Is there any hope for TT?
Posted: Tuesday, October 29, 2002
EDITOR: I am filled with great trepidation and fear after listening to the first meeting of the Senate recently, and heard the speeches of Senators Montano [R] and Mark, with the latter culminating with talk and visions of bloodshed. Mr Editor you would not believe that the electorate had just decided decisively for a period of national stability after the 18-18 imbroglio. It as if these gentlemen in the pattern of their political leader are totally ignoring the wishes of the population for a peaceful and stable society, which in no way means compromising their constitutional role.
In addition the Senate is intended for a much more informed and intellectual analysis and examination of matters pertaining to the best interest of the nation as a whole, and not the rablle rousing partisan political platform speeches that we were subjected to during the just held 3 bruising elections. I honestly thought for a moment, that the election results meant that the country was heading for a period of more sober and mature reflection after all we have been through. However it seems like the nation's hope like that of myself, was totally misplaced.
Kurt Garcia
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Pan festival a memorable occasion
Posted: Monday, October 28, 2002
THE EDITOR: Saturday October 19, the final night of the World Steelband Music Festival 2002. What a night it was.
When I arrived at the Jean Pierre Complex, there was not much activity outside, but when I got inside, to my surprise hundreds of patrons were in attendance.
What a remarkable change from the previous two semi-final days, October 15 and 16.
The Jean Pierre Complex came alive with the sweet sounds of steel.
There was pomp and pageantry for the opening, and once the festival began, the steelpan was centre of attraction, a wide variety of music was played by eight top leading steel orchestras which included a competitor from the United Kingdom and a competitor from Grenada.
In attendance were President Arthur Robinson and Mrs Robinson, the Minister of Culture and Tourism Ms Penelope Beckles, Junior Culture Minister Mr Edward Hart, Community and Gender Affairs Minister Mrs Joan Yuille-Williams, and the Minister of Culture from Grenada (name I did not get).
A pleasant and memorable evening of pan music was appreciated by all who turned up.
There was one disappointing factor, at the nearby St John’s Ambulance Hall an event was in progress and at times hampered the sounds of the pan, the music was disturbing and distracting, but by the second half, the music was turned off.
All in all, I would say a night of sweet pan and a night to remember.
KEN SMITH
PS Congratulations to Trinidad Exodus on its triumphant victory. Good work guys.
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Transportation woes unbearable
Posted: Monday, October 28, 2002
THE EDITOR: The essential service of the nations' Public Transport System should not rest entirely on the private sector. The commuting public has not forgotten the Maxi Taxi strike on November 4, 2001 which resulted in the general public, mothers with babies in arms and school children being left stranded and unsupervised on the nation's roadways.
Time losses to business, lost job opportunities.
In essence it cost the country millions of dollars and untold suffering on the commuters.
The public has not forgotten how the then government did nothing to circumvent the impending public transportation strike, nor did they respond to the nation's cry for better service.
Now the commuting public continues to be faced with the poor quality, safety factors and exorbitant fares forced upon them by unscrupulous private owner/operators of the same public transportation system.
These operators ply the Priority Bus route.
On mornings they insist that the route is from Arima to Curepe only, and then demand a fee of five dollars ($5) for this short drop.
The commuter is now forced to stop another maxi taxi from Curepe to Port-of-Spain at an additional cost of four dollars ($4), a total of nine dollars ($9) one way. My God! And still, all this so soon after the fare was hiked to a cost of five dollars ($5) from Arima to Port-of-Spain.
A simple fact may be that there is simply not enough of a reliable government owned/operated public transportation system to even provide a minuscule alternative to this dilemma.
Has the Government lost the ability to provide this type of service to its
citizens?
The private owner/operators must not be left to exploit an essential national service, or continue to hold the community public to ransom.
There are no simple solutions to this situation.
However, a series of reformative measures can be instituted, such as:-
General improvement of government owner/operated transportation system.
Increase school buses.
A Flexi Time System when school community and general public hours are significantly different.
General improvements to roadways.
A Regulatory Board for both complaints and fare controls specifically for private owners/operators.
Maybe the new Works and Transport Ministry will have better luck in addressing this serious situation or the commuting public should call a strike of their own.
