The Trinidad Guardian -Online Edition Ver 2.0

Health statistics in appalling state

Now, before we get to the chronic health situation, I need to get a few other matters out of the way first.

Madness awards

My first madness award must go to TSTT. They have a sales outlet in Trincity Mall that, wait for this, has no phone number the public can ring! So when I wanted to find out if they had any of the new phone books, I had to drive there, find a parking space and find the TSTT shop, only to be told they had none left!

Imagine a company dedicated to improving communications doesn’t have a phone you can ring!

Piarco madness again

My second madness award goes to Piarco Airport management, who put up a pamphlet holder with a survey form. Big notice saying something like, “We want your opinion ... please fill out and place completed form in the box provided.”

Yes, you guessed correctly... No box for collection.

Bomb Squad madness

And my third madness award goes to the Bomb Squad. A business colleague, who employs over 100 people in his factory, had put in place fire drills and even a plan in the event of a bomb warning.

So when the day came and a mysterious phone call said there was a bomb in the factory, he put his plan into place and everybody immediately left the building and assembled at the designated points.

Then when he called the Bomb Squad they told him, “You have to go in and see for yourself if there is a bomb, as the majority of calls are false and we don’t have time to worry ’bout that.”

How can we make 2020 with a 1920 Bomb Squad?

PM on track for 2020

One reader reminded me our Prime Minister has already achieved 2020 status in one area: 20 murders every 20 days.

PQT’s 2020 awards

My first 2020 award goes to Valerie Murphy-Rahman for very efficiently sorting out a bureaucratic mess at BWIA and doing the honourable thing and authorising a prompt refund for an overpayment. Now if BWIA only had a couple of hundred Valerie Murphy-Rahmans!

My second 2020 award is long overdue. There is a restaurant called Veni Mange on Ariapita Avenue, Port-of-Spain, which has demonstrated for years the importance of customer service, a prerequisite for 2020 status.

They have a marvellous team that works together like a well-oiled machine. Grill chef Natalie, chief cook Thora, desserts chef Diane and the front line personnel of Deliah, Aisha, Marsha and new arrival Christina.

Oh yes, there are two other people there, Allyson and Roses. No one is quite sure what they do, but they do it very well. I seriously suggest you go and try out their service for yourself. Second to none.

My third award goes to Mrs Farrell and Health Minister John Rahael for helping Noel Lochan. Notice that it took no less a person than the minister, over eight months, to organise a job for Noel in the Ministry of Health. And the Public Service of this country says it cares!

I forgive anyone for thinking public servants care only about themselves.

Back to the tables and graphs

I’m sorry, people, but I have to go back to the hard facts of life. Please don’t think I enjoy it. It is quite depressing sometimes. Take, for instance, Table 7 on page 241 of the latest UNDP Human Development Report. There is my country, Trinidad & Tobago, showing the following disgraceful statistics:

1. Access to an improved water source

In 1990, 92 per cent of the population had access to water. In 2002, it was 91 per cent. In 11 years we have gone backwards. In 1990, Barbados showed 100 per cent and in 2002, it is still 100 per cent. Even Grenada in 2002 had 95 per cent and St Lucia was 98 per cent.

2. Population undernourished

In 1990, 13 per cent of our people were undernourished and after two oil booms, it dropped by only one per cent to 12 per cent. Even Guyana next door, only had nine per cent of its population undernourished in 2002, down from 21 per cent in 1990. Do our leaders have no shame?

3. Children underweight for age

Between 1995 and 2003, seven per cent of our under-five-year-olds were underweight. In Barbados, it was one per cent for the same period, ie seven times as many children were underweight in T&T as Barbados and we have oil and gas!

4. Children under height for age

Between 1995 and 2003, no less than five per cent of our children were under the average height for their age. Yes, you guessed right.

5. Infants with low birth weight

Can you imagine this: between 1998 and 2003, 23 per cent of all infants born in this country were underweight. In Barbados it was seven per cent, and Grenada nine per cent, and St Lucia eight per cent and so on.

Now people, I am not making these figures up. They come from the United Nations. This is a small island.

Why don’t we find these people and find out why they are underweight/ short/undernourished and fix the problem!