Emancipation Gap
Posted: Wednesday, July 31, 2002
EDITOR: After observing the Emancipation celebrations from year to year, I have come to the conclusion that there ia a huge gap in the connection between many African people, especially the young and the relevance of participation in the Emancipation celebrations and for that matter its very importance. While it is easy to cast blame for things being as they are. I want to suggest that Emancipation has been separated from the consciousness of many, by its formal absence from the activities of schools, churches and other civic institutions.
The schools are on vacation during the Emancipation celebrations and very few ever celebrate it before, which severely affects basic understanding of Emancipation in the formative years of our nation's youths.
The Churches and civic institutions maybe because of historical complicity,guilt or indifference are never to enthusiastic about the idea, as it may possibly be a clash of interest or cultures or some other reason, all related to a lack of knowledge of the event.
I do hope that the gap between the children of the nation and Emancipation's relevance can be removed, as our history has shown it was removed from the consciousness of the adults for many years until recently. There is a definite need for parents, teachers and the national education system to incorporate the celebration, in schools before they go of on vacation. Happy Emancipation to all.
KURT GARCIA
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Mr Panday should resign
Posted: Tuesday, July 30, 2002
EDITOR: It is with utter shame and disgrace that I view the pronouncement of the seventeen MP's of the United National Congress with reference to endorsing the explanation given by Mr Basdeo Panday about his London Bank account.
Where are the MP's allegiance to principles of honesty? How and what moral principles do they apply to train and prepare their children to participate in national building? The situation with regards to Mr Panday goes beyond allegiance to race, political party or religion.
It cuts across the grain of basic honesty and integrity in public life.
There is no possible way that Mr Panday could account for all this money being debited and credited to his English bank account.
The numbers just do not add up. Accumulating his total gross earnings over a six-year period does not compute. Mr Panday should resign to save our great party from further humiliation and disgrace.
M SHAKA
UNC Life Member
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A Trinidad Emancipator
Posted: Monday, July 29, 2002
EDITOR: I would like at this time of the year to pay tribute and say thanks to a quiet, dignified son of the soil, one Mr Michael Anthony. He has written over twenty-five well researched books based on the history of Trinidad, all well documented and used in schools by generations of students and researchers. He is the foremost living and walking encyclopedia on the history of Trinidad and Tobago and an undoubted national resource. He may not have won the Nobel Prize for Literature, but in this country, he is a true Emacipator and could be deservingly rewarded as such by an Honourary Doctorate or a Trinity Cross. He is an extremely qualified candidate, for any such national award.
Jasper Webster
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Team Unity's 8 Day March, "A Familiar Humour"
Posted: Saturday, July 27, 2002
Did Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj usurp the first drink from Basdeo Panday's Molotov cocktail to put fire in his belly? (So to speak)
The Judicial Poet eloquent in his raison d'e`tre have weaved an injunction, hoping to get about 200,000 monikers to demand Prime Minister Patrick Manning to announce the election date.
With only about two-dozen supporters and Founding Member Ralph Maraj visibly absent. Questions were raised again about Mr. Lawrence Maharaj's dark political objectives.
After being written off as Neemakharams, Judases and corbeauxs. One is left to wonder if Ralph Maraj and his Team Unity comrades share the same spiritual and moral values. Or has Ralph Maraj become, 'once again' a Bastard Son of another Political Shindig. First the PNM, then the UNC now Team Unity.
"Oh what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive."
Susan
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Basdeo Panday must be a virgin!!!
Posted: Thursday, July 25, 2002
Before we attempt to prove his virginity, you must reflect.
He has changed his story three (3) times. (So far)
(1) Such an Account doesn't exist.
(2) That Account belongs to Oma, the contents of which I have no knowledge.
(3) It's our Joint Account Which I opened since 1989 just before I opened my Heart for surgery.
..................................................
Another Test of your Social Intelligence >>>
Question: (T&T Mirror June 9th 2002. (pg 32) What about the $100million US account owned by UNC Officials/Activist?
Answer: Looks like the PNM planted things everywhere.
Question: Basdeo Panday's wife Oma had a second lucrative Account at the National Westminster Wimbledon Branch?
Answer: OH No! That belongs to OMA RAMKISSOON.
Question: Does he have any children?
Answer: NO NO NO! They belong to Oma, he was only a signatory by SPERM.
Forget all the facts before your eyes; Basdeo Panday must be a Virgin, eh?
Susan
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Who framed that frame-up?
