PARADIGM SHIFTING TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO:

The agony and the Agni-V.

2012-02-16T18:39:00.001-04:00

News recently out of India put a damper on the euphoria wrought by the 2012 Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Chief Guest's still-fresh-in-mind notable return to her Girmitiya roots last month -India shall soon be testing a new long-range ballistic missile (the Agni-V), which is touted to wipe out anything within its 5,000km reach.

(See: http://tribune.com.pk/story/336855/india-to-test-new-long-range-missile-official/)

Yours truly has long been overwrought by such news, since, given the reality of today's India -and of much of the world- ought not the national patrimony be exhausted to eliminate the human desperation Bollywood shuns in the images it distributes among the Indian Diaspora...for India is a cruel place for such poor folks as I.

Just last week, Dr. the Honourable Manmohan Singh vicariously berated his own administration over the appalling living condition of hundreds of millions of India's children:

"...I repeat that the problem of malnutrition is a matter of national shame. Despite impressive growth in our GDP, the level of under-nutrition in the country is unacceptably high. We have also not succeeded in reducing this rate fast enough...

The results of this survey are both worrying and encouraging. The survey reports high levels of malnutrition...indicates...one child in five has reached an acceptable healthy weight during the last 7 years in 100 focus districts... However, what...must concern all enlightened citizens, is that 42% of our children are still underweight. This is an unacceptably high occurrence..."

What he next said reinforced how frustrated he was over the pathetic progress; but, while upbraiding them, he announced a major policy shift:

"We need to focus on districts where malnutrition levels are high and where conditions causing malnutrition prevail.

Policy makers and programme implementers need to clearly understand many linkages -between education and health, between sanitation and hygiene, between drinking water and nutrition- and then shape their responses accordingly.

These sectors can no longer work in isolation of each other. Health professionals cannot solely concentrate on curative care. Drinking water and sanitation providers cannot be oblivious to the positive externality of their actions. The school teacher needs to be aware of the nutritional needs of the adolescent..."

(See: http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=79457 for the release from the Indian Prime Minister's Office)

The 2011 HUNGaMA (Hunger and Malnutrition) Report [Hungama Report] involved a survey of 73,000 households across nine Indian states and is downloadable at: http://www.naandi.org/CP/HungamaBKDec11LR.pdf.

Despite her prowess in academia, technology and certain sports, India harbours more than one-third of all the Earth's poor...yet, she is numbered among the world’s top-ten military spenders...and, between 2012 and 2015, she plans to splurge TT$630 billion to upgrade her military capacity, even though her military forces almost outnumber Trinbago's entire population.

The question must therefore be asked: "Who really comprises the India astronomically-expensive belligerent toys as Agni-V are designed to protect?" Certainly not the below?

In our own circumstance, since May 24th 2010 a number of significant steps have been taken to bring permanent improvement in the living standard of many who were lagging behind. The 2012 Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Chief Guest spearheads a very able-bodied and diversified unit in tackling those transformational tasks. As only the enlightened expect, success won't come overnight, given the mess met. Considering the admonition Dr. The Honourable Manmohan Singh just made, it's reasonably safe to conclude the Chief Guest must have advised him what to do.

Ipso not so ab initio, do so post facto.

2012-02-14T08:33:00.000-04:00

Without pointing to any specific shortcoming of theirs, there's no denying even the following, whom we worship as among the bestest (sic) paragons ever born, have fallen short of the glory of The Most High:

Mahatma Gandhi
Martin Luther King
Rohilala Mandela
Mother Teresa
Oprah Winfrey

However, their whatever faults are utterly effaced from earthly memory. And why not? After all, despite they all being mere mortals, hence subject to the attendant frailties, their singular accomplishments have so tremendously and irrevocably advanced the cause of equity, they could never be ranked but by stellar scale.

So, when we invent prescriptions requiring only persons of the high integrity be invested with awesome oversight powers, it's absolutely foolhardy to think any such person would be easily found...especially in a small pond where a few bloated guabins have indubitable, indomitably-incessant, inherited influence.

Therefore, we are forced to adopt "trial and error" as an integral part of the selective process...and not to forget "integral" ipso facto implies merely not ab initio review of the appointees' bona fides, but ongoing -as in post facto their appointment.

To overarching extent, our laws have considered the latter commendation, in that several specifically provide as is found in Sections 34 and 36 of the Interpretation Act, Chapter 3:01:

34 (3) & 36 (b) Where a board, corporation, tribunal, commission, committee or other similar body is established under a written law, then, subject to any requirements with respect to a quorum, the validity of any act done in pursuance of any power of the board shall not be affected by any defect in the appointment or qualifications of a person purporting to be a member;

http://rgd.legalaffairs.gov.tt/Laws2/Alphabetical_List/lawspdfs/3.01.pdf

Yet, except for Members of Parliament, no law exists to force the affected appointees automatically to vacate office when there arises an issue such as would prevent their being appointed ab initio.

In the ongoing getting-together our act, why not institute an all-embracing post facto provision?

Yes, we can!

2012-02-13T10:22:00.001-04:00

I'm fedup of citizens bitching over "poor representation"! What? Didn't you appreciate what you were doing when you were about to place your X?

The power to select and deselect is within your hands -our Constitution and or existing laws gives you that power, right and or privilege! Flabbergasted? Not surprising, since, many, many years now, Civics is not part of our schools' curriculum. So, let me explain.

Under existing laws, elected Members of Parliament and of Local Government Bodies are selected by us, the people, via a first-past-the-post system. That system says, whoever receives the largest bloc of votes validly cast becomes the elected representative for the relevant constituency. Sometimes the elected perform creditably...sometime they do not acquit themselves at all. In the latter case, unless alternative arrangements are made, the electors suffer. Clearly, our founding legislators and those who spurred our founding legislators never intended our laws to allow such -else their blood, sweat, tears and property would not have been sacrificed on the road to our Independence. Yet, today we find a number of elected representatives demonstrably not up to the awesome task...no need to here pinpoint -every garden intrinsically recognizes what seed it must germinate.

My present opinion is the the existing laws already provide for elected representatives to be recalled if unfit. Mind you, I'm not referring to what our Constitution says in Section 49 (Why I must spoonfeed you? Look it up yourself! Chuts! http://rgd.legalaffairs.gov.tt/Laws2/Constitution.pdf)- I'm talking about what the Interpretation Act, Chapter 3:01, says, in particular, under the rubric "STATUTORY POWERS AND DUTIES", at Section 44, as follows:

(a) Where a written law confers a power or imposes a duty, the power may be exercised and the duty shall be performed from time to time, as occasion requires.
(b) Notwithstanding that a power given by a written law to do any act or thing or to make any appointment is not in general capable of being exercised from time to time, that power is nevertheless capable of being exercised as often as is necessary to correct any error or omission in any previous exercise of the power.

http://rgd.legalaffairs.gov.tt/Laws2/Alphabetical_List/lawspdfs/3.01.pdf

When this government administration came to office via our overwhelming endorsement, salient among the pledges giving rise to such support was the right-to-recall. From what I've just identified, we, the people, already have that right...all that's missing is the administrative nuts and bolts whereby to use it.

Take note! For I intend to approach the courts -in forma pauperis, how else?- to have the promise delivered by Caesarian Section; for, even though at times I may stumble, my end must never be such where people would stand over my grave and say: "Here lies Richard Wm. Thomas! He preached but didn't practice!"

All's well that ends well! Where there is life there is hope! And, the time is always right to do what is right!

The importance of good choosing.

2012-02-05T11:52:00.004-04:00

A representative is a model of something/someone else. If the representative is pathetic, so too must be the something/someone represented. If not, the representative is fashioned of intrinsically sphitee material. Either way, the representative must be switched. Thing is, switching after the race is declared is most difficult...heck, even impermissible, except if the representative drop dead, resign or, so terrible, other representatives band together and banish him/her. Matters not to the represented as, meantime, pathetic representation means the represented suffer. Also, representatives have unfettered authority to delegate their own authority. Too often they delegate to agents whom the represented would otherwise never allow to see the light of power. End result? Boolean -read what I wrote from the beginning. That's why it's most important to exercise extreme care when choosing. Nota bene quod scripsi enim veritas loquor.

What if Basil is "Indian"?

2012-01-26T10:11:00.001-04:00

Every extended exhibition of goodwill towards Patrick Augustus Manning must be tempered by re-absorption of the December 2008 mettle-revealing remarks the man made to all and sundry concerning his health, which remarks are well-preserved in script and graphics, to wit:

"I have no control over these matters so I just go with the flow. I must tell you something, you know. I have no fear of death, you know. I have no fear of death and therefore I have no undue concern on this matter."
Asked then why the operation was not being done locally, Manning said, "I have been under the care of Cuban doctors for a long time and it was discovered in Havana and I have been given medical treatment at the Cimeq Hospital in Cuba for over ten years now. That's how it is."

The above was excerpted from the Trinidad and Tobago Express of December 12, 2008

(See: http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/A_long_history_of_health_battles-138017868.html)

The Trinidad and Tobago Newsday and The Trinidad and Tobago Guardian also duly covered the news with considerable aplomb:

http://www.newsday.co.tt/news/0,91603.html

http://legacy.guardian.co.tt/archives/2008-12-12/news7.html

But, it is to his penchant for foreign care which here and now I speak, for it has long bothered me why some of our "national leaders" deliberately scorn homegrown talent except when under duress...especially when the scorn is born of bigotry. You see, I distinctly remember the Freudian Slip Mr. Manning made on his returned from pacemaker-implant surgery in Cuba in 2004 -about a month before Hurricane Ivan struck. In the Piarco airport, evidently high-spirited, he'd replied to a straightforward query over his preference for Cuban medical doctors by saying -and I paraphrase- that his concern for the welfare of the country was paramount, that's why: for he'd shuddered at how "PNM supporters" would react if things went awry for him while he was under the knives of local "Indian" doctors.

The cavalier remark went viral on the then-existing TTonline forum...I was then in the thick of that virtual fray, even started what, up to today is the biggest thread -of Hurricane Ivan. Sadly, some years ago TTonline was completely scrubbed and reconstituted as what it is today...whatever archive I have of it was wiped out during an earlier computer crashed.

I raise this issue because there's a six-kiloton elephant in the room that no one is willing openly to acknowledge, far less to address or chase -the contrived ethnic hostility/clannishness which shapes/drives our ethos. Given our history, it is expected there'd be some residual element of socially-splintering attitudes and behaviour. But that does not mean we must install, or, if installed, keep in office, national leaders who, by design or accident, encourage such. My entire life I've railed against bigotry, for intolerance is the thing which corrodes a society the most. It denies every attempt at equity. It is a canker, the likes of which is without equal. Furthermore, it spits in the face of the well-set law that a person dying of thirst fusses not over the colour or shape of the hand that slakes his thirst.

A priori -and paradoxically- my abhorrence towards holier-than-thou-ism is not as much fuelled by hatred of the resultant division as it is by the vision that our neck-of-the-woods was created to be a paradise, one which would show the world how e pluribus unum may be attained, for the live-and-let style is what best describes everything I say or do...even though, at times, I may stumble.

I therefore call on the nation, especially my PNM bretheren and sisteren to take careful note that the medicos attendant upon our former Prime Minister, Patrick A. M. Manning, are all/overwhelmingly (Trinbagonian)-Indos...if what the news media reports is accurate:

Manning is in the care of a medical team that includes Dr Kanta Ramcharan, neurologist and specialist consultant in internal medicine; Dr Neil Bhagwandass, specialist in internal medicine who was on call when Manning was brought into the hospital’s A&E Department; and Dr Parvind Ramoutar, a cardiologist and internal medicine consultant.
and, from latest reports, he is recuperating.

http://www.guardian.co.tt/news/2012-01-26/fuad-after-visit-hospital-manning-showing-positive-signs

May Allah give all the focus, strength and skill needed to bring about a happy conclusion to the predicament of the Mannings and everyone similarly distressed...and to embolden or "leaders" to tear down the walls that divide rather than unify us.

Tweaking the silken eloquence of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to define our today.

2012-01-22T13:51:00.002-04:00

Truthfully, we've got to get rid of a myth that still pervades our nation -the myth of "time".

I'm sure you've heard the notion that only time can solve the problems of social injustice? Well, I've heard it from many sincere people. They've said to the ones chomping at the bits for meaningful change at last to come to this country, "You should slow up! You're pushing things too fast! Only time can solve the problem! And if you'll just be nice and patient and continue to pray, in "time", the problem will resolve itself!"

There is an answer to that myth. It is, the time is neutral -it can be used either constructively or destructively. And I'm sad to say to you today I'm absolutely convinced that the forces of ill-will in our nation, the forces on the wrong side in our nation, the extremists of our nation have often used time much more effectively than the forces of goodwill; and it may well be that we may have to repent in this generation, not merely for the vitriolic works of the evil people who will say and do bad things, but also for the appalling silence and indifference of the good people, who sit around and say wait on "time".

Somewhere we must come to see that human progress never rolls in on the wheels of inevitability -it comes through the tireless efforts and the persistent work of dedicated individuals who are willing to be co-workers with God. And, without this hard work, time itself becomes an ally of the primitive forces of social stagnation.

And so, we must always help "time" and realize that the time is always right to do right.

The iceberg ahead.

2012-01-21T09:51:00.004-04:00

Twenty months down the road, no one can sincerely -privately or publicly- announce satisfaction with the product thus far delivered by the People's Partnership administration, for the expectations of all -even the PNM- was that, by January 2012 at least, tangible evidence of meaningful and lasting transformation would have been palpably visible for all to see. And, if the likes of me is saying such, one cannot sincerely fault any non-PNM citizen or group of citizens who has concluded that, except for a touch of makeup here, or a touch of makeup there, the face of the land remains the same as it was before May 24th 2010. (PNMites are discounted, for reasons easily inferable from hereinbelow.)

Obviously, things cannot continue as is. They would, however, if the "spanner in the works" is not removed -those charged with the duty of executing policies and plans who have not delivered, or, worse yet, sometimes subtly, sometimes straightforwardly, steadily sabotage every effort to transform this place for the better. An urgent review of all hands on deck needs to be taken -matters not the platform whence they embarked- if only for the reason that for such purpose this régime was elected! And, the best way to undertake such a review is to operate like a wise employer does:

When selecting persons to do a job, the first step the wise employer takes is to determine what motivates such person -for where his treasure is, so too will be his heart.
The next is to understand no leopard changes its spots -it may use said spots to blend in with the landscape, yes, but, it never changes its spots- and leopards are carnivores -they feed off the flesh of others.
The third is to ensure the prospect knows that his job security depends on his performance as much as his remuneration package is -the only way to demonstrate this is by being unflinching in applying the rod of correction...and, in swinging the axe.
Finally, the wise employer understands that dogs which bring a bone have to get it from somewhere to bring it in the first place, so gives a wide berth to anyone behaving like The Kuchursinghs.

Twenty from sixty leaves forty. In forty months the errors of the past twenty can be thoroughly fixed...not sure whether the pre-sixty ones shall though. Either way, it's worth using the forty fully to earn a shot at getting the next sixty shot.

"Murticulturalism" has no place in the Trinbago dictionary.

2012-01-20T11:16:00.003-04:00

On a point of order, Ms Rosanne Kanhai!

It's manifestly unsustainable - and because it's utterly baseless, might even be sacrilegious- to indict the PNM on the charge you made:

During the PNM "reign" (most of our postcolonial history) it was just so easy to ignore, marginalize, shut down the Indo/Hindu cultural practices. And we haven't even begun to talk about the Indo-Muslim community.

for the only Trinbagonian "sub-cultures" which the PNM decimated during its long stints were those of our Aboriginal and Afro-origin peoples.

Serialized and memorized history infallibly details how the assertiveness and nationwide impact of our Indian-origin Trinbagonian brothers and sisters blossomed only from the 1956-advent of the Dr. Eric Williams-led PNM. Perhaps so in part occurred because, to its lasting credit, the PNM it was which, in Trinbago, inaugurated the ruse called "national party politics", since, before PNM's advent, no Trinbagonian political figure ever implemented the stratagem of "waging war" in every electoral constituency as a single force.

It was the "national political party" which accorded theIndian-origin Trinbagonian community the vehicle to exert greater influence on the shaping of national policy in its favour -some chose to forge an open alliance with the PNM from its outset, the "wiser ones" stuck to their recalcitrant ways -no unity, crabs-in-barrel approach- leading to the 1956 Trinbago General Election War being determined as below depicted:

The PNM, mind you, did not win the majority of Legislative Council seats in 1956 -it won 13...the total number was 30; however, the PNM won the majority of the seats elected by popular ballot -13 out of 24...the Queen of England appointed the remaining 6. With no other Party winning even half of what PNM then won and with the Butler Party refusing to throw in its lots with anyone, there was no way any other Party except the "national party" named PNM being allowed first bite at the cherry...which is precisely what the Queen did by permitting the PNM to identify three of the six she had to pick, thus giving the PNM the outright majority in the Council of 1956.

To their credit, their 1956 humiliation galvanized them to see the light so fast, that, when Fortune intervened two years down the road -the 1958 West Indian Federal Elections- all infighting was shunted to the side, for the wiser ones of the Trinbagonian-Indo community banded together and punted their everything on a new "national party" -The Democratic Labour Party...once an acceptable leader could be identified. The choice of leader was critical, for so overawed of Dr. Eric Williams Goliathan status they were, they figured only a Goliath, not a peewat, could lead them into battle.

It didn't take long for them to decide, since, on the national landscape at the time, the dominating Trinbagonian-Indo figure was the grassroots, self-made multimillionaire and Maha Sabha head, Bhadase Sagan Maraj, who happened to be a sitting member of the Legislative Council, having first won his seat in 1950.

It was Bhadase Sagan Maraj who was appointed to head the second ever "national party" in Trinbago -The Democratice Labour Party (DLP).

DLP was established in 1957...get this!...as a coalescence of several already-existing Trinbagonians political parties which had fought against the PNM. Some had won seats in the just-concluded 1956 General Elections. In essence, the DLP was a Party of Parties then. The implications of such characteristic cannot be overemphasized, for it presaged what none but the blind can deny -in unity, even when at variance, there is insurmountable strength. The proof of the pudding is that thrice since 1956, only unity of disparate parts has been able to dispatch the PNM to the land faraway yet so near -the land where all inhabitants ever do is wail and gnash teeth at everything within and without.

Dr. Williams patently held Bhadase in derision, even though "town have it to say" the two colluded to block the masses of the Trinbagonian-Indo community from aligning themselves with the Trinbagonian-Afro masses arrayed against the PNM during the Black Power Awakening of 1969-1970. Perhaps such derision was born of Bhadase not being an "educated" man, or being too rough-hewn, thus unworthy of the adulation in which many Trinbagonian-Indos held him? Matters not, for the words of Dr. Williams himself betrayed his true opinion of what both Bhadase and the DLP represented, as, following the PNM's humiliation at the hands of the 1957 DLP amalgam, the Doctor-ordered scornful sobriquet of "Recalcitrant Minority" was bestowed on DPL promulgators and supporters alike.

The moniker itself became a battlecry for the Indian-origin Trinbagonian community -it cankers every Trinbagonian-Indo...even those who stuck with and rose to great heights within the PNM have never forgotten it. However, in the end all will know whether it so consumed their ethos that they cannot bring themselves ever to entertain a Trinbagonian-Afro being at the helm of anything worthwhile, unless he/she becomes an "Honorary Indian".

So, Rosanne Kanhai, in wrapping up allow me to begin by quipping some Latin, will you, please? Togato toga per omnia secula seculorum: Strip him as much as you wish, but, please, never deny Jack his jacket, okay? For, under the PNM, the Trinbagonian-Indo community, whether in its different parts or in its whole, benefitted tremendously from official policies and activities, to the extent where, today, not one, but hundreds of thousands of Bhadases have mushroomed thoughout the land...and beyond. And many more are waiting in the wings.

I hope many of my Aboriginal and Trinbagonian-Afro brothers and sisters would wake up and smell the coffee, then put aside the bickering and consummate cavalierism and start brewing the tonnes of beans their ancestors toiled under great humiliation to bequeath.

On Jan 19, 2012, at 4:19 PM, Rosanne Kanhai wrote:

Thanks for a thought provoking piece. There are many ideas; let me address the unwillingness of the Creole mainstream (generally speaking -- of course there are exceptional persons) to make adequate efforts to come to terms with the fact that Hindu/Indo Trinidadian philosophy of life is in many ways quite different, and so are the practices and images that evolve within that philosophy. The extent to which that philosophy is influenced by Bollywood, by memories of the folk, or by nostalgia for an imagined India is irrelevant. In fact, all combine in a synergy that is distinctly Trinidadian. I am not saying that I agree with or approve of everything the PP gov't does and says. (Certainly I don't.) However, a high profile presence of this Hindu/Indo Trinidadian way of understanding and experiencing life compels the Creole mainstream to stretch its imagination. During the PNM "reign" (most of our postcolonial history) it was just so easy to ignore, marginalize, shut down the Indo/Hindu cultural practices. And we haven't even begun to talk about the Indo-Muslim community.

2012-01-13T11:39:00.001-04:00

I've always strived to be like James Baldwin -an honest man and a good writer. That's why, despite the pictures coming out of Bhelupur, India, the lot of Bhelupur and its environs disturb me -the area evidently is one of abject misery, though more than a decade has passed of the 21st century.

Baldwin appreciated that "the past is all thatmakes the present coherent and, further, that the past will remainhorrible for exactly as long as we refuse to assess it honestly". I hope he would be pleased with my ongoing efforts to do precisely that.

