-and-see" profile.
Despite what Mr Manning and Mr Panday, with their followers, may believe, they may be able to distance themselves financially from the general public but their personal security is equally at risk.
LAURENCE DE GANNES
Tobago
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Christian Silence at What Price?
Posted: Tuesday, April 23, 2002
Dear Editor
The worldwide Christian community has instituted a self imposed deafening silence to what is going on the Middle East today. Historically they have stood by, if not actively participating in Colonialism, Slavery, Indenture, the Holocaust and Apartheid only to apologise long after the fact awhen people, property and places have long been destroyed.
In places considered 'Holy' to them, it seems like they do not even have the moral and spiritual fortitude to stand up and speak out against the excesses and deadly actions of the United States, Israel and others in the Mid East and their silence makes one believe that they are more interested in pleasing man than serving God or doing what is right. Certainly silence is not an option.
Case in point is the Israeli seige and destruction of the town of Bethlehem a place that is supposed to be the most holiest to them as it is where there Lord, God and Saviour is said to have been born. Their Church of Nativity for weeks has been bombarded in that town, shot at and surrounded and occupied by armed men with priests and others trapped inside, facing the most pallid, dangerous rand deterioating conditions. One would have thought that by now there would have been a chorus of outrage and Christian condemnation of that fact. As the Church and town is supposed to be a Holy and Sacred site for all Christians.
It seems the Christians have other matters on their minds besides the atrocities taking place, or maybe they feel because it is Palestian and Arab lives it is not that important. I would remind them though that there are many Christian Palestinians. So while they watch on and see the church become more holy everyday in another sense of the word. I humbly remind them that their modus operandi is simply not acceptable to God and man.
KURT GARCIA
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European influences in present generation
Posted: Friday, April 19, 2002
THE EDITOR: Robust is our people, black and proud, black conscious, educated, so aim for the clouds. Where we came from is important and where we are going is even more so.
Our ancestors struggled for freedom, yet many of us may not be physically enslaved, but we are, consciously and sub-consciously in bondage.
Past generations have been wrongly indoctrinated through the hypocrisy of the Europeans and their influences have become the cesspit of continuity to this present generation.
The things that we believe are they really our beliefs, or that of the Europeans?
Are we not interested in our past as a reminder of the suffering endured, the strength within and the longing to be freed?
Where is our passion? There isn't any, because, if you visit our National Museum you'll see the evidence of it.
It is very shameful to see that only a tiny section focuses on slavery, while other sections are displayed boldly, as a statement that we obviously don't care about our black history.
Our people are lost and they need new guidance. Our children need to be educated about their history. The Indians seem to be much more disillusioned.
There is "Indian Arrival Day", and as for the Africans' lack of knowledge and an increase in stupidity we now celebrate "Spiritual Baptist Day", now tell me, where is the pride and the significance?
We need to start in the schools, otherwise the African will continue to dig a pit for his fellow African. When they are with knowledge they will rise above pettiness and unite with a common vision and a passion of familiarity.
CLAIRE HOSPEDALES
Long Circular
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Pan patent not cast in stone
Posted: Wednesday, April 17, 2002
The Editor: The grant of a patent by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) to Whitmyre et al for “Production of a Caribbean steelpan” is not cast in stone and may be challenged before the USPTO, a US Supreme Court or any other patent office before which Whitmyre et al attempt to patent the invention.
In August 2001, the USPTO cancelled several claims of a patent to Basmati rice filed by RiceTec Inc, a US corporation, on the grounds that RiceTec Inc claimed rights to certain aspects of Basmati rice that constituted parts of the prior art which was used for centuries by indigenous Indian farmers.
In simplest terms, several of RiceTec’s claims were not new, neither was there any element of inventiveness. When faced with the challenge, RiceTec even withdrew some of its claims which were too broad.
The challenge for the re-examination of the patent was filed by the Research Foundation for Science, Technology and Ecology and the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority on behalf of the government of India.
On May 10, 2000, the European Patent Office (EPO) revoked a patent granted to the United States Department of Agriculture and WR Grace company in relation to a fungicide derived from the Indian medicinal tree, neem.
