Tuesday, January 31, 2012

PM says she did not authorise lease of surveillance aircraft

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar told reporters on Monday the cabinet did not authorise Police Commissioner Dwayne Gibbs to lease an aircraft to be used for surveillance. She added that the National Security Council, which she chairs, also did not give Gibbs the authorisation.

She explained that Gibbs was within his right to make “certain expenditures” without seeking approval from Cabinet or Parliament.

Persad-Bissessar spoke with the media in Debe following the formal commencement of work on the South Campus of the University of the West Indies (UWI).

PM Kamla Persad-Bissessar and Tertiary Education Minister Fazal Karim show off  a drawing of the new South Campus.
She said she has asked National Security Minister John Sandy to prepare a report on matter. The Opposition said in parliament last Friday the Zenith Air scout surveillance aircraft has been leased for 12 weeks $902,772.

Persad-Bissessar said: “I have absolutely no knowledge of that matter. It was never a matter which came to the Government or to the Cabinet and therefore the best person to answer would be the Commissioner of Police.

"I have asked the Minister of National Security to obtain a report about the matter, so I have no knowledge whatsoever, except what I read in the newspapers and heard in Parliament last Friday.”

She added, “As you know the Commissioner of Police is now much more than an accounting officer and my advice is like any permanent secretary and accounting officer he has the jurisdiction to make certain expenditures without seeking the approval of the National Security Council or of the Cabinet.

“I have asked Minister Sandy to obtain a report and only then can I comment on the matter. I knew nothing, as I say, of it, until the matter came out in Parliament and the papers.”

Persad-Bissessasr also dismissed opposition charges that she has been using a national security helicopter for travelling around the country.

“That is totally not true. The statements are false, mischievous and misleading. The chopper is used by myself and others from time-to-time. I didn’t come here with a chopper, did I?" she asked.

"This was really designed to bring the office into disrepute. The helicopters are there. They have been used, as they have been used in the past, by myself and other Ministers of Government."

She also denied that the government is refurbishing the aircraft to make them luxury helicopters.

"There was no work to upgrade the helicopter in anyway. They (the opposition) mentioned an icebox. I am advised that the icebox was purchased with the chopper when it was bought in 2004. We are now in 2012. These statements are totally false, misleading and very mischievous.”

Sandy expects full report from Gibbs on surveillance plane

At the request of Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, National Security Minister John Sandy has asked Commissioner of Police Dwayne Gibbs for a full account to the public of the procurement process. 

Sandy told reporters on Monday, “I am advised that aircraft was acquired on trial basis but I think the Commissioner of Police is best poised to answer that. 

“I was told it was based on a 12-week trial basis.” Sandy added. “I suspect very much, based on how that trial period goes they would determine whether they want to acquire it or not.”

Sandy explained that he could not provide media with more information because he did not have details of the transaction, which was not authorised by cabinet or the national security council.

“This was done by the accounting officers of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service through the Commissioner,” he said.

“It’s a public matter. Depending on the nature of the aircraft there may be some elements you may not want to share but definitely, with respect to the procurement aspect, if it is above aboard then by all means,” he added.

Rowley wants probe into lease of aircraft

Keith Rowley has written the chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC) asking Ramesh Deosaran to investigate the conduct of Police commissioner Dwayne Gibbs and Deputy Commissioner Jack Ewatski in the award of a contract for a surveillance aircraft.

Rowley claimed that the firm providing the service is a "fly by night" company.

The Opposition Leader raised the issue Monday at his regular weekly media briefing at which he showed reporters documents which he claimed was proof that another company provided a lower bid than the company that got the contract. 
One of the letters was dated October 6, 2010 to Gibbs from Eddie Dallsingh, managing director of Navi-Comm Avionics Ltd.

Dallsingh's letter asked Gibbs to make a presentation to demonstrate that  Navi-Comm could help in the fight against crime by providing a light sport aircraft to the police at a cost of US$35 an hour (TT$224).

Rowley said Gibbs sent a reply dated December 31, 2010, Gibbs suggesting that Dallsingh send his proposal the permanent secretary in the Ministry of 
National Security.

Rowley also produced what he said was a certified copy of notice of change of directors of the Trinidad and Tobago Air Support Co Ltd. showing Daniel Condon, Dirk Barnes and Kevon Stafford listed as the directors. Rowley said the company was formed in July 2011.

Rowley produced what he said was a letter of intent that Gibbs sent to Barnes thanking the company for its interest in providing a "unique" service to the police. The contract was for US$140,400,000 (TT$902,772,000) for a pilot project for 720 hours over a 12-week period.

The contract, Rowley said, was signed by Barnes on Boxing Day and by Gibbs three days later.

"The conduct of officers who should protect the public purse and in fact who should call into question the conduct of other people, their own conduct is now a matter of concern to us," Rowley stated.

"Today I am sending this entire file in my possession to the Police Service Commission, where they will examine the conduct of the Commissioner of Police and the deputy Commissioner of Police in this matter," he added.

"They will then determine whether the conduct is the kind that poses no threat to the people of this country," he added.

Work begins on Debe campus of UWI; PM Kamla pledges to continue to deliver on promises


(Click on link to watch a video presentation of the proposed Debe campus of UWI)


Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar said on Monday the South campus of the University of the West Indies in Debe will boost the government’s thrust in education and create new opportunities for people in the vicinity of the 200 acre campus.

She noted that since her Government took office 20 months ago the focus has been on reaching 60 per cent tertiary enrolment. It now stands at 42 per cent.

“We have continued on the path of transformation of our education sector – from nursery to tertiary - recognizing the need for expanding access to meet the growing demand for sound education not only here at home but all over the world,” she said.

Persad-Bissessar was speaking at an event to mark the formal start of construction of the South campus in Debe.

She said over 53,000 students are currently enrolled in both public and private tertiary level institutions, with many of them getting financial assistance from the expanded GATE Programme. There are another 75,000 in vocational and skills training system and the over 200,000 students in primary and secondary schools, she said.

“The steps we build here today and the foundations we lay are just an example of the increasingly crucial role that we see education can play in improving the lives of people everywhere…

“This University Campus will also continue to play a vital role in defining new boundaries. It must seek to offer a vast research base to develop a fresh new workforce, promote goodwill among its alumni and the ability to objectively look at disparate views, and ensure a deep commitment to local communities,” she said.

The Prime Minister stressed that education is the single best tool to grow out of poverty and noted that the campus is just one component of the expanding infrastructure to which her government is committed.

She said the highway from Golconda to Point Fortin is expected to significantly increase opportunities for creating new market spaces in the south-western peninsula.

“With infrastructure such as port facilities, the close proximity to low cost power, and a cluster development with great opportunities for expansion, the possibilities are limitless, this University Campus must respond to the needs of the community,” she said.

“Improving our infrastructure, such as this campus and the highway project are linked and are intended to not only support investment but cohesively stimulate economic growth, build human capacity and continue to develop opportunities for non-energy sector growth.