When Satkrit Kamla returned to the very place whence her Girmitiya pardana, Ram Lakhan Mishra, came -the village of Bhelupur- I'm sure the tears she shed were as much in chagrin over the condition of her "hometown" as they were in overwhelming joy and humility at being able to make the connection while alive -for, here she was, resplendently garbed, standing before her people, all of whom, in their own way, were proud of her to the core, yet uncomprehending of how one of their lowly own could attain the heights she has.

In keeping with her custom, Satkrit Kamla sought to inspire her audience -she cajoled her newly-found brethren to educate themselves if they wished to escape the drudgery of life in Bhelupur, to wit:

“Let your children get education. This is the only passport out of poverty….the only way to lift the nation,” she said.

Waxing Baldwinesque, I beg to differ -my view is: if we take it fundamentally, education could never be the key to hometown prosperity -education is derived from "educare", a Latin verb itself rooted in another -educere- which means "to bring/lead out of".

History has shown how when the best is permanently removed from a neighbourhood, that neighbourhood literally and or metaphorically crumbles to the dust, while, the places where the best is taken blossom and grow rich. (The African Slave Trade refers.)

The key then to hometown prosperity is for the circle to be unbroken -education must be turned to the hometown benefit if the hometown is to benefit from it. In other words, the educated of the hometown must to the hometown return all or a substantial portion of their improved fortune, the hometown being the crucible to whom, as Satkrit Kamla herself conceded, the educated "owe (their) fame and fortune".

The Unfinished Saga of Kamla Persad-Bissessar.

2012-01-08T23:50:00.010-04:00

UPDATED -2012 January 10th, Tuesday.

The above depicts Girmitiya, Satkrit Kamla Persad-Bissessar, surrounded by part of her entourage. It was taken on Sunday, January 8th 2012, as she was leaving the opening ceremony of the 2012 Pravasi Bharatiya Divas at Birla Auditorium, Jaipur, India.

The guy with the magazines (left foreground) is Sayantan Chakravarty, Publisher and Editor of India Empire magazine, who, at the invitation of His Excellency Malay Mishra, Indian High Commissioner to Trinidad and Tobago (not in photo), had just presented her with a copy of the January edition, in which my article -"From Beyond Kala Pani In Honour And Glory She Returns"- is featured.

The impromptu "handing-over ceremony" generated a frenzied flutter of activity in the ranks of the attendant international press corps -they quickly transformed the gesture into a major media event which lasted for nearly five minutes.

The article describes her life story, in a nutshell.

Click anywhere on the picture to read what it says.

UPDATE TWO: January 10th, 2012:
Many Indian media houses have been providing interesting morsels of the visit of Prime Minister Satkrit Kamla Persad-Bissessar to her aboriginal home. Tribune India is one of the better ones, so it is on Tribune India I leaned to commence this latest addendum to the unfinished tapestry chronicling her life's work and accomplishments.

When Satkrit Kamla Persad-Bissessar makes the pilgrimage to the dirt-poor Indian village of Bhelupur on Wednesday, January 11th 2012, she will mark the return to her roots by planting five saplings -neem, pakad, pipal, ashok and barh- near the Sipariya Kali Mandir which has taken root on the spot where her ancestral home was once located.

Satkrit Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s pardada (great-grandfather, on father's side), you see, was a young, unmarried man named Ram Lakhan Mishra, who bade farewell forever to Bhelupur before the Monsoon of 1889, in search of his destiny.

The odyssey took him all the way to the Bay of Bengal, to the bustling port city of Kolkata, a place where a countrybookee could be shanghaied for less than a rupee, because Kolkata was the place whence Girmitiyas were lured and despatched across the Kala Pani to lands "teeming with milk and honey" and "roads paved of gold". So it was, on Thursday July 18, 1889, the kumvara (bachelor) from Bhelupur found himself on a ship named "Volga", for the grim business of the Volga was to haul away Indian Sufferers enticed by Girmit offerers to venture aboard.

Throughout the eighty-three years of Girmit operations in Trinidad and Tobago, if there was one such ship aptly named, Volga was it -onboard conditions for human cargo and crew were as brutal and as vulgar as every ship conscripted for the treacherous purpose -limited food...very cramped accommodation...snail-paced progress through the sometimes-foaming, sometimes-becalmed waters of the Oceans Indian and Atlantic. When Volga weighed anchor in Kolkata, its passenger manifest enumerated 555 souls; three months later, on Monday October 21, 1889, when she berthed at Nelson Island, the tally was 537, for 18 had died during the lengthy crossing.

(By the way, by that date Nelson Island had become the quarantine station and sorting-house for all Girmitiyas arriving in Trinidad and Tobago -once given a clean bill of health, from there they would be sent on to the Trinidad plantations which wanted them.)

Thus it was that the bachelor Ram Lakhan Mishra came to make Trinidad and Tobago his home. And in sturdy Girmitiya tradition, he'd brought with him the seeds of a culture and tradition so well-rooted, over the years nothing thrown at them or their descendants would ever dent their sense of who they are and why they came.

He was unmarried when he reached Trinidad and Tobago, then a British colony. Incidentally, Tobago only was annexed to Trinidad on Tuesday January 1, 1889, pursuant to the Royal Order in Council of Sunday November 17, 1888; thus, when Ram Lakhan disembarked, he was entering a Crown Colony which, ten months before, did not exist.

Ram Lakhan would eventually marry a local girl who would bear him a son named Chauranji Persad. Chaunraji married Sumitra and became parents of Lilraj Persad. Lilraj is the father of Satkrit Kamla Persad-Bissessar, incumbent PM of Trinidad andTobago, who, at the time of writing, is well on her way to her pardada's native village of Bhelupur.

When she plants the five saplings, no doubt she'd be in more than wonderment over having to nest their roots in a locale named the same as her own birthplace -Siparia, Trinidad and Tobago.

When sagas like Satkrit Kamla's are openly documented as herein, then spirits still staggering from the sapping aftermath of hundreds of years of African slavery shall stir and be renewed, so that, energized they may focus to follow suit and, at last, demonstrate to all the world how wonderful life can be when everyone finds an equal place.

Partnering for Prosperity -Lecture at 2012 Pravasi Bharatiya Divas.

2012-01-08T09:47:00.000-04:00

Ngekwakhona Indlu Nsuku for Africa.

2012-01-06T13:05:00.005-04:00

The Pravasi (Non-resident) Bharatiya (Indian) Divas (Day) is the prestigious annual January-held event India organizes to recognize the singularly positive accomplishments of the Indian Diaspora which vicariously uplift their ancestral homeland.

The highlight of the celebration is the bestowing of the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman (Award), essentially the most auspicious award India may confer on any member of the Indian Diaspora, as the Samman is an official honour from the Republic of India which none but members of her Diaspora may get. The measure of its worth is that none but the living embodiment of India actually present the Samman to the awardee -only the President of India executes the honourable act.

Hence, none summoned for the purpose decline to attend!

Hence, too, over the years Pravasi Bharatiya Divas has easily evolved into being a fard pilgrimage of sorts, for members of the Indian Diaspora have come to view it as an opportunity to derive or renew their sense of self-worth when they see and interact with India of today.

And why mustn't they, seeing what centuries of Eurocentric focus have done for Europe and to us?

Yet, some have chosen to deride our Prime Minister for accepting the invitation of the Indian Prime Minister for her to pay a State Visit to India concurrently with her being present in India as the Chief Guest of the 2012 Pravasi Bharatiya Divas. I've said it before: such griping strikes this Afro-Trinbagonian (really, part Afro, part Aborigine) as being churlish in the extreme! Furthermore, it begs the following question:

So what if, Africa, say, through the Organization of African Unity (OAU), organizes something similar for the African Diaspora; would the invited not attend?

Ngekwakhona Indlu Nsuku! (Zulu for "Pravasi Bharatiya Divas!")

Tsaminamina ae ae!
Waka waka ae ae!
Tsaminamina zangalewa?
It's time for Africa!

African slavery was abolished more than one hundred and seventy-five years ago! Yet, most nowadays Afro-Trinbagonians meander like if slavery's still raging!

Come! Come! Come! O sons and daughters of Africa! Where is your indomitable fighting spirit, such as evidenced by Daaga...not the current Daaga, the real one, who gave his life fighting to free himself and his people...or, as by the mighty Nepuyo Kaseek, Hyareema, who led his browbeaten people in an onslaught against oppression which, up to today, because such records are organized by the victor not the defeated, official history misrepresents as an act of barbarism on their part. Come! Come! Come!

When you fall,
Get up!
When you see your own stumble,
Help steady them!
You say you're a good footsoldier?
Well pick yourself up!
Dust yourself off!
Get back in the saddle!
Tsaminamina ae ae!
Waka waka ae ae!
Tsaminamina zangalewa?
It's time for Africa!

Ngekwakhona Indlu Nsuku!

Welcome to Lopinot/Bon Air West!

2011-12-24T09:20:00.000-04:00

Christmas toy collection drive: the preferred option.

2011-12-24T07:21:00.008-04:00

Of the earthly sounds which gladden the human spirit, ranking almost at the top definitely are the squeals of wanton delight cascading from children's lips at Christmastime, as they behold a new toy some kind "Santa" left for them. In that regard, the longstanding efforts of every living or dead "Santa" must be commended, not upbraided. Therefore, I salute you, Madam Prime Minister, Kamla Persad-Bissessar! Such practice of national leaders is more than approved in the civilized world, of which world, despite the ins and outs, we are inextricably a part.

However, given my druthers (Mind you! I have many and none can any diminish or remove!), I'd rather you, being our esteemed and Most Honourable -EMBA (Hons.), BA (Hons.), LLB (Hons.), LEC, Dip. Ed.- establish a Charitable Foundation for the sole purpose of your continuing to spread such Christmastime happiness to our nation's children, not only at Christmastime, but throughout the year. Such practice of national leaders is more than approved in the civilized world, of which world, despite the ins and outs, we are inextricably a part.

I'd further rather you name it after you, again as such practice of national leaders is more than approved in the civilized world, of which world, despite the ins and outs, we are inextricably a part.

By so doing, not only would the detailed information of donor individuals and corporations and their donations be noted in the public records, but the foundation already laid would be strengthened. What foundation? The one to ensure the good name "Kamla Persad-Bissessar" shall be illustriously entered in every book and tablet, etched on every illustrious pylon and obelisk of Trinbago, as one held in the endeared memories of all of us for all time!

So let it be written! So let it be done!

Thing is, even when you heed this call, your detractors must still be allowed to continue at their leisure loudly and at length to rant and rail against you for spreading joy, love and happiness instead of hatred and acrimony. Such tolerance too, is par for the course in the civilized world: civility requires the offensive be allowed adequate fissure space.

Turbulent Trou Macaque madness manifests major monkey-pants.

2011-12-21T10:58:00.000-04:00

"Trou Macaque" is a Patois phrase. In English it means "Monkey Hole". The deadly Trou Macaque inferno is but another macabre manifestation of the deep Monkey Hole our Public Service has built for all of us through its perennial lackadaisicalness. Those who live in Monkey Hole perforce dress to suit. The laissez-faire of our Public Service has those of us who know better in a true "monkey-pants" ("Pantalor Macaque", in Patois)! We must quickly escape before the inevitable total decadence overwhelms.

If you feel before now I was silent on this topic, please disabuse your minds by browsing my blogs (www.kid5rivers.com), particularly these:

How low does HDC intend to go?

But, if the link not working, then c.a.p. this into your url address bar:

http://kid5rivers.blogspot.com/2009/06/how-low-can-hdc-go.html

Also and in particular Clauses 8 and 9 of this:

New Trinidad and Tobago Constitution (OPUS NON PERFECTUS).

But, if the link for that not working too, then c.a.p. this into your url address bar:

http://trinbagorenewed.blogspot.com/2008/03/new-trinbago-constirution-opus-non.html#more

Who is willing to come forth and break us free from Trou Macaque? I fear if we leave the present-day Public Service to oversee such a task, the number able will be even smaller than the number willing.

Peace on Earth! And, goodwill to all living beings thereon and whereon ever!

Dahroo and bilnah!

2011-12-11T10:55:00.001-04:00

If you are in its path, a mass of metal, plastic, gasoline and hot lubricants hurtling along at 80 kph will flatten you...the same way a bilnah rolling back and forth while in ahjee's grasp does to a ball of paheesah.

Thing is, when you are flattened, you become mangled bones, flesh, blood, and digested and undigested food! But, with the paheesah, it becomes fit for the waiting tahwah, thence for human consumption.

For the life of me, I can't fathom why the laws governing driving under the influence aren't tightened (pun intended).

One way of so tightening is: to give police officers and Licensing Officers above a certain rank the power to cancel on-the-spot the Driving Permit of persons driving under the influence of dahroo. That could be enhanced by deeming such Permits automatically cancelled the instant they fail the breathalyser test.

I gone...before somebody kilkaytay me!

Checking ourselves to escape the stalemate.

2011-12-09T13:22:00.000-04:00

The trifurcated separation-of-powers to which we've been long subjected needs to be debunked: it was born and or introduced in and of an era when there was no right of universal adult franchise (hence, no government of the people, by the people, for the people), therefore, then theorized to tender the toughest technique to tame travesty towards the this throng through the taint of the that.

Bluntly speaking, in this day and age, where persons or groupings are to be selected or vested to wield power over the people, the only check and balance the people need is the finger stained in electoral ink.

If we wish to escape the stalemate, let us check ourselves by making it so every office of public oversight is an elected one!

Checkmate!

Mweh kah ahlay!

Corruption has worsened? And Kamla is to be blamed? Oh yeah? NAFAT!

2011-12-02T09:29:00.003-04:00

From any angle, the prima facie scrutiny of Transparency International's Corruption Perceptions Index 2011 galvanises tolls of grave concern: no country nor patriot can be pleased at being considered corrupt. However, such concern must be tempered by appreciating the ranks of the local whistleblowers have been swollen by many who for years have neither said nor done any tangible thing to combat corruption (iow, they were complicit in upholding/furthering it)...which leads one to conclude they, no longer being able to profit by it, are all suddenly in a mad rush to squeal.

Transparency International indicated that T&T's ratings were highest in 2001 (the year they were first recorded). If memory remains alert (and the anti-KamlaJack hounds would cease baying but for a moment), one would grasp that the UNC (under Basdeo Panday) was in charge till the beginning of the very last week of that year. Thereafter, one Patrick Manning and his renewed version of PNM were in the cockpit (Thank you, Mr Robinson!). The records will show that, in one decade (between 2001 and 2010), Trinbago's Corruption Index position went from 5.3 to 3.6, with a nadir of 3.2 in 2006! In other words, it plummeted by nearly a third!

Yes! The records also show how, during the final triennial of said decade, the corrupt downward course did flatten, but, evidently and in hindsight, the momentary steadying had not one iota to do with pilot skill: else no election would've been hastily called in mid-flight! One therefore must deduce what really happened was exactly as I said above, which, coincidentally, is precisely what T&T Transparency International Chapter Chair (Richard Joseph) had surmised: under the PNM, the squealers had been hushed:

Joseph acknowledged that the perception would have increased after elections, because people in the private sector would have been more vocal under the new People’s Partnership administration than they would have been under the People’s National Movement (PNM) administration.

(See: http://www.newsday.co.tt/politics/0,151604.html)

The thing is, on airliners in full flight, most passengers grow quiet when everything is enveloped by clouds. They also lose their bearings. Left to them then, no SOS would go forth if, indeed, while the panorama is shrouded, the plane's hurtling towards doom. It is clear the last pilot had temporarily quietened the now again-squealing passengers by flying into a cloud of dizzying projects from which even some of the passengers who innately had no trust of him tangibly benefitted for a while...the man had been in the cockpit since 1971 after all.

However, eventually even the most brooding cloud doth pass! For who may stop the forces which whip them hither and thither? So it was that the CL Financial bubble popped, revealing all the putrefaction in high places and in the misconduct of the public's business. When the beans began to spill, it was inevitable the then government was doomed.

But, back to the point!

The long and short is that the Corruption Index Ratings of 2007, 2008 and 2009 are all falsely premised, ergo, void ab initio! The author has generated a graphic analysis (see below) in support of his arguments:

The author thus postulates:

that the corruption nosedive really continued unabated from the instant then President Robinson mounted a moral and spiritual high-horse back on December 24th 2001; and
that only the mad would believe that, within one or two years, incipient rot would be excised by the People's Partnership,

with the basis of such postulations being: history has amply demonstrated that anytime a new pilot is catapulted into taking the helm of a jetplane plummeting out of control, it takes a little while for said new pilot to steady said jetliner, during which little while, said jetliner will continue to plummet, shudder and wobble.

Thank God, there's yet enough space between the time of this writing and the hard earth below (next general election date) to halt the slide, thence to take the jetliner T&T back to the upward-climbing heady heights of 2001 and better...where it belongs.

Furthermore, as to the credibility of the TI Index, the following website provides an overview of it. Check it out! You would be surprised.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corruption_Perceptions_Index#Validity

Mark you, in keeping with transparency, the author declares (for those who weren't aware) that he is a founding member of UNC and has contested as a candidate at general elections on more than one occasion for that great party. Thus, please refrain from painting him as a UNC sycophant...for sycophant of anything he never was, never will be: else every one of his relatives (dead living and unborn) will arise in vehement repudiation whenever called upon re his vouchsafing.

Beyond, to an Orange-free Status.

2011-11-18T05:01:00.002-04:00

The "Plannings" of east Port of Spain and the rest of Trinidad and Tobago are almost 100% rental units: they are owned by the State, maintained by the State and the State decides who gets them.

To the present day, they are also the hotbeds of unemployment and all derivative undesirable consequences. To generate labour-intensive work programmes for their locals, civil works is the option: construction sector is the fastest way to impact on unemployment.

However, rather than Colour Me Orange, it would be better to transfer freehold ownership of these units to their longstanding and bona fide occupants, but at a peppercorn price, then to establish property management companies owned by the new owners of those units, through which companies the maintenance/renovation of each of these buildings may be undertaken with funds to undertake such work being made available to property owners via no-interest mortgages dispensed by State agencies such as TTMF.

That way too, a massively-marginalised group would at last be removed from the ranks of perpetual feudalism to that of property owners.

Preferably, the property management companies ought to be co-operatives.

For the time being, I am not charging a fee for such advice. :)

Peace! I'm gone!

From sunrise to sunset to sunrise again.

2011-10-13T09:43:00.001-04:00

The Parable of the Barren Mango Trees
Adapted from words of a very, very wise man.
Then he told this parable:

"There once was a large orchard of grafted mango trees. The orchard straddled two lots which stood side by side and which, from common knowledge, were flush with fertile soil.

However, the person manning the orchard was so clueless that, when time came to fertilize and prune the mango trees, he brought in some persons who heartily began forking up the land then spreading concrete all over it.

Inevitably, the entire landscape became so hard, his own people decided they had had enough of his nonsense, they decided even a wajang could do a better job. But the man in charge outfoxed them: he put the orchard on the auction block. To him, it made more sense for someone else to own the orchard rather than to suck salt under a man who was very fluent in land-transaction date matters; but, though he was fluent, the man in charge knew it from deep experience, thus the wajang only learned of the date the land was to be sold at the same time every Tom, Dick and Harry did.

And so it came to pass that when the man in charge many persons promptly pitched in to purchase the mango orchard. So it came to pass that when the gavel fell, they rejoiced at their success.

After some time had passed, the new owners came looking for fruit on it and found none. So they said to the new orchard-keeper, “See here! For donkey years we have been longing for fruit on these mango trees and now, having bought the whole orchard, still we find none! What the hell! Cut it down, yes! They are wasting valuable space!”

But the orchard-keeper smiled demurely and replied, “I know you are the bosses, but you put me in charge. I suggest you let them alone for one more year, until I finish digging up the concrete the former owners left, for what we thought were blobs of concrete are really concrete tunnels, well-fortified and housing tens of thousands of bobby traps they left behind.

What I am trying to say is that it would take at least another year before mangoes start bearing in profusion. If another year passes, then by all means, you can cut down the trees.”

Meantime, the clock is ticking, the sun rises, sets, then rises again.

Simplifying the Tax System.

2011-10-12T12:30:00.003-04:00

The simpler things are, they easier they be to observe and manage.

In a land where most government revenue comes from the profits earned off the exploiting of State-owned/controlled hydrocarbon resources, wouldn't it be wonderful if the Tax System as applies to individuals and private sector companies be simplified this way:

Value Added Tax: Altogether abolish.
Corporation Tax...first TT$1m of annual turnover: Zip; on next $4m: 15%; on next TT$5m: 25%; on everything above: 35%!
Personal Income Tax...first TT$120,000 of annual income: Zip; on next $180,000: 15%; on next TT$200,000: 25%; on everything above: 35%!
Provision of miscellaneous government services...charge what they cost to be provided!

Ah, yes! Sometimes it's great just to provoke! (Smile.)

URP -The Way Forward.

2011-10-08T23:11:00.000-04:00

From my own research, during the period October 1st 2005 to September 30th 2010, TT$6,100,000,000.00 were collected by way of a special tax on oil and gas profits known as the Unemployment Levy, as follows:

October 2005 - September 2006: TT$1,300,000,000.00
October 2006 - September 2007: TT$1,100,000,000.00
October 2007 - September 2008: TT$1,950,000,000.00
October 2008 - September 2009: TT$ 800,000,000.00
October 2009 - September 2010: TT$ 950,000,000.00

It is safe to conjecture that at least TT$900,000,000.00 were collected during the period October 2010 to September 2011. The 2010 - 2011 would bring the total collected from October 2005 to September 2011 to TT$7,000,000,000.00.

Monies collected via the Unemployment Levy are deposited in a special fund called the Unemployment Levy Fund [ULF]. ULF? How quaint?

The ULF is exclusively used to fund the make-work programme called "the Unemployment Relief Programme" [URP].