The neem tree had been used for centuries in India for its medicinal, insecticidal and contraceptive properties. The action was filed by the EU Parliament’s Green Party, the Research Foundation for Science, Technology and Ecology and the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements “FOAM).
Similarly, the USPTO also revoked a tumeric patent on the basis of a challenge filed by the Indian Council of Scientific and Industrial Research. There are several other cases where patents relating to aspects of indigenous culture have been revoked.
The Whitmyre et al patent grants the inventors exclusive rights to the production of a Caribbean steelpan as outlined in their invention. Challenges to the patent should be filed immediately by the relevant authorities in order to ensure that we do not find ourselves in a situation where we may be prevented from the free use of our own instruments by virtue of patent infringement or be required to obtain permission and pay royalties for aspects of same.
Lethargy and indifference towards this matter should not be countenanced—the cost factor to our country by doing nothing far outweighs the costs of commencing legal action. The relevant authorities with the requisite government support should vigorously pursue all actions and initiatives to ensure that there is no “theft” of our culture.
Tene Ai Reece
Attorney-at-law
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Different Strokes for Rich Folks
Posted: Saturday, April 13, 2002
Dear Editor
Recently when the people arrested in the Airport Corruption matter, in less than 24 hours there were all these sanctimonious, moral and upright citizens, journalists, columnists, editors, political parties etc, condemning those people who were jeering them outside the Port-of-Spain Courts, and rightly so, the accused were innocent until proven guilty and must face due process without being subject to that type of treatment.
The recent appearance of Salina Sahadath before the Courts in Siparia saw the same situation where people were jeering the accused in similar fashion. Do you think that she would get all the people who knew the rights of the Airport 6 to stand up for her innocent until proven guilty status and due process rights. I think we already know that answer. Also does not Dhanraj Singh the ex-Minister enjoy those same rights, as I have noticed none of his fellow past and present MP colleagues has paid him a visit. It seems like if some person or persons has decided that Singh is guilty and is being treated as such. Different strokes I must conclude.
Cindy Williams
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The House elects Speaker - not the Govt
Posted: Thursday, April 11, 2002
THE EDITOR: I would like to share my view concerning what has happened with respect to the election of a Speaker for the House of Representatives. Many people, it seems to me, believe that it is the "Government" that elects the Speaker. Well that is not what the Constitution says.
Let me quote Section 50 (1) of the Constitution: "When the House of Representatives first meets after any general election and before it proceeds to the despatch of any other business, it shall elect a person to be the Speaker of the House and if the office of Speaker falls vacant at any time before the next dissolution of Parliament, the House shall, as soon as practicable, elect another person to that office."
It means that ALL members of the House are responsible for electing a Speaker and it is a responsibility that they should take seriously, should not shirk or treat as a game. In the past the Government which had the majority would select someone and because it had a majority that person would be elected. As far as I can recall the Opposition never objected but accepted the person so chosen, and not simply because they recognised that the Government had the majority, but because it was the right and proper thing of all members of the House to elect a Speaker.
For example look at the way the UNC Government shoved floor-crossing, defeated Rupert Griffith as Speaker. Was that not an insult to all concerned and a disregard of true democratic principle?
The present 18-18 tie allowed the sort of total irresponsibility that went on in the House last weekend. Because the Opposition knew that the Government did not have a majority, it did everything it could to frustrate the appointment of a Speaker which would have enabled the country to have a Parliament. And why? Because Mr Panday was not made Prime Minister.
Professor Bogdanor to whom Mr Panday went for advice made two things very clear: (a) incumbency would have given Mr Panday the edge, but (2) by entering into a signed agreement with Mr Manning in which both he and Mr Manning agreed to allow the President to chose the PM, Mr Panday's gave up any rights of incumbency and to quote Professor Bogdanor, "had no more rights than Mr Manning to the Prime Ministership". Mr Panday also agreed with Mr Manning to appoint Dr Max Richards as Speaker. Mr Manning, though he makes the most incredible and unnecessary mistakes was quite correct to prorogue the Parliament on Saturday and to carry on running the Government for as long as he can. The UNC may consider that it was good strategy to frustrate the appointment of a Speaker, but what they have really done is deprived the country of a Parliament and that is something caring citizens will not forget.