Posted: Tuesday, July 23, 2002
EDITOR: As a Trinidadian living abroad I was amused as the events of the last week unfolded. The so-called frame of the Baksh family with cocaine and explosives by parties unknown is comical to say the least. Let's be frank about this, even though the majority of Trinidadian's may not have attended UWI, Harvard or Cambridge we are not stupid. Let's examine this set-up in a logical manner.
First, how did Caroni East MP Ganga Singh really come by this information? Did some PNM loyalist have a guilty conscience when he heard of the set up and tell the "honorable" Mr. Singh. Where did they meet? Did they meet at Mr. Singh's home? How did they get his (Mr. Singh's) address? Did he telephone him? If so, how did he get Mr. Singh's number? Or is Mr. Singh listed in the phone book as "The Official Registrar for anti-UNC plots".
Secondly, how did some low level PNM informant know the exact amount of the cocaine and explosives to be planted at the Baksh home? Maybe Mr. Singh called Ms. Cleo and she told him the amount of cocaine to the ounce. Not to mention initial police reports have indicated that the cocaine was pure in content. Only Major drug dealers would have pure cocaine stashed away.
Incidentally did Ms. Cleo also tell Mr. Singh the exact location of the planted drugs? Really, if someone calls me and says that I'm being set-up; the first thing I'm going to do is go check out where they said the stuff is. Not sleep until the next day and wait to be arrested. Or was it that they thought that political connections and well-connected policemen would keep them out of jail.
The idea that Trinidadians will fall for the most moronic of stories is an insult to the intelligence of every Trinidadian past, present and future.
Clarence Toussaint
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Ex-Muslimeen Hasan Anyabwile shot four times
Posted: Monday, July 22, 2002
by S. Edwards, Staff Writer
Former Muslimeen security chief Hasan Anyabwile is now battling for his life after being shot four times yesterday by an unknown attacker. Police are trying to ascertain the reason for the attack on Anyabwile, leader of the southern-based Jamaat ul Islamy al Karibi. Hasan was involved in the attempted coup in 1990.
Police said Anyabwile was at home on St Margaret's Lane, Belmont, at around 5.30 am when a man entered the yard and shot him through an open window.
Anyabwile sustained two wounds to the right side of the chest, one in the abdomen and one in the upper right shoulder.
Anyabwile is the host of a radio program on 95.5FM.
Last Sunday, during his program in response to an article, he was angry and outraged because the article deemed his ideals and opinions unimportant and insignificant to the progress of Muslims in this country. The article advised him to keep his ideas and opinions to himself.
In continuing his response to the article he severely criticized certain Hindus, Indian Muslims and his former Jamaat al Muslimeen colleagues. He even sent out a challenge, "who can stop me from stating my views", claiming that, only his mother ever got away with trying to shut him up.
He boasted that he is not ashamed of his history but there are things that he is not in agreement with concerning the Leadership of the Jamaat.
While I am severely critical of his involvement in the 1990 attempted coup, I do wish him a speedy recovery and I hope the police gets to the bottom of this shooting as he should be accorded equal treatment and protection notwithstanding his past actions.
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Basdeo Panday's file sent to D.P.P.
Posted: Friday, July 19, 2002
by Aisha, Trinicenter Staff
News broke today that the Basdeo Panday's file, which was under investigation by the Integrity Commission, has been sent to the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP). It becomes more obvious why the UNC claims of Police and Government set-up was done so hastily and clumsily.
Apparently they (UNC)/Basdeo Panday are staking their claims upfront to try to discredit any police investigation and to taint any arrest that may be coming Mr. Panday's way.
Mr. Panday does not need anyone to set him up he has done an excellent job on his own. He failed to disclose monies in his "wife's" account and for that there are penalties. No amount of ‘grand charging’ and ‘rabble-rousing’ should deter the DPP from making any arrest.
The whole episode with the cocaine and the missiles was just a frantic attempt at distraction. However, it is good that a more sensible public was not fooled by the distractions of a frightened party leader.
Yes Mr. Panday, that is what you may call a 'plot' to arrest you but you should know by now that in legal terms it is referred to as a WARRANT.
• UNC trying to frame UNC?
Abstract: Trinidad Express, July 03, 2002
The UNC leader Basdeo Panday and his wife Oma is reported to have a $10 million London bank account.
When the Sunday Express first reported the Integrity Commission’s investigation of Mr Panday’s failure to disclose a London bank account Mr Panday’s first reaction was to deny the accuracy of the figure. He subsequently offered the explanation that the account belonged to his wife, an unemployed housewife, and expressed ignorance of its contents.