Now! The average Jane and Joe who turn to the URP for succor belong to an easily-identifiable sector of the national community: the type many who ought to know better love to asperse as "the URP crowd", "the flotsam and jetsam of society".

Such disdain is born of ignorance or deliberate aloofness, for the reality is, the URP workers are humans too, who, because of deliberately-misguided official policy, haplessly find themselves having to rely on a State-run, taxpayer-funded programme which, despite having an overabundant provident fund whence to draw, treats them in the worst way an employer can:

their take-home pay averages TT$650.00 per fortnight;
they are employed on average merely for eight fortnights per annum;
they are not entitled to sick leave, vacation leave, maternity leave or severance pay;
the female workers are routinely forced/harassed to "compromise" if they wish to get/stay employed;
they aren't provided with tools, far less protective gear;
ofttimes they work and when payday arrives they discover someone else was paid in their stead;
when enlightened management is put in place, the "system" quickly rises up and shoos it out the door.

In essence then, URP workers are treated with scorn and derision at every turn, like back in July 2007, when local banks point blank refused to handle URP's payroll, a thing they do without compunction for any other Tom, Dick, or Harrylal.

(http://www.newsday.co.tt/news/0,60069.html)

Yet, in the face of all that, the wider community expects the average URP worker to perform with the same gusto, efficiency and level of productivity as the oil worker at Petrotrin or BPTT!

It is time to do right by the URP worker! In the past money was not the problem: lack of will was. With its recently-announced trifurcation, the hope and call are that right henceforth be done.

Prudence as she goes!

2011-10-08T10:08:00.000-04:00

Prudence requires our economic planning (of which fiscal policy and tactics are merely a part) to ponder carefully on what has been relentlessly happening in the outside world since before 2010, for we are a nation whose fortunes heavily depend on export income, particularly from the hydrocarbon sector.

Thus, having rescued us from a captain who watched the looming iceberg, yet recklessly shouted, "Full speed ahead!" (as if the iceberg was ephemeral, hence the MV T&T would breeze through it with impunity),

we expect the People's Partnership, by its second Budget, would reveal a continued resolve to develop and implement strategies aimed at firmly anchoring the platform it began erecting with its first Budget: a platform of sound and sustainable economic fortune for all the people of Trinidad and Tobago.

It is a platform which cannot be built without the people's partnership (take note of the lowercase spelling of "people's partnership"!), for what doth it profit a nation if its inherent wealth is increased to overabundance but never viewed as common wealth?

The Budget and the Unemployment Relief Programme.

2011-10-08T07:26:00.002-04:00

Concerning the upcoming Budget too, of particular interest to me would be what it reveals of the tangible returns the taxpayer got for the TT$426m expended on the Unemployment Relief Programme [URP] during Fiscal year 2010-2011, especially as I understand URP spent more than originally approved for it.

Such interest is founded on my long-held and adamant averring that monies and resources applied to URP serve no useful purpose unless, on an ongoing basis, they lead to the creation of permanent and dignified jobs for those whom the programme targets.

Fidgeting for a Budget that finetunes delivery.

2011-10-07T17:29:00.003-04:00

Look at the size of Trinidad! Look at the size of Tobago! Any and both could be plopped into the Orinoco or Amazon yet remain islands separated!

So why is it when we pan the landscape to assess how government services are delivered, instead of precision we find rank duplication, triplication (heck! multiplication): as far too many different government ministries/agencies/departments are doing the same dang thing?

The net effect is: too many chiefs, too few Indians!

Suggestion/expectation
In a land where innovative capacity is confirmed to be very scarce, if it's one thing I eagerly anticipate with the coming Budget is that it will begin trimming the fat by setting the streamlining of operations as a topmost priority.

Hoping to exhale after the Budget.

2011-10-07T12:25:00.000-04:00

According to the World Economic Forum's Global Competiveness Report 2011/2010, Trinidad and Tobago's officialdom, while no longer on the cellar floor where the People's Partnership Government found it, remains embarrassingly unable to embrace, far less apply, innovative ideas, strategies or policies.

What hope may the browbeaten then have in the upcoming Budget, except if the people who, by nature are pioneers, be allowed thereby to exhale?

Curbing the thirst for that fuel subsidy.

2011-10-05T09:18:00.000-04:00

Rational people don't merely assess cost versus benefit before taking action: they monitor and evaluate the outcome of the action as well, else they would never know whether the intended benefit is attained, or whether the related ongoing cost is a manageable one.

From public announcements thus far, it's safe to conjecture that the fuel subsidy during 2010-2011 Fiscal Year directly cost the taxpayer at least TT$4bn. That's approximately 8% of National Expenditure for the same period.

In a land where unemployment is high (it reaches as high as 75% in society's "lower strata") and physical infrastructure is so inadequate or inadequately maintained (as in Lopinot/Bon Air West, for instance), it is madness for Trinidad and Tobago to continue deploying taxpayers' money lavash for such purpose.

Yet, one has to recognize the upheaval it would cause if, bradap!, the fuel subsidy was removed. The rational way therefore would be to phase it out over a period of three-to-four years; and a key towards such gradual withdrawal will be the immediate introduction of measures that encourage citizens voluntarily to reduce their fuel consumption, e.g.:

The national maximum speed limit be set and strictly enforced at 75km per hour;
Tolls be charged for every vehicle ("every" means "every") using main roads and highways while transporting less than three (3) persons;
Strict enforcement of regularly-scheduled and random vehicle inspection, such inspection particularly aimed at engine performance, tyre condition, whence fuel efficiency may be easily determined;
Ban importation/use of gas-guzzler type vehicles;
Eradicate duties, fees and taxes re; purchase of passenger vehicles of engine sizes 1200cc and under, on electrically-powered or hybrid vehicles and, on bicycles;
Accelerate decentralization of government offices and operations;
Switch to electrically-powered buses and maxi-taxis;
Reintroduce a national School Bus Service;
Ban heavy and extra-heavy goods vehicles (other than buses and maxi-taxis) from using public roads between 0600hrs and 2000hrs , Mondays to Saturdays (except Public Holidays);
No duties, fees or taxes on materials or services procured for the designing and construction of new (or retrofitting of existing) buildings which will use solar- and or wind-power for at least 60% of their energy needs;

There are many other ways the desired objective may be achieved, however, implementation is the key.

And may God bless our nation!

Beyond reform.

2011-10-02T11:08:00.000-04:00

Yanallenistically* speaking, it is alleged that the Public Service of Trinidad and Tobago is a broken system.

It did not become broken overnight, but because of long practice and because it was designed not to work in the event that those whom it was created to serve left the scene.

When things are broken beyond repair, you dispose of it as feedstock in the recycling industry, or as garbage.

The Public Service of Trinidad and Tobago is a system broken beyond repair.

No matter how brave you be, or how versed in caring for elephants, it cannot be fixed.

Therefore, to speechify it can be fixed, indicates that a public servant composed the speech.

Doh feel yuh could hide!

* © All rights reserved!

Land ho!

2011-09-24T08:52:00.004-04:00

Minister Vasant Bharath's recent announcement of the imminent distribution of State-owned lands for privately-controlled agricultural pursuit portends as welcome relief to our food security as drought-breaking showers do to a blistered earth.

One recommendation though: let the selection process be utterly open...that way, it won't end up being skewed in favour of those not already owning land in adequate acreage to their purpose.

All aboard! Land ho!

And, may God bless our nation!

Trying to sew Trinbago together again.

2011-09-11T08:22:00.003-04:00

Having also glimpsed snippets of the UNDP Human Development Report 2011, which, astoundingly, today's Sunday Express heralded without once referring to the ongoing SoE [scrutinize: http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/POS_the_new_Baghdad-129601233.html, if you doubt Thomas, the author], it boggles the mind that any sane wouldn't thumbs-up this government's veritably last-ditch effort to sew Trinbago together again by declaring a SoE that targets the same bad boys who Baghdaded our land -for the rampant need first to be corralled, if ever they are to be disabused and harnessed for productive employ- and, targeted they must be, since peace and security are the twin glues which bind society, thus which foster neighbourly behaviour, while Baghdadism corrodes social cohesiveness by destroying hope.

By the way, NiLeung, I make no apologies to any PNMite for saying what I just said, because, as UNDP noted:

83 per cent of gang members are of African origin;

and that, for the period 2001 to 2010:

95.1% of gang-related murders occurred in the East-West Corridor;

and that

73% of incumbent gangs were birthed during PNM's last stint at the helm.

[see: http://www.guardian.co.tt/news/2011/09/10/mp-hypolite-beetham-needs-apology, where MP NiLeung Hypolite buffoons that the Prime Minister must apologize on a matter of trite worth.]

Maybe the SoE regulations need to be amended to keep NiLeung's doltish traps shut, since, instead of jarring our sensibilities with such unconscionable prating, he and his baleezay unit ought to be hanging their collective head in self-disgust and self-reproach that, in 2011, in exchange for resolutely supporting the PNM for nearly sixty years, their supporters Beetham and Sea Lots (same la ça, la ça) who occupy prime real estate at the city's gateway instead must resort to dealing in scrap scrounged from the La Basse or delivered by cocaine addicts...for, if the PNM had the interests of Beetham and Sea Lots (same la ça, la ça) and not the likes of Hart at heart, during those sixty years the PNM would have developed Beetham and Sea Lots (same la ça, la ça) in a way that property owners of Beetham and Sea Lots (same la ça, la ça) would today be earning a handsome rental income from persons working in or visiting Port of Spain and nearby regions.

Then again, miracles still do happen. So, prodigiously, NiLeung may yet fain lock hands rather than horns with the best option Trinbago has for her stitching together as one disciplined, tolerant and productive nation.

I believe! Do you?

2011-08-14T09:23:00.004-04:00

I believe for democracy to work, the majority must govern and the minority submit; but, in so governing and so submitting, uncompromising adherence to the spirit and letter of our Constitution must be maintained, else the minority will be trampled underfoot by a majority gone wild, or turmoil would prevail because of guerillaism by a recalcitrant few.

I believe it was thence the notions of "government of the people, by the people, for the people" and of "loyal opposition" originated and that such notions must be vigorously sustained if we are to claim democratic status.

I believe, as we head toward Independence Anniversary Number 49, we have what it takes to become a democracy! Do you?

Towards Reckoning Our Independence For The Forty-ninth Time.

2011-08-10T07:27:00.003-04:00

When, as its National Watchwords, this fledgling independent nation was given the triumvirate of Discipline, Tolerance and Production (Productivity would've been more apt), many of the present-day adult population then gleefully daily parroted it...but only for a short while.

Immediately following, to spur on consumption of locally-produced and locally-manufactured goods, the then predominant political group launched a national Buy Local campaign.

Buy Local's intention was to boost local demand for goods produced by a manufacturing sector which had become more focused on the local consumer during World War Two -scarcity then of imported goods yanked import substitution to the front burner- and which, for many years, had been benefiting heftily from incentives and concessions accorded under the Aid to Pioneer Industries Ordinance (APIO).

APIO itself was a stimulator introduced by Albert Gomes -the most under-appreciated head of government- in 1950. However, ten years down the road, it was yet to deliver, as the manufacturing sector mostly comprised screwdriver industry, hence was more reliant on foreign raw materials than anything else. Furthermore, it was capital-intensive, thus ineffectual in reducing high unemployment or extracting derived goods out of abundant hydrocarbon resources.

Because of those shortcomings, again, many of the present-day adult population then gleefully daily parroted, "The Doctah say to buy local!"...and did...but only for a short while.

For the long and short was, independent though she was, yet her lusts remained fixated on the glittering things of the Mother Land and 'Merica, not the steadily glowing.

So, the discipline to tolerate, produce (or buy the indigenous) never really took hold -except where the indigenous was a mimic of the tangible foreign. In short, in the newly-independent nation, the veneer of Mother Land and 'Merican civilization was prized over the substance.

The long and short was that the fundamental National Watchword (Discipline) never took root. It didn't because its sinister twin (Indiscipline) was never banished, despite common knowledge that two manrat cannot live in the same hole.

To cut a long story short, that's why, today, as the independent nation approaches her forty-ninth celebration of the event, indiscipline exists most everywhere...and why, where discipline is evident, it is detested and denigrated.

Except in sporadicity then, Discipline, Tolerance and Production will not cut it until the foremost National Watchword comes to the fore. It is vital to stop the rot, since

Only the disciplined possess the ability to navigate the maze and find and implement solutions, for every eureka moment comes of focused reflection on the answer, not the problem!
Only the disciplined can withstand the vicissitudes of life, for they understand that, sometimes, the harvest will be sparse, so they salt away during times of plenty and, in times of plenty, practice frugality.
Only the disciplined will exhibit an I-am-my-brother's-keeper attitude, for they appreciate independence is an illusion, since a fabric is as strong as the interlocking of its threads.
Only the disciplined would put in a full shift, even when no one is looking, for they know those not in the vicinity are depending on them.
Only the disciplined would not turn a thimble-sized mishap into an unmitigated havoc, for they know, being interdependent, the weakest and most vulnerable would fare the worst.
Only the disciplined would not appropriate for themselves what belongs to another, for every time they walk, they walk in another's shoes.

Discipline, Tolerance and Production have not cut it and will not cut it until the foremost comes to the fore. Discipline therefore will come to the fore via a proper education system, for a proper education system is a disciplined thing.

Ae tonnerrei! Therein lies the rub!

No room for Ministers, outside of Cabinet.

2011-08-04T09:14:00.005-04:00

Perhaps this shall turn everything on its head?

The following are our constitutional provisions regarding "the general direction and control of the government of Trinidad and Tobago":

75. (1) There shall be a Cabinet for Trinidad and Tobago which shall have the general direction and control of the government of Trinidad and Tobago and shall be collectively responsible therefor to Parliament.

(2) The Cabinet shall consist of the Prime Minister and such number of other Ministers (of whom one shall be the Attorney General), appointed in accordance with the provisions of section 76, as the Prime Minister may consider appropriate.

(3) The Ministers other than the Prime Minister shall be such persons as the President, acting in accordance with the advice of the Prime Minister, shall appoint from among the members of the House of Representatives and the Senators.

76. (3) The Ministers other than the Prime Minister shall be such persons as the President, acting in accordance with the advice of the Prime Minister. shall appoint from among the members of the House of Representatives and the Senators.

82. (1) The President, acting in accordance with the advice of the Prime Minister, may appoint Parliamentary Secretaries from among the Senators and members of the House of Representatives to assist Ministers in the performance of their duties.

85. (1) Where any Minister has been assigned responsibility for any department of government, he shall exercise general direction and control over that department; and, subject to such direction and control, the department shall be under the supervision of a Permanent Secretary whose office shall be a public office.

(2) For the purposes of this section-

(a) two or more government departments may be placed under the supervision of one Permanent Secretary; or

(b) two or more Permanent Secretaries may supervise any department of government assigned to a Minister.

There is nothing in our laws which permit more than one Minister to be in a Ministry, or for a Minister to be appointed and not be a part of Cabinet. Section 82 (1) clearly says that if Minister has to get help, the help must come via a Parliamentary Secretary.

I'll stake every strand of hair on my head to argue or defend that postulation.

Urgent! Fix our succession laws!

2011-08-04T09:13:00.001-04:00

The recent mishap concerning Minister Chandresh Sharma exposes the frailty of life and health common to us all via life's vicissitudes. It also exposes a grave deficiency in our constitutional arrangements regarding Prime Ministerial succession in such times. For, in the event the office holder kilkaytays, while our Constitution is very precise where Presidential succession is concerned -someone upfront-identified acts or assumes the office (according to who the actor is, within days the voters (Electoral College) assemble and elect a new President), regarding the Prime Minister's post, everything is left in the hands of the President.

Browse Sections 27 and 76 of the Constitution if you are a doubting Thomas, then decide whether such arrangements defy the democratic logic of the people deciding whom they wish to be Prime Minister? Ent, Kamal?

It is never too late to do what is right. Let's fix our succession laws today!

Free your mind!

2011-08-02T07:30:00.000-04:00

History backwards to the dawn of time ever harks. Yet, Trinbagonian-Afros by-and-large count theirs only from the days of slavery.

By framing themselves into such a narrow warp, they limit their ability of being anything other than expendable articles in the hands of others.

That, I'm afraid, is the platform on which a very large segment of our society presently stands. And they stand there, as if in a daydream, not realizing a platform serves a double purpose -it is as much a point where one gets off at the end of a journey, as it is for a take-off.

My Trinbagonian-Afro brothers and sisters, what is past is past...there is no time available to us but the present...if we wish for a better future, use the present to shape it -the process begins by:

determining precisely what you desire,
whether what you desire is desirable (or sustainable),
how to attain it and,
how long would it take to be attained.

Once those bases are covered, the next step is to put shoulder to the wheel, for nothing anywhere ever fell into anyone's lap -except crap from some overflying bird.

The way I see it, that is what every other group has done. And it worked for them.

So, borrowing from the Panadol ad punchline, if it did that for them, imagine what it can do for you!

Enough with the platforming! Step aboard to your emancipation!

Trade unions? Bah! Humbug!

2011-07-26T07:44:00.003-04:00

Today's later event prompts me to comment that everybody wants a piece of the pie -since related "union negotiations" traditionally focus on remuneration increase- but nobody wants to help bake it, nor properly compensate those who actually do.

There was a time I strongly believed trade unions played a vital role in making Trinbago a beautiful place to live. That all changed when, back in the early seventies, as Acting President of the Public Service Association (PSA) Central Marketing Agency Branch, I recommended to the then PSA bossman, James Manswell, to demand of the Chief Personnel Officer:

Abolishing of cyclical agreements -by permanently annexing a Cost of Living Allowance so salary would automatically fluctuate in tandem with inflation.
One interest-free mortgage, repayable over fifty years, for whomever weren't homeowners, or whomever needed to renovate their homes -as a means to restore/improve the appearance of longstanding residential districts.
Maternity leave of two years with full pay -the most vulnerable and malleable period of a human's life..
Paternity leave of six months with full pay -mother and newborn need all the help they can get during this time.
Full medical coverage for public servants, their spouses -till death- and dependent offspring.
State-funded education, up to undergraduate level, for public servants, their spouses and dependent offspring.
Contributory pension plan, geared towards making retirement pension be the same amount as what was earned as salary -people's financial needs do not suddenly plummet because they have reached the age of retirement...in fact, it increases.
Interest-free car loan once every six years, but only to purchase locally-assembled cars.
Free travel on PTSC buses -via a Travel Pass.
Fifty percent discount on inter-island travel.
A five-day work week -back then, public servants also worked on Saturdays...for half-day.
One month vacation per two-year cycle -most persons let leave accumulate anyway.
Abolishing of income tax -the system was too complicated, most persons under-reported what they had to pay and Trinbago had oil.
One day a month public servants to be assigned to do community-building/charity work.

I'll never forget the look of incredulity on Mr. Manswell's face, nor his eventual retort of whether I thought Trinidad and Tobago was a Communist country.

There was a time I strongly believed trade unions played a vital role in making Trinbago a beautiful place to live.

Public Service Reform Is Of The Utmost Priority.

2011-07-18T06:41:00.000-04:00

Anyone who tells me Trinbago is a land whose resources and resourcefulness are managed to the optimal benefit of Trinbagonians will receive a swift clout, then be pointed in the direction of a feared institution in St. Ann's; for, though Trinbago is saddled with a grossly-inefficient Public Service, every regime over the past sixty years has balked at undertaking Public Service reform (an act which, by the way, cannot begin without first defining what "public" and "service" mean).
The ball is in your court, Honourable Minister Carolyn! Being who you are is perhaps why it is.

Six sentences about political appointments.

2011-07-03T18:29:00.000-04:00

In the wake of the storm in a teacup whipped up by those who, from within and without the Cabinet, insist the recent reshuffle readily reveals how not-for-COP Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar is, it behooves a reassessment of the whole issue of political appointments since, in parliamentary democracies such as Trinidad and Tobago, where government of the people, by the people and for the people is the agreed agenda, "political appointee" not only refers to every government minister or parliamentary secretary appointed on the advice of the Prime Minister, but also every person subsequently enlisted by such officials to work closely with them in furtherance of the people's business, which business, being the people's, is inherently nonpartisan, meaning: not affiliated with, not based on, not influenced by, or, not promoting the interests or policies of any one political party.

Mind you, while it is good for the Prime Minister to have such power (the ability to hire and fire management is a tool every company's Board of Directors must have if the company is to stay in business), the longstanding propensity of embedding political appointees based on the spoils system can and too often does result in political disproportion or nepotism in the corridors of power as, regardless whence the appointees may be sourced, the recruitment process presently permits prospective appointees to manipulate it, resulting in the people's business being made to suffer as, invariably, decisions made by such appointees are driven first and foremost by partisan rather than nonpartisan motives.

Since no government would survive or be able to deliver unless the Prime Minister and her support team are in sync concerning how the people's business is to be managed and since the abovementioned agreed agenda demands government policies be implemented in a nonpartisan way, then, whenever she has to make a political appointment, a wise Prime Minister would show paramount concern for the good of wider society, so would not allow the shortcomings of the spoils system to prevent the mostly suitably-qualified candidate to be chosen, meaning: the individual who has the skills and abilities needed successfully to cope with the contemporary task assigned.

Unfortunately, Trinidad and Tobago's sharpest minds are allowed or encouraged to flee north to America, Canada and Europe (so aren't available for local duty) and the natural tendency of birds of a feather is to flock together (hence our demography ensures certain ethnic clusters exert control depending on who's in power), so the pool whence any Prime Minister may at any time draw political appointees can never be as expansive or deep as it ought to be and such restriction fosters incompetency and or clannish allocation of the spoils (especially when a Prime Minister doesn't give a hoot about public opinion and opprobrium, or strives to attain ethnic balance at any cost), all in all resulting in political appointees either everlastingly embarking on strategies and projects doomed from the outset, or viewing themselves always as political agents, never as managers subject to goal-setting and performance monitoring and evaluating exercises.