J L M Johnson
Pointe-a-Pierre
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Leaders, teachers must have vision
Posted: Wednesday, April 10, 2002
By Bukka Rennie
In the last column I commented on the disastrous approach to education that seems acceptable to most of our renowned educators, and suggested if we are to ever become a truly developed world-class society, we will first have to re-fashion and redesign our education system.
There were numerous responses, but the one which I felt most needed to be published is the one, interestingly enough, sent by a female professor who makes no distinction between what is required of our "teachers" and what is demanded of all our "social leaders". Her piece is as follows:
"...I cannot neglect responding to this comment about separation of males and females enhancing male chances of being successful. Where can I find this study or research? MORE
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Problem parents cause problem children
Posted: Tuesday, April 9, 2002
THE EDITOR: I compliment the Ministry of Education on emphasising human development in the students' programmes.
The almost total emphasis on academics did not produce a generally high level of academic success. But I suggest more comprehensive work on at least one critical area: parents. Problem children have problem parents. Not that these parents are 'bad'. Some might be among the 'nicest' people in the world.
But that 'niceness' doesn't prevent them from saying or doing things that produce or encourage problems among their children.
They may keep comparing them to other children; allow them to 'get away with murder'; make rules and not enforce them consistently; call them bad, ugly, worthless; show favouritism and so on. The fact is that many darling babies become 'criminals' because of their parents.
Advice to schools: "Send for the parents." But they do that; but in so many cases parents do not come.
When they come, good things can happen but questions sometimes arise: does the school have the time and resources to deal adequately with all cases, and do some of the parents have the commitment to solve the problem?
Solution: i) In each district, provide a counselling group of professional and/or paramedical status to provide group and individual counselling; ii) Schools will continue with their student and parent counselling; iii) Schools will refer parents to district counselling groups as they see fit; iv) Parents who make no use of school counselling and parents of students who do not show adequate improvement will be referred to the Family Court for referral to the district groups; v) Parents will continue counselling sessions until their children reach an acceptable level of social adjustment; vi) National parenting programmes will be provided through the media and in language and presentation should not be directed solely at a sophisticated elite.
It has always intrigued me, from childhood that when there is threat of an epidemic doctors and nurses swarm through the community with vaccines and lectures to conquer the invading disease. We have long been alarmed at our devastating crime and behaviour epidemic. We know the causes; parents (no 1 cause; and they get little training in parenting), school formal and informal programme, teacher training, supervision, society gone mad on consumerism, an economic system chasing wealth with little regard for 'moral and spiritual values', etc. We must start with the parents, not to punish but to help.
But there is a lot we must do otherwise.
VAN S STEWART
Diego Martin
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Where were UNC relatives?
Posted: Monday, April 8, 2002
EDITOR: I was taken aback recently when I saw Mr Basdeo Panday telling his UNC MP's and supporters that they must be prepared to die rather than live like second class citizens, as he urged them to come out and protest on April 5th. He even threatened to deal with the Police at a later date, but that's a matter for Commissioner Guy.
One would have thought that in the crowd that gathered to protest on D-Day as it Mr Panday called it, and who would have been prepared to die would have been the immediate family and relatives of the UNC MP's and top officials.
I am sure that the people I saw gathered around the Red House were not their close family or relatives, which tells us a much bigger story about who is protesting their second class status and who is prepared to die for it. I am sure you would agree.
CITIZEN VOICE
Port-of-Spain.
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House cleaning before another election
Posted: Monday, April 8, 2002
By HERU
We are presently traversing uncharted waters and while I would like to see us return to the polls several things should be addressed before we so do.
The investigations into the Election and Boundaries Commission should be completed and the Election List should be updated to the satisfaction of all the political parties. I could have said to clean up the list to the satisfaction of all the people but when dealing with so many people it would be impossible to satisfy all.
The investigations into government corruption should be completed before returning to the polls. There are several investigations on the way and as we have seen the Director of Public Prosecutions found enough grounds to have several persons including two ex-ministers arrested for corruption.