“It is also our duty to furnish our students with an attractive and diverse range of programmes that meet local demands and international standards. The time has come for us to orchestrate a paradigm shift that will reduce our nation’s dependency at this time of our Independence,” Persad-Bissessar added.

She also spoke about a Technical Cooperation Agreement for Education with the Government of India, which will promote academic activity in Higher Education in the fields of science and technology, information and communication technologies, technical and vocational education and training and “very importantly – research and innovation.”

She said student and faculty exchanges and the development of new programmes will begin as early as September 2012.

Indian public sector officials are soon expected to visit Trinidad & Tobago to work with ministries and institutions in developing and reviewing policies and implementing areas of strategic need.

“Support will also be given to developing links to over 1500 institutional nodes through the Indian National Knowledge Network. Such connectivity will link us to India’s largest educational databases which will strengthen our intellectual base and knowledge capacity, and support the building of our own a local National Knowledge Network.

“I am also advised that some 250 programmes have been made available to the UTT for use freely by the public through the India’s National Programme on Technology Enhanced Learning (NP-TEL).

“Other areas of strategic linkages have been in the areas of renewable energy, petroleum, science, engineering, faculty development, business incubators, laboratory facilities, film and the arts,” Persad-Bissessar said.

She also took note of her critics. “We were chastised when we went to India, to Brazil, when we dedicated this land for the campus, and as it has become the norm of my colleagues in the opposition, they will continue to chastise us in unthinkable ways,” she said.

“Little do they realize the challenges we face today such as in completing projects like our Universities and other Infrastructural works are due to the wanton waste of public funds, from the still unoccupied estates to the extravagant executive offices.

“This Government continues to make do with little - developing infrastructure, building highways, schools and universities, and converting our vision into reality, one project at a time, so that the people of Trinidad and Tobago can have a more prosperous life.

“I say again, this has been our commitment to you and we will continue to deliver on our promise.”

She said in the coming months she plans to unveil the Integrated Campus in Tobago where a number of higher education institutions will co-exist.

Hotelier Rajiv Shandilya is new chairman of Tourist Board

Tourism Minister Dr Rupert Griffith poses with TDC's new chairman and Deputy chair
Tourism Minister Dr Rupert Griffith formally installed members of a new board for the Tourism Development company (TDC).

The Chief Executive Officer of the Chancellor Hotel and Conference Centre, Rajiv Omah-Maharaj Shandilya is the chairman. The deputy chair is Miss Universe 1977, Janelle Penny Commissiong-Chow.

Other board members are:

  • Carol Ann Birchwood James
  • Cheryl Dubay-Tewarie
  • Clyde H. Adams
  • Dr Allan Bachan
  • Dyanand Maharaj
  • Ferosza Khan-Abdul
  • Premanand Badalloo
  • Ryan D’Arcy
  • Sasha Balkara
  • Vindra Amar
Tourism Minister, Rupert Griffith said he expects the board to ensure the continuous upgrade and consistent maintenance of the country’s tourism products with accountability and transparency in all transactions.

He said members were carefully selected to include competent individuals who are experienced in the areas of sales and marketing, finance and project management, as well as tourism and hospitality.

“Some of the new board members are also the owners and operators of highly successful award winning businesses. This synergy of skills set is critical to the effective and efficient operations of TDC, and will allow much-needed changes to be made,” he said.

The minister urged the board to forge strong public-private relationships and work closely with the Tobago House of Assembly and other tourism stakeholders.

Griffith offered the board some guidelines. “We must use our creative talents—such as our music and gifted sportsmen and women, artists and world celebrities—to raise our profile internationally and promote Trinidad and Tobago as a tourism destination,” he said.

He also called for more effective use of the country’s overseas missions and six overseas marketing representatives in the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, Canada, Scandinavia and India.

Shandilya pledged to uphold the mandate of the board. “We have to ensure that TT is known, no longer want to be a secret, we need to use the instruments the world has provided us especially in terms of ICT,” he said.

The government has developed a 15-Month Tourism Action Plan, which is one of a series of initiatives to revitalise Trinidad and Tobago’s tourism industry. The details of the plan will be revealed in the first quarter of next year.

SWRHA investigating why ambulance refused to help mother and dying baby

Stacy Simon
The South West Regional Health Authority (SWRHA) said on Monday it is investigating reports that two Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) refused to transport a dying child to the San Fernando General Hospital last Friday.

The boy, 21-month-old Akhail Simon, was pronounced dead on arrival at hospital.

The Chief Executive Officer of the authority Dr. Anil Gosine said, "I would have to do further investigations on our side to see what really happened there. I need to find out what took place."

Stacy Simon reported that an personnel in an ambulance attached to the SWRHA refused to take her and her child to the hospital. She said when she waved the ambulance to a stop in La Romaine there was room to take her and her baby to hospital.

Simon added that a patient on a stretcher and two women were seated in the rear of the ambulance. Gosine told reporters the driver cannot make the decision on who to pick up.

Health Minister Dr Fuad Khan said on Sunday he is "disgusted" about what he called "the inhumane behaviour" of the healthcare technicians who refused to provide assistance to the mother and child.

A report in the Express newspaper Tuesday said Simon's baby was already dead when a doctors at the Gulf View Medical Centre saw the infant. The paper quoted the doctor as saying that he was seeing another patient when the mother and child came to the office without an appointment.

"There were no signs of any activity. The pupils were dilated. Yes, I told her take him to the emergency of the San Fernando Hospital," the Express quoted the doctor as saying, noting the the person asked not to be identified.

The paper said when it asked why the child was referred to the hospital if was dead the doctor offered this explanation:


"Because it becomes a DMO (District Medical Officer) case, where you need to do post-mortem, an autopsy. And that could not be handled in private settings.

"In that sort of situation we usually have to send them to the hospital to get an autopsy, (to find out) what is the cause of death. In a private setting you cannot do that. In private setting usually the District Medical Officer becomes involved. So in private setting you cannot organise that. Let's put it this way."

The doctor also offered an explanation to the paper about why he didn't request an ambulance: "There was a gentleman who brought the baby and I thought he was the one to be carrying the baby across. And he did not object. I automatically thought there was transport. So as soon as I said that they came out of office. Immediately I told them they have to get the baby to the Casualty and they left office immediately."

The paper said Stacy Simon said the doctor did not tell her the child was dead, only that she should take him to the hospital. The Express quoted her as saying, "The doctor used the stethoscope and listened to the baby's chest and heart. He didn't try to do anything, no medicine or anything. He just shook his head to the assistant. He then told us to take the child to Casualty."

Jack to visit protesters in PM's constituency

Works Minister Jack Warner is expected to visit an area in Penal Rock road that has been blocked off by protesters who want immediate action to repair the roads and deal with flooding and drainage problems.

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar said Monday she will find out the nature of the problem and do whatever is possible to help correct them.

The residents uprooted trees and set tyres ablaze on the roadway at different locations along a stretch of road, blocking commuters from getting through.

