Why pick on the UNC?
Posted: Monday, June 24, 2002
EDITOR: What does the Journalists, Police Service, Commissions of Inquiries, Calypsonians, State Bodies, PNM, Columnists, Foreign Investigators, Ordinary citizens etc have against the UNC.
Things have gotten so bad according to the Political Leader of the Party, that people climbed up to the Airport roof and pulled off a couple tiles to make the UNC look bad. I think the people of Trinidad and Tobago should stop picking on the UNC, and if they have any evidence of wrongdoing, take it to the Police.
Ciny Williams
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Unhappy Labour Day for Workers
Posted: Tuesday, June 18, 2002
EDITOR: The Trade Union leaders are no different from the politicians they love to condemn and their dream of a Labour Party to hold the reigns of political power represents more a part of the problem than the solutions for this country. The language and antics of all of them is definitely not in the interest of Labour and the working people who cannot be happy about this state of affairs. I am just using the 65th anniversary of the heroic efforts of Butler to tell those who presently hold the reigns of Labour, that the Employer class are quite happy with their performance and is in no way worried by the usual rhetoric of both sides.
Jasper Webster
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Vending in TT
Posted: Tuesday, June 18, 2002
Why is street vending illegal?
When other businesses are given concessions.
As soon as they sense a sales recession
They run cap in hand to solicit help from de man
Bawling and begging for all kind of an assistance
Tell me why is street vending illegal?
Why is street vending illegal?
Does it not assist the partake
Of the national patrimony cake?
Then why should those blessed vendors
Obstruct the welfare of their less fortunate brothers?
Yes, tell me, why is street vending illegal?
Monthly I am amazed moreso in December
By the crocodile tears of the more affluent city vendor
Who harass the public thru the media
With the cry "things slow not good could be better"
But for these miserable, illegal street vendors.
Could anybody tell me
Why is street vending illegal?
When the other competing vendors
Can cut their prices like butter
And still maintain an overflowing batter
While pressurising the hustling street vendor?
Why is street vending illegal
Can anyone tell me?
Is it because
The scrooges of the vending society
Called the parasitic oligarchy
Are determined that dem only
Should succeed in dis greedy country?
Maybe probably it appears so
But really, why is street vending illegal?
Because, me thinks
That far too many
Are lovers of money
Lovers of pleasure
Rather than lovers of God,
Who is man's lasting and satisfying treasure.
That's why street vending is illegal!
Rev Junior Yuille,
Marabella
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Trade Unions Then and Now
Posted: Monday, June 17, 2002
From: Kurt Garcia
EDITOR: As the Labour Day holiday of the working class movement approaches and the Trade Unions leaders remain hopelessly divided, it is instructive what a Calypso in the 1940's by Atilla the Hun had to say on the issue. Just change the names.
Trade Unions in Trinidad
There is something radically wrong I fear
With the Trade Union movement here [repeat]
The conditions of the workers is grave indeed
Yet not a single strike can succeed
Cause among the leaders there is to much disunity
In the Waterfront strike as you all know
That took place some weeks ago
The moral of the people was remarkable
Their courage invincible
Although hungry and tired they milled around
And in the end they were let down
Through incompetence, trickery or knavery
They were betrayed most disgracefully
A Trade Union first consideration
Should be the workingman's protection
You can rant on platforms, do what you like
But you can't ask a man to strike
Unless you have that pay envelope regularly
For him to take to his family
And when you do this you will find that strikes won't fail
And no more workers be sent to jail
The condition of the workers is more than bad
In fact it stinks around Trinidad
As they put his grievances on the shelves
And the leaders take care of themselves
In the Waterfront strike I understand
Thousand of dollars changed hands
And while the stevedores were hungry and sore distressed
It is said the leaders feathered their nests
How can the movement succeed I am at a loss
When everybody wants to be a boss
Gomes and O'Connor say in them the workers confide
You have Holder and Hartley on the next side
Hamel-Smith taking propaganda all around the town
Mitchell and James running Butler down
And while they are fighting in stupidity
The working man pays the penalty. END
Source: A Short History of Calypso. pg 151-2 R. Quevedo
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Develop The Creole Language
Posted: Saturday, June 8, 2002
THE EDITOR: I am thoroughly enjoying the discourse on the value and use of Creole language, as initiated by Dr Winford James, your columnist, for it is clarifying to me what is the use of language, or a particular language. Language to me is essentially a medium of communication. If your language fails to allow you to communicate effectively with those around you, your family, friends, countrymen and all those with whom you need to communicate on a daily basis, then your language serves little purpose.
I believe that our Creole is a meaningful language, for it is still far more effective than Standard English in communication among ourselves. Indeed, those among us who profess to be good speakers of Standard English, invariably have to resort to Creole to communicate effectively with many of our colleagues, and certainly with those less educated in Standard English, that is, the majority of the population.
Dr Ragbir suggested that Standard English allows you to be best informed in economics, science, business, etc. Of course, if you are going to study a subject where the books are written in English, you must learn to read and understand Standard English. But the same could be said if you are going to study works written in Standard Spanish, French, Hindi or Russian. But there are several countries where languages or dialects such as Creole are spoken, which have produced outstanding scholars in every field of endeavour. Scotland has its own Creole, so does Wales, Africa, India and many of them have great scholars who expertly handle their own dialects, perhaps much better than they do Standard English.
I have met Africans who speak and write English better than we do, but grew up speaking only their particular language. The thing is that all these people learnt English as a second or third language. So that while I admit that in order to become knowledgeable in many skills and sciences, we must follow a course in the language of the author, we may not be able to communicate effectively what we have learnt without the valuable assistance of Creole. Creole should also be developed, as it helps to express the mood, the nuances of many things Trinidadian or West Indian.
Above all, it allows us to pass on information and knowledge rapidly and clearly to the widest cross section of our people. Finally, it is necessary to remember that the language of our calypsonians, steelbandsmen, many of our creative people is creole. Does the world have a problem appreciating Sparrow or Bob Marley? We never had a problem enjoying most of Naipaul's earlier books, all of which were written basically in Creole. I say yes learn Standard English as a second language, but let Creole continue to develop. Next time I will write all of the above in Creole so that everyone can understand it.
C BROWNE
Carenage
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Oma not nice at all
Posted: Wednesday, June 5, 2002
EDITOR: When Mr Panday was faced with the 600 thousand dollar payment from the Ken Gordon lawsuit, he said that he does not have and could not pay that kind of money or words to that effect. If his wife Oma is supposed to have around 10 million dollars in her UK account, then she was not being nice to him at all. She allowed him to go through all that trauma of facing that huge bill all by himself, when she is reported as having such grand resources in her name according to Mr Panday recently.
Or is it possible she could have made her fortune after that incident. If the sum of money and Mr Panday is to be believed, Oma is not nice at all.
Cindy Williams
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UNC MP's should think again
Posted: Saturday, June 1, 2002
EDITOR: The response of the UNC MP's to Ramesh Maharaj's possible return to their party is pathetic to say the least. To say that they would accept him based on Mr Panday's agreement is a cop excuse for independent thinking on a simple issue. What happens if Mr Panday god forbid dies, would they be then free to think so that we would be now able to get their real opinions. I shudder to think of these men having to make serious decisions in the interest of the country in a Cabinet of Mr Panday.
Eniath Al
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