The former prime minister, by his own admission, then requested more time from the Integrity Commission following its request for information on the matter, and eventually responded similarly, stating that the account belonged to his wife and offering no information on its balances.
Mr Panday was not considered a wealthy man prior to assuming office as prime minister and given that his wife remained a housewife during his tenure, reasonable questions have repeatedly been raised on the UNC leader’s ability to maintain a family in London on his relatively modest prime minister’s salary.
The fact that the Pandays’ London account was not revealed to the Integrity Commission in his declaration of assets (as required by the Integrity in Public Life Act) has only added to the speculation.
The only response from Mr Panday and his wife thus far has been to deny that the account contains $10 million, which does not really address the matter since it would be true whether the account contains $10 or $20 million.
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Don't pick on the UNC?
Posted: Thursday, July 18, 2002
Follow-up to: Why pick on the UNC?
EDITOR: Are we so oblivious to what goes on in this country?
What's there to defend? As nationals of this country we should not be political puppets to any party, be it PNM, NAR, UNC or any other 'New-Come-See'. The Journalists, Calypsonians, State Bodies, Commissions of Inquiries and ordinary citizens have every right to question the wastage and abuse or misappropriation of our National Patrimony.
$30.M in a ruined Rice Deal. The Incogen ignominy. The $88.M controversial Miss Universe Pageant. $3.M missing from TIDCO accounts.
The Lindquist Report: $496M to one company, confirmation that groups of individuals and corporations conspired together to control the award of contracts. Which in his own words "was a fraud on the people of Trinidad and Tobago." But who invited Mr. Lindquist? It certainly wasn't the Calypsonians, Journalists or the PNM.
The Lindquist investigations was authorized by the UNC's Attorney General Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj and the then National Security Minister the Hon. Joseph Theodore two years ago.
It is because of our Calypsonians that we can reflect on our social archives as they occurred. Remember Sparrow's lyrics "In a million different ways they violate the law," or Chalkdusts' constant cutting librettos. Even Explainer's "In parliament they kicks'ing," was a classic rebuke to the PNM's arrogant complacency. Which Calypsonian complimented the PNM or NAR for fraud, stealing or embezzlement. Check back the Express Editorials just before Ken Gordon became a member of the National Alliance for Reconstruction. "Are we just superficial observers of politics?" Where were you when Abu Bakr entertained the most dangerous commonness of imaginations? Mr. Panday's response was "wake me up when it's over."
Well it's over. Mr. Panday is awake and so is the rest of the country.
I am in no way defending the PNM's ineptitude or their appetite for the public purse. But neither the PNM nor the NAR is innocent of public outrage in their terms of governance.
Yes things have gotten bad and according to an earlier report, Mr. Panday said, "people climbed up to the Airport roof and pulled off a couple of tiles just to make the UNC look bad." But why can't people remind Mr. Panday to take his own advice. If he has the evidence take it to the police.
S. Edwards
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UNC trying to frame UNC?
Posted: Thursday, July 18, 2002
Abstracts: The Express and The Guardian
"Police yesterday recovered and removed approximately five kilogrammes of cocaine, with an estimated street value of $1.5 million, and two explosive missiles from the home of UNC Member of Parliament for San Fernando West, Sadiq Baksh.
The missiles, both measuring approximately two feet, were described by army officials as "explosive" but capable of causing relatively minor damage. They were said to be used by the military, mainly for training exercises.
The cocaine, contained in six packages, and the missiles were discovered in a water tank located at the back of the former Minister's home at Palmiste, San Fernando. Baksh himself is currently in New York, accompanying his wife, Champa, who is receiving medical treatment. However, his son, Dexter, and daughter, Donna, are staying on the premises.
UNITED NATIONAL CONGRESS (UNC) Caroni East MP Ganga Singh said yesterday a PNM informant told him on Sunday night of the illegal items planted in a water tank at MP Sadiq Baksh’s home.
Singh said: “The person told me five kilos of cocaine and two anti-aircraft missiles were planted in Baksh’s water tank.”
He declined to reveal the name of the informant.
Singh said after he spoke to the informant, he went to UNC leader Basdeo Panday’s home in Gulf View and told him what the caller had said. He said the informant told him he had voted for the PNM all his life, but was unhappy over the PNM’s handling of the political situation.
Singh said he informed Dexter Baksh, son of the San Fernando West MP on Tuesday night. Dexter checked yesterday (Wednesday) morning and found the illegal items, Singh said.