One shudders to think what might happen if ex-ministers who are presently under investigation suddenly find themselves in government. We saw the efforts of the former UNC government to frustrate the inquiries into several government contracts and the rift it created in their own party which caused them to call an election.
I maintain that we should all be wary of the two main parties and given the election deadlock both sides know they would be holding on to power on a fine thread and this PNM government knows they are being severely scrutinized. We should let the reasonableness of right and wrong move our collective voices to force this government to allow the police and the other commissions of enquiry to finish their investigations before returning to the polls.
The UNC had their chance to investigate allegations of corruption during the last PNM administration. We should now focus on the cases that enraged so many of us.
The 1.6 billion dollar Airport contract, the Rice deal, the 100 million dollar Miss Universe, the school building exercise and the road-paving project are just a few that come to mind as I write this letter.
These investigations are too important to have them undermined by politicians who wish to protect themselves, family and financial investors. I am calling on all right thinking people to monitor this present government for a while and press the case for all the investigations to be completed before we return to the polls.
HERU
Maraval
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Inside The Outhouse
Posted: Saturday, April 6, 2002
By Raffique Shah
THE tragedy of our times is that the politicians, and I mean close to 90 per cent of them, treat the populace with scant regard if not outright contempt, if we must judge them by their deeds, not their words. The bigger tragedy is that we, a supposedly educated and sensible people, allow ourselves to be used by them, abused, and then discarded. The biggest tragedy is that, like moronic masochists, we prostrate ourselves before them to face more licks, get more kicks-and still do their bidding.
I have begun writing this piece on Friday morning, overwhelmed by sadness, by what my country, my Parliament, is being reduced to. Not that that chamber was ever the sanctum of statesmanship that it was made out to be during the often-touted glory days of Dr Eric Williams, Dr Rudranath Capildeo, Lionel Seukeran and others who were schooled in Shakespeare and steeped in colonial traditions. Sure these men and women were glib, persuasive speakers. And their conduct was several cuts above the riff-raff that have long taken over the House of Representatives. MORE
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Leadership by farce
Posted: Saturday, April 6, 2002
by Winford James
All of us should have known that a speaker would not have been elected on Friday, yet many hoped against hope that one would. They hoped in this way because they were relying on bases like leader decency, maturity, and wisdom, these notions interpreted, as they usually are, optimistically rather than objectively. MORE
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Where is Raymond Choo Kong when you need him
Posted: Saturday, April 6, 2002
By Donna Yawching
AS I WRITE this (it's Friday), all eyes and minds are glued to the spectacle that is occurring in the Red House. And for good reason: it's theatre of the first order. Panday's threat/promise to propose 2000 prospective Speakers, and then vote them all down, has turned it into Theatre of the Absurd; meanwhile, Manning's mere presence on the stage promises to put the entire audience to sleep, in the manner of bad high-school Shakespeare.
As all these silly men babble about "going the distance" for five whole days, it is clear that none of them has done even a minimum of psychological research, which details what happens to rats (and what else are politicians?) who are deprived of sleep for more than about three days. If I remember rightly, insanity begins to set in-though in this case, that may be superfluous. I personally doubt that any one of the MPs in the Red House tonight is capable of remaining awake and coherent for five days-and the minute one of them dozes off, the other side will call for a vote! MORE
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Teachers persevere despite crisis
Posted: Thursday, April 4, 2002
THE EDITOR: According to the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary of Current English, the meaning of the verb "to oppress" is to rule unjustly or cruelly or to cause to feel troubled or uncomfortable. Oppressor, oppressive, oppression are words that connote disrespect and the systematic mistreatment of another or of a group who is perceived of as less than and certainly less powerful. We would shudder to think that our schools promote oppression in any form. Even more alarming and preposterous would be the possibility of entertaining the idea that teachers are oppressed (teachers oppression).
"Teachers have it nice"- "plenty holidays". Gone are the days of "Teach" said lovingly, respectfully and with admiration. The truth is that thousands of teachers still care deeply about their charges and about each other. All teachers are completely good human beings who started their careers with the best of intentions and the greatest of dreams for themselves and for their students. Many still dare to hope at a time when our schools seem to be in crisis. Many teachers and those who can remember how much they like teachers continue to think well of us and continue to be hopeful about making schools physically and emotionally safe places for everyone. And-brace yourselves-this is especially true of the teachers at Arima Senior Comprehensive School. It must be said. It must be made known.