CAROLYN WILLIAMS
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20-16 result shows the country is divided
Posted: Friday, October 25, 2002
THE EDITOR: Before the October 7 elections, I held the view, and still do that a win for the UNC or the PNM would be a loss for Trinidad and Tobago in terms of real and meaningful change for a new political culture and a united civil society.
However, I must congratulate both parties: the PNM for breaking the 18-18 deadlock and the UNC for doing so well in spite of the tremendous weight of corruption allegations, the advantages of PNM incumbency and opposition from various influential sections in the society when compared with the PNM's 33-3 defeat in 1986 by the NAR which was a combination of parties.
Looking objectively at the 20-16 result, it sends the clear message that the country remains divided and tit for tat partisan politics will continue within the culture of maximum leadership.
The reality of the situation however, is that the electorate has made its decision and civil society must move on as a people who have the ability to rise above bitterness and tribalism. However, the effort must not only rely on the goodwill of ambitious politicians who change like the proverbial "24 hours." We will need to have constitutional support that will perpetually manifest a rainbow society in a united Republic.
Civil Society must examine itself to see how much it has contributed to the racial scenario and the general indiscipline and disrespect for authority pervading the country. There is a need for an objective approach towards stabilising race relations in the country to eliminate much of the hostility.
An "Indian party" is identified as one in which the majority of its members are Indo Trinidadians. If the same reasoning is applied to Afro Trinidadian membership in a party, then there must be in existence an African Party.
What does that tell us about the division in the society? There are many calls for healing, but those people making the call are packing the wound with salt which is a recipe for a life sore.
Many of our citizens blame our politicians for not dealing with the issues, but is civil society focussed on the real issues that surfaced during the 18-18 political and constitutional crisis and the evident ethnic polarisation? A reality check should tell us that the October 7 elections was about putting in place a Government with a Parliament and a budget to manage the affairs of State conscientiously and impartially in the interest of all.
This in my view, was a separate issue from the fundamental and urgent need facing our divided country that was identified during the crisis as " constitutional reform."
When Prime Minister Manning was asked in an interview, "How do you propose to deal with constitutional reform? He said "We will have to decide how we are going to proceed." And when asked "what's the time-frame for that?" His reply was "Well we have a five-year period eh."
That reply was my first hint that constitutional reform may be put on the back-burner for five years and with the expected oil and gas boom, it could remain on the political stove until the year 2020 when we celebrate our "first world" status singing "great is the PNM and it shall prevail."
The ball however is not in Mr Manning's court, it belongs in the backyard of the partisan constitution reform platforms during the 18- 18 crisis, which failed to ensure a binding commitment to a time-frame from the UNC and the PNM on behalf of the electorate before elections was held.
Without that kind of commitment, no politician who becomes Prime Minister in Trinidad and Tobago will agree to revolutionary reform that will limit his powers and reduce his role of maximum leader and monarch of all he surveys.
Should the UNC take up the issue of constitutional reform, I will be looking to see if the advocates for reform during the 18-18 deadlock, will take up their bags of recommendations and run. The time frame for constitution reform should not be left to the Prime Minister and his Cabinet when civil society knows that our politicians and more so, maximum leaders are always reluctant to take self-regulatory measures even though it is good for the country.
The Fitzgerald Hinds' ministerial appointment debate showed how little "grass root" party supporters know about the power of a Prime Minister in Trinidad and Tobago and the inability of parliamentary representatives to understand that, to be in the Cabinet, one must have "a level head and commonsense" to know who is boss.
On the other hand, the definition of a "team player" in sports and some industries does not carry the same meaning as in the real world of political parties, trade unions and other such organisations where the "team player" is seen as a dependable "yes man" - a product of the culture of maximum leadership.
Added to that, the present system allows for elected constituency representatives to be used to clean the ground for selected senators to run and control the party's race in the Cabinet — that is an abuse of the democratic process.