Asked if he had reported the matter to the police, Singh said: “It was not prudent for me to report it to the police because the informant told me the police was ‘involved’ in this.”
_______________________________________________________
Hotep's Speculation:
The 'informant' with very accurate details seems like the very person who placed the objects where they were found.
I doubt that there are corrupt PNM members and corrupt police officers who would be willing to part with 1.5 million dollars worth of cocaine so easily but given the extent of the corruption during the UNC tenure and the type of financial investors who threw millions into their party, I suspect that they now have quite a few millionaires who can easily part with that figure.
This looks more like UNC trying to frame UNC. It makes no sense for PNM to be engaged in such activities especially at a time when the polls have them way ahead.
The idea that PNM might have done this to block Baksh from attending parliament when it is called does not make sense. Even if he is arrested, he would be out on bail and this does not block him from attending parliament. His argument about being framed is sure to qualify him for bail.
I am not putting it past any political party to be engaged in mischief making, but when Mr Panday said that they knew of these plots days ago and had a reliable informant, then he should have taken it to the police. (Panday's famous statement)
This is nothing more that UNC trying to give their fanatical supporters the impression that the party is under attack. This is also another sinister attempt to frustrate the police investigations into reports that several senior UNC members were/are involved in drug trafficking apart from the ongoing corruption investigations.
Come on, what would be the use of planting drugs and missiles in his water tank except to show that someone was trying to frame him, which only benefits UNC.
I believe most people can see through this charade.
_______________________________________________________
From: S. Edwards
There seems to be precarious inductions in Mr. Ganga Singh's statements. Reports were lucid but inconsistent. In clarifying the alleged invasive absurdities, Mr. Singh said at a news conference on Wednesday that he got a call on Sunday night.
This was confirmed by Guardian reporter Stephen Boodram and I quote: "Caroni East MP Ganga Singh said yesterday a PNM informant told him on Sunday night of the illegal items planted in a water tank at MP Sadiq Baksh's home." He made this disclosure at a press briefing after a UNC strategy meeting at Rienzi Complex, Couva." (Forum file)
But according to Clint Chan Tack of the Newsday T&T, Mr. Singh is reported to have said he got that call on "Tuesday" afternoon.
Singh told a news conference at Rienzi Complex, Couva yesterday: "Yesterday (Tuesday) afternoon I received an urgent phone call at my constituency office. Someone was making a very urgent effort to meet with me to provide me with certain information. The person is a very credible source. I then proceeded to call the political leader that I wanted to see him on a matter of urgent importance. I shared information with Mr Panday. The person had said that five kilos of cocaine was planted on Sunday night in the water tank of Mr Sadiq Baksh's home, and that there were also two anti-aircraft missiles planted." (Forum file)
Such untimely contradictions make this latest scenario look like a badly rehearsed skit by Political adolescents.
_______________________________________________________
From: Kurt Garcia, July 20, 2002
How could it be possible that Sadiq Baksh was not alerted by either Mr. Singh, Mr. Panday, or his son or any other person until the Wednesday morning of recent events. This is simply unbelievable in that MP Baksh would definitely not leave himself incommunicado to his fellow party members in case of emergency. It seems this incident is loaded with people thinking what other people would think, so they went ahead and thinked for them. It leads me to ask who could have thought up all of this?
_______________________________________________________
From Glenda: July 20, 2002
Reply to Hotep:
Fair enough speculation but I feel Mr Panday knew that the files on him were sent to the DPP so he was trying to create a "Wag the Dog" scenario. I hope he gets arrested soon.
Like you, I can only speculate, as little truth can be known when these dishonest politicians decide to play games.
• Basdeo Panday's file sent to DPP 20 July 2002
• One of Panday's London accounts, $5.5m deposits in 4 years 21 July 2002
> Deposits from T&T, Guyana, Canada, London
• Plotting to frame UNC MPs by Raffique Shah 21, July 2002
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Kidnap victim Anthony Sabga III was freed last night
Posted: Tuesday, July 16, 2002
Anthony SABGA III released, two days after he was kidnapped. Sabga III, is the son of A Norman Sabga, chairman and CEO of the ANSA McAL Group of Companies.
A source close to the family said: "As far as they are concerned, it's over." He said young Sabga was released on a road in north Trinidad. "He was not harmed."
Police sources said young Sabga was released on St Francois Valley Road, Belmont. They said the Port-of-Spain CID got an anonymous telephone call at around 9.30 pm, picked up young Sabga at 10 o'clock and took him home.