Juxtaposing everything above with the formidable influence political appointees wield over national policies and, considering that, despite the draconian penalties prescribed under the Integrity in Public Life Act, persistent aberrant behaviour by many appointed and elected officials can only mean that there are serious lapses in their selection process, one can only conclude that a detached method of political recruitment must be established and rigorously maintained.

I therefore propose the creation of the post of Director of Political Recruitment as a separate institution within the Office of The Prime Minister, but answerable to the Parliament, for the existence of such an institution would not only ensure transparency in the recruitment and appointment methods for political appointees, but also guarantee the development of their managerial skills and, over time, increase the size of the pool, thereby enhancing the role and efficiency of the Prime Minister as Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors of Trinidad and Tobago Incorporated, which, whether you're for-COP or not, is what really she is.

Ent?

2011-05-21T10:33:00.002-04:00

The reason why our nation is divided into geographic districts called constituencies is so that the residents of each such district would be given and have the main (if not final) say and oversight regarding every aspect of its governance.

Coalesce! Or die!

2011-05-18T18:10:00.002-04:00

When it was formed it was not a government, therefore, then, it could not have been a coalition government, but merely a coalition.
And, a coalition, as I understand it, also means: a fusion of different entities into one.
Arise, people! Gird yourselves together so there would be only one!

Importance of people.

2011-05-16T16:22:00.000-04:00

It is said people always get the government they deserves.
Also, The Almighty never changes the condition of people until they change it themselves.
So, if, in your opinion, her first year at the helm was not up to standard, it's either you're not deserving of that standard, or haven't done your part to ensure it.
A word to the wise is another potent and noteworthy adage.

World-class act.

2011-05-05T21:22:00.002-04:00

If ever Trinidad and Tobago is to become world-class, then she must set standards for the world to follow, not follow standards the world has already set.

Underground houses anyone?

2011-05-05T21:11:00.000-04:00

Perhaps if we build future homes underground, then our rapidly-diminishing stock of arable land may be preserved?

Why I still support the People's Partnership initiative.

2011-05-05T21:03:00.001-04:00

When it was spawned, it was natural for me to give my fullest commitment to the People's Partnership, for represented everything the People's National Movement did not. And though in some aspects it has not yet begun to meet the extremely high expectations of those who, like me, gave their all to ensure its victory, that commitment remains unwavering, if only for the reason that the alternative option is too dreadful to contemplate.
Nonetheless, the elected must not take continued support for granted: people are not longer blind or stupid.
What am I saying? Well, there is room for tremendous improvement, for, somehow or the other, whatever benefits might have thus far accrued seem to have been interpreted by the public as being people-unfriendly. The only way to alter that perception is for the elected to understand they are 24-oh-7 answerable to the people for every their thought word and deed in public office...hence, the same way they walked with the people to get their votes, they must walk with the people to keep their respect.

On being transparent.

2011-05-03T15:14:00.001-04:00

Secrecy is permissible only when engaging in acts of charity...even so, only to prevent the recipient of charity from feeling embarrassed. But, where the public business is concerned, there can be no secrecy, else the business cannot be classified as public. It is time that all doors, windows and curtains be flung or drawn open for John and Jane Public to gain full insight into how decisions affecting them are reached! That is the only way decision-makers may be held accountable.

Towards Good Government.

2011-04-28T17:07:00.001-04:00

I take inspiration from two Mahatmas to pen this!

Out of those elected to Parliament come the men and women whom we refer to as "the government".

And, to every government belongs the duty of caring for the people it governs.

In Trinidad and Tobago, since August 31st, 1962, that responsibility has been exclusively locally-vested.

It is a duty made easy when there is good government -as defined by Abraham Lincoln, one hundred and forty-eight years ago, at Gettysburg.

Yet, despite Trinidad and Tobago being blessed with abundant natural resources, the quality of life for her people has worsened since Independence.

It has worsened, because, once in office, most Members of Parliament behave as they are no longer answerable to the people.

As a result, most people view their parliamentary representatives as self-seeking...and Parliament as an institution unworthy of respect. Thus, to most people, political discourse remains centred on base issues -such as: where to get food, or shelter.

Many Members of Parliament love to say: they -and they alone- must determine how Trinidad and Tobago's natural resources are to be distributed.

But Trinidad and Tobago is a quilt of one thousand, four hundred villages and towns...not of the forty-one men and women who sit in the House of Representatives.

Until each village and town is given the constitutional right to govern its day-to-day affairs and the right to recall Members of Parliament is made law, the people of Trinidad and Tobago will never be properly represented, for will they will not have government of the people, by the people, for the people.

How can I?

2011-02-03T07:21:00.002-04:00

A well-known public figure not too long ago asked me if I am not tired of defending or exhorting the Kamal-led administration.

I replied, "Those attacking and denigrating it aren’t taking a day off. How can I?"

Admitting Kamla.

2011-02-02T12:40:00.000-04:00

Were the hands of time wound backward from today, one thing I would do that I didn't -find myself present to watch every innings the great Brian Charles Lara had at the crease.

Lara is one of the few cricketers in my lifetime for whom no admission fee was too great -every spectator was sure of getting more than what the ticket of admittance was worth, especially when the "more" was more than ninety-nine runs. His success sprung from his attitude towards his opposition -he feared them not at all. His attitude was greatly shaped by his mentor -the late, great, insouciant yet humble, Michael Conrad "Joey" Carew.

History would record that some of the best centuries scored by Brian Charles Lara came against the backdrop of his team getting pummelled by the opposition, or on wickets that only the elitest of elite could master.

History would record too, that, at some point, in compiling nearly every one of those centuries, a faux pas was made by him, or two, which would have given the opposing side a hopeful glimmer of restraining this mighty and magnificent warrior. Admittedly, glimmers, being soupçons, meant such optimistic thoughts were harboured very fleetingly, for, to their chagrin and in response to our urgent exhortation, Lara would quickly regain his composure, thence move on to resume cutting and carving his way, with surgeon's precision, to magnificent century after century, then double century...and, if Fortune favoured us, to have someone hold down the supporting end long enough so that triple century, then quadruple century then, even quintuple would peal forth from his bedazzling bat!

Such was his temperament and adroitness that, even those who were out to get him would beam with delight on his attaining every new feat of conquest.

Funnily enough, those few who forever scowled and fretted over Lara's scintillating stagecraft were of West Indian origin. But, then, a prophet is not without honour except in his own town.

Which brings me to the point of contemporary politics in Trinbago, as, from Lara's legacy, there is much to be learnt and embraced, of which, since time does not permit, I shall give in closing summary, as follows:

Except for admitted bigots, everyone will admit that only to those who actually perform well can leeway be admitted for error.

Hence, only those who, despite a faux pas, keep their composure and continue with their performance, will be admitted to move on to greater heights.

Bearing that in mind, admittedly, of late, the woman now at centre stage seems more adept than the man in the spotlight before her time.

Her innings is not yet into double digits. May the Force be with her then!

Early Days vs Nowadays.

2011-02-02T09:54:00.000-04:00

In the early days, trade unions represented their members' interests. Things have not changed -nowadays, on the face ot it, that is still the case.

In the early days, to join a trade union applicants had to be employed. Things have not changed -nowadays, that is still the case.

In the early days, on becoming employed, one became an employee. Things have not changed -nowadays, that is still the case.

In the early days, businesses [including those whose business was that of bailing out foundering businesses] stayed afloat only when they turned a profit. Things have not changed -nowadays, that is still the case.

In the early days, all trade union members worked assiduously to keep their employers' business afloat. This is where the train goes off the track, for things have changed -nowadays that is not the case!

In the early days, everyone on the payroll was also referred to as "a worker". Thus, in the early days, all, from captain to cook, never hesitated to announce where they were working, or that they were. My! Oh, my! How things have changed -nowadays, many workers do not work, even though, each day, they leave home to go to work!

In the early days, if a worker wanted to make koochoor on the job, the worker had to find work in a koochoor factory. Since no such factory then existed, koochoorists had no option other than to occupy themselves as lohchos. Things have changed -nearly every nowadays workplace is a koochoor factory.

In the early days, all trade union members worked assiduously to keep their employers' business afloat. Things have not changed. However, bear in mind that nearly every nowadays businessplace is a koochoor factory.

Where did we make the wrong turn, people? And, can we go back and correct course before it's too late?

In the early days, businesses [including those whose business was that of bailing out foundering businesses] stayed afloat only when they turned a profit. That is where the train jumped off the track; that is where it has to get back on course!

If you wish properly to serve the people, you have throughout to hear the people.

2011-01-30T07:15:00.003-04:00

HEAR THE PEOPLE,…………

By Peter O’Connor, for publication Sunday 30^th January 2011

……….Hear the People, Hear the People. This must become the new mantra of the government at this time. The warning alarms are going off all around most of our government ministers, who are not hearing them, and not listening to the increasing concerns of the population. Our concerns are the several missteps and misstatements being taken and spoken, and the fact that ministers are not acknowledging that these are reasons for us to be concerned. So, I ask my government to hear us, not to shut us out right now.

It is not my intention here and now to list the several bloopers—spoken and committed—made by the government since coming into power. My concern is that these, rather than diminishing as you all become more familiar with your duties, responsibilities, and the understanding of consensus and joint responsibilities, are become more regular, and indeed, more damning.

In the early days of your administration, you were more inclined to review bad decisions and stupid statements, and try to correct or apologize for some of them. However, recently you are tending to slam doors and phones when the people or the media question your decisions and your statements. You should be aware that there is no sanctuary in refusing to talk about what the people want to know. That is what caused Patrick Manning to abdicate and hand his sinking ship of state to you. He tried to conceal the corruption and incompetence at UDECOTT, at NHA, Petrotrin, CLICO and the scandal of the church he was building at Guanapo. But the people demanded their right to know what was going on, and so Manning ran and left you with the sinking ship.

Hear me please! I am on your side. If Keith Rowley had “won” the election, I would be on his side. If UNC alone, or COP, TOP or NJAC had won, I would be supporting them. I will support a government which is trying to carry us forward, first, to lift us out of the mess in which Manning left us, and then to take us to a destiny which is there for us embrace and appreciate. And for you all in government, this is your opportunity for your Legacy: To put back into our lives a society of decency, goodwill and properly functioning institutions.

However, you will not achieve this if you try to defend the indefensible as Manning and his sycophants had tried to do.

To set the stage, I want to belatedly congratulate Kamla for the first anniversary of her victory as Political Leader of the UNC. Celebration was warranted, for hers was a genuine victory, over two persons challenging her for that post. However, I beg of you all not to “celebrate” the alleged victory over the PNM come May 24^th this year. That was not your victory; that was you walking into a trap set for you by the PNM.

History repeats itself: In 1797, British troops landed at Invaders’ Bay to seize Trinidad from Spain. The Spanish, with no desire to hold on to this malaria-ridden piece of bush with no gold, capitulated without firing a shot. But, eventually, the island developed, first with cocoa, then with sugar, and finally with oil and gas. Your Peoples’ Partnership, loosely organized at best, “came ashore” to see what you had captured. You discovered CLICO, threatening to sink the economy, billions owed to contractors, suppliers, billions owed in VAT refunds, a labour movement betrayed for years, and dozens of “sweetheart contracts” hurriedly awarded to PNM friends and future senators. You found a health service in disarray, a country flooding with every rain shower, rampant crime as gangs killed for the right to collect URP dollars. And more corruption, crime and incompetence are being revealed daily.

I sympathize with your desire to keep pointing back at all of these travesties which you are now responsible for healing. But you must put all that behind you. You must stop justifying your own bloopers by reminding us of the PNM. You must stop making the bloopers.

For every appointment you wish to make, for every action to be taken, for every statement to be made (and decide by whom!) you must ask the following: What would we have said if the PNM had done, said, or appointed this thing or person. Only by this process will you understand the enormity of some of what you have done and are trying to do.

And stop campaigning! Ignore all of the trivia you are raising, and raise genuine major issues only. This will keep you out of trouble, with the Speaker and with the media.

Hear the People, Hear the People, Hear the people. And be guided by what you hear. We will walk this difficult road together.

CARPE DIEM

2011-01-28T11:59:00.002-04:00

Only those who actually do something will make mistakes. But, to the wise, mistakes, when made, inspire corrective future action. A wise government has been appointed. Its term is of five years duration. Eight months and two days have passed. CETERIS PARIBUS, it has four years, three months and twenty-eight days to convince voters to renew its contract. That remaining time decreases day-by-day. ERGO HODIE NON CRAS CARPE DIEM SEMPER ENIM POST HOC ERGO PROPTER HOC [Therefore, today, rather than tomorrow, begin that task, for every effect is the consequence of a certain course!]

Sifting and shifting the paradigmatic sands of "ministerial tenure".

2011-01-25T09:12:00.003-04:00

In modern institutions, the norm is to provide definite-term tenure to every employee, from top management to humble building custodian category. Another norm is to outsource. Why is it, then, that Ministers of Government aren't appointed for a definite term? Ah, yes! Successfully, effortlessly, seamlessly to get from there to here, then beyond, the paradigmatic sands of ministerial tenure need to be sifted and shifted.

The Patriots' Parlour.

2011-01-25T08:51:00.002-04:00

A people who, from generation to generation, from dawn till dusk, are spoon-fed debilitating stuff, neither can nor will ever develop a sense or spirit of patriotism -for patriots are warriors, whose battlefront mainly is the drudgery called "daily life", thus who are driven by a single-minded determination -to improve the common lot without thinking twice of the personal cost.

Despite the preamble, we see such patriots everywhere -the father, who rises long before the rest of the household does, to head off to another day of drudgery, all because he knows that others are depending on him showing up for work; the mother, whose grey hairs are symptoms of the never-ending worry each morning she faces -of providing the meals to fill her five children's hungry bellies when they arise, because, for the umpteenth time, her husband's paycheck, despite his unflinching dedication to his employer, was late in coming for the umpteenth time, or, if it came, it was too thin adequately to cover basic necessities; the teacher, who dips into her purse to buy a pair of sneakers or shirt for the pupil that has none, so that the little boy may continue striving towards his dream of becoming a doctor and returning to serve the neighbourhood which nurtured him; the bus driver, who gets down from behind the wheel gently to help the rheumy-eyed pensioner aboard and to her seat, so that she'd at least enjoy her ride to the welfare office where, for the fifth time in and many weeks, she's going to see if her Old Age Pension application is approved; the village matriarch, who, though she had none of her own, yet, decade in, decade out, willingly opens her arms, heart, humble home and meagre means to any waif appearing at her doorstep.

Such are the true exemplars of every society. There is a myriad of them in every neighbourhood. Their stories need urgently and prominently to be told if ever decency is to return or prevail. Yet, each day we are pumped full of tales of fury and woe, of backbiting and chagrin, of rending apart rather than binding together. News of such things have their place and time, but, wherever or whenever told, also -and as prominently- their counterpoints.

Needed, then, are patriots. Will you step into The Patriots' Parlour © and become or tell of one?

The Loyal Supporter.

2011-01-25T01:00:00.003-04:00

The basic premise of democracy is that the public's views on any public matter do indeed vary.

Of that variance therefore, is born and thrives the notion of "the Loyal Opposition".

The basic purpose of every Loyal Opposition is to provide some acceptable mechanism of keeping watch over and a check on the Government.

A Loyal Opposition therefore must always exist, lest tyranny develop.

And the same purposeful notion also requires that, regarding every Government and every Political Party, "the Loyal Supporter" must also exist.

In that vein, consider me and others like me, Loyal Supporters of the Political Party known as "the United National Congress" and, lately, of the People's Partnership coalition.

January 24th 2010...One year after.

2011-01-25T00:27:00.004-04:00

PUBLIC STATEMENT BY

TRUNC MEMBERS

(The Real UNC Members)

THE LOPINOT/BON AIR WEST CONSTITUENCY

ON THE OCCASION OF

THE FIRST ANNIVERSARY

THE JANUARY 24TH 2010 TSUNAMI

We, the Lopinot/Bon Air West members of the United National Congress, join in extending congratulations to our Party's National Executive, as it passes the mark of its first year in office with our esteemed Political leader, Kamla Persad-Bissessar, ably assisted by one of this constituency's very distinguished, Chairman Jack Austin Warner, at the helm.

And as we, the UNC members of Lopinot/Bon Air West Constituency commemorate the transformational event that occurred on January 24th 2010, it is right and fitting that we single out our Political Leader and our Party’s Chairman -for it was their combined dynamism, charisma, political savvy and organisational abilities which, not long after that date, also galvanized us to gel our considerable resources and rise up in unity, thence to escape the wilderness of PNM domination and re-enter the Promised Land, the Promised Land whence we were unceremoniously and unconstitutionally banished on December 24th 2001.

Every anniversary marks the end of a twelve-month stretch of some longer journey! It is therefore also right and fitting, that, when an anniversary arrives, not only must those celebrating it undertake a proper analysis of what transpired during the period just concluded -for that is the only way we would know whether we made progress, or not- but also make the necessary fine-tuning for improving on the past –since, in an ever-evolving world, where intended progress is concerned, whether such progress is accomplished or not, there is always room for improvement.

So, today, January 24th 2011, let us briefly remind ourselves where we were [before January 24th 2010 dawned] and where we are today, so that we may come to terms with where we now have to go.

In the first place, back then we were led by a man! That man was Basdeo Panday...The Silver Fox, as so many, up to this day, prefer to call him. Since then, we are led by a woman!

Basdeo Panday was, up to January 24^th 2010, the only Political Leader the UNC and its predecessor -the United Labour Front- had ever known. Let me correct that! Up to that time, Basdeo Panday was the only real leader that the UNC and its predecessor -the United Labour Front- had ever known, except for a brief period when, by permission of The Silver Fox, Winston Dookeran was.

Say what might be said of the Silver Fox, it shall ever be to his credit that he introduced the very mechanism which, ultimately, would seal his fate.

In case you have forgotten, Silver Fox it was who opened up a whole new vista of democracy within the UNC when, in 2001, he levelled the UNC's internal-election playing field -he did that by instituting universal franchise within the UNC, something before then unheard of in party politics in nearly every country in the world! The fact that it took more than half a century of national-party politics for an institution purporting to be the agent and watchdog of democracy to make such a move, was -and remains- remarkable...most remarkable indeed.

Yet, it took a while for most of the membership of the UNC to recognize that what The Fox had attempted was to force us to the appreciate wherefrom the power and authority of our leaders truly stemmed, thus, whereby sustained. Perhaps, even The Fox himself did not fully appreciate what he did, because when he lost control of the UNC National Executive in that election, he pretended he still had it...and held on to it for dear life, his dear life, even at the cost of the UNC being denied a place in the corridors of power.

But we reflect here today, not in gloat over The Silver Fox's status quo, rather in commemoration of the fortunes of our great Party since January 24th 2010.

You see, January 24th 2010, to us UNC members of Lopinot/Bon Air West, marked more an occasion of inspiration than anything else -for, when it was done, we anticipated that the UNC would move away from the long-accustomed style of Trinbagonian politics -where political parties merely used their membership for the purpose of winning elections, then, when elections were done, discarded them. In order to do that, political parties revelled in planting and encouraging the it's-them-or-us paradigms that have split these once paradise islands into two deeply-hostile political camps...camps premised principally along ethnic lines.

Perhaps it was because till then roosters exclusively ruled the various political nests that such community-rending norms always hatched and took flight?

January 24th 2010, however, did not blind us to the harsh reality that organisations, by and large, comprise leaders and followers, all of whom are human beings. And human beings are what they are -human beings- therefore are subject to human frailties, frailties that make all, but the very disciplined, say one thing and practice another.

That is why, before January 24th 2010, even though the word "National" was at its core, the focus never was to whip the United National Congress into anything resembling a national institution, wherein the viewpoints of its members could be harnessed and focused, or expressed, for the purpose of shaping and watchdogging not just party policies and decisions, but, more importantly, governmental policies and decisions.

Such influence over governmental intentions and actions can never be accomplished when elected officials answer to a maximum leader -it only happens when elected officials remain directly answerable to the persons who elected them to office.

To us in Lopinot/Bon Air West, at long last having in place elected officials directly answerable to us is what, more than anything else, the watershed event of January 24th 2010 meant...and still means, though we are not yet quite there.

But hope springs eternal in the human breast! And a person naturally-endowed by The Almighty to provide the milk of human kindness now commands the helm of this great UNC ship! Furthermore, at her side is the most able of navigators -in the person of one of Five Rivers' very own.

We therefore look forward to the UNC National Executive, during its second year in office, being less patronising and more maternal in its outlook towards its brood. In the coming year, then, we expect to see the establishing and revamping of the institutions of the party, a task most necessary to promote and sustain membership involvement in every decision-making process.

It is the only way that the hope that bloomed on January 24th 2010 can bear nourishing fruit.

May The Force be with the UNC National Executive!

Touchy subject.

2011-01-15T14:34:00.001-04:00

Whether expressed or not, the expressions "in touch" and "out of touch" are always conjoined with "with" and always touch on how relevant the touched or untouched are, or feel they are, to the life of the toucher -for said expressions touch on the frequency and sincerity of communications between two or more persons and of what impact such interaction brings to the wholesomeness of both lives.

Of late, it seems that too many feel out of touch.

Hence, it is appropriate, now, to remind all that, always, being "in touch" or "out of touch" depends as much on the touched as the toucher, since communication is a multi-directional thing -if someone of whom you care has not touched base with you in a while, then you have a duty to touch base with that someone.

This message is intended to touch all for the better, so, please, do not get touchy because of it, okay?

Restoring the glorious pride to bend the future to one of glorious pride.

