Congrats to Dr Sammy

THE EDITOR: I recently attended a function held by the Debe/Penal Regional Corporation where the outstanding citizens of the area and national scholarship winners who reside in the area were honoured. The Prime Minister was the feature speaker at the function.

I also noticed that all the UNC Parliamentarians and most Councillors boycotted. Subsequent to this, two letters appeared in the newspapers from persons who were obviously rabid UNC supporters condemning the Chairman of the Debe/Penal Regional Corporation Dr Allen Sammy for inviting the Prime Minister to give the feature address. I personally wish to congratulate the Debe/Penal Regional Corporation for hosting one of the finest functions I have ever attended. I am aware that the UNC hierarchy will chastise Dr Sammy for inviting Mr Manning. One letter-writer pointed out that the San Juan/Laventille Regional Corporation would have never invited Basdeo Panday as Prime Minister to address one of its functions.

Once the UNC remains in this mould, it will recede in to what the DLP/PDP was. The UNC invited professional persons to lead its councils. These chairmen will always look at the broader picture and seek to integrate their councils within the national framework. Under the old-fashioned UNC, Debe/Penal would be seen on the national stage only when there are flooding problems or a bridge is broken and their intention is to keep it that way. If one examines the previous UNC corporations, not one ever held a function like sthat recently held by Dr Sammy. I wish to congratulate Dr Sammy on a very successful function and it was most fitting that the Prime Minister was invited to be the feature speaker. This is the new politics of creativity as the backward elements in the UNC recede into the old DLP/PDP mould.

LINDA SINGH
Port-of-Spain