A spokesman told media councillors of the Penal/Debe Regional Corporation and the Ministry of Works have refused to attend to the problems. "They don’t care about us. We love the Prime Minister but she doing nothing for us. She fixing everywhere else in the country, but she forsaking her own people,” the spokesman told reporters.

The group insisted that the protests will continue until Persad-Bissessar or Warner visit the area.

Letter: Serious questions remain about national security

In four months, the People’s Partnership Government would have served two years in office. It has been an eventful two years marked by missteps as well as great successes. 

The main problem for the government remains the control over the crime situation. According to the Police, the murders that are taking place are “hits”, targeted assassinations. Be that as it may, it is disconcerting to the population who want firm action on this matter.

It appears that the Police have dropped their hands since the end of the SoE. They continue to flounder with respect to intelligence gathering and as well targeted strategies into areas where the majority of murders are taking place. 

One is left to wonder why certain strategies announced prior to the end of the SoE have not been implemented. For example, the precepting of Regimental Police so that when the army is out on “confidence patrols” there can be arrests and searches. Secondly, why has the army not set up camps in “high risk” areas?

The people cannot continue to suffer if there are disputes between the army and the Police over so described territory. The fact is that the Police are woefully inadequate in the drive against crime. By no stretch of the imagination is 37 murders in 30 days acceptable. 

In fact it is an indictment on the performance of the Police and the Commissioner who should be given the “pink slip.” 

In this country we take too long to make critical decisions and allow Rome to be burnt while we party and procrastinate. The Police remain uninspired by Commissioner Gibbs and in addition there appears a strong resentment against having a foreigner as Commissioner. 

In this regard too, Professor Ramesh Deosaran has been tardy in the evaluation of the Commissioner and therefore is indirectly contributing to the chaotic state of affairs. 

This is one area that requires reform. The Police Service Commission must do its work with greater speed since that represent the interests of the people of the country. Or is it that Professor Deosaran has suddenly gotten flat footed.

In the midst of this, hard questions must also be asked of the Minister of National Security with whom ultimate responsibility for crime resides. The Prime Minister is duty bound to ascertain from the Minister of National Security as to why the spike in murders and what is being done. 

It appears that it is business as usual after the SoE. The real issue seems to be that the Minister is not calling people to account for their performance. So too Professor Deosaran seems to lack the courage to deal with what the public has concluded as poor performance on the part of the Police Commissioner.

Politically, the failure to resolve the negotiations for the wages and salaries of Police Officers has left the Police Officers demoralized and frustrated. To what extent the non-resolution of this wage and salary dispute is a deliberate ploy on the part of Anand Ramessar and his Executive remains to be seen. 
However, it is becoming manifestly clear that there are no serious attempts by the Police Executive to solve the negotiations. 

This leads one to believe that there is a deliberate attempt by the Executive to put the country at risk in terms of security. The government must take note of this and send the matter to the tribunal. The government must not allow the people to live under conditions of insecurity.

Finally since last year, the Ministry of Works built spaces for Police vehicles on the Highway. I have not seen one vehicle placed there for almost one year. The Minister of National Security must account for this.

Arjun M. Persad |Lengua, Barrackpore

Guest column: Reassemble fragments of society - by Ira Mathur

“Break a vase, and the love that reassembles the fragments is stronger than that love which took its symmetry for granted when it was whole.”
—Derek Walcott

After last week’s column in which I supported the gesture of the PM touching the feet of the Indian president as a symbol of humility and service—values we need to grow every sector in this country, from tourism to finance—I was told in one of the online responses to “go home”, and in another, to “go back to India.” 


After more than 17 years of writing a column, it’s easy to read signs of distress. When people lash out, almost 90 per cent of the time it’s because they feel bad about themselves. 

I supported the gesture since I felt secure that the Indian President didn’t threaten our sovereignty, and because our society is forgetting what it meant to be human. This is not a subtle point. The daily murder rate, and the shocking number of road fatalities point to this.

The most chilling thought is that the average murderer, whether he bashes a six-year-old child to death, or shoots an 18-year-old dead, or kills innocent people on the road with reckless driving, is sadly, and indelibly a part of the psyche of what makes you and me. 

The colonisers stripped us down to our skin. When we were stripped of family, language and country we grew a tough skin. Emptied of empathy we turned brute. 

I saw this in Israel/Palestine, during an intifada. I asked soldiers how, after going through the holocaust, could they justify occupying the homeland of the Palistinians. They hugged their gun and said: “Nobody was going to do that to them again.” They kill in the name of the past hurt, unable to get past the memory of the wound.

Our music reflects this rawness and we see it at Carnival. Our soca, chutney is copycat, stunted, devoid of lyricism, simplistic, (often with a “tune” from a nursery rhyme) with poor language and literacy skills. 

The aggression is not limited to men toting guns. It’s everyday fare in neglected rural Trinidad, with the highest rates of illiteracy in the country. 

I saw this, as I have repeatedly over the years, at a “function” last weekend. 

The point of the whole celebratory event is not participatory but a spectator show where the host invites many people to make speeches praising him, and ends up by praising himself. 

There were a sprinkling of ministers, glittery religious symbols, and much talk about God, the waiting food and the hungry guests. One minister gave a good speech towards the end. 

It’s a pity because by then many people, hungry and bored, had nodded off. He said that God is the same for everyone, but the religion and ritual we use, our world view depends on history, where we were born and how we grew up.

This applies to everything. Our circumstances dictate our behaviour. Before the meal was served the host asked if guests could help assemble the tables “and put the flower arrangements on them.” 

(If this doesn’t show lack of socialisation I don’t know what does. You invite people, you make them listen to your greatness for three hours, then you get them to assemble your tables, put on your tablecloths, add a flower arrangement and then sit down. Even a beggar girl, in some remote mountain hilltop in any old country, knows that she needs to serve her guest, to make him or her sit and eat). 

As I was leaving I went to thank the host whom I have known for many years—formal and distant relationship—and he said to me: “Gyul, I readin all your articles and tinkin, that bitch real like to travel yes!”

You call a guest who thanks you a bitch. My first reaction was shock. My second was to wish VS Naipaul could have written about this because he would have done it so much better. My third was, I wonder if he was aware, despite all the God talk, of his ancestral culture of India where guests are welcomed, treated like God, where people would rather starve than see someone go away hungry and where one wouldn’t ever dream of insulting someone in your own house. 

And finally, I saw for myself just how unsocialised he was. He literally didn’t know better. He was someone his village looked up to. Now the stories of illiteracy, incest, alcoholism made sense. The murders and road deaths throughout the country made sense. The neglect of books, manners, literacy, art, music, a civic sense, curiosity, became a monster with whom we haven’t grappled. 

A friend explained with the proverb that “a fish rots from the head down,” meaning when a State fails it is the leadership that is the root cause. We need to start the socialising process, reassemble the fragments in schools, at home, in offices, to create a second skin that is more human, less brute.