2010-12-28T10:56:00.003-04:00

So when shall the true history of our First Peoples' and of Africa begin to be taught and by whom?

Such is necessary if we are serious about bending our future to one of which all would be proud.

I suggest we start with introducing some popular language of West Africa -Ghana, maybe- since it was out of West Africa that most, if not all, our African ancestors came.

Why did Jesus the Christ come?

2010-12-27T11:09:00.002-04:00

We have just celebrated another anniversary of the birth of Jesus the Christ [Peace be upon him!]. Some are still in celebratory mood. But, why did the Blessed Jesus come? The Christian Scripture -Gospel of John, Chapters 9 and 10, to be precise- provides the most apt answers, as follows:

Jesus said, “To deliver judgement have I come into this world: so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind.” [John: 9, verse 39];

and:

“I tell you the truth, the man who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep. The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. But they will never follow a stranger! In fact, they will run away from him: because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.”

Jesus used this figure of speech, but they did not understand what he was telling them.
Therefore, Jesus said again, “I tell you the truth: I am the gate for the sheep! All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life and have it to the full." [John: 10, verse 10]

Christian? Then follow Christ!

Ten months at the helm...and counting.

2010-12-23T10:09:00.001-04:00

Today will probably plainly pass as any other for you, but, apart from its proximity to Christmas Day, today, December 23rd, 2010, marks the last day of the eleventh month that our dear sister, Kamla Persad-Bissessar, dethroned the icon, Basdeo Panday, as Political Leader of the most formidable political force on the present Trinbagonian landscape -the United National Congress.

Yep! 'Twas on January 24th last that one -conceived a peewat except by the cognoscenti- stood tall and, with the help of a symphony of many hands and hearts, toppled the giant of many decades.

It is an opportune moment, then, to review what, of the UNC and her own good self, has transpired, since that most auspicious date. Here goes!

Adroitly negotiated the treacherous Cape of Good Horn -the not-a-day-beyond-six-months-it-would-last barrier the wily, old Fox had prophesied.
Re-galvanised the UNC base -a big chunk of which had abandoned ship to form other political, but non-PNM, alliances- to resume their places within the UNC fold.
Suavely convinced a sufficient number of her fellow UNC MPs to support her bid to become Leader of The Opposition.
Cranked up the pressure -from within Parliament and without- on the then Manning-led PNM, to the extent that he was forced to abdicate midway into his term of office.
Dexterously negotiated with other non-PNM political groups to forge a party of parties -thus was born the People's Partnership.
Earned the admiration of the leaders of said groupings to be acclaimed -unanimously- the Political Leader of the People's Partnership.
Took the People's Partnership into a sweeping victory at the polls -May 24th 2010, General Elections- with the UNC securing the Lion's Share.
Ensured UNC constituency executive elections were held and consequently-elected executives duly installed.
Received numerous accolades, nationally and internationally.

Shall I continue? I'll pause to give others an opportunity to add or embellish, as, God bless her handiwork, the task Sister Kamla has undertaken is yet in progress, in fact, it's only just begun.

Those who doh like it...um, what did Dr. Williams say again, eh, Sparrow?

In regaining the essence of Trinidad and Tobago, time is of the essence!

2010-12-21T08:07:00.001-04:00

Re: Two stories in the Trinidad Guardian of December 21st 2010,

the first being http://www.guardian.co.tt/beta/news/2010/12/21/not-so-merry-christmas-morne-diablo-family

wherein is related the life of hardship the Bahadur family of Morne Diablo undegoes;

the second being http://www.guardian.co.tt/beta/news/2010/12/21/last-6-vendors-st-james-market-be-relocated

wherein the eager-beaver Port of Spain Mayor, Louis Lee Sing, in response to media queries over the closure of the St. James market, adamantly insists that the last remaining market vendors have to go, as

“[Trinidad and Tobago] is not a welfare state. [So, therefore, I find it incredible that] everybody wants the Government to do something for them.”

Perhaps the provisions of the Constitution of Trinidad and Tobago are, at times, lost on persons elected or appointed to public office or to perform public functions?

The particular provisions of which I speak comprise the very foundations upon which our Constitution is based, as follows:

...the People of Trinidad and Tobago-

(a) have affirmed that the Nation of Trinidad and Tobago is founded upon principles that acknowledge:

the supremacy of God,
faith in fundamental human rights and freedoms,
the position of the family in a society of free men and free institutions,
the dignity of the human person and
the equal and inalienable rights with which all members of the human family are endowed by their Creator;

(b) respect the principles of social justice and therefore believe:

that the operation of the economic system should result in the material resources of the community being so distributed as to subserve the common good,
that there should be adequate means of livelihood for all,
that labour should not be exploited or forced by economic necessity to operate in inhumane conditions
but that there should be opportunity for advancement on the basis of recognition of merit, ability and integrity;

(c) have asserted their belief in a democratic society in which all persons may, to the extent of their capacity, play some part in the institutions of the national life and thus develop and maintain due respect for lawfully-constituted authority;

(d) recognise that men and institutions remain free only when freedom is founded upon respect for:

moral and spiritual values and
the rule of law;

(e) desire that their Constitution should:

enshrine the above-mentioned principles and beliefs and
make provision for ensuring the protection in Trinidad and Tobago of fundamental human rights and freedoms.

[See: The opening bars of the Trinidad and Tobago Constitution at: http://www.ttparliament.org/documents/1048.pdf]

For what does it profit a people if it recognizes the letter of its Constitution, but not the spirit thereof?

HABEMUS KAMLAM REGINA PRO TEMPORE ET NON PLUS ULTRA EST VERUM SOL LUCET OMNIBUS SED EX VOCE CLAMENTIS IN DESERTO MEMENTO TEMPUS FUGIT SIC TRANSIT GLORIA MUNDI PNMITIS DELENDA EST IN CAUDA VENEMUM PAX VOBISCUM

Translation:

Kamla is now our Prime Minister. At present there is no better than her for such role. As a result, indeed the sun shall bestow its energising light on everyone. But, take it from the voice of one crying in the wilderness, time waits on no one, thus very fleeting is temporal fame or glory. PNMitis has to be destroyed, for the sting of the PNM lies in its residual dominance of the landscape! Peace!

Implication:

It is the solemn duty of all now in power to hasten to fix the many wrongs visited upon us all by the past régime. We began the process of removing the PNM from office when we voted out its leaders on May 24th 2010.

The process now has to be completed by removing every incorrigible PNM follower from every decision-making seat!

On eliminating Driver's Permits revalidation woes.

2010-12-19T09:40:00.002-04:00

Presently it isn't needed, therefore it must be immediately declared that, to obtain and hold a valid Driver's Permit [DP], the applicant must first and or also have a valid Electoral Identification Card!

Once that is done, then abolish having a picture on the DP.

Abolishing such picture would facilitate the DP-renewal process, for it eliminates the photo-taking and the attendant preparation of a new DP every time a DP needs to be revalidated.

The only other issue which requires a new DP to be issued every time it is revalidated -the date of expiry- can be defenestrated by permitting DP revalidation fees to be paid at any Revenue Office and at commercial banks.

Therefore, the DP-holder will be required to have such receipt at hand whenever required to show proof of a DP being up-to-date.

The above will, of course, apply, mutatis mutandis, regarding non-citizens obtaining DPs.

In situations where a DP is lost, of course the affected will have to deal directly with the Licensing Division to have a replacement issued.

No need to horse around when carting away a problem.

2010-12-16T05:56:00.000-04:00

Nobody in their right mind would, today, would employ a bullcart to travel from Port of Spain to San Fernando via the Churchill/Roosevelt and Solomon Hochoy Highways!

Yet, the present-day mechanisms of delivery of public services in Trinbago are so antediluvian, that the best way to describe them is by saying they are akin precisely to that!

The sooner, then, our Parliament recognizes that therein lies the source of all our worries, the sooner our Parliament would rush to fix it.

The way to fix it is by doing a complete overhaul, for, in twenty-first century Trinidad and Tobago, in endeavouring to bring a society into the modern world, such methods have no place...except in the museum or at the County Fair!

Cabinet - A place where what's precious, but fragile, is transparent, but secure.

2010-12-13T11:48:00.000-04:00

It has always been understood that a cabinet is one piece of furniture that is exquisitely designed or constructed. Indeed, because of those traits, many cabinets become such prized pieces of furniture that they evolve to form part of the family's heirloom.

Perhaps that is why those who make cabinets are not referred to as mere "joiners" -even though joinery is high-end carpentry- but as "cabinet makers".

The thing with cabinet-makers -like joiners- is that they are blessed with the gift of taking rough-hewn pieces of lumber and refining then melding them to produce something that's not only pleasing to the eye but sturdy, durable and beneficial to all.

Thus, cabinets take pride of place in every décor wherein they are set for, invariably, they become a conversation piece whenever friends or family of the the cabinet owner come a-calling. And, why mustn't they? After all, cabinet-makers worth their salt take pains to profuse their handiwork with panes of glass transparent, all to facilitate display of the collection of highly-cherished wares within secured.

Alas! Cabinet-makers are disappearing breed, having been replaced by computer-aided technology that has substituted veneer for quality, all in a mad haste to make money off the witless consumer.

Now! Even though "cabinet" -when used in governmental context- does not derive from the above-described set piece, no doubt the same care in a government cabinet's construct, placement and usage needs to be taken, if ever it is to earn the high esteem of the governed. So, too, the prestige. That's why the Constitution unequivocally states that there shall be a Cabinet which shall have shall have the general direction and control of the government of Trinidad and Tobago and shall be collectively responsible therefor to Parliament.

What that means is that, what Cabinet joins together, only Cabinet itself, or Parliament, may rent asunder.

Over the period covering December 24th 2001 to May 26th 2010, Trinidad did not have a government cabinet that satisfied any of the above criteria -even though the head of that government installed excellent made-in-China cabinets at prohibitive, taxpayer expense in the showpiece called "The Diplomatic Centre".

Thanks to the voting public's wisdom, resilience and daring, demonstrated on May 24th 2010, Trinidad and Tobago now has a government cabinet of which any bespoke cabinet-maker would be proud. It behooves all who so voted and who, since that epic day, have come to realize how close to the brink Trinidad and Tobago was, to permit the current cabinet its currency properly to evaluate the state of the Augean Stables, then to determine and implement the Herculean solutions needed to right things.

We are the future! The future is now!

A warning word re: Daryan Warner's political proclivities.

2010-12-12T07:44:00.000-04:00

Regardless the anguish, feigned or otherwise, any may feel over recent disclosures regarding citizen Daryan Warner's political proclivities and the perceived thereof implications to his esteemed father, all need to be warned of what The Constitution of Trinidad and Tobago expressly provides, as follows [the highlights are mine]:

The Preamble:
Whereas the People of Trinidad and Tobago-
(a) have affirmed that the Nation of Trinidad and Tobago is founded upon principles that acknowledge the supremacy of God, faith in fundamental human rights and freedoms, the position of the family in a society of free men and free institutions, the dignity of the human person and the equal and inalienable rights with which all members of the human family are endowed by their Creator;

(c) have asserted their belief in a democratic society in which all persons may, to the extent of their capacity, play some part in the institutions of the national life and thus develop and maintain due respect for lawfully-constituted authority;

Section 2. This Constitution is the supreme law of Trinidad and Tobago, and any other law that is inconsistent with this Constitution is void to the extent of the inconsistency.

...Section 4. It is hereby recognised and declared that in Trinidad and Tobago there have existed and shall continue to exist, without discrimination by reason of race, origin, colour, religion or sex, the following fundamental human rights
and freedoms, namely–
(a) the right of the individual to life, liberty, security of the person and enjoyment of property and the right not to be deprived
thereof except by due process of law;
(b) the right of the individual to equality before the law and the protection of the law;
(c) the right of the individual to respect for his private and family life;
(d) the right of the individual to equality of treatment from any public authority in the exercise of any functions;
(e) the right to join political parties and to express political views;
(f) the right of a parent or guardian to provide a school of his own choice for the education of his child or ward;
(g) freedom of movement;
(h) freedom of conscience and religious belief and observance;
(i) freedom of thought and expression;
(j) freedom of association and assembly; and
(k) freedom of the press.

Please be further warned that, as long as The Constitution is observed as presently intact, the only right which may be negatively affected by due process of law is the right of the individual to life, liberty, security of the person and enjoyment of property...not a single other!

Daryan is a human, an adult one at that, who is not hampered by any mental debility [as defined in Section 2 of the Mental Health Act, Chapter 28:02] that renders him unable to make decisions regarding his own well-being.
[See: http://rgd.legalaffairs.gov.tt/Laws2/Alphabetical_List/lawspdfs/28.02.pdf]

Conclusion:I can't, for the life of me, see what's generating the fuss over Daryan's exercising of his constitutional rights, especially as those who publicly or privately howl in "disbelief" over such exercising are also exercising theirs. Can you?

I might here note that when I parted company with the People's National Movement -back in 1978, immediately after the late Hector McClean steupsed and walked away from that sorry lot- my so doing wrought tremendous anguish to my family and neighbourhood, nearly every one of whom, at the time and for as long as they could remember, were stout PNMites. But, despite such anguish, they respected my then decision, because they recognized and held dear the same principles to which, above, I have alluded.

Recommendation:To lambaste Daryan for his choice is to lambaste me for mine...and you for yours! Let Daryan be, then! In so doing, you'll be doing the democratic cause a great favour.

The case for disbanding bureaucracy.

2010-12-09T11:13:00.000-04:00

The solutions to the most perplexing problems are always simple...very simple. Life has thought us that over and over again.

Permanently tied to that hard-and-fast rule is another -that the best place to conceal something is out in plain sight of everyone. That's why criminals always seem to have the upper hand. And another -the time taken to complete a task always expands to accommodate the number of persons available to do it

Now, Trinidad and Tobago is a tiny place -geographically and demographically. Apart from its dwarfish scope, the tremendous and rapidly-ongoing advances in information technology make it oh-so-easy for every living soul in Trinidad and Tobago to communicate with each other in real time. Decisions, therefore, regardless their nature, can be informed, taken, relayed and implemented without delay.

Against that background, it is incomprehensible, befuddling, mind-boggling and astounding that run-of-the-mill services take so long to be delivered by the Trinidad and Tobago Public Service! Moreso that, when they are, invariably they are botched!

The sorry state of the Public Service cannot be explained away by insisting that it is at political odds with the government of the day -the malaise is too deep-rooted for that to be the case, for the problem basically is that the Public Service -as we know it- is of no relevance to the well-being of Trinidad and Tobago. Never was and never will be!

Concerning the vexing problems wrought by bureaucracy, the solution is simple -to disband the Public Service, then reconstruct every government department along thoroughly private-enterprise lines.

Providing the Boss Lady is willing to bell the catastrophe.

My prayer for this Christmas!

2010-12-06T23:52:00.000-04:00

As Christmas 2010 rapidly approaches, in the eyes of many, Trinidad and Tobago still is not what it can be.

That it isn't, defies the expectations emanating from the epochal change of leadership wrought on May 24th 2010 by the very many.

There must be a reason. The reason is that the old way of administering is still being followed, when, clearly, it is ineffective. And, Heaven's to Mergatroid, everyone, following the old way is what caused the former administrators to be defenestrated, didn't it? When, then, shall you break free of the old paradigms? Eh? What's preventing you?

It being December, maybe reflection on the Christmas story shall provide some insight for the way forward?

My take is that the new leader, being a woman not unlike another most-honoured, yet very humble, matriarch of eons ago, cannot incorporate the wherewithal whereby to deliver to a longsuffering populace the means to its salvation, unless some miraculous intervention first occurs.

Full evidence of such wonderment we will witness when each member of her Cabinet is transfigured into a patriot.

A patriot is a person thoroughly infused by the spirit of communityism. The tree is known by its fruit, not distant appearance. Thus, those possessed of the spirit of communityism eat, sleep and breathe one matriarchally-ordained tri-mantra:

Serve the people! Serve the people! Serve the people!

Advent is upon us! Peradventure, by the time Yuletide is done, so, too, shall the old way of administering the people's business.

That is my prayer for this Christmas! No kidding!

Ministers serving the people.

2010-12-01T11:47:00.004-04:00

It is good that our much-esteemed, Honourable Prime Minister, Kamla Persad-Bissessar, has, for her Ministers, coined and daily repeats the tri-mantra:

Serve the people!
Serve the people!
Serve the people!

Good, for, at last, the true meaning of the word "minister" will infuse every Minister's outlook:

v. min·is·ter, min·is·tered, min·is·ter·ing, min·is·ters
v.intr.1. To attend to the wants and needs of others.

At least, that is the hope of the many, many thousands who fought, tooth and nail and sacrificed their all: to install her as Prime Minister.

Regarding the SIA eavesdropping horror.

2010-11-14T08:40:00.001-04:00

There's a saying of ancient Rome which, to these times, survives:

QUIS CUSTODIET IPSOS CUSTODIES

In English, it means:

Who watches watchmen?

Guess now, given the startling revelations on the SIA matter, we know?

I have no doubt that the Roman who coined the above adage would have commented of said SIA matter as follows:

ONMIS CAVE PNM* CUIUS PUGNA USQUEQUAQUE EST MAGNUM EST PNM ET PRAEVALEBIT ET QUANDOQUIDEM PNMORUM ALEA IACTA EST CUM TACEM CLAMANT DUCERE NOSTRAM PNM DIGNUS NON EST AVE KAMLAE ABHINC PRAEVALEBIT NON PNM ITE KAMLA MUNUS TUUS AD EUNDUM QUE NEMO QUONIAM EGO ANTE LIT ABSUM

Translation:

We must all remain wary of the PNM, not only because their warcry forever has been: "Great is the PNM and it shall prevail!", but moreso because their silence throughout the sorry ordeal cries to High heavens of their complicity.

As a result, their future fate is sealed ---to lead us ever again, the PNM is now and forever deemed unworthy.

Therefore, full marks to Kamla! Henceforth, it is she, not PNM, who shall prevail!

So, bravely go, Kamla: it's your duty boldly to carry Trinbago to glorious levels where, because of selfish greed, no leader before has ventured to take us!

I'm outta here!

*Alternate meaning: Patrick's Notorious Maccoes

Why I'm super-positively-motivated the way I am regarding whom some in authority refer to as: "the scum of the Earth".

2010-10-16T11:50:00.000-04:00

Pause and look at this poignant story! Hold back the tears...if you can!

If he could change, anyone can! Makes no sense helping those who are already well-set, for it's the downtrodden who needs the uplift. But for the Grace of God, they'd be us and we them. Let's therefore give them the chance they need: by treating them with the love only the altruistic can have and give. Punishment, remember, serves no purpose, unless it's designed and applied to make the punishee© reform.
Bless!

A BRAVE NEW WORLD – PART 4.

2010-10-08T05:01:00.000-04:00

From: rhona baptiste
Date: 8 October 2010 01:05
Subject: From Rhona Baptiste in China

A BRAVE NEW WORLD – PART 4.
Guangzhou, Thursday 7th October 2010

There are none so blind as those who will not see. The most deluded people are those who choose to ignore what they already know.

Our second son got to go to Trinity College in Moka at the tender age of ten. Why did we go along with a fourth choice without having our little genius repeat the exam from Maria Regina Grade School? There would have been the certainty of his first choice (which was St Mary’s College) his teachers and the school’s principal assured us. “Let him take the exam next year.” But we decided to support him and watch what was Fate’s hand in this comedy.

One of the many events mostly positive that we experienced during his seven years at Trinity was the story of a young teacher whose conduct, it seemed, bordered on vagrancy. It was not a word that had currency at the time for the sons and daughters of the middle-class who had joined the public service or had become teachers. But this chap appeared in the classroom in slippers and with hair unkempt to match his clothing. It was perhaps the start of a trend in which teachers were so ‘cool’ and in communication with Jah. And for one reason or other, they escaped discipline.

Up to today I cannot remember why Principal Clarke and those of us from the PTA let it go, but what we accepted as an isolated freak in search of his religious self was soon to become a torrent of bad role models to plague the nation’s classrooms. In hindsight we were just too weak. We were blind and perhaps did not want to see, un-heeding of Matthew 13:13 Therefore I speak to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.

What has precipitated this thinking is a response to last week’s posting about new ‘creative’ ideas in education which we see have started with Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar giving students a high-priced carite each instead of putting them with a fishing rod.

To this Michael Thomas replied:

In many secondary schools, the real problem is that there is NOT a teacher in every classroom, every period. Teacher absenteeism is a cancer that is destroying and frustrating the intended effect of all the billions spent on education each year. This problem is yet another symptom of the ineffective administrative systems in schools/education and in the public service, in general.

So in this brave new world the starting point could well begin with having the guts to discipline errant teachers first. Only then would we get our messages to the young boys who take to crime and to those girls who beget unwanted babies.

One news story spoke recently of the South railway line squatters - family of ten without parents and the teenaged brother and sister who must live together – parents were nowhere around! That this social malignancy continues in a country that should be a leader in sophistication is an indictment against our institutions. This is with all due respect to the labours of Church, IRO, State and NGOs.

The discipline would of course be unpalatable, but it would mean every Tom Dick and Harry in all areas of the Public Services would have to check in and out on time; work productively and assume responsibility. Tolerance would be factored into the Nation’s motto therefore along with Discipline and Production. BUT SOMEBODY MUST CRACK THE WHIP. Somebody has to have the guts to say “Shut up” as well as “Watch out” when needed. So how many of us are really that kind of people?

Now this is going to be the test of Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and her People’s Partnership as the Opposition PNM has nothing at all left to lose. They could afford to destabilize the nation. It is to their benefit to rabble-rouse. Bring down de country, man! It is the nature of Opposition politics. But surely veterans - as many of the government leaders are – they must know this. All they need remember is 1970 and 1990! And 2010 is not over as yet!