Parents and guardians who send their children to this place which is so deeply scarred and wounded in recent times by the sad polarisation among the teachers-a division never before witnessed in this teacher's 19 years at this institution-must necessarily choose to step away from all the hurts that will inevitably rise up as they cry out for justice for their children.
Remember that teacher who made a difference when you were at school. Please be reminded that in reality there was at least one teacher at some time who cared about you and attempted to show you-amidst her or his own struggle-that you mattered, that you were special, that you were loved, that you could amount to something, that you were smart and could run fast and...the list goes on. No matter the recording that might be playing in your head right now, it did happen. It did.
ALLISON KNIGHTS
(Teacher) Arima Senior Comprehensive School
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UNC should have addressed corruption, says Kamla
Posted: Thursday, April 4, 2002
FORMER attorney general Kamla Persad-Bissessar admitted yesterday that the UNC may have erred in accepting its public relation managers' advice to avoid responding to the issue of corruption during the last election campaign.
Persad-Bissessar said UNC leader Basdeo Panday and several party members have admitted that corruption should have been addressed at that time, but it was not considered a crucial issue by the party's PR team.
"We were advised not to spend time on that, the crucial issue being performance," said Persad-Bissessar.
Persad-Bissessar's statement comes in the wake of the arrests two weeks ago of six high-profile persons, including former UNC Finance Minister Brian Kuei Tung, in connection with alleged corruption in the Airport contract.
"With specific reference to allegations made about the airport, Mr Panday appointed the Deyalsingh committee to probe the matter, and that report was rejected by a court of law because the Deyalsingh committee had failed to adhere to the principles of natural justice," Persad-Bissessar said.
She insisted that Panday understood that his legal functions and jurisdiction as PM did not include interference with the investigative and prosecutorial processes of the criminal justice system.
"That is why the DPP has never found it necessary to gag him," Persad-Bissessar said.
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Taking us back to 'Oliver Twist'
Posted: Thursday, April 4, 2002
THE EDITOR: I cannot begin to express my revulsion at the remarks from brother Michael Samuel, retiring Principal of Presentation College San Fernando.
To degrade mankind in this modern age by likening him to an animal leads me to put the question where was he teaching over the years, in a zoo?
Biologically man is animal, but it can be argued that he was animal. Working through the evolutionary process over eons of time mankind has developed a humanity transcending him above that of his lower self. It is truly regrettable that an educator of Brother Samuel's standing should appear to be unmindful of this deviation.
As I reflected on the Brother's remarks I could not help but ask myself if he was not carrying us all back to the 19th century days of Charles Dickens' Oliver Twist.
Answers for today's problems must be sought and found in the space and electronic age in which we live and not in the horse and buggy age of our fore parents.
The world in which we are a part, is at this time motivated by violence. Unfortunately this is an undisputed fact.
Language, our music, advertisements, news reports in the papers, the movies and the most instilling, the television with its coverage of world events confirms this.
To recognise this and to persist that the blame be placed upon the students and/or educational systems is illogical. I would say even mischievous, we are looking for scapegoats.
What we must come to accept is that remedies are not forthcoming. Only time and experience can provide us with answers.
This is a transitional age, answers lie in the future not in the past. Turning to the events that unfolded before the Magistrate's Court that morning in question, March 25, it only goes to demonstrate the impotency of our police service, in anticipating occurrences.
While it cannot be said that the political situation in the country has not created a volatile atmosphere, certain precautions I would have thought, would have been taking order to prevent any disquieting situation from having developed.
In spite of all the pronouncements coming from the Minister of National Security, to promote confidence in the police service, this body seems not to be on its toes, so to speak.
D HERMEY
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Top Trini Acts For Barbados Pan Jazz Fest
Posted: Thursday, April 4, 2002
By Terry Joseph
Reigning World Steelband Music Festival (WSMF) champion TCL Group Skiffle Bunch will headline the T&T contingent to Pan Under the Trees – The Barbados Pan/Jazz Festival, scheduled for May 18 and 19.