Monday, January 30, 2012

Khan promises "harsh action" after ambulance personnel refuse to help woman and dying child

File
Health Minister Dr Fuad Khan is "disgusted" about what he described as "inhumane behaviour" of emergency medical personnel who refused to help a mother and her 21-month-old baby, citing corporate policy.

In a media statement, the minister promised "harsh decisions".

He was reacting to a report that Stacy Simon tried without success to get the technicians to take her and her dying baby to the San Fernando General Hospital. Baby Akeel Simon, who had Down's Syndrome, was pronounced dead on arrival at the hospital.

According to reports on the matter Simon's child, who had three holes in his heart and an enlarged liver, contracted high fever last Friday, the day of her scheduled clinic visit at the hospital.

The car in which the Erin woman and her child were travelling broke down and she managed to get another vehicle that became stuck in heavy traffic. She saw an ambulance approaching and asked for help to get her and the child to the hospital.

However the woman said two persons in the ambulance told her it was against policy to help persons like her on the road.

An angry Khan told the Express newspaper: "What foolish policy are they talking about? It is obvious that no human feelings existed in these EMT's. An ambulance is an ambulance, they are supposed to help," he declared.

Dr Anil Gosine, chief executive officer of the South West Regional Health Authority (SWRHA), agreed with the minister. 


However he stated there is an unwritten policy that restricts what the ambulance personnel can do. he said RHA ambulances could only transport patients from one medical facility to another since they are not equipped to treat emergency cases or provide medical treatment on the side of the road.

"Whenever we have to transport someone, then we equip the ambulance. In this case with the mother and her child it could be that the ambulance did not have a medical person on board and did not have the equipment to deal with the case," he said. 

"And if something happens to someone during transport it opens us to litigation. But if we need to now handle those situations then there needs to be a policy change," he said.

Media reports on another incident suggest negligence on the part of ambulance personnel.

The reports, which the Express said were corroborated by people at the San fernando General Hospital, stated that when former Prime Minister Patrick Manning suffered a stroke one week ago it was a Fire Service ambulance that took him to the hospital because the driver of the Emergency Health Service (EHS) ambulance belonging to the Global Medical Response of Trinidad and Tobago (GMRTT) could not find Manning's residence at Sumadh Gardens, Vistabella.

The paper said officers from the Mon Repos Fire Station confirmed that an ambulance arrived at Manning's residence at approximately 9.10 p.m. on Monday, and took him to hospital.

It was not us, ambulance company says

Global Medical Response of Trinidad and Tobago Ltd (GMRTT) issued a media release Sunday it which it denied "the recently reported and erroneous reports that its ambulance service address failed and/or refused to render assistance to a young mother whose critically-ill son needed assistance."

The release stated: "GMRTT first learned of this incident through reports in the media and it wishes to express its regret for such an incident having taken place."

The company said of learning of the report it conducted "a complete and aggressive investigation" to determine if GMRTT personnel were involved in any manner whatsoever.

"The investigation included a search of our sophisticated Computer Aided Dispatch system that creates a traceable archive of all activities of all resources in our service. It was conclusively determined that no such incident occurred involving GMRTT," the release said.

It continued, "Based on the gravity of this incident and our determination to comprehensively deal with the allegations, we further researched all activities of all ambulances, as recorded by our Global Position Satellite (GPS) vehicle tracking system; this system allows our investigators to 'play back' all vehicle movements and to retrace vehicle motions on a digital map.

"Additionally, we queried all staff members who may have been in the proximity of this incident while managing other citizen emergencies. Our investigation firmly concludes that the ambulance seen by Miss Simon was not one operated by GMRTT. The ambulance personnel with whom she spoke were not GMRTT Emergency Medical Technicians," the release said.

"GMRTT assures the national community that we have no policy that would inhibit or prevent GMRTT personnel from rendering assistance to any citizen experiencing any medical emergency. 


"Such a notion goes against our core organisational mission and the very purpose of our company and our care providers.

"We wish to state that the reports which have alleged that GMRTT was at fault for this incident is totally untrue and we categorically deny any wrongdoing or involvement in the incident. It is quite possible that Miss Simon dealt with another ambulance service provider and not GMRTT.

"We express sincere condolences to Miss Simon and the family of Akeel Simon and wish to assure the national community of the continued commitment of GMRTT to server each and every member of the national community."

Indian diplomat says T&T must revive Hindi

Indian High Commissioner to Trinidad & Tobago, Malay Mishra, said on Sunday now is the time to revive the Hindi language in the country.

He was speaking at a function to mark World Hindi Day, which is normally observed on January 10. It was postponed because Misra was out of the country, accompanying Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar on her state visit to India.

Hindi was brought to Trinidad by the ancestors of nearly half of the population of the country. However over the years a lack of interest and a western culture caused it to lose appeal.

The Indian High Commission has been helping re-establish Hindi and offers classes for anyone who wants to learn it.

Noting that India is the ancestral home of many citizens of Trinidad & Tobago, the diplomat noted that it is the language of "your ancestors who came from that land where your grandparents or great grandparents over three or four generations were speaking in Hindi."

He asked, "Why should that not be revived here again ? Why should we not make an effort?"

Mishra said Hindi is not a difficult language to learn. He said if people can learn and understand foreign languages such as Spanish and French, there is no reason why Hindi which, he said, is the language of their culture could not be learnt.

"Please understand that Hindi is not a foreign language for any of you. Hindi is your language. It was an integral part of your culture then and it is an integral part of your culture now. 

"Trinidad and Tobago is primarily a diaspora country and the recent State visit of the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago to India has marked a new chapter in our bilateral relations."

Mishra said people in India connected with PM Persad-Bissessar in a way that they may not have were she the head of state of a country like France, the United Kingdom or the United States.

"It is because of the roots of the Prime Minister that found an instant connect with the Indian media. She just swept the Indian media unlike anybody else has ever done before. 

"Wherever she went she has been the darling of the media. Today Trinidad and Tobago and Kamla Persad-Bissessar are household names in India and the simple reason was because of this connect," Misra said.

He said the connection would have been even stronger, especially in Persad-Bissessar's ancestral village, if she had been able to speak to the people in Hindi.

Commentary: So what's wrong with a welfare state?

Some critics of Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar are slamming her for "creating a welfare state" with her announcement of water, electricity and transportation subsidies for pensioners and other qualified citizens.

Before we create the impression that "welfare state" is a bad word or something retrograde, let's understand the system.

By definition it is:
"A social system whereby the state assumes primary responsibility for the welfare of its citizens, as in matters of health care, education, employment, and social security."

PM Kamla Persad-Bissessar hands out keys for state housing
In that context Trinidad & Tobago has always been a welfare state and there is nothing fundamentally wrong with it. Canada is also a welfare state.

What is wrong is when we have a citizenry that becomes so dependent on the state that people refuse to be productive.