Today as I read of the uneasiness of Labour Minister Errol McLeod at the waves of protests embroiling Trinidad and Tobago; as I see a picture of our new Commissioner of Police hinting at a ‘maybe amnesty’ and crediting it to his predecessor Philbert James while socializing; as the nation witnesses their Prime Minister jetting off again this time to the UK, one cannot but feel queasy about the state of the Nation. It’s ripe for opportunists with sinister motives.

And that is why those of us who voted in the new dispensation expect a leadership that can play the game equally well - if not better than - the opponents.

To paraphrase Peter O’Connor (Sunday Newsday 3rd October 2010) in his Deja vu? Did the PNM Government deliberately vomit out its tenureship knowing fully well that others would have to clean up their mess? It happened before in 1987, he reminds us, with the NAR being the scavengers and then came the 1990 “attempted coup”. History reminds us we must NOT forget.

Thing is although I am with Peter I question this bit: As Manning, Tesheira and company begin to realise the extent of the Clico disaster, and that it might sink TT, they decide to pull out, and call the election. They believe that the opposition is just a “pick-up side” who will falter and stumble when they get into office. How easy to just walk away from the mess and leave it to newcomers to clean up.

No one, Peter, regardless of how suicidal he may look, goes into an election with a death-wish. If you recall the frenzy of the PNM hustings and the flaying of arms and daring of Mr. Manning to suffer even the loss of his own soul for Victory, there is little doubt that he/they flaunted a killer-instinct believing they could really pull it off. The agony of defeat was and still is imprinted in his and his party’s every expression of body language, whether seen on video or in Cyber space. SO THAT IS WHY THE GAMES HAVE ONLY NOW STARTED!

It is the reason why the present government should be assisted rather than beleaguered by those who are genuinely concerned about a better quality T&T. A safe lovely country, you know we could all shout about. But, should the present government fall or fail, we ALL fall or fail. Isn’t that crystal clear?

At the moment there is no option. The Opposition PNM is NOT ready by a long shot for a return to leadership. This reality is as much a reminder for those professional dissidents as for those die-hard PNMites. Dr. Rowley and Mr. Imbert and Company must know that in the interest of democracy they could better spend their time in removing the motes from their own eyes and try healing their hearing first. The ailing People’s National Movement needs intensive care and must go on a five-year convalescence ASAP in Balisier House.

But the People’s Partnership is not exactly a match made in heaven. Under the circumstances of Fate it is to the credit of Kamla Persad-Bissessar that she strives to weave a silk purse out of the proverbial sow’s ear. She must constantly be on high alert and many are the mice (make that pigs) who do not even wait for the cat to be away for them to play! Sorry about those mixed metaphors.

For example, I do not know whether Minister Herbert Volney as one of her more volatile Cabinet members chose the best forum to expose that bit of information on the CJ’s housing extravagance. Perhaps in his wisdom it was. After all, Mr. Volney is no ordinary layman. He of all those House members is among the best qualified to judge delicacy from indelicacy.

The truth of the matter however is that it is the people’s right to know and such knowledge is not the preserve of some government cliques inside of public administration offices. In fact IF there is indeed the payment of TT$60,000 in monthly rental for a public servant’s house to a private citizen it raises several red flags immediately:

1. Why so preposterous a sum from taxpayers’ money for renting a public servant’s residence?

2. Why is such a sum not being invested in property purchase to benefit the public coffers?

3. Why establish a marker that outrageously separates the haves from the have-nots when people are still living like sewer rats on an abandoned railway line in South?

4. HOW MANY MORE IRREGULARITIES ARE THERE of waste?

5. Who then from the inside to best expose hints of inappropriacy – new ones already surfacing? Mr.Volney? Mr.Warner? The news media? The wheels of mauvaise-langue are well-oiled in a society that thrives on creating mischievous diversions.

Can we not see the foolish extravagance that encourages such social apartheids as in the case of Public Servants’ housing rentals? Such myopic plans for elitist wealth distribution from our Ministries seem to be in casual acceptance of have-money-will-spend that widens the gap between rich and poor. Can we AFFORD such wild spending that can only backfire and erupt one day on the same Chief Justice and his exclusive enclaves? It will be in a well-provoked revolution from a disgruntled public who awakens to the disparities.

But Man’s nature is truly fickle. For no sooner than the new leaders take the reins, something funny (meaning strange) takes possession of their brain and pre-election lucidity becomes scrambled. Power, the aphrodisiac, is at work. Reality is put on suspension. (Are you really serious about that tunnel to Maracas, Mr. Warner?)

So, yes, I am leaning toward saying ‘Talk on, Mr.Volney. But do beware and watch yourself.’ Any mistakes you and the PP make only serve to distract from the urgent business of action needed to correct the failures we were left with.

Our Attorney General too KNOWS that we are still to SEE action in lieu of ‘ole talk where certain decisions must be made. The natives are getting restless. In the end it is the truth that will free up our T&T even as it is happening now with people in the higher echelons whose pockets are being pinched.

So what kind of people are we? Confronting the demons in oneself is as unnerving as being confronted by an accuser. Thing is you cannot hide the truth from yourself. So whether wimp or champ YOU know the answer as to who you really are.

There are times when one hesitatingly unlocks doors in those recesses of the mind only to face reluctantly the truth within. It’s like that time when I attended a poetry reading at Queen’s Hall only to hear the poet of the day soundly lambaste ANR Robinson, the then Prime Minister. It pains me still that I did not have the fortitude to walk out or to boo the speaker. But worse, my two hands were meeting in mute imitation of the other members of the audience in support of what was clearly an offensive presentation!

It must have been this same wimpy weakness that gripped sections of the nation as they succumbed to an acceptance of the ills that relentlessly gathered like grains of sand to become an over-powering desert storm. This national failing was particularly encouraged by Mr. Manning’s past administration. Let’s face it. We were afraid of the furious winds that blew in the wake of The Emperor who wore no clothes!

But the time had come to say ‘No more of dat!’ Let’s not forget how we overcame that fear.

Together you and I, WE ALL, must protect and serve our nation by continuing to do whatever it takes, from wherever we are.
(end)

The PNM has been defeated. Who's now in charge?

2010-09-29T19:08:00.004-04:00

Having contributed with might and main to the Herculean effort that resulted in the PNM being despatched and replaced by the Kamla Persad-Bissessar-led People's Partnership administration, it pains me considerably to see and hear others who struggled alongside me in that purpose being treated with contumely bordering on scurrility by some of those who now hold high office. Perhaps by revisiting the following, which, earlier, to another I'd penned, I might enlighten such officials as to what time it now is and such fellow strugglers of their despondency, thus to galvanise the wrong-footed to the right path and the pusillanimous to obtain what's rightly theirs.

You see, for too long there has been this penchant: of us foot soldiers, the vast majority, voting, then retiring to our shells and letting those we elect call the shots...every shot. That, my friends, is not democracy, neither in its theoretical or practical form. No, siree! But, just to say it is not democracy is not enough: we must have a clear understanding of what democracy is. Allow me, therefore, will you?

The very word, "democracy", is derived from the Greek word, "demos", which means "people". Democracy, then, is as Abraham Lincoln described it in his Gettysburg Address:

...government of the people, by the people and, for the people!"

The question is: "In the real world, how are those three criteria satisfied?"

In a nutshell, it is by "the people" become "politically aware"!

Democracy, you see, contemplates a scenario where the people, at all times, exercise control over their elected representatives, their government and their legislators and not, as some swear, the other way around.

This is done by distributing power as widely as possible, not by concentrating it in some centralized repository.
In true democracies, then, decision-making which belongs to/in the local/community purview is left there and not usurped by "the Port of Spain office" so to speak. Such decentralization to the local/community level is done in a way that meaningfully demonstrates government's responsiveness and accessibility to the people whom it serves.

Democracies, true democracies, also jealously and fearlessly guard the rights of the minorities in its midst. One may quizzically ponder how is it possible for a democracy (majority rule/will) to adopt such a favourable stance towards its minorities. The answer is simple: "It is because a democratic society recognizes the basic human rights of each and every of its members/citizens, such as, the opportunity to organize, participate fully in AND enjoy the political, economic, and cultural life of society!"

In turn, citizens in a democracy must understand that, not only do they have rights, but they have a duty to participate in the political system that, in turn, protects their rights and freedoms. In other words, for democracies to work in a proper manner, the majority of the population needs to get up off its haunches and take active part in the running of things!

How so?

By forming themselves into groups, since in numbers there is greater strength.

These are the groups called political parties. To be effective, these parties must organize themselves and operate not just for the sake of having a candidate, or candidates, whom they support, elected to office, but, just as, if not more, importantly, as the means whereby such candidate(s), once elected, can be held accountable to them whilst they hold elected office, through internal party meetings, congresses, conventions, what-have-you.

Let me repeat: the elected is accountable to the elector, not the elector to the elected!

Whilst on this note, let me point out that one thing which all serious democratic political parties have in common is, that they all believe in and practice, compromise and tolerance, since they know that it is only through broad alliances and co-operation with other political parties and organizations that they would ever be able to provide the leadership and common vision that will win the support of the majority of the voters and, so, get themselves elected to government.

Again, one must understand that, for a free people to govern themselves, they must be free to express themselves, openly, publicly and repeatedly, in speech and in writing; and for them so to do, they must have the know-how! This is why I place so much emphasis on citizens becoming educated as to the workings of the political systems under which our democracy operates.

And, so, it is our duty, each and every one of us, to get up and get involved, to educate ourselves, to become aware and to spread the word throughout our community, for it is only with the correct knowledge that we would come to realize that the Government is accountable to us and not the other way around. By that, I mean that public officials, elected and unelected, have a sworn obligation to explain their decisions and actions to us, the citizens.

Government accountability is achieved in a variety of ways: political, legal, and administrative, all designed to prevent corruption and ensure that public officials remain answerable and accessible to the people they serve. In the absence or suppression of such mechanisms, dictators like Mr. Manning and his cohorts throve!

The primary political accountability mechanism is free and fair elections. When coupled with fixed-terms of office and institutionalised recall triggers, free and fair elections force elected officials every single day to account for their performance and provide opportunities for challengers to offer citizens alternative policy choices. If voters are not satisfied with the performance of an official, they must go out and vote them out of office when their terms expire or are truncated via the recall mechanism.

My instant business is that of continuing to prepare the groundwork for that task, through my association/involvement with the political party to which I belong, the United National Congress, for though the PNM has been defeated, yet the question still begs as to who now is in charge?

My question to you, dear reader, is: "Are you, too, ready to do your part?"

Here I Stand!

2010-09-29T03:49:00.010-04:00

Here I Stand!

The work began before I was appointed, for it's continuation of a lifelong journey to uplift the lives of those whom our society scorns.

Please hit the fullscreen button for easier reading.

URP- The Way Forward

Incumbent Programme Manager,
Unemployment Relief Programme,
Trinidad and Tobago.

Securing our foundations.

2010-09-26T10:49:00.001-04:00

By leave of the Author [Peter O'Connor]:

The interesting feature about all the photos and videos of the collapsing condominium in St Joseph was the fact that the building looked surprisingly intact even as it teetered on its side, waiting to slide down the slope. From that alone I was able to conclude that, but for the foundations, the building was properly built. And this fact, or rather the fact that the foundations were obviously inadequate, should guide us in our wider development initiatives.

And the “foundations” of our development initiatives must be acknowledged in terms of our lands, our forests, wetlands, and water resources, not in the concrete we pour into the ground or along our river beds. For without these, our “original” resources, we have nothing upon which to build the physical infrastructure of our society.

If we continue to destroy our forests and mountains, to turn stone into concrete for the waterfront and smelters, and we continue to bury our wetlands to build malls and smelters, then we would have built a house like the one now being demolished in the Maracas Valley. The incident in St Joseph is only the first of many such building and apartment collapses we shall witness over the next few years. These will not be Acts of God, nor attributable to “exceptionally inclement weather”, although the latter will be the catalyst for what we shall experience...

We look forward to the government stepping up to meet its environmental commitments now, and stabilise our natural foundations.

Read the entire article >>here<<.

Rain Again. We are not ready for the big one.

2010-09-23T04:40:00.000-04:00

Dear Steve,

The thing is, what transpired yesterday afternoon in Port of Spain is symptomatic of a deep malaise which, for too long, has been left intact to blight our fledgling nation ---a moribund Public Service.

Having been born of the need to keep the natives in their place, since Independence and, moreso, since attaining Republican status, no government administration has effected the reforms necessary to bring the Public Service to the place where the Public Service needs to be in order for the government administration to be effective.

I'll now revert to a piece written by Rhambis to crystallize my views:

Dear Friends,

The country overwhelmingly voted for change on 24/05/10 and we now have a new driver and crew in charge of our journey into the future. The new team has duly established a new list of noble goals and objectives and with adrenalin pumping, has taken us onto the high road.

Unfortunately, the unchanged government bureaucratic system remains as the vehicle that is trusted to take us in this new direction and to arrive at our new destination. Is this vehicle adequate?

I dare say no and further, I predict that soon we will start experiencing setbacks and let downs, as the back pressure builds and as we start to experience backfiring and turbulence from the Public Service.

The problem with the Public Service is that the regulations that govern it are grossly inadequate ---not only are they badly written, contradictory in many places and layered by countless memoranda from successive administrations, the institutions that they prescribe to effect motivation and internal control are woefully weak and inadequate.

It is not coincidental that past administrations have opted for state enterprises to carry out their work...both PNM and UNC. The central bureaucracy is totally inefficient. When was the last time that a Public Servant was fired for non-performance? When was the last time that a Public Servant was denied an increment because of non-performance? As a rule, senior Public Servants are advised not [or, refuse] to give any subordinate a bad report since, by so doing, they will find themselves in more trouble than the miscreant!

Overwhelmingly, up to today, Public Service promotions are based on seniority. So, what does one have to do to rise through the ranks in the civil service? Nothing! Just tread water...take no risks...avoid taking responsibility and showing initiative. There are no positive motivators to Public Service innovation and dynamism. The end result: a static and grossly underperforming bureaucracy. Free the managers to manage effectively, else they'd continue just to mark time to retirement!

It's the same story with the courts. Justice delayed is justice denied! New laws are not the answer ---the reform of the courts to make the processing of cases more efficient is the critical issue. Justice delayed is justice denied! If justice is to be had, first the backlog must be cleared. It won't lest new courts be opened and additional personnel hired.

But, above all, increase the degree of internal control that is built into the administrative systems. Just like the gov't bureaucracy, the legal mechanism is archaic, thus cannot tote the load of the modern society.

This new administration will face its greatest challenge in trying to reform the bureaucracy. While the perception is that the likes of Calder Hart have plundered, has any tabulation been made of the cumulative impact that many thousands of public officials stealing from the Public Purse ---by signing on to work and running off to moonlighting [daylighting?] activities--- has? Or, of how much is earned in extra income from stealing supplies from their place of work and selling off in the black market?

Some services such as cleaning of cesspits have been totally commandeered by Regional Corporation lower level operatives, who sell a same-day service for under the table payments [preferred by the consumer over the three (3) week wait when one goes through the legal bureaucratic channels].

Aye! The Public Service must be reformed! Trouble is, any attempt at reform will be met by stiff resistance ---the Public Service will rise up and attack like a cornered animal. Ask the late Gordon Draper, if it's now possible so to do.

Nonetheless, we MUST push the mechanism into the garage for a total re-assessment and the effecting of the needed repairs, if we are to have any chance of arriving at a different destination from previous administrations. Not so now to do will condemn, then consign to the dustbin, our future.

On 22 September 2010 21:19, Steve Alvarez wrote:

Rain Again
The rains came and flooded the streets of Port of Spain. Accompanying the rains were the talk show commentators seeking someone to blame. Some wanted to blame the new government including Jack Warner the current Works Minister. Others felt the blame rested the last work minister Colm Imbert. Then there were the call in members of the public all wanting an immediate end to the flooding and action from the government. The entire scenario of wanting immediate solutions seems typical of an emerging trend from citizens of Trinidad & Tobago. We have become so caught up in depending on others for almost everything that we are degenerating into a nation of dependent people without ability to do anything for ourselves.
Flooding and the increased rainfall is not a PNM or PP problem, it is a national problem and we have to find the solutions ourselves. We have a new Works Minister not a super hero; he needs our help, suggestions and support to solve what is emerging as a very difficult and complicated problem. This is especially so if we are to look at the international problems with flooding; a situation than seems to suggest that there is abnormal levels of rainfall, perhaps due to global warming. If this is so, then we have to find solutions that are appropriate. This may mean, new artificial rivers, manmade lakes and or new dams on the existing waterways. Whatever the solution, we need to seek to solve the problem together. Now is time for all of us to start working together in the best interest of Trinidad & Tobago. Change MUST start with each of us.
If we wish to see and end to crime, we must report criminal activity to the authorities, refrain from supporting criminals and make every effort to be law abiding citizens ourselves. It is no good to simply expect the new National Security Minister or the new Police Commissioner to do it for us. If we wish to see a clean country, we must report those who indiscriminately store garbage on their property and keep their pace of business in an untidy manner. We too must keep our property clean. If we want a better health care and education system, we the nurses, doctors, teachers and students must change our attitude and become the change we wish to see.
Trinidad & Tobago is our land and we have an obligation to make it better. That is a responsibility that we should not seek to place only on the elected politicians. Loving our country and our people must be more than supporting a political party; it must translate into taking personal responsibility for making our communities a better place to live. Positive action and progressive attitudes supports our government, our leaders, our communities and our families. Before complaining the next time it floods, ask ourselves, did we dispose of our garbage properly, did we clean our drains and refrained from illegal construction and destruction of our forests and hills? Once again I wish to warn all we are no way prepared for a tropical storm or hurricane which can hit us anytime. We can all contribute to a better nation even if all we do is write the media and make suggestions for a better Trinidad & Tobago. Whatever we can do, we should, and it’s our land and our responsibility.
Steve Alvarez
Political Leader of The Democratic Party of Trinidad & Tobago
__._,_.__

Sister Kamla! We have your back!

2010-09-05T04:59:00.000-04:00

Dear Madam Political Leader and Prime Minister,

Peter O'Connor states what we've been saying and doing for you from ever since:

http://www.newsday.co.tt/commentary/0,127047.html

I have your back!

PETER O'CONNOR Sunday, September 5 2010

I have been amazed, since the NAR victory in 1986, how the PNM could make the population believe that the NAR was responsible for where the PNM took us back then, and how they convinced rank and file Trinis that “Robbie too wicked!” But they did, surprisingly with the help of the media and the Calypso fraternity, and they did it so effectively that their campaign set the stage for the 1990 attempted coup.

And the PNM is doing it again, dishonestly setting up campaigns to sabotage the new government, even as the government struggles to find its balance and begin to move forward. Take this prediction (I hesitate to say “prophecy”!): Kamla’s decision to establish a Commission of Inquiry into the events of 1990 will save her government and TT from another such attempt. As this inquiry unfolds we will learn what we have been afraid to hear all along, although the truth was always there, hidden by men more evil than those who participated in the insurrection, the murders and the looting and burning of the city.

And this truth will teach you why a certain individual lay cowering and praying (it is said that is when he became “born again”) in a locked apartment in South all during the coup. It will teach you that the individual’s fear came from the realisation that he would have no power in the Muslimeen government which Abu Bakr had proclaimed, and that those people were far more serious and dangerous than he had been led to believe.

And these truths will expose the PNM’s current agenda, and should make us all determined that we are not going down that road again. And “that road” is the vicious campaign of a defeated Party seeking to return to power via a campaign of destabilisation and dishonesty, and by constantly blaming the new government for all the failings of the state of ruin left by the PNM. Indeed, the PNM’s only hope lies in mobilising the Party to demonise the government. None that Rowley leads has any loyalty towards him, he is the same man they bitterly attacked on Manning’s behalf and behest. And let us not forget that Rowley brought their anger upon him because he exposed Udecott’s corruption, and caused them all to lose their “wuk”.

And do not delude yourself that Rowley turned on Udecott in an outburst of moral outrage.

It was when Calder Hart refused to “take him on” and reported directly to Manning, that Rowley turned wajang. Hurt pride, was more at play here.

So when Rowley now demands explanations, and insists that “promises be kept” and all that righteousness which he never espoused while in government, we must boo him off the stage. And when he calls for the “immediate implementation” of the $3000 pension for all over 60, we must wonder what scene is he on? He opposed that! Now he calls for it, so if it comes to the House, will he vote for it? If he was honest unto himself he would say: “It can’t be achieved, and we said so all along, the Government is now accepting what the PNM told them”. But he cannot rise to that level.

So the rumours will abound: “Dey cancelling CAPE, dey cancelling CEPEP”, just to stir up that lowest element in the society — the pathetic victims of years of PNM corruption, who have been kept poor and ignorant so that they would, like abused spouses, take a T-shirt and a rum, and support PNM.

So, even as the Partnership struggles to find its balance and direction, and present its first budget, let us all — calypsonians included — never forget what Kamla and Winston and Jack really saved us from.

They saved us from a Party which had no regard for us or our country, their sole mission was aggrandisement and the building of vainglorious structures while we suffered without water, without healthcare, and without a voice in what was being done in our name.

So, Kamla and Company: deliver the budget, tell us where you hope to take us, and get on with your jobs! Do not continue to be consumed with the immediate past. We voted for action, not recrimination.

And remember, you are losing some support right now, so listen to the people again, and get on with it! I, and others like me, will work to ensure that their campaign of deception will not thrive this time.

Kamla, I have your back!

COP vs UNC hostility.