Supported by the Barbados Tourism Authority and produced by Mike Murray’s Astrology Promotions, the weekend pan festival will feature four Trini acts. Apart from Skiffle Bunch, prize-winning soloist Dane Gulston, soul singer Mavis John and Raf Robertson’s Superband comprise the home team. MORE
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'A Master Stroke' - 18-18 is not 50-50
Posted: Thursday, April 4, 2002
THE EDITOR: I am now very startled and amazed by the attitude of Mr Panday and his seventeen (17) members, (1) Refusing to accept salaries etc, (2) Professing the Government is illegal, (3) Refusing to accept Mr Patrick Manning as Prime Minister, (4) Calling for general elections this year (total chaos), (5) Having decided to attend the opening of Parliament with his members.
As I am not a politician or an attorney-at-law . How are Mr Panday and his members to execute this arrangement, when bearing in mind, Mr Basdeo Panday has refused to accept his Instrument of Opposition Leader from the President?
What section of Parliament would Mr Panday and his members occupy? Are they going to be seated with the Prime Minister and his members? (18-18)
This is serious business we may all regret that we did not take Mr Basdeo Panday seriously a long time ago. His blood runs hot and it blinds him from reason.
He is determined to have his way, or civil disobedience which is the forerunner of civil disturbance. What does he mean by a warm summer preparation?
What is the ulterior motive for recruiting supporters to attend this particular opening of Parliament?
This is no show comedyconcert. It will be a very sad day if the nation should be reminded of the occupancy on Nelson Island.
I am pressing for immediate answers and accountability. We cannot be boxed into a corner and be disgraced in the eyes of the world. Mr Patrick Manning, Prime Minister; Mr Chin Lee, National Security Minister; The Police Commissioner ; Brigadier General of the Armed Forces and particularly the President of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago; put a stop now. Those who do not take warning and advice must feel.
CARL
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President expects to announce 9 Independent senators today
Posted: Thursday, April 4, 2002
President Arthur NR Robinson is expected to announce today the names of the nine persons he has selected to be Independent members of the Senate.
Security will be tight for tomorrow's convening of the First Session of the Seventh Parliament with vehicular and pedestrian traffic restricted in and around the Red House, where both the Upper and Lower Houses are expected to meet simultaneously.
While the elected members of the House face the difficulty of electing a Speaker in the face of the 18-18 tie of the last general election, the Senate will have no such problem in electing its President as the Government has the majority of 16 senators in a 31- member Senate. Prime Minister Patrick Manning insists that a Speaker will be elected tomorrow.
The ruling People's National Movement has already announced that it has picked Dr Linda Baboolal, the party's chairman, to be the President of the Senate. It will be the first time a woman has been selected for the post, and unless the Government falls, she could also become the first woman to act as President of the country.
Her selection brings the PNM's senators to 13 leaving three more to reach the total number of Government senators. There will be no Opposition senators (six) as UNC leader Basdeo Panday has not taken up the position of Opposition Leader.
Reports are that the PNM have also chosen Christine Kangaloo, an attorney and former senator and Youth League member Rain Newell- Lewis and is to name a third senator. Two names have emerged as possible Independent senators, attorney Dana Seetahal and IRO president Bro Noble Khan.
Yesterday outgoing House Speaker Rupert Griffith refused to divulge details of the meeting he held with the police on security arrangements for tomorrow but said he had no jurisdiction to demand that streets be closed off.
Tomorrow's sitting will not be a ceremonial one and as a result Griffith decided that it will not be carried live on television, a decision which has annoyed PNM House Leader Ken Valley.
Valley was reported to be angered by the decision and questioned the Speaker's right to do so.
Members of the Media Association of Trinidad and Tobago met with Griffith yesterday in hopes of coming up with an alternative arrangement. They said they felt that the sitting should be carried live.
There has been no change in the Speaker's position, even though he admitted that he did not have a strong argument against the case put forward by MATT.
Despite this the general public remains adamant that it should be carried live since tomorrow's sitting will not be a "normal one". The first Order of business in the House tomorrow will be the election of a Speaker, which the UNC has announced it will frustrate. Griffith admitted to Newsday that this can be done given the 18/18 situation.