Trinidad & Tobago has not gone the route of Canada in developing a full welfare state, although in areas such as education it has surpassed Canada. Successive governments going back to Eric Williams have been making efforts to improve the welfare of citizens.

Kamla and the People's Partnership are moving the process ahead and doing it quicker that their predecessor administrations because of their approach to fiscal management. In other words they are finding ways to make their dollars work harder for more people.

So giving free electricity and water to certain people might ostensibly put an additional financial burden on the state and its taxpayers. But that is not necessarily so.

Kamla operates on the premise that managing the state must be done with the same care and accountability as running a home. You look after everybody and spread the resources to ensure that no one is left out.

By the very definition above Trinidad & Tobago is a well developed welfare state, looking after the healthcare, education, employment and social security of its people.

I would argue that it needs to develop the system even further to provide state-managed employment insurance, state pensions and a financial support system for people who need the help. It must go beyond what NIS now offers. And it needs to fine tune some of what it does to make it more effective.

In health for example, Trinidad & Tobago offers free services, but only at the hospitals and health centres. It means a mother with a sick child might have to wait hours to see a doctor at a public institution or pay a hefty fee at a private clinic to see a doctor. Compare that with Canada where the state regulates the fees that doctors charge and pays doctors directly for service provided to anyone.

If you need a doctor you go the clinic and he or she bills the government for it. Doctors are taxed at source and that generates revenue to help pay for the system. In Trinidad & Tobago you have to pay for every visit and I would wager that there are very few doctors who are honest about their revenues in paying taxes.

Further, Canada has a single tiered system, which means that the state pays for doctors' visits, hospital care, and a host of other health services. It is illegal to have a private hospital unless that hospital operates within the rules of the Canada Health Act and the state pays the bills.

In Trinidad & Tobago many doctors undermine the health care system because they encourage patients to use private facilities - and pay thousands - when the public system is just as good. I have had angioplasty in Toronto without paying one penny; my brother in Trinidad paid TT$100,000 for the same service. In principle it should be free in T&T too, but the two-tiered system allows the double standards and exploitation where doctors malign the public system for their own benefit.

Every system is the world will be exploited by some. However, with proper planning and management the welfare state is affordable and creates a better society in which people are treated fairly and equitably.

It works well within a capitalist system too, so the private sector and the corporations need not fear the term "welfare state". In fact, such a system provides welcome support to everyone, even the rich and famous.

There's no need for anyone to apologise for creating support systems for those who need them. That's what Kamla promised and that's what she is doing. God speed to her and her team!

Jai Parasram - 30 January 2012


Rambachan congratulates UNC Youth Arm for vision, hard work

Everyday, our great party, the United National Congress continues to grow stronger and stronger. 

This is due to the hard work that individuals like Nicholas Morris and members of the Youth Arm of the Party continue to carry out. It is my view that all members of the party should continue to support and encourage the youths as by their hard work they are demonstrating that change comes about through vision and action. 
UNC National Youth Arm President Nicholas Morris presents a computer to a family in keeping with its Computer Policy to bridge the digital divide and encourage Human Development.
It is clear that they are complementing the work of the government. The work of the youth group deserves high commendation and gives a lie to the belief that youths are not interested in politics and in service to the nation.

I have noted with admiration that the youths of the UNC are walking districts meeting other youths and inspiring them to join in creating the change. 

In the words of Nicholas Morris “My vision for the Youth Arm and all who may seek to join is very simple, the Youth Arm must be the body which brings youth of this nation together despite race, religion and backgrounds to use their respective talents to benefit our nation and the beautiful diverse people who call Trinidad and Tobago home.” With such a lofty and focussed vision Mr Morris and the Youth Arm are bound to succeed.

The Youth Arm as well as seeking to build our nation is also demonstrating that they are committed to building the youths themselves as they prepare to be future leaders within our country and even global community.

For the Year 2012 The UNC YOUTH ARM have hit the ground running and have already launched three major projects:

1. Feeding the homeless - On January 7th members of the National Youth Arm launched a program to feed the Homeless individuals of Chaguanas. They plan to make this a monthly project where they will feed the various homeless people throughout our nation and extend it to geriatric homes and orphanages.

2. They launched in collaboration with the Women ‘s Arm a Walkabout which has seen them in the past month walk areas of Chaguanus, San Fernando, Princes Town , Siparia, Oropuche West and Sangre Grande.

3. In January they launched their Councillor’s Appreciation Project, where the National Youth Arm awarded all UNC Local Government Councillors with tokens of appreciation for their hard work. From this they hope to build a working relationship so they can have a closer link with all communities.

4. Membership Drive – They have recorded over 120 new members for 2012 into the National Youth Arm and Party.

In February they will be starting a Youth Talk show on Radio Jagriti to promote the party's leadership, governance and defend as well as promote their hard work entitled "Voice of the Youth". This will be followed by a Magazine Launch in March also entitled "Voice of the Youth"

In February they will also launch their Legal Clinic at Rienzi where the young lawyers of the youth arm will be offering pro bono work to members of the public.

Their projects launched in the past year of 2011 included: 
  • A Student Outreach Program which saw 60 less fortunate children receive school bags and textbooks for the reopening of school 2011 
  • A Computer Program which was aimed at providing poor families with computers. Since it began on October 11th 2011, they have provided 5 families with computers
  • Creation of a Culture Policy so as to reach out to the diverse groups which exist in our society, such as for Eid when they visited over 15 Mosques and presented gifts to the Imams while the same was done for Divali
  • Carried out Constituency Tours which served as Youth Consultations including visits to Laventille and Diego Martin
  • Distributed over 320 toys to poor children for Christmas 
This is indeed an impressive set of achievements worthy of congratulations and commendations. The leadership of Mr Morris and the work of the Youth Arm of the UNC make us the members of the UNC proud of them.

Surujrattan Rambachan | Deputy Political Leader, United National Congress

Guest column: Water For All by Steve Alvarez

I was pleasantly surprised today (Sunday) to read about the possible light rail system above the Priority Bus Route. 

Last week I also read that the Prime Minister was contemplating making the pan yards social centres where youth can showcase their talent and much more. 

These are ideas that form part of my overall vision for Trinidad & Tobago and I am pleased to see that the Government of Trinidad & Tobago is addresssing the concerns of our citizens. This is wonderful and it gives me hope that many aspects of the crime plan I forwarded will one day be a reality. 

Already the computerization of criminal data and motor vehicle information is on the way and should be accessible in police mobile units. Specially forged number plates, taser guns and electronic speed measuring devices may soon follow. 

If the trend continues we can look forward to cable cars instead of expensive and environmentally hazardous tunnels. Soon we may very likely see an evacuation plan for the major cities and an economic plan where a number of different innovation initiatives will replace our dependence on oil and gas. 

Steel pan factories, large scale farms with livestock, Tilapia and ground provisions, marketing of Carnival and the development of Chacachacare are all possibilities that will ignite the imagination of our citizens and propel Trinidad & Tobago towards developed nation status. It is with this excitement in mind that I add to my many suggestions the solution to our water distribution system.