2010-08-18T06:03:00.000-04:00

Those of the Congress of The People [COP] who incessantly boast that, without the COP, the People's Partnership coalition could never have formed the government and who, because of such self-aggrandisement, view every facet of the United National Congress [UNC] with scorn, fail to realize their anti-UNC stance is a lopsidedly-double-edged sword ---one that inflicts more damage upon the wielder than anybody else--- for such jactitation infers that COP's actions, in 2007, wholly and solely inflicted an almost-mortal wound to the good citizens of Trinidad and Tobago ---two-and-a-half years of Patrick Manning and his PNM--- thus, the COP and the COP alone is responsible for keeping the PNM in office between November 5th 2007 and May 25th 2010!

The COP babbling, therefore, must cease! Put away your sabres, my COP brothers and sisters! The People's Partnership has taken command of a tottering ship called Trinidad and Tobago to right, then pilot. Arm-in-arm, then, let's toward a bright new horizon steer, shall we? The vessel's owners would have it no other way.

God bless and Ramadan mubarak to all!

The recurrent economic challenge. Money shortage.

2010-08-08T21:45:00.002-04:00

MFRahman. 683 4698. 8/8/10.

Making money available for approved National expenses.

Preface.

The treatise which follows has been presented more than once by this writer since 1994 to a resistant economic fraternity.
Hopefully this reformulation now being re-presented via the www., may be studied by the greater concerned public and judged on its merit, particularly since the global experience of economic downturn, our own recurrent unbalanced budget with deficit financing, and the recent measures of the US government to reboot its financial engine room. The very recent experience of Greece is also germane to the matter.

Dissertation.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The recurrent economic challenge. Money shortage.

The new People’s Partnership Government of T&T (PPGORTT) has found itself unable to keep its unequivocal campaign promise to increase old age pension to $3,000.00 by unqualified right based solely on age entitlement at 60 on the unspoken understanding that the money is simply not available and the nation cannot afford it.

(Synopsis: Money is scarce.)

The last two budgets encountered deficit spending, the old GORTT having had to borrow to meet expenditure by a cumulative figure of approximately TT$14Billion, which now requires additional debt servicing in the billions being added cumulatively along with anticipated new borrowings in the next budget, since expenditure cannot be contracted overnight and the PPGORTT will have to climb down slowly from the deficit position with measures of austerity that may affect social programs.
(Synopsis: Things will get tighter [worse], as we struggle to meet expenses with reduced earnings.)

Now, it is important to understand that expenditure is of two genres viz.,
1). Internal spending to meet recurrent expenses such as salaries and wages and other local expenses and purchases which are satisfied by using local currency (TT Dollars).
2). External payments towards foreign debts, goods and services.

In the case of Internal spending, the GORTT uses TT$ authorized and printed by the Government-created Central Bank, under terms and conditions that have been set by Government Statute in the Central Bank Act. These terms and conditions can be revised as the GORTT may see fit.

In the case of External payments, Foreign Exchange (Forex) in US Dollars or Pounds Sterling or Yen or Euros is required, depending on the country to be paid. Such currencies cannot be printed or issued by the GORTT, but only by the authorized state in question. We acquire these currencies through the exploitation, refining, preparing and sale or export of our natural resources such as oil, gas, and our products from agriculture, tourism and other manufacturing enterprises. The greater the sale and export of TT goods, products and services we can manage, the more Forex we earn and the more we can import foreign goods we cannot produce locally. The importance of buying local is obvious. We should never import a product which we can produce or substitute from local production.

(Synopsis: TT Dollars are scarce by choice [more later] – Forex is scarce by excessive consumption and local neglect.)

The PPGORTT at present is challenged with a shortage of both currencies, TT$ and Forex. The latter still trickles in via reduced export due to a felled global economy. We yet have 12 months import cover, but while we are importing less and less due to a stagnating economy, we continue to see Forex remittances in excess of imports. This may indicate increased Money Laundering Activity, and the authorities may wish to look closer at unjustified remittances. The Nation must urgently find ways to increase its Forex earnings by economic diversification.
While we yet hold a substantial H&S Fund, this should not be used except for its original purpose by distressed later generations.

With regard to TT$, we find that the means of Government revenue are largely via Income Tax, VAT, Customs Duties and Excise charges, and other revenue measures as stamp duty, land and building taxes, licenses and so on including penalties and fines imposed by the courts. (Yes, ironically, the criminal and law breaking elements contribute to revenue meaningfully.)

Now, the question must be asked, why must the GORTT impose income tax, stamp duties and other non-consumption influencing taxes in order to raise TT$ which itself is authorized like most other sovereign states to issue? The short answer is The Central Bank Act (79:02) which circumscribes the money supply. Under that Act, the CB may only issue TT Dollars in an amount not exceeding total assets held. These assets are in brief: Gold coin or Bullion, Forex in hand, Forex invested overseas, Foreign Securities and Treasury Bills (‘T’ Bills), GORTT Treasury Bills up to 50% of total assets held, GORTT foreign holdings of capital and assets, and any International Special Drawing Rights we may enjoy.

Please understand that all Forex, and Foreign Treasury Bills and securities, are Printed and Issued by foreign Governments no longer based on Gold holdings but by Diktat of their respective controlling Banks much like GORTT ‘T’ Bills.

The recent case of the US Government bailing out its major corporate economic players has revealed an open secret that the US Government prints money 24/7 and is an un-backed currency which has gained international confidence. Nations hold and treasure US Dollars as if it were pure Gold. And even while the USD continues to fall against most currencies, we insist on remaining haplessly tied to it, increasing the burden on our citizens daily.

Now, since 1995, the World Bank issued a new measure for the wealth of nations. By that measure, in 1995 T&T was worth US $84 Billion. Our CB Act’s limit of currency issue is far below this figure and because of this limitation, our GORTT must renege on promises and cut back on social spending and maintenance and local development.

There is no reason why we should not review our authorized currency issue to a larger figure based upon our National Wealth now far in excess of the 1995 figure.

This would immediately permit a balanced budget and a more realistic economic management process. With freed up incomes, the economy will be stimulated, particularly if Income Tax were to be abolished as it should be with this new paradigm. Increased capital availability will encourage investments and revenues will flow. GDP will immediately rise. Local government spending will be facilitated for necessary projects.

Certainly we require measures to control consumption, vehicle population, life styles, but we can eradicate poverty and make the quality of life better for all our citizens now in distress.

The GORTT must continue to monitor liquidity, and such activities that violate our FOREX earnings.

The experience of Greece shows the distress a country can experience by giving up control of its local currency. Greece is even now contemplating returning to its own sovereign currency and seceding from the Euro Dollar.

In our case we must take control of our currency on our terms and remove the shackles that bind us economically.

MFRahman.

Why retreat?

2010-08-07T12:40:00.002-04:00

A retreat will succeed only if it's guided by the same rule applied in engineering sciences:A structure properly built will not generate complaints from its end user(s) except, having been built, it's not properly maintained. Ordinarily, the ones who build a proper structure are the best choices to maintain it. However, where remodelling/renovation is required because of an early and constant stream of complaints by the end user(s), then those who originally designed and or built a structure cannot be relied on to undertake such a task.

Pity the Guardian did NOT publish the author's name.

2010-08-07T10:16:00.003-04:00

Re: http://guardian.co.tt/commentary/letters/2010/08/07/unc-vs-cop-ole-talk

It's a pity the Guardian did NOT publish the author's name, for the treatise was worthy of its Centre Stage appointment, even if only for this one comment therein contained, therefore which needs again to be highlighted:

"...it is the electorate of our land, not the politicians or political pundits, that decide who will govern our nation..."

reason being that the process of deciding is not finished once elections are, hence the need for the electorate continually to insist

"...of every elected official of the People's Partnership that they are 24-oh-7 ~~accountable~~ answerable to the ones who put them into public office, thus the servants of the people, not the people's lords and masters.

Failure so to insist means tacit endorsement of the odious notion of elector otiosus ---where all the voters do is vote, then rock-back till the next election, hence permitting the elected to do what the hell they want, without fear of censure.

Allah be praised! Elector otiosus is a concept no longer relevant to the way that we, the people, are prepared to treat with public officialdom in Trinidad and Tobago. Matters not how popular you were when elected, we, the people, will tar and feather you if you lapse..."
[See: http://trinbagorenewed.blogspot.com/2010/07/transparency-begins-at-home.html]

Pity the Guardian did NOT publish the author's name.

Begging pardon, Mr. Dookeran, but your slip's showing.

2010-07-31T10:02:00.002-04:00

In the past, many citizens of this place called Trinidad and Tobago [Trinbago], regardless who they be, have fallen victim to the idea that they are superior to regular folks because of their race, creed or class. With the advent of the People's Partnership, it seemed that we've put such debilitating notions behind us and that, at last, we're about to forge ourselves into one people, squarely focused on maximising Trinbago's fullest potential.

Suddenly, it seems nothing could be further from the truth, for all recently-available evidence indicates that, despite protestations to the contrary, bigotry abounds, not of race, creed, or class, but of political affiliation, the latest example of which is the outta-timing remarks made by a leader who ought to know better ---for he, of all people, must surely known that for many, many, people, their paradigms are shaped of the soundbytes fed them by a bigoted mass media...or by those they adulate.

In short! Few people ---and fewer who offer themselves as leaders--- can/will discern the forest despite the trees.

And why so few? I've already answered ---we are what we eat! Taking it further ---we can only eat what we swallow; therefore, if we feed upon nothing but bigoted soundbytes, then, go figure what, in the end, thoroughly we would become!

Bigotry, however engineered, is an abomination ---left to its own devices...or encouraged...it will consume and destroy even those who foment it.

Thus, the internecine quibbles we observe within the People's Partnership, whether at the helm, in midair, or on the ground, are not to be tolerated ---they are incipient rot, hence must be squelched the instant they manifest themselves.

How? Well, the best ---thus, most efficient--- way to stop a cancer is to kill it in its early tracks!

In the instant issue, that translates to our leaders showing the right example ---apart from being scrupulously clean in their public dealings, they must use public fora to utter sentiments/statements that lead to a strengthening rather than loosening of the ties that bind us together, whether as as the People's Partnership or as Trinbagonians.

It's an undertaking in which our leaders will only succeed if the rank and file hold them accountable to that higher standard, regardless of party.

If the rank and file won't, then may God have mercy on us, for our children won't ever forgive us!

Going loco over "Local Government".

2010-07-28T09:06:00.002-04:00

I'm seeing where Trinidadian Local Government Representatives are being given what may only be described as "directives" by Central Government figures.

Again, such happenings prompt me to ask: "What does "Local Government" mean?"

You see, all along, I've been under the impression that "Local Government" meant precisely what it pellucidly says: "Local Government", thus, that locals call the shots ---all the shots--- as to how their locales are to be governed!

If Trinidadian locales are to flourish, having Trinidadian locals set the pace makes eminent sense ---for who better than a local to determine what a locale needs, or may accomplish? Thing is ---and this must be fixed--- under fifty-four years of PNM, Trinidadian locales have been stripped of their ability to cater to their own needs by fixating them on Port of Spain for everything, even for things as local as erecting a Community Centre for their locale. Thus, instead of Trinidadian locales improving, over the past half a century, we've witnessed their steady deterioration, particularly in wholesome food production, the resuscitation of which, when coupled with the provision and maintenance of related physical infrastructure, properly managed, will create sustainable employment for hundreds in every locale.

But, no man is an island, hence what's done, or not done, in one locale impacts in one way or another on others. Tobago has already shown the way how locals may take charge of their locale, so, bringing together Trinidadian Local Government Reps may yet produce the type of positive results Trinidadian locales need quickly to see.

Six months at the helm of the UNC...and counting!

2010-07-24T12:48:00.002-04:00

Dear Sister Kamla,

Today, July 24th, 2010, marks six months since you took command of the good ship UNC!

At the time you did, the vessel was foundering, but, just look at her now, how, in glory and majestically she plows through the swells, simultaneously, inexorably, forging all of Trinbago towards a brighter horizon, having gathered every people into a fruitful partnership, only whereby all will volunteer to pull their weight or benefit in equity!

How rueful must they be, those who swore that, by this date, the UNC would have sunk to the bottom of the most abysmal depth.

Well done, Ma'am! We're with you all the way!

Respect!

Soothing the AG's dental woes.

2010-07-22T10:01:00.002-04:00

Re: http://www.newsday.co.tt/news/0,124346.html

In paragraph 13 of the captioned article, the Trinidad and Tobago Newsday of July 21st 2010 matter-of-factly reports:

[Attorney-General] Ramlogan said even Government’s efforts to get details from the Public Service about these transactions was “like pulling teeth out of a man’s mouth without any anaesthetic.”

At the time, the Attorney-General was on his legs in the Senate, reciting a litany of apparently-corrupt acts committed by the previous government administration [GAd].

Since, to date, the relevant Hansard is not yet available ---why not, God alone knows--- the writer assumes that the aggrieved mouth was that of the Attorney-General, not the Public Service.

Because of that premise, therefore, this writer needs again to urge that, without constitutional reform akin to his, perplexing situations such as the goodly AG described shall continue, ad nauseam, for, presently, every Permanent Secretary [Perm Sec] and Deputy Permanent Secretary [Deputy Perm Sec] is a public servant, not a pro-tem political appointee, when, clearly, the latter they ought to be ---for, in discharging their constitutional responsibilities of supervising their whatever Public Service department, Perm Secs and Deputy Perm Secs constitutionally are answerable to their line Minister. Therefore, reason demands that Ministers must have the requisite power to discipline Perm Secs and Deputy Perm Secs.

Properly then to discharge its constitutional responsibility, the Public Service must bend to the whatever incumbent administration's will. The only time the Public Service must not yield to political direction is if and when the diktat suggests it fly in the face of the law!

Apparently, before the ascension of the People's Partnership administration, the Public Service has been acquiescing to rapscallion rule ---given the extent of highly-questionable matters adumbrated by the AG's yet-unfinished litany of its execrable behaviour.

Habits are difficult to reshape...culture, even more. Just two months have passed since the former Commander of the Fleet was fired and replaced by one who has the interest of the nation at ~~hart~~ heart! Not surprising, then, that, since that ascension, certain long-ensconced Public Servants have been bent on frustrating clear directives given them by their new line Ministers. Ministers must not be wimps in the face of such recalcitrance, for, as the man is fond of saying:

"If you're not in charge, then someone else is in charge!"

For too long have Public Servants been allowed to set the tone and pace, when, clearly, it's the people, mustered through their elected representatives, who must. The New Empire cannot rock back ---it has to make a pre-emptive strike--- else it'd become the laughingstock of even its most ardent admirer! It is time to perfect the Opus Imperfectus! Time shall tell whether it will be, for the overarching issue here is:

Who is in charge of a Public Service, a Public Service that's nothing but the executing arm of the whatever politically-controlled government administration of-the-day?

Transparency begins at home!

2010-07-18T09:26:00.000-04:00

It is good that Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has forced the issue of ~~corruption in public life~~ integrity in public life to the front burners, for, for too long, in Trinidad and Tobago, have graft and corruption been allowed free rein ---a laissez-faire attitude towards proper conduct that has resulted in the rampant reign of unruliness which, more or less, has brought civil society to its knees.

It is good, also, because the Prime Minister's prime agenda [KPA] speaks to the very first of the triumvirate of National Watchwords [NWs], which demands that public officials be of Pompeian stock and conduct: above suspicion. The relevant NW is: "Discipline", in case the reader be unaware.

In the context of present discussion, "discipline" embraces every meaning ascribed to it, in particular:

Training/coercion expected to produce a specific character or pattern of behaviour, especially training/coercion that produces moral or mental improvement in the trainee/coercee.

But it also presupposes that the trainer/coercer is a disciplined person. Without question, the trainer/coercer is ---else she would not have been holding the high office she is. Also, that transparency be allowed unfettered latitude ---for nothing beats the searching blaze of sunshine to expose what prefers/tends to lurk in the dark.

It is necessary that, from the ground up, the KPA be implemented if KPA is to bear fruit. There's no better place to begin than by the Prime Minister continually pounding into the skulls of every elected official of the People's Partnership that they are 24-oh-7 ~~accountable~~ answerable to the ones who put them into public office, thus the servants of the people, not the people's lords and masters.

Failure so to insist means tacit endorsement of the odious notion of elector otiosus ---where all the voters do is vote, then rock-back till the next election, hence permitting the elected to do what the hell they want, without fear of censure.

Allah be praised! Elector otiosus is a concept no longer relevant to the way that we, the people, are prepared to treat with public officialdom in Trinidad and Tobago. Matters not how popular you were when elected, we, the people, will tar and feather you if you lapse. By their individual and joint Odysseys, Kamla herself and her able Deputy, Jack, have stunningly demonstrated that we, the people, can and will.

Integrity in public life is born of transparency! Transparency begins at home! A word to the wise is sufficient.

A word to the wise, just one word, is sufficient.

2010-07-16T10:28:00.000-04:00

"...[The People's Partnership]...won [the] hearts and minds [of voters by telling them that, upon entering office, it] would introduce the politics of principle.

Now that we are in the position of power, we must not be tempted to believe that ‘power’ is ‘principle’, [for] the greatest challenge facing the nation today [is for it to understand that] power is not principle. Power is something to be used to further a society’s [development]! We must adhere to the principles that brought us here, otherwise we too [will fail] the [same way] our predecessors in political life have failed [when they betrayed] our [people's hopes]..."

Congress of The People Political Leader,
The Honourable Winston Dookeran,
at Tunapuna SDMS Primary School,
on Wednesday July 14th, 2010.

An Anand-ji story of justice.

2010-07-10T09:07:00.001-04:00

There as some who, for reasons patently or not yet clear, believe that Anand Ramlogan must tone down his rhetoric regarding ringing in justice, now that he holds high office as Attorney-General. To those Anti-Anand-ji's respond I, "Hell, no!"

My justification is that, among other things, it's precisely for his delivery style that the good Prime Minister saw fit to select him for the post he now holds ---a post which all peace-loving, law-abiding citizens, then some, hope and pray he'd have till the cows come home.

Anti-Anand-jis seem conveniently to have forgotten ---if at all they ever knew--- that, as if by design of the other political force just defenestrated, Trinidad and Tobago has been moulded into a country where all things good, fit and proper are relegated to a cowering place, while all things obstreperously, obnoxiously and odiously malevolent are permitted free rein to wreak havoc ad nauseam.

Anti-Anand-jis seem conveniently to have forgotten ---if at all they ever knew--- the tale of the cleaning of the Augean stables, else they'd understand that what now confronts the new administration is a task as Gargantuan as that which confronted Hercules when first he fully grasped the scope of his Fifth Labour.

Anti-Anand-jis seem conveniently to have forgotten ---if at all they ever knew--- that, because of his impressive track record and icon-shattering ways, those many thousands and thousands of us who put the new administration in office so did with full expectation that Anand-ji would've been appointed to lead the charge for making the law thenceforth work in favour of justice rather than just for the privileged few.

Anti-Anand-jis seem conveniently to have forgotten ---if at all they ever knew--- that evil abounds only when good men and women do or say nothing.

The message is clear! The old ways ---and those who engineered and sustained them--- are now banished, Thank God! There's a huge backlog of filth waiting to be cleared before the good people of Trinidad and Tobago may exhale! The required "Clean and Beautify Trinidad and Tobago" exercise began, not on June 27th last, rather, one month before ---on May 26th--- when, shortly after Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar was appointed, Anand-ji was sworn in as Attorney-General.

Anand-ji rhetoric must peal as loud and clear; and wherever and as often as Hays and Seeger of their bell intended ---in the morning, in the evening, all over this land! For that's the only way justice, freedom and love may descend upon to this land.

Principles for a lasting People's Partnership.

2010-06-20T07:59:00.001-04:00

The PNM has fallen! A new, based-on-partnering-with-the-people, régime is in place! The PNM fell because of its unbearable misconduct while in office. The prayer is that the People's Partnership's fate shall not follow the PNM's suit. It won't, once we, the people who brought about the change, understand that the best bulwark against such misconduct will always be a well-informed vigilance by us, the people.

Such watchfulness can only be fuelled by a set of sterling principles adopted, uncompromisingly implemented and improved over time.

To be implementable, such principles have to be practical. To be practical, they have to be clearly articulated and understood. Yet, the overarching determinant would must be that they are flexible, as, without that property, they'd not be able to be adapted to the peculiarities of the different situations where, as time evolves, they'd need to be applied.

To give examples of these principles, the People's Partnership régime (PPR) must:

always abide by the just laws of Trinidad and Tobago;
formally adopt a written code of ethics with which all of its operatives are familiar and to which they cling.
construct and issue a clear mission statement;
introduce laws which make public officials personally liable for the consequences of any decisions they make in defiance of what the law or approved policy dictates;
adopt and implement policies and procedures to ensure that all conflicts of interest, or the appearance thereof, by its operatives are appropriately managed through disclosure, recusance, or otherwise;
establish and implement policies and procedures that encourage individuals to come forward with information on illegal practices, or violations of official policies, by public officials. This whistleblower policy should specify that officialdom will not browbeat individuals who make bona fide reports, but will protect their confidentiality. The present Integrity in Public Life Act, at Section 32 (2), recites most dire consequences to whistleblowers who transgress in this regard. That needs to be ameliorated as the uninformed who wishes to blow a whistle may be deterred;
establish and implement policies and procedures to protect and preserve all public documents and records, including electronically-generated ones, for such information rightfully is owned by the public;
make information about the how, when and why of its operations widely available to the public;
ensure that every public panel includes members with the diverse backgrounds, experience, people and organizational skills necessary to advance the public good;
except where absolutely unavoidable, not allow any individual to hold more than one decision-making post;
make public disclosure of the remuneration packages and changing economic fortunes of all public officials;
make public disclosure of the ties to private enterprise that every public official had in the seven years prior to being appointed to public office

The best bulwark against such misconduct will always be a well-informed vigilance by us, the people. It'd be good, therefore, if others join this conversation.