He also agreed that tomorrow's sitting of Parliament can go beyond 8 pm "possibly into next week", if one side decides to frustrate the election process.
"If the Speaker is not elected then no one has the power to adjourn parliament and for them to break they will all have to agree to that," he told Newsday.
At least one member of the UNC (San Juan/Barataria MP Dr Fuad Khan) says he will vote on conscience. Members of Parliament will not be able to take their oath of allegiance unless a Speaker is elected, said Griffith.
The Parliament's website up to yesterday was not updated to reflect the sitting tomorrow. The only information the website could give was that Parliament was dissolved. A Standing Order was not posted.
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Parents responsible for violence in schools
Posted: Tuesday, April 2, 2002
THE EDITOR: May I kindly request publication of the following - Strictly for Parents.
Dear Parents, there is an old saying:"You make the child but you cannot make his or her mind". Totally and completely wrong. Before writing this article, I spoke to some parents. The long ago ones said, "In our days, children never had knives, guns, ice picks, etc, in their school bags. When we, parents got complaints from the teachers, we never wanted to beat the teachers, threaten them, insult them, or even want to use violence. Instead, we used to beat the children, and thank the teachers for the complaints. Nowadays, things are just the opposite."
The modern ones said, to make a long story short, we are the opposite. Please modern parents, don't misunderstand me, for I fully know what modern society is like, living up to times. Forward ever, backwards never. Some said to me "Mr time changes and so are we." Wrong, time is static, but due to the rapidity of change we are lost in time.
My dear parents, according to psychology and psychogenesis - everything begins in the mind, the last of which I studied thoroughly and comprehensively. You can train your child to be what you want him or her to be. Give them freedom; anything they ask for, anywhere they want to go, all the latitude and longitude, etc.
You will surely end up creating a monster which you will have very great difficulty in controlling. Keep pruning and training the plant when it is young so when it grows up, you would not have to cut unwanted branches.
My dear parents, every human being including children have a mind of his/her own, just like a one day old duckling. Throw it in a pond of water and it starts diving and swimming immediately. Try it. The classroom begins in schools but ends in the home. May I state most emphatically and categorically, irrespective of the consequences, children, repeat, children are not responsible for violence in schools but you, the parents. If aches and nauseates me tremendously to know children are carrying the blame for violences in schools. I am not the parent of a single child, yet I thought it prudent to write this article all for the sake of the school children.
SOOKDAR
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TT needs a new leader, party
Posted: Tuesday, April 2, 2002
THE EDITOR: They want us to go back to the polls. Tell me, what difference would that make? Eighteen-eighteen means that with the exception of a few, Indians would continue to vote for the UNC and Africans would continue to vote for the PNM. The rest are in it for monetary gain.
Forgive me if I sound crude, but this is what politics in TT have become, election results based on race and nepotism, not facts and performance.
Those individuals who are of the opinion that race has absolutely nothing to do with the outcome of an election, are extremely naive.
Here's some food for thought: How about a 'dougla' Prime Minister? Even better yet, how about a 'dougla' woman Prime Minister? No, I have nothing against men, but I believe that TT is in dire need of a revolution, a drastic change in the political structure. Think about it.
The PNM as well as the UNC are soon to outlive their usefulness.
I say this because even 20-30 years from now, if these two parties are still in existence, obviously under new leadership, citizens would continue to make mention of the sins of their predecessors and judge them accordingly.
That's just how we Trinbagonians are.
I myself have no political allegiance, neither is favouritism on my agenda. What I believe TT needs though is a new leader, a new party. We need a young leader with no strings attached to either of the existing political parties.
Here in TT as in all parts of the world, the poor vastly outnumber the rich.
Both Mr Manning and Mr Panday came from somewhat middle-class families.
They have no idea what it means to be deprived of some basic need or the other. We need a PM who can actually relate to and understand the people whom he/she is chosen to serve.
Perhaps, sometime in the not too distant future, I would run for the position of PM and be successful.
But, for now, I'll sit back, pay attention and take notes of what not to do.
JOSANNE
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