Trinidad & Tobago has more than enough water to supply all our industries and citizens with water on a daily basis. The problem is we have not done much to increase the storage facilities at the major reservoirs.

 I dealt with that aspect in past articles and I maintain that if we were to increase our storage facilities there will be no need for desalination plants. Our major challenge is distribution. The solution is gravity feed. 

Trinidad & Tobago is exceedingly lucky as all or our major cities, towns and villages are surrounded by hills and mountains. On a recent hike to the mountains overlooking the Mount St Benedict Monastery, I realised that a strategically placed water storage facility on that mountain can supply water to the entire communities along the east west corridor. 

Water distribution via gravity will necessitate building large tanks and or storage facilities on the higher elevations, pumping water to them and allowing gravity to distribute the water. This is not new to Trinidad as the Laventille tanks, the reservoirs at St Paul Street, the tanks at Mount Hope and Picton were all made to facilitate this process. The problem is that we have not aggressively continued with this type of distribution system. 

There are many advantages to this type of distribution when compared to pumps. The disadvantages of pumps distribution are many; among them is unequal pressure with higher pressure closer to the pump, cost of mechanical repairs and maintenance, electricity costs and inappropriate location. 

With gravity the pressure is equally distributed and it eliminates the need for monitoring of pumps and the manpower associated with water shedding to ensure that areas further away from the pump and on higher elevation access water.

Gravity water distribution is an efficient ancient way of ensuring water is distributed. The Romans built a number of aqueducts and channels to supply water to Rome. 

New York City today, gets ninety five (95%) of its water via gravity. Wikipedia (an online encyclopaedia) states the NYC water system has storage capacity of 550 billion US gallons (2.1×109 m3) and provides over 1.2 billion US gallons (4,500,000 m3) per day of drinking water to more than eight million city residents. 

Three separate sub-systems, each consisting of reservoirs and aqueducts, bring water from Upstate New York to the city. Water flows by gravity through three tunnels under the city, where water rises again to the surface under natural pressure through a number of shafts. 

Over the next three years WASA should embark on a number of strategically places storage systems on the hills and mountains overlooking our communities and use gravity to distribute our water throughout Trinidad & Tobago.

The Vision I have for Trinidad & Tobago is not mine for political gain it is an inspiration from God to share with all of Trinidad & Tobago. It is my humble prayer that together we can all contribute towards building a better Nation for our citizens and the generations that will one day benefit from our endeavors. May God Bless Our Nation.

Steve Alvarez

Letter: Many more pleasant surprises in store for us

If we can contain our expectations and be patient and supportive, there will be many more pleasant surprises in store for us as each of us contributes his vision and encouragement to a government that has the best interests of the people at heart.

We must accept that the needs of the society cannot all be fulfilled simultaneously and instantly. It takes time and priorities must be properly established. And even after planning takes place, from concept to realization may take years for accomplishment.

One must congratulate this government for the patience it displays in the teeth of unrelenting criticism born of impatience and determined opposition. Its every measure is condemned in an orchestrated manner and even its supporters are beginning to join in the propaganda against it.

At the recent justified celebrations, the PM took time to list the many accomplishments of her PPG and fortunately the masses are appreciative of her work even though the literati and cognoscenti appear to disapprove staunchly.

Few take the time to offer encouragement, far less intelligent solutions to our problems.

I join with Mr. Alvarez in his supportive stance coupled with his positive solutions wisely offered. The government pays attention but cannot respond magically to every proffering.

Many demand that the PPG abandon blaming the former regime even as the critics ascribe inherited failures to the present government. In the main malice inspires the opposition while impatience informs many supporters. History will judge the PPG with a less prejudiced eye.

MFRahman.

Letter: UNC stronger that ever

The recent celebrations by the United National Congress at Rienzi Complex demonstrate that the UNC as a political party enjoys the favour of its membership, despite what appears at times to be disenchantment from the very members as to the pace of change and the delivery of goods and services to them.

Further, it is abundantly clear that the Political Leader of the UNC enjoys even greater support than the party.

This is due in large measure to the fact that she challenged and defeated Panday and Ramesh and then within four months won the general elections. In addition, her popularity is also due to the manner in which she has kept the partnership together, despite rumblings from the partners from time to time.

When people voted for the Partnership in 2010, they did so clearly with the expectation that they will not be betrayed and that every effort and sacrifice will be made by the leaders and Members of Parliament to ensure that the experience of 1986 did not happen again.

As such, from now to elections in 2015, the people will deal harshly with any member of Parliament or any one of the constituent organizations in the Partnership who attempts to divide the partnership or affect the unity of the government.

In this sense Mrs Bissessar enjoys very wide public support despite the pockets of disenchantment which currently exists, and which in reality is a function of very high expectations.

It almost seems an anomaly that supporters are prepared to support the partnership even as they complain about delivery and change. This makes the Partnership supporters a very empowered group, since that can also choose at any time to switch allegiance if they can find a competitive alternative party.

Incidentally, it is clear that they do not see this alternative in the PNM. In any event the experience they have had with the PNM sets their minds apart from even thinking of the PNM as an alternative.

The leaders of the partnership, particularly the COP and the MSJ will do well to remember that as far as the population is concerned “Kamla” represents their hopes and aspirations and that they are willing to go the distance with her.

The reasons are many but it includes the feeling that they have that “Kamla” is a caring and compassionate leader as well as one who identifies with their pains, cries with them and laughs with them.

As much as it might be maligned, her toy distribution project at XMAS gives her an affinity to the people that no other leader has had. She is a Prime Minister who has touched more hands than any other PM of TT.

Apart from these attributes her popularity continues to thrive due to projects such as the Children’s Life Fund, the provision of cheques to mosques, temples and churches at Eid, Divali and XMAS as well as the hosting of functions at the Diplomatic Center to celebrate all festivals, including the Chinese New Year.

This has caused the people to see her as one who transcends race and religion and strives for equality , fairness and social equity. In reality she has been able to close the gap between what she promises and what she lives. This has also helped to symbolize her leadership as one with integrity.

Finally, it is obvious that she operates from a platform of trust in that she has been sharing the leadership of the Government and has been using consensus for decision making. While this has seemingly slowed the pace of government, it has also brought about deeper conversations between the parties about governance which will always be for the benefit of the country.

At the last celebrations at Rienzi she made an important point, which is that no government has been put under scrutiny as this one and that the moral expectations and standards of performance for this government is the highest for any government ever.

The people are fully aware of these standards they have set and the moral demands they are making. They are doing so because that want success in all dimensions for the party they put into office and transparency in all that it does.

In pressing for and getting these, they feel part of the governance process and are prepared to defend and protect the Partnership. This is why Rienzi was overflowing on January 24th.

Arjun M. Persad | Lengua Road, Barrackpore.