Bless!

What the new administration promises.

2010-06-19T15:11:00.002-04:00

If there's one thing the new government administration promises Trinidad and Tobago, it's that, at last, our native country would have a team that takes a refreshing view of how we must conduct our people-government-people relations. And that can only redound to the betterment of life for all who, aforetime, we denied even the rudiments.

2010-06-18T07:04:00.000-04:00

Today ---June 18th 2010--- marks the dawn of a new era in the life of Trinidad and Tobago's (TT's) fledging Parliament ---inter alia, a woman...a fine, most intelligent, most highly respected woman...shall, for the first time, permanently occupy the seat reserved only for those who hold the office of Prime Minister.

But, a bit of trivia shall also unfold, which, by itself, sends a powerful reminder of where, in chronology, this new Parliament fits, for the leaders of the two political groupings that comprise the august body each bear names that begin with the tenth letter of the English alphabet, "k" --- Kamla is the Political Leader of the People's Partnership and Prime Minister, Keith is the Political Leader of the People's National Movement and Leader of The Opposition.

Thus one may algebraically describe this new Parliament as TT Parliament 2k ©.

But, hold on a bit! The number "10" figures prominently too ---today's opening marks the commencement of TT's tenth Republican Parliament, which, in case you've not yet realized, begins in the tenth year of the second millennium, a year regularly referred to as 2k10!

Therefore, all things ---as above outlined--- considered, it's fitting to deem the new Parliament henceforth always to be: TT Parliament 2k10 ©! Hence, so I've done.

May The Universal Fount of Wisdom and Truth ever guide TT Parliament 2k10 © as it proceeds with the people's business!

Whither NIB?

2010-06-11T05:45:00.002-04:00

As the primary state agent of social welfare and security, the National Insurance Board (NIB) rightly belongs under the watch and direction of the Cabinet Ministry which designs, implements and oversees the provision of social welfare and security to the citizens of Trinidad and Tobago.

For some strange reason, some time ago the NIB was removed from under the aegis of that Ministry and given over to the Ministry of Finance.

Perhaps whoever made that decision was of the view that the NIB was a fount of cash from which to plunder, rather than what it truly is ---a de facto trust, statutorily established to be a fount of comfort to its many thousand beneficiaries, each of whom, of his/her hard-earned income, is required to make cash contributions to the NIB pot from which to draw succour in his/her time of need.

Perhaps that's why too, today, it's so difficult for the beneficiaries to appraise themselves of the soundness of the NIB, for, over the years, the NIB seems to have been redirected far away from its core business.

It is time to correct the anomaly! Madam Prime Minister, stick the NIB back in its proper pen! Power to the people!

God bless!

Of Keith and Jack and stones and trees and tac-tacs!

2010-06-10T08:53:00.004-04:00

Re: http://www.trinidadexpress.com/index.pl/nart?id=161693685&weba=NWSNews
"It is not uncommon now that the average comment in this country about politicians in general, is that we are not worth anything, ...not worth the time of day, ...not worth any respect because of how we conduct our business. ...The only time (politicians) come to life, is if they believe that there is political mileage to be had."

(Dr. Keith Rowley (Keith), then MP for Diego Martin West, Friday October 6th, 2000, during his contribution to the Integrity In Public Life Act 2000 debate, page 517 Hansard Record http://ttparliament.org/hansards/hh20001006.pdf)

Since he uttered that summation, at least for him it's that yardstick I've been using to gauge and predict his every twist and turn. That's why his sudden sanctimony surprises me not. That's why, too, it's easy to conclude that self, not country, motivated his assault against a severely-crippled Patrick Manning. In time ---as, given enough time, Time always does--- surely more detail of Keith's past shall come to the fore, which details may, or may not, cause who him presently endear to call for his crucifixion. But, not today...not by me, for today I wanna wax lyrical, if you'd permit, to demonstrate how inane, irrelevant and inconsequential this teacup storm is to a society that at last broken free of the stifling clutch of the People's National Movement (PNM), thus is able again to breathe.

One life lesson I acquired when I was small is that rewarding experiences come to little boys when they hurl stones at fruit trees bowing under the weight of succulent seasonal offerings, rather than at those that are not.

But I also then learnt is that, in pelting at a laden tree, lest the eyesight and arm were true, arboreal parts and offerings that serve better-productive purpose if left intact would be injured or destroyed, thus hindering the tree's future ability to provide sustenance for its eager customers.

Whenever such misjudgement occurred, admonition of the errant swiftly followed ---usually accompanied by a clout to the head of the inaccurate, a tap, sharply, stingingly, sooner-or-later administered by some bigger boy or full-fledged adult.

Another life precept gleaned from my puerile past is that the trees throughout glistening with luscious fruit invariably are also defended by the dreadest biting ants. Hence only the foolhardy or gullible would attempt to bark up such trunks. Inescapably, of those trees, to benefit, one had no recourse but to wait for their offering naturally to fall to the grass ---like dew doth all around afore dawn descends.

So it was that, over the years, many a Five Rivers mango, tonca bean, sugar apple and tamarind tree were able to withstand withering but oft-immature and misguided missile attacks and survive, many to thrive to this very day, year in, year out, freely giving of themselves to benefit of the public.

It's this altruistic disposition which again turns me towards the issue raised by Opposition Leader, Keith, regarding what he perceives to be as conflict of interest in His Excellency Jack Austin Warner (Jack) not yielding up the FIFA Veep post. To wit, in his letter to The Integrity Commission, Keith insisted that the Commission be guided by things over which have no nexus to the issue of the day, for the 1988 Code of Conduct for Ministers and Parliamentary Secretaries on which Keith staked his anti-Jack claim has been supplanted ---de facto, if not de jure--- by the Integrity in Public Life Act of 2000 IPLA.

The IPLA, therefore and the IPLA alone, is what's relevant; and since Jack has complied with what the IPLA demands, there's no justification for Keith continuing to rant and rave ---wajang?--- about the issue. Why? Well, inter alia, the IPLA, at 11. (1) requires that:

A person shall, within three months of becoming a person in public life, complete and file with the Commission in the prescribed form, a declaration of his income, assets and liabilities in respect of the previous year and, thereafter, on 31st May in each succeeding year that he is a person in public life, he shall file further declarations of his income, assets and liabilities.

It is but two weeks since Jack again assumed such a role, therefore there's plenty time yet left for him to comply. Strike one, Keith!

The IPLA subsequently proceeds to require in 14.

(1) A person in public life shall file with his declaration under section 11, an additional statement of registrable interests in the prescribed form, which shall contain the information required by subsection (3).

(2) The Registrar of the Commission shall compile and cause to be entered in a Register of Interests, all information furnished pursuant to subsection (1) and shall at the request of any member of the public, permit the inspection of such Register.

(3) A statement of registrable interests filed under subsection (1) shall contain information relating to a person in public life in respect of—

(a) particulars of any directorships held in any company or other corporate body;
(b) particulars of any contract made with the State;
(c) the name or description of any company, partnership or association in which the person is an investor;
(d) a concise description of any trust to which the person is a beneficiary or trustee;
(e) beneficial interest held in any land;
(f) any fund to which the person contributes;
(g) particulars of any political, trade or professional association to which the person belongs;
(h) particulars relating to sources of income; and
(i) any other substantial interest whether of a pecuniary nature or not, which he considers may appear to raise a material conflict between his private interests and his public duty.

In case you missed it, re: 14. (3) (i), the IPLA puts the onus on the declarant to decide.
(See IPLA at: http://rgd.legalaffairs.gov.tt/Laws2/Chs._20-22/22.01/22.01_aos.htm)

Such is the law and we are a nation of laws and law-abiding citizens, ent? That ought to put paid to every argument advanced against Jack by Keith. To go outside what's perspicuous to find premises on which to build invites the same consequence to the resultant edifice as obtains with the proverbial one built on sand. Remember what transpired the last time anyone ventured to invoke other than the law to say who must govern us? We ended up being saddled with a heavy yoke, one we just last May 24th finally dumped.

Bear on, then, Tree Jack! Keith and his ilk will always be overshadowed by the likes of you. As a result, regardless of your magnanimous gestures towards them, they will forever remain peeved, even as they crave the shelter of your umbra. Leave them be! Soon enough some bigger boy than Keith will buss a tap in his arse, or a bunch of tac-tacs send him packing. Perhaps then he'd acquire some sense and propriety of how best to harvest of the tremendously productive capacity Trinidad and Tobago possesses. Oops! Scratch that reverie! I forgot he's a PNMite.

Recommending action to be taken by Kamla-led administration (2).

2010-05-28T06:00:00.002-04:00

The second recommendation has to do with changing the mindset of public officials: there has to be swift and sweeping change of those officials, for their minds are set on ways long embraced...and such ways are not inclined towards anything other that what the PNM party dictates.

Recommending action to be taken by Kamla-led administration (1).

2010-05-28T05:38:00.001-04:00

The first recommendation has to do with who can vote in our General and Local elections: let the laws be amended that only citizens may vote and that they may vote regardless of in what part of the world they may be on the day election falls.

Actions always articulate louder than words

2010-05-11T03:47:00.003-04:00

Since December 24th 2001, we, the people of Trinidad and Tobago, have had ample opportunity to observe the actions of those who wish on May 24th 2010 to obtain our endorsement, regarding which endorsement, throughout the length and breadth of this land they are now frenetically traversing, simultaneously extolling their virtues and the vices of their opponents, a ploy which attempts to belittle our capacity properly to assess reality, for it completely ignores the unavoidable truth that actions always articulate louder than words: which is the reason why, come the latterly-mentioned date, there shall be a monumental change in the panel we empower to govern this well-endowed land we call home.

Voting "Indian"?

2010-05-09T07:50:00.000-04:00

VOTING “INDIAN”?

By Peter O’Connor,

for publication in The Trinidad Newsday on Sunday 9th May 2010.

Today we need to address an issue which cannot be glossed over by euphemisms and pretences. And this has less to do with some of our increasingly silly politicians, and more to do with a large segment of disillusioned voters.

We are hearing comments from the increasingly large number of embarrassed former PNM supporters, now unable to support the flailing and failing antics of Patrick Manning, Marlene MacDonald and Colm Imbert, but who remain in a dilemma because they claim they “cannot vote Indian”.

What precisely does this mean to you, dear reader? Have you heard anyone making this comment? Have you asked what the speaker means—assuming that he (more likely than “she”) has any idea at all what he is saying?

Why exactly can one feel that they cannot “vote Indian”, or indeed, White, or Chinese, or Black? But the truth is that I have never heard this expressed until recently, and only in the context of “Indian”. And let us at first accept that this statement will only come from a disillusioned PNM supporter who is Black, or as we say these days, Afro Trinidadian.

So here is my question to all of you who harbor this obviously deep racist prejudice—not, I think against Indo Trinis, but against “voting Indian”: Tell me why you feel so? What is it that you fear? And what do you think will happen to you if God should grant you some intelligence and you actually “voted Indian”, instead of voting corruption and incompetence, which you recognize, hence your disenchantment with the PNM? And what will happen to you if “Indian” and the UNC won the election?

I would like to know what drives your fear: Do you believe that you will get only roti and doubles to eat? Or that the fetes and radio stations will only play Chutney and Bollywood music? In short, what is your problem? Would you quit your job if an Indo Trinidadian became your boss? Would you, like your political leader, refuse to be treated by an “Indian Doctor”?

And how do you explain your—and indeed the nation’s--survival during the years when we actually had what you might describe as an “Indian” Government? The UNC governed this country from late 1995 through late 2001. And what did they do that was so terrible that you cannot “vote Indian”?

Yes, they t’ief! But, as you well know, “All of we t’ief”! That was the pronouncement of former PNM Minister Desmond Cartey, high on Laventille Hill in 1986. And nothing has changed in that regard, except it is widely believed by everyone, including you, that the current PNM has “out-t’iefed” all previous regimes. So you cannot be afraid of “Indian” because of corruption, because that is an unfortunate given within our politics—albeit many of us wish to see that change.

I am confident that, all though 2008 you followed the Presidential elections in the United States. I am sure, that like so many of us Trinis who could not vote there, you felt tremendous pride in the rise of Barrack Obama, and when the millions of white Americans made him, a black man with a “Muslim-sounding” name, their President. You were amazed and proud—not just about Barrack Obama, but that America had voted for a minority-race President, and by overwhelming majorities everywhere.

America matured when they put the issues of a failing administration and new hope above the issues of politics as usual, and the candidate’s ethnicity. And America, and the world, became a better place for that Audacity of Hope.

So what about you? Many of you copy America in so many ways. How about questioning your prejudices and your fears, just like America was able to do, and see if you too, and your land, might (I am not promising anything here!) find enlightenment—again. For indeed, I remind you that we have already lived through six years of an “Indian” Administration, and it certainly was no worse than any other administration in our history. Many neutral observers suggest it was better.

I wish to emphasize that this is not directed towards the PNM supporters—“Till you Dead” or just supporters. You will vote for Manning and his sycophant team “irregardless”, and good luck to you. This will be your farewell gesture to Patrick Manning and some of those with him. The PNM will recover when Patrick is gone, but will spend this coming parliamentary term in opposition. This is for those of you who can no longer follow where Patrick wants to take you. This is a call for you to put country before tribe, and people before race, and vote for whom you think can do more for T&T—just like America did!

Hello and Goodbye.

2010-05-07T18:51:00.000-04:00

Hello, Dr. Rowley!

Trinidad and Tobago needs leaders who put the welfare of the nation and not that of any sectarian interest, first and foremost.

Goodbye, Dr. Rowley!

There's got to be a morning after!

2010-05-05T05:16:00.001-04:00

Back in 1972, when I was much younger, two blockbuster Hollywood productions hit the local cinema screens. One was "The Godfather", based on Mario Puzo's classic narrative of the same name. The other was "The Poseidon Adventure", the cinematic rendition of Paul Gallico's similarly-titled novel.

The tapestry of each movie were crafted using woofs and warps which are most relevant to Trinidad and Tobago's present-day situation, but it is on The Poseidon Adventure I propose to dwell to try and put things in perspective properly to assist us towards and beyond May 24th 2010.

The Poseidon Adventure details the fate of the good ship ---SS Poseidon--- as it sailed merrily along on deceptively treacherous seas. As it prepared to leave port, the captain was approached by certain vested interests ---the ship's owners--- whose sole mission was to make as much money as they could out of the fateful voyage. They fretted with him that he was inordinately delaying departure and that he should give the order to weigh anchor at once, even though adequate ballast was not yet taken aboard. (Just in case you don't know, ballast is the whatever heavy material that is placed in the hold of a ship to enhance stability.)

Now! The supreme commander of every seagoing vessel is the captain. The captain and the captain alone, is vested the power and authority and responsibility for everything that happens on the vessel of which he has charge. Thus is born the longstanding seafaring tradition that the captain is the last off in times of distress, or, on the occasion when enough resources to get passengers off aren't available, to stay aboard and go down with his ship. Ship's captains, then, if they are to be affective and successful, have to be men and women constructed of stern, durable, almost stoical stuff, but wise and level-headed...always.

Sadly, the Poseidon's captain was a pusillanimous chap and, in his decision-making, seemingly like a man driven by unbridled libido. (It's noteworthy that the guy who acted as the Poseidon's captain, in his many other movie roles normally plays the comedian.) Hence, though he knew better ---or, ought to have known--- he capriciously yielded to his puppetmasters' demand that the Poseidon plunge into the deep without adequate precaution firmly in place.

To cut short a long story, so it was that, just after the stroke of midnight of Old Year's Day, while the SS Poseidon's crew and many of her passengers almost in drunken stupor celebrated the dawn of a new year, news came to the bridge that a submarine-earthquake-triggered tsunami was headed straight for the ship. Frantically the captain ordered evasive action. Alas! It was too late! The massive wave hit and capsized the good vessel, fittingly in the process drowning the foolhardy captain.

What followed next is of immense interest to us, for, in a world suddenly turned upside down through the incompetence of another, personalities of different classes, mindsets, personalities, persuasions and races, were forced to unite to save themselves from being swallowed up by a eagerly-awaiting watery grave. Acts of heroism then become the order of the day. Several of the initial survivors selflessly sacrifice the ultimate in order that the lives of others may be saved. In the end, only six intrepid ones escape to tell the tale.

That, in a nutshell, it how the storyline of The Poseidon Adventure goes. It's a storyline being spun for Trinidad and Tobago even as my fingers dance across the keyboard. Those who learn from history are those who plan and benefit best from their learning. The earthquake has already occurred...it struck on January 24th 2010...its tremors brought the then captain of the United National Congress (UNC) tumbling to the dirt...its aftershock did the same to Manning-led administration. The consequent tsunami shall hit come May 24th 2010. How it impacts upon the good ship SS Trinidad and Tobago and all aboard, my people, depends squarely upon the decision you make.

First, reflect carefully upon the lyrics of The Poseidon's Adventure's theme song, then decide:

The Morning After
Composed by All Kasha and Joel Hirshhorn
Sung by Maureen McGovern
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bcLazPauA1c)

There's got to be a morning after
If we can hold on through the night
We have a chance to find the sunshine
Let's keep on looking for the light

Oh, can't you see the morning after
It's waiting right outside the storm
Why don't we cross the bridge together
And find a place that's safe and warm

It's not too late, we should be giving
Only with love can we climb
It's not too late, not while we're living
Let's put our hands out in time

There's got to be a morning after
We're moving closer to the shore
I know we'll be there by tomorrow
And we'll escape the darkness
We won't be searching any more

There's got to be a morning after
(There's got to be a morning after)
There's got to be a morning after
(There's got to be a morning after)
There's got to be a morning after
(There's got to be a morning after)
There's got to be a morning after
(There's got to be a morning after)
There's got to be a morning after

If the passengers and crew of the SS Trinidad and Tobago make the right decision, then the morning after this is what local journals shall proclaim:

"...We have a chance to find the sunshine
Let's keep on looking for the light..."

Warning! Democracy ahead!

2010-04-30T06:49:00.002-04:00

In a democracy, the voice of the people prevails. It took many years, but, eventually, last January 24th, the United National Congress [UNC] broke free of its chrysalis and became a truly democratic institution. That's why Kamla Persad-Bissessar is where she is and someone else is not any longer there. That change was brought about because a small group realized and determined that for the UNC truly to be democratic, its actions must match its deeds. Thus, the change was initiated by the actions of a few ---principally: Austin Jack Warner, Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj and Winston "Gypsy" Peters. And so is the case with all popular movements ---a few enlightened take the first steps, then, by dint of their constant effort over time, a ripple becomes a swell, then, a wave. But, as with all popular movements, if they are to be successful, sooner rather than later a definite personage must be identified in whom all leadership hopes are vested. The singular quality that leader must possess is charisma. And if such a charismatic leader also possesses the required dexterity, then she would easily be able to whip the breaker into a catalytic tsunami before bringing it ashore. That's why Kamla Persad-Bissessar is where she is and someone else is not any longer there; and why, soon enough, another person, too, no longer would be. when the last-mentioned event occurs, the whole of Trinidad and Tobago would at last be what UNC became last January 24th. May 24th 2010, therefore, is the easy part, almost a foregone conclusion. What happens beyond then will depend upon how entrenched the tsunamic democracy afterwards becomes.

The qualities that the next government must possess.

2010-04-27T07:42:00.000-04:00

In the civil engineering field, sometimes one encounters individuals, who, professing to be tradesmen, present themselves for employment. From their all outward appearances, the individuals of whom I speak are tradesmen, for they come possessed of a full kit of the appropriate tools

and are further armed with satisfactory referrals.

Alas! It's only after they are hired, after they are given specific tasks to perform, that, in short order, they are found out for what really they are ---imposters: they don't even know how to hold a hammer or a trowel, what for is a mitre square or spirit level, or how to fabricate and install a batter board or profile.

Unfailingly, in short order, they are fired, or relegated to labourer status, lest they wreak carnage and disruption on the project site. Sometimes, the knowledgeable workers on the site themselves band together and run the imposters out of town. On the rare occasion ---very rare--- the imposters themselves are overcome with guilt ---after receiving a constant barrage of ridicule from their co-workers over their incompetence--- and they quit of their own volition.

The analogy is applicable to us, the people, in the present general election season, for, come May 24th 2010, we have to make sure we hire the right ones to undertake the task of halting the nationwide rot by voting into office persons who not merely have the tools, but, moreso, the demonstrable skill and will effectively to wield those tools to get the job properly done.

Time shall tell, then, whether we, the people, can learn as well as I did, from what sometimes occurs in the civil engineering business...I hope and pray time does.

NE TIMEAMUS LOQUARE,

2010-04-23T16:14:00.003-04:00

We are all familiar with the captioned dictum ---VOX POPULI VOX DEI. The language is Latin and, in English, it means: "The voice of the people is the voice of God!"

In dispensations purporting to be democratically-contrived/organized, "VOX POPULI VOX DEI" is oft embraced/repeated by politicians of the left, right, or centre, in their quests to maintain or obtain power. And, why not? For the import of equating "VOX POPULI" with "VOX DEI", as juxtaposed in the adage, suggests that when the majority have their say and are heeded, then all would be pleasing to the Heavens. In short, the prescribed sequence is that the people have first and last say.

Taking the above into consideration, regarding the agreements/deals being struck ---regarding the way to deal with the People's National Movement (PNM) in the upcoming Trinidad and Tobago General election--- the question I'd like answered, is: "CUIUS VOX PRIMUS LOQUAT ---whose voice has more weight? VOX DEI? Or, VOX POPULI?"

NE TIMEAMUS LOQUARE ---We, the people, must never be afraid to articulate our concerns! CREDEMUS ERGO SUMUS ---We reflect on things, therefore we are!