Smooth sailing on the ss TT, Mr O’Brien?

THE EDITOR: Laudable effort, expressing all the right sentiments, suggestions and observations. Mr O’Brien is to be congratulated for a fine presentation in which he has  done us proud. As reprinted in the Chamber’s Commentary on 31/12/03, his presentation on  the prospect of a Caribbean cruise line  could not have been  floated at a more appropriate time. There is, however, one significant prerequisite to the success of that or any such venture, which he could hardly have been expected to  discuss publicly in Miami — or anywhere else outside of TT.

The fact is that only TT with its petro dollars is capable of meeting the initial expenditure of so  ambitious a venture. What then is the problem, anyone listening to either PM Manning or David O’Brien in NY or Miami might well ask? The harsh reality is that while Mr O’Brien conceptualised before an  audience of fellow entrepreneurs the obvious  potential in both prestige and profit  of the MV Caribbean Adventure, a Caricom owned and operated cruise line, the initial source of funding, the SS Trinidad and Tobago, for all its wealth — current and anticipated — drifts erratically but inevitably, toward the looming rocks of social, ethnic, political and criminal disaster. Several captains of commerce and industry have already jumped ship in fear, terror or disgust. Unless, therefore, Mr O’Brien like the PM, is  in denial, he must  already  be fully cognisant of this dire  peril and prepared to pledge his Chamber’s resources  to replacing  political arrogance and incompetence  now on the bridge of the SS TT with the necessary competent meritocracy.  In the absence of prompt and decisive action, there will not be sufficient left for him, his Chamber, or any one else, to salvage, far less float a Caribbean cruise  line,  before  the good ship TT is itself either hijacked by “Community Leaders” and unrepentant terrorists and/or self-destructs in  bloody mutiny, between a frustrated, desperate,  terrified crew and the arrogant incompetents in control and their criminal supporters. 

The aforementioned political incompetents and the criminals are unlikely to surrender the bridge gracefully. Intervention by  Industry, Commerce  and finance are probably the only forces left capable of brokering  a bloodless replacement on that bridge before total disaster. The choice sir, if you have not already made it, is yours and that of those whom you represent. Dire peril and certain disaster in the storm of political arrogance, gross incompetence, and criminal anarchy, blowing  in unprecedented and  ever increasing intensity since 24/12/01 or the resumption of interrupted personal safety,  progress, profit and a safe return to a genuine and equitable harbour of “business as usual.” Those are