Sunday, January 29, 2012

Private sector to fund $1B light rail POS-Arima project, no public funds needed

Light rail transport is popular in major cities
Transport Minister Devant Maharaj has told local media the government of Trinidad & Tobago is seeking an investment of $1 billion to build and operate a light transit system from Port of Spain to Arima.

The minister told the Express newspaper state funds will not be used for the proposed project. "Government's only obligation to the enterprise is that of a facilitator," he said.

Diego Martin North-East MP Colm Imbert raised the issue on Friday in the House of Representatives, noting the details of the transit proposal were in a print advertisement in which the Transport Ministry invited expressions of interest for "the design, financing, construction, operation and maintenance of a light transit system from Port of Spain to Arima to be constructed approximately 4.2 metres above the Bus Route".

Imbert stated that the one month given for submission of proposals is too short for such a complex project and suggested that the ministry might have breached the Central Tenders Board ordinance.

However in an interview with the Express on Saturday Maharaj said Imbert was "fundamentally wrong". He added that the former Works Minister is "accustomed to PNMsquandermania and assumes that all others (would) follow the same level of reckless spending that is the watermark of the PNM".

The paper said Maharaj explained that the expression of interest was for the first phase for securing the particular project and will be followed up by detailed requests for proposals that will carry the entire process "well beyond two months".

"The Government of Trinidad and Tobago is not purchasing any article of work or any service," Maharaj stressed. He also said this is not a tendering process.

"Imbert's reckless, uninformed statement is fundamentally flawed in the interpretation of the nature, extent and purport of the Central Tenders Board Act," he added.

Maharaj said the public, private, partnership model does not put public funds at risk. If the venture fails, it is the commercial entity that fails, he explained. 

In addition, he said government would review the fees charged for use the system to prevent exploitation.

The previous government spent US$75 million for a pre-feasibility study done while Imbert was in charge of the ministry of works and transport.

Everything above board on aircraft contract: Report

The Managing Director of the Trinidad and Tobago Air Support Company Ltd, told the Express newspaper Saturday his arrangement to supply a light surveillance aircraft for three months to the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service is above board.

Dirk Barnes is a former major in the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force. The Express said Barnes also dismissed suggestions that he, or any of his former associates, had a personal friendship with Police Commissioner Dwayne Gibbs or Deputy Police Commissioner Jack Ewatski.
"I never limed with (Ewatski). I don't call him like that. I know the man and we met when the project was proposed. We have no personal relationship," the paper quoted barnes as saying.

"I would welcome anyone to audit the process as my actions were above board," he added.

Opposition MP Donna Cox said in Parliament Friday that his contract may be as a result of a personal relationship with Ewatski.

She was speaking on a motion calling on Government to cease its "systematic dismantling" of the national security systems and structures and to implement an effective national security system to secure the country's borders to reduce crime.

Cox spoke of a contract using a Zenith CH 750 Air Scout Aircraft for a three-month evaluation period at a cost of TT$902,772 (US$140,400). Cox said anyone could buy the plane on the Internet and assemble it for just under $US20,000.

The Express said Barnes laughed at Cox's claims.

"It is US$21,000 for the kit or the box of parts containing the plane's fuselage, its tail, its wings and landing gear. There is no engine, no seats no avionics, no nothing, just a box of parts. I would love to see someone fly a box of parts," he said.

"Then there is the engine—$20,000 and then there is the avionics which is $17,000 and this is in US dollars. Now we have to paint the aircraft and that's between US$2,500 and US$4,000."

The paper said Barnes also said that it would take a builder about 1,000 hours to assemble the aircraft at a labour rate of between US$55 and US$90 an hour. "So that's $55,000 total to get the thing built," he said.

The Express said it watched the plane builder make routine checks of the aircraft, including a takeoff using about 80 feet of runway.

It said Barnes explained that the Air Scout Aircraft could fly at a slower speed than small aircraft such as a Cessna, which gives it an advantage in surveillance over a small geographical area.

Ewatski issued a release Friday on the matter. "The light aircraft will be equipped with similar technology as in the helicopters and due to its ability to fly at a very slow speed even compared to traditional fixed wing aircraft may be an alternative to helicopters which are much more costly to maintain," he said.

Kublalsingh explains Point highway situation

Map shows route of new highway. Click on map to see details in new, larger window
Prime Minister Kamla Persad and her Works Minister, Jack Warner, promised last week to deal with problems that have arisen with respect to the $7.2 billion-dollar from Golconda to Point Fortin.

One of the issues is a lobby led by university lecturer Dr Wayne Kublalsingh. The Highway Reroute Movement held a rally earlier this month to lobby the government to change the route of one section of the highway.

While Persad-Bissessar insisted that the highway project will go on, she also said that she would continue discussions with Kublalsingh to see if there is a way to resolve the problem.

In an Internet posting, Kublalsingh has provided some details of the project.

"The Point Fortin to San Fernando Highway system was broken up by planners into different phase:

  • Pt Fortin to Mon Desir
  • Mon Desir to St Mary's Junction
  • St Mary's Junction through Mosquito Creek to La Romain
  • La Romain to San Fernando
"There is also a segment from Golconda, end of current highway, to Debe. 

"The population in the South West Peninsula do not seem to have strong objections to any of these links. The objection is to a link from Debe swinging back to Mon Desir which runs across the Oropuche Basin across a number of rural communities. 

"This proposed section will rest atop a 6-8 foot embankment and run for 9.1 miles. 

"The Ministry of Works applied for separate CEC's for each of these links. The Mon Desir to Debe link was granted a certificate in April 2010. This certificate was never challenged, although in many respects it is deeply flawed. 

"The statutory time for challenge has elapsed. 

"We have been mapping an alternative to the Mon Desir to Debe route, a re-route."

Jack launches campaign to get public support for hanging bill

Jack Warner is launching a nationwide mass campaign Wednesday to lobby citizens to support a bill to hang convicted killers.

The Chaguanas West MP announced his plans Saturday at his constituency office on Caroni Savannah Road constituency where he celebrated his 69th birthday with constituents. Warner turned 69 on Thursday.

Warner has been consistent in his support for hanging killers. The issue returned to his agenda earlier this month when three fishermen from his constituency were murdered at sea.

He said he will devote the campaign to the memory of the men and call it "A Fisherman’s Cry".

Warner said volunteers would go house-to-house to collect signatures in support of the hanging bill.

He promised that the campaign would be bigger than the movement for change, which he used to effect change in the leadership of the United National Congress (UNC) that led to the defeat of the Manning PNM in the 2010 general election.

He said now is the time for MPs to represent the people and not themselves.

Last week Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar announced that she will bring back a hanging bill to Parliament and seek public support for it.

The bill, which needed a special majority, was defeated last year when the opposition refused to vote for it.

“It is part of the law of Trinidad and Tobago, and therefore the lack of support from the Opposition on the last occasion prevented it from going through and so we will try again because we have to find ways to reduce the crime rate,” she said earlier this month.