At the Sabga's St Clair home, relatives and friends were streaming in last night after Sabga III returned.
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Anthony Sabga the third, kidnapped
Posted: Monday, July 15, 2002
22-year-old grandson of business tycoon Anthony Sabga has been kidnapped and is being held hostage for a ransom that has now been put at five million dollars.
The abduction of Anthony Sabga the third, comes three months after the still unsolved kidnapping of Chaguanas businessman Kenneth Medford. Members of the business community have been expressing concern at what has been described as a growing number of kidnappings targetting their numbers.
Members of the Anti-Kidnapping Squad, supervised by Police Commissioner Hilton Guy, were out for the entire day yesterday searching for Sabga III.
National Security Minister Howard Chin Lee said yesterday he made the resources of the Ministry of National Security available to the officers spearheading the investigation.
He said he was in touch with the family and has also spoken with other prominent businessmen who were concerned with this latest development.
Chin Lee has called on all members of the business community to remain calm.
Investigators said Sabga III and a relative were returning home around 4 am from the Base nightclub in Chaguaramas when a car rammed into the back of Sabga III's Honda CRV near Smith Hill, L'Anse Mitan, Carenage.
An eye-witness told police four men jumped out of the car and grabbed Sabga III.
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African Schools of Thought
Posted: Sunday, July 14, 2002
by A. Hotep, Trinicenter Staff
It matters little that Hi-Lo's Anthony Proudfoot quickly distanced himself from branding the proposed schools a "curse". He did so after much criticism for what many correctly interpreted as a racist comment. His other excuses for opposing the schools on state land in their elitist community show his contempt for ordinary people whom 'they' believe would devalue Westmoorings. He certainly is not distancing himself from the bigoted people in his community. Personally I do believe he made the statement and is now attempting damage control but whether he made the statement or not is not my main focus. These are just effects of a larger problem which this country has failed to address over the years.
Following the Westmoorings' statements many are commenting on the prejudices that exist in such communities. These same commentators have witnessed our appeals over the years for more cultural programs on our state media to address these prejudices that denies equal opportunity.
The problem is not only the prejudices of people like Proudfoot and or Cartar but also the disrespect and contempt many local writers and politicians in Trinidad and Tobago have for the promotion of African awareness. These people are quite contented with the many radio stations that cater to Indian and European/American programs while they pay lip service to our appeals for fair play in our media, especially our state owned media. They all react like if African historical programs are a curse.
The Westmoorings' residents who felt aggrieved by the idea of schools for ordinary people being built in 'their community' are the type of people the misguided social system try to promote. Some of them are owners of large businesses, employers of our children, financers of political parties, owners of media houses and the standard by which many view success. Most of the people in these elitist communities are really struggling to pay the price for their illusions and are not as comfortable as they like many to believe, but very often when they buy into these elitist environments they adopt the same racist attitudes. Most of them are not even aware that they are racist, much the same as most of our politicians and commentators. Of course, many know that they should not get caught making these bigoted comments but that does not stop them from covertly acting on their prejudices.
What is so difficult for politicians, journalists, and media operators to grasp in a simple appeal for space in the media for a proper presentation of our diverse racial/ethnic cultural values and views? Many will say why don't these people open their own media to promote African culture if they wish, but guess who approves the licenses and have set up a very complex bureaucracy to ensure that only a certain type of people can own radio and television stations?
We have the example of Calypsonian, 'Lord Superior', lobbying for a media to promote calypso for years and when the word was out that he was close to achieving his goal, one of the well-financed media outlets changed the format on one of their radio stations to an all calypso format and this helped undermine Superior's effort.
Under-financed 'Superior' eventually got his radio station, but by that time the public was thoroughly distracted as this other station was laying claim to the first all calypso format. He eventually sold out and no sooner he did the station that claimed to be the first to promote calypso, scrapped the all calypso format. This is the 'cat and mouse' game that they expect education to be a part of while we all own our state media that is under-utilized and should be the vehicle for all cultural exchanges.
The problem is not simply about the bigotry of the elite but the hidden prejudices of many others who pretend to be in defense of ordinary people.
It is high time the government facilitates African historical programs on our state media. This country definitely needs African schools of thought to help address racial discrimination as well as our many other social ills.
• Hi-Lo food stores should pay to learn
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Hi-Lo food stores should pay to learn
Posted: Wednesday, July 10, 2002
• TTUTA president: Schools in Westmoorings not a curse July 07, 2002
• $46m makeover for 158 schools July 09, 2002
• Westmoorings divided over 2 new schools July 09, 2002
A chance to build bridges
Trinidad Express, July 10, 2002
Mr Proudfoot should have known, or should certainly have been advised, that to cast his objections in terms of depreciating land values versus the social value of providing secondary school places for hundreds of children was to invite condemnation, if not vilification.
Public Relations Exercise
PUBLIC Relations consultant Lloyd Cartar said yesterday he made a mistake in quoting Hi-Lo chairman Anthony Proudfoot as saying that placing two government secondary schools on the controversial 33-acre Westmoorings site would be a “curse”.
Two schools of thought By Terry Joseph
The planks of protest are nowhere near as outrageous as that of Anthony Proudfoot, chairman of the Hi-Lo Food Stores chain that recently opened its most prestigious branch in Westmoorings. Presumably with a straight face, Proudfoot said: "It would be a curse to take a valuable piece of land and put schools on it."
COMMENTS:
by A. Hotep, Trinicenter Staff
Ordinary Africans and Indians in Trinidad and Tobago should now call on Hi-Lo food stores to pay for cultural programs to increase awareness, which includes the awareness of their own elitist narrow-minded clique.
Ordinary 'poor' Africans and Indians heavily patronize their food stores. Anthony Proudfoot, chairman of the Hi-Lo Food Stores, made bigoted statements while showing his disapproval of the plan to erect two schools in his preferred upper-class Westmoorings community and for this we should make them pay to learn.
Racism, with its offspring, class discrimination, is rampant in Trinidad and Tobago and this remains because the elites control the media and many of the politicians. When they finance ignorant opportunistic politicians to protect their corrupt business interest, they leave the ordinary people to fight among themselves while they fade into their preferred upper-class communities.
Hi-Lo can afford to pay for education for many more than their management and other elitist Westmoorings residents, so we must demand education for ALL sponsored by Hi-Lo food stores or people should BOYCOTT their stores.
________________________________________________
From: Susan
I think the curse of ignorance and prejudice is the real blight in the psyche of those Westmoorings residents who believe the value of land is of much more significance than the value of educating our nation's children.
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Panday: How long will you continue to fool us?
Posted: Wednesday, July 3, 2002
THE EDITOR: As the saying goes, "You can fool some of the people some of the time" "You can't fool all the people all of the time". Yes Mr Panday, how long will you continue to fool us?
How long will you continue to remain convinced that whatever you tell us we must believe, accept and digest? What else do you want from us? Well Bro Bas, I have a message for you. One by one, slowly but surely we are being turned off, your antics, contradictory utterances, incitement to tribal politics, civil disobedience and religious fanaticism blaming everyone but yourself for your fall from grace, exposing us to the very things that you are now accusing others of, now doing to us and against us.
Let's be fair, whatever your supporters are now exposed to, whatever discrimination we are now experiencing, you and you alone must accept full responsibility for our present embarrassment.
Loss of privilege, power, and respect, you have attacked with full force from President to Chief Justice, Judiciary, Police, Ex AG to party loyalist. No one has escaped unscathed once they do not agree with your erratic, inconsistent and maximum leadership behaviour, your venom, wrath, and vindictiveness have no limits, you spewed it anywhere and on anyone who dares to disagree with you.
Now Bro Bas, just examine your record since you assumed office through the generosity of Mr Robinson in December of 1995, after, as you never forget to remind us 150 years of pressure, discrimination, marginalisation, alienation, your assumption to power and office brought us pride, joy and happiness. I will be unfair to you if I say we have not benefited considerably from our party in power, the rural communities really came alive, you know more than anyone else how we felt, you saw and felt our pride, but look what has happened.
Party Chairman murdered in Mayaro. Party Minister charged with fraud and murder. People charged for corruption and money laundering. Several Ex PNM loyalist and financiers storm our party, take control of it, now on charges. Top loyal party activist abused, victimised, publicly humiliated to accommodate political opportunists and party investors.
You have admitted to having overseas accounts which to date you are unable to explain to the Integrity Commission, publicly claiming ignorance of the law. Almost every major development under your watch has been characterised by allegations of corruption. You have succeeded in having all your supporters branded as corrupt. It is embarrassing. You are now using our religion and culture to continue to exploit us. You accept blame for nothing, it is always the other person/persons who are wrong. We have given you everything, love, loyalty, power, wealth. What have you given us? A bunch of opportunists, questionable characters, antics, embarrassment, gambage and war talk. Just remember Bro Bas that all of us are not stupid.
AJODAH SINGH
Diego Martin
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