Very inspiring column, Dr Bratt
Copy
of letter sent to columnist Dr David Bratt:
I read your column all the time. As a matter of fact,
I read all the columns all the time. I have to say it’s
a long time I have not read something so nice and inspiring.
I look at what’s going on in my country and it’s
a shame.
The funny thing though is that these same Trinis who pollute
their own country come out here and have to abide by the
laws.
If a man is arrested in Trinidad for urinating on the
pavement or throwing garbage on the road, river, etc,
everybody will jump up and say, “Why the police ent
arrest the drug pushers and the real bandits and leave
the poor man alone.”
You see, we are a lawless people. We are indeed responsible
for everything that’s going on in Trinidad. The rich
ones feel they are above the law, the poor ones feel what
they do is not a big enough crime, and so we go on and
on with no end in sight.
I don’t blame the police for the crime, it would
be wrong to do that. I don’t think any government
will make a difference in what’s going on either.
When the UNC was in power there was crime—and corruption.
Look how many UNC people are in court. The PNM takes over
and there is more crime.
Until we as Trinidadians and Tobagonians take responsibility
for our own actions, we will continue to go downhill.
But why do that when it is easier to just blame someone
else? And that is usually the government of the day.
We have people in high places making irresponsible remarks,
most of the time without merit, and they don’t have
to take any responsibility for saying it.
Gemma
Garcia
Toronto
Via e-mail
Is US now in charge of T&T?
Has
the US been given the responsibility of governing T&T?
In looking for the answer I am sending this open letter
to the Prime Minister, the Minister of National Security,
the Attorney General of T&T?
I read in the newspapers of August 23 that a number of
our citizens was denied passage on a flight from Trinidad
to Tobago. If I am correct, T&T is a unitary state
and as such travel from one part of the State to another
is domestic or internal.
Why therefore should a citizen of this country, or for
that matter any bona fide visitor, wishing to travel within
our country require permission from the American authorities
to do so?
I am advised that the aircraft used in ferrying these
people is one leased from an American company and hence
the reason. This company is contracted by the T&T
Government at a cost that I am reasonably sure is payable
in US currency. It must therefore be made to understand
that if it wants to work for our government in our country
that it will have to operate by our laws.
Among those laws is that we can travel freely within the
State. If American law prevents any US company from operating
that way, I am confident there are companies not US-owned
that will be willing and able to provide the service.
Laws governing entry to an American country must be accepted
if one wants to go there. I fail to understand why as
citizens of an independent sovereign state we must accept
their conditions of travel in our land.
Peter
A Hackshaw
Blue Range
Diego Martin
Replace
Trinity Cross with oil rig
The
whole controversy of the Trinity Cross arose because of
the perception, mainly by non-Christians, that the award
was Christian in concept and that it was inappropriate,
in view of the multi-religious composition of the society,
for there to be a bias in favour of one religion. Whether
this is so or not, religious considerations form the basis
of this problem.
There is no earthly reason why religion should be associated
with national honours in a secular society. National awards
are given for outstanding service to nation, and should
have nothing to do with characteristics of an individual,
save that the individual has contributed outstanding service
to the nation.
Categories into which the person may be classified based
on race, colour, creed, social status, economic status
etc should be completely irrelevant.
The fashioning of an award to suit one’s religion,
whether Christian, Hindu, Muslim, Orisha, Jewish, Rastafarian
or whether atheist or agnostic should be out of the question.
The suggestion to have the Trinity Cross and a choice
of an alternative only serves to make needless distinctions
based on religion, when religion should have nothing to
do with national awards whatsoever.
Archbishop Gilbert states that his suggestion is in order
to preserve history. I can assure the archbishop that
the “discovery” of Trinidad and the rationale
which Columbus used to name this land after the concept
of the Holy Trinity constitute established historical
facts which do not require a Trinity Cross controversy
for their sustenance.
Religion is a good thing. However, inter-religious rivalry
is not. History is replete with the misery caused by inter-religious
conflict. Remember the Crusades, the wars between Christians
and Muslims centuries ago for purely religious reasons?
Inter-religious conflict persists up to this day, including
international terrorism.
We would be well advised to get rid of any semblance of
religion from our national awards, whether the association
between the Trinity Cross and religion is real or imagined,
for it only serves to further divide our people.
There is an endless source of names, motifs, images and
symbols that can be used without being controversial.
Metals, including precious metals, precious stones, places
of interest, indigenous flora and fauna and combinations
of these can be used to arrive at neutral names and images.
I am partial to an oil rig as a motif because of its symmetry
which lends itself to an attractive design. It also symbolises
the natural resource to which we owe much of our prosperity
and well-being. The “Black Gold” award, perhaps?
Leonard
Ragbir
San Fernando
Stadiums before houses for 2007
It never fails to amaze me how some islands, ie, Jamaica,
Grenada, T&T, etc, can allocate millions of US dollars
to refurbish, and in some cases build, facilities to play
cricket and we cannot afford to build houses for those
who need a roof over their heads.
World Cup Cricket 2007 will be a social success but a
financial failure.
The only profit centre is the administration involved
in jet-setting around the world and others contracted
for the duration.
Gary
Fitzwilliam
Diego Martin
Goodwood comes out for Dookeran
The
current political situation seems to be getting better
with the Winston Dookeran team making inroads into areas
which are not usually ventured by the UNC.
I was quite happy to attend the cottage meeting at Goodwood
Park recently. I must say that the gathering was quite
successful in that a lot of important issues were raised.
More meetings like this will definitely strengthen Dookeran’s
support base.
On that note, I must thank the UNC executive for relieving
Sadiq Baksh of his senatorial duties since it allowed
him more time to co-ordinate events such as this. Whilst
in the past I have silently supported the party, I am
now willing to come out in the forefront and attend more
meetings.
Jill
Scott
Westmoorings
Good job by insurance firm
Having
recently criticised the insurance company which administers
the compulsory group health plan for public officers,
I feel it is only fair that I now compliment it on the
speedy and equitable manner in which my claim was settled.
Having heard how the waiting period to process a claim
was months, and in the end one received next to nothing,
I was pleasantly surprised to have my claim settled within
the minimum waiting period and receiving what I consider
to be a fair refund.
I unequivocally compliment the staff at both the PSA office
and at M&M. Thank you, job well done. I hope that
I will not be the only satisfied customer.
Boswell
John
San Juan