And last Tuesday at a rally to celebrate her second anniversary as leader of the UNC she challenged Opposition Leader Keith Rowley to explain why he and his MPs refused to support the legislation while they continue to claim that they support the execution of convicted killers.


She publicly called on Rowley for support. "Let us have your proposals, because we are willing to consider them in the public’s interest. We are committed to implementing the death penalty because it is the law,” she told supporters.

Cabinet returns 4 units to national security: Report

The Trinidad & Tobago cabinet has reversed its decision to remove four units from the jurisdiction of National Security Minister John Sandy, a report in the Guardian newspaper said on Sunday.

The report also said that Rear Admiral Richard Kelshall has been removed as head of the National Security Operations Centre. 

It said cabinet made the changes last Thursday in relation to its earlier decision to place the four units under the direct control of Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar.

The units are:
  • The helicopter Unit
  • The terrorism squad
  • The Canine Section 
  • The radar equipment used to monitor drug smuggling along
The Guardian cited unnamed Cabinet sources as saying that Kelshall hade made the recommendation to take away the control of the units from national security.

Kelshall was named head of the National Security Operations Centre replacing Lt Col Ricardo Garcia, who was sent to the National Security Training Academy. 

Kelshall gave a media interview earlier this month in which he stated that the National Security Minister was told of the decision to remove the units and it “was made with his concurrence.” 

Sandy was out of the country at the time the change was announced and on his return he denied knowledge about the decision to remove the units from his direct control, the Guardian said.

It added that Sandy insisted that he is the only person in a position to speak on issues of National Security. 

The Guardian quoted the Prime Minister’s National Security adviser Capt Gary Griffith as confirming the reversal of the earlier decision. 

“I have been told that the Cabinet rescinded its decision and returned the four units to National Security. As you would remember, this is in keeping with what I had suggested that the day-to-day running of the National Security Operations Centre should remain with the Minister of National Security. 

"But this should not be seen in any way as Rear Admiral Kelshall being fired or anything like it. The fact is that these things are in the embryonic stage and we are trying to put the National Security infrastructure in place and so the only substantive position that Rear Admiral Kelshall was appointed was as the Regional Security director and that position remains."

Guest column: One fit to bow, one unfit to lead

PM Kamla Persad-Bissessar bows to Indian President Pratibha Patil in Jaipur, India
Reproduced from the SUNDAY GUARDIAN
by Denzil Mohammed


Dr Keith Rowley’s tirade about the Prime Minister’s bowing to Indian President Pratibha Patil was disgraceful, unbecoming and disrespectful—not just to Kamla Persad-Bissessar but to the entire nation. 

If his aim is to lead this multicultural country, then all credibility for such a position has just been lost. 

The Opposition leader and political leader of the People’s National Movement appeared to disparage an entire ethnic group and an entire religious group to score political mileage and rouse his lacklustre support base. 

At a political meeting in an Open Bible church, he is quoted in a newspaper as saying the PM’s bowing to the Indian President was “the ultimate subservient of superiority and inferiority being demonstrated.”

Error number one, and I don’t mean the wrong word choice. It takes not a genius to know bowing in the Hindu context is an act of deference, not a massa vs slave act. 

It has been done since the beginning of time the world over. I imagine at the end of a scintillating musical performance, the political leader might twirl, or perhaps wine, since bowing may mean he’s subservient to the audience. 

In T&T, in Hindu homes and at Hindu prayers, it is done copiously. In India, it is less of a religious act as a cultural act. The PM was in that country, so she chose, as PM, to follow that tradition. 

Rowley said: “I take umbrage at my Prime Minister going to anybody’s country and kissing any office holder’s foot.” Error number two. Until her scandalous biography is published, it has yet to be revealed whether the PM has a foot fetish. Somehow, Rowley felt comfortable enough to change “bowing” to “kissing” feet. He said it more than once.

What would Obama do?
He said: “Nobody sent the Prime Minister abroad to represent her religion or her race. She went abroad to represent all the people of T&T and...she must stand there proud representing the people of T&T. 

“...we are a proud nation. When India votes at the United Nations, if we vote differently, we cancel out India’s vote. One billion people against one million people. We are equal in the eyes of the world. Size and power are no longer your station.” 

Error number three. As I’ve learned time and time again, to my utter surprise, T&T is not the centre of the world. The world knows us less for one million strong and more for Nicki Minaj. Should our international behaviour be based on a self-righteous, nationalistic stance of one’s arrogance and self-importance?

Rowley goes on: “...now we expect, according to her logic, if (US President Barack) Obama ever goes to Kenya he will bend down and kiss the foot of somebody in Kenya because his grandfather came from Kenya.” 

Error number four. No, Obama shouldn’t. He is the single most powerful man, the leader of the free world, the man who just opened his mouth and out popped a Nobel Prize. 

Yet the greatest man on the planet bowed to the King of Saudi Arabia at the G-20 meeting in 2009. He also bowed to the Emperor of Japan at his palace. It is not a matter of asserting one’s authority, of declaring one’s importance, of belittling the other. It is a matter of respect in this global village in which we live. 

Perhaps, in the cramped Open Bible church, such a vista was not visible.

Them vs other
Rowley claimed that a Times of India newspaper story said Persad-Bissessar “went too far to demonstrate her Indian-ness.” I am still searching for that story. 

One imagines that, perhaps, Rowley would give a vigorous handshake to Queen Elizabeth if he were to meet her. Or perhaps his wife would not wear a head scarf on a visit to the Middle East. Hillary Clinton did it. Barbara Walters did it when she interviewed the Syrian president last year. Hell, even a princess did it, the late Princess Diana. But Trinis? One million strong! 

Finally, and most damningly, Rowley said: “I am not concerned about her religious persuasion... We are very tolerant.” 

Error number five. It is a pointed reference of “them vs the other.” It is a suggestion that one is in the middle and the other is on the outskirts “in this country”. 

It is a concession that the ones in the middle, well, endure the others. Rowley apparently played upon a well-entrenched scorn for all things Hindu, with which some people grow up and capitalised on a racist and discriminatory predisposition buttressed by political affiliation that some people have towards Hindus and Indo-Trinidadians.

There are more Indo-Trinidadians than Afro-Trinidadians in this country. There are more Hindus than Anglicans, Pentecostals and Muslims combined. 

In other words, there are almost more people who would bow than there are who won’t. 

And with all the talk about how far we’ve come and how important we are, apparently we still resort to the basest attacks to assert ourselves. In our “rainbow country,” it makes plain that while one was humble enough to bow, the other is clearly unfit to lead.

The above column by Denzil Mohammed was reproduced, unedited, from the SUNDAY GUARDIAN

Related: Commentary: Rowley should not be offended by Kamla's act of humility and respect

Related: No apology for showing respect for elders: PM Kamla

Jai & Sero

Jai & Sero

Our family at home in Toronto 2008

Our family at home in Toronto 2008
Amit, Heather, Fuzz, Aj, Jiv, Shiva, Rampa, Sero, Jai