WYCLIFFE MORRIS
Former Director of Education
NUGFW
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Opposition Leader for All
Posted: Thursday, October 24, 2002
EDITOR: As a citizen of this country I would like to register my displeasure about the poor quality and brevity of Mr Panday's response to the Budget presentation. He virtually avoided all micro details and measures inside of the Budget and rambled on rather selectively and sounded very sedated, although filled with his usual tirades in his thirty-five minute speech. I would like to remind Mr Panday that while no one in the UNC may be able to criticize or find anything wrong with his performance, that he represents all of us and not only the UNC, and that the nation demands and expects a better work ethic from him, on matters so important to the country's future. He must be reminded that he is Opposition Leader for all and not just the UNC.
Thank You.
kurteeboy@hotmail.com
KURT GARCIA
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Pan lovers disrespect World Festival Competition
Posted: Wednesday, October 16, 2002
THE EDITOR: The weekend of October 12/13 the Amphitheatre in St James came alive with the sweet sounds of steel. The "World Festival Steelband Competition, 2002." As I sat there in the amphitheatre on opening night I was saddened by the poor turnout. Mr Patrick Arnold, President of Pan Trinbago addressed the small but appreciative audience, lamented to the fact, there is no respect for pan.
The following two days a larger turnout, but again as I looked around I still saw empty chairs.
Friday 11 while the Festival was in progress not far away another steelpan event was taking place, outside The Smokey and Bunty Pub, people were seen all on the streets; and even blocking the Western Main Road.
I was passing by during the intermission and I saw a friend, and I asked him do you know the World Steelband Festival is in progress at the Amphitheatre, to which his reply was "I eh know dat!" very casually.
What was happening outside Smokey and Bunty took on a Carnival type atmosphere, but to be honest, I told him I would prefer to be in the amphitheatre, where I was being entertained by a wide vary of music, and music being played by the "national instrument."
I was saddened by my friend’s response, the World Steelband Music Festival, should have taken priority in the minds of our citizens; we boast and brag about the only musical invention of the 20th century was born here, and the little respect we pay to it.
Hoping by the final night October 19, the Jean Pierre Complex will be full to capacity, not because it is the final night, but to show our appreciation for the culture.
KEN SMITH
Woodbrook
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The UNC leader wishes
Posted: Tuesday, October 15, 2002
EDITOR: There were a lot of people who were complaining about the tone of the recent General Election campaign on the basis that we all have to live here after the Election. Now that the event has come and gone, I am still hearing the leader of the UNC speaking about impending robberies, kidnaps, violence, fires, demonstrations and unholy alliances with criminals.
It is almost as if he wishes these things to happen, so that his party would look good in the eyes of the electorate, but then what is his wish for Trinidad and Tobago.? I sincerely believe that the UNC supporters and this country deserves much better, and it reminds of this statement by an ancient philosopher, "The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks."
Thank You.
Kurt Garcia
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Panday's game of musical chairs
Posted: Monday, October 14, 2002
THE EDITOR: If I were Carlos John, I would be very upset with what Mr Panday has done to my political career.
I would ask Mr Panday: "Why Sir, did you move me from my safe seat in St Joseph and send me to the uncertainty of Tunapuna?"
I would see right through Mr Panday’s game of political musical chairs which has backfired this time around.
He wanted to bring in Mr Dookeran to help the image of his party. Fine, but why did he not put Mr Dookeran up in one of the safe central or south seats - for example, the one held by his brother Subhas Panday or the one held by Ganga Singh or even Manohar Ramsaran or Kamla Bissessar, and put any one of them to fight Hart in Tunapuna?
If I were Carlos John I would take a good look at the Opposition line-up of the 16 members, 15 are Indo-Trinidadians and the remaining one is a Chinese-Trinidadian, Yetming.
So much for inclusion and racial balance. Yes, if I were Mr John I would be more than blasted vex.
Mark Johnson,
St Joseph
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Tie or Loss Mr Panday?
Posted: Wednesday, October 9, 2002
EDITOR: Congratulations to all who participated in our democratic process, but many people are condemning Mr Panday for telling his supporters it was 18-18 and the President has to make a decision, at twenty-past eleven on monday night, when the entire country knew that it was not 18-18. He has often been accused of not knowing right from wrong, but is it possible that he does not know the difference between win and loss or tie and loss. I do not think retirement is an unpleasant option for Mr Panday.
KURT GARCIA
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Battle of the bottle for Miami Carnival
Posted: Tuesday, October 8, 2002
By Terry Joseph
After securing exclusive sponsorship from Guyana’s El Dorado Rum, Miami Carnival officials have taken a firm stand against encroachment by TT's Angostura brands and Carib Beer, after virtual newcomer Samba got the nod from festival directors.
A third Trini product, BWIA, is also out of the loop this year, having again lost to American Airlines the chance of being declared Miami Carnival's official carrier.
Carnival officials put their foot down last week, declaring that no mas band seeking to participate in Sunday's adult parade will be allowed entry to the route or competition grounds at Opa-locka if their banners carry logos of brands that have not been selected as sponsors.
"Out of a sense of patriotism and history, Angostura, Carib and BWIA were each given first opportunity to sponsor our activities but their offers were laughable in comparison to El Dorado Rum, Samba Beer and American Airlines," Miami Carnival joint chairman, Francis Ragoo, told the Express.
Ragoo declined to say how much the El Dorado deal was worth.
After El Dorado was selected as the official rum, Angostura representatives began distributing T-shirts and banners to mas bands, a ploy which angered Miami Carnival officials to the point of making a new rule.
"It became necessary to remind the bandleaders that we are holding the police and county permits for the street parade and competition facilities and like the management of any other type of entertainment event, we reserve the right to refuse admission," Ragoo said.
He added that "emotion doesn't help our finances and we don't want to end up like other carnivals, unable to pay our bills".
Miami Carnival kicked into high gear on Sunday with the children's parade in Fort Lauderdale.
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Please Mr Panday
Posted: Thursday, October 3, 2002
EDITOR: I think it is high time that these politicians have some respect for the intelligence of people in this country, in this case Mr Panday. While he is busy preaching about the mysterious businessmen who are leaving Trinidad that no one else but him seems to know, and instilling fear of the Jamaat and Abu Bakr, because of their past activities. He is forgetting that in his party that he has a candidate for the Arima seat, who like Abu Bakr was charged for taking up arms as a violent means to overthrow an elected government in this country. Her activities with her 'comrades' at the time saw Police stations being bombed and Policemen being killed, bank robberies, murder of innocent citizens, over thirty people being killed including her sister, and she too was also captured and jailed, like Abu Bakr, only later to resurface as a UNC minister of government.
In fact Editor one of the accomplices of the present UNC Arima candidate of the 70's in their violent attempt to overthrow the state was sentenced to death for the murder of a policeman and was the recipient of a state pardoned lobbied for by politicians who are now in the bosom of the UNC leadership. That same pardoned person was the one seen passing a note to the UNC leadership in a public meeting in Central Trinidad, and which was deemed so offensive by NAR leader Mr Selby Wilson that he walked out of a UNC/NAR accommodation at the time, because of that incident.
Mr John Humphrey former acting UNC Prime Minister of this country made many stirring appeals reported in the media on behalf of the Jamaat and Abu Bar, the very same Mr Humphrey also stood bail for several of those 1970 accused who were charged for picking up guns to violently overthrow the democratically elected government, and all this is in the public record. It is instructive to note also Editor who were the people who advised the Muslimeen how to proceed in those dark days of 1990 in the Red House Chamber and who brought out the Amnesty document out of the Red House on behalf of the Muslimeen.
Further Editor, apart from the UNC Arima candidate, there is another UNC candidate this time in Arouca North who is for all intent and purposes, known to all and sundry as a member of the Jamaat al Muslimeen. Coincidentally this candidate is also the brother of the former pardoned 1970 killer and Muslimeen member who passed the note to the UNC leadership that caused Selby Wilson to walk out on the UNC. Other Muslimeen members also ran as candidates for the UNC in Local Government elections, and the public escort and protection services of the Jamaat on behalf of UNC candidates and government ministers including Dhanraj Singh are well known.
Please Mr Panday, many of us live here and are quite familiar with the history of this country and no politician including Mr Manning is going to be allowed to twist and misinform us about us the history of Trinidad, especially that which we have lived through. Thank You.
Cindy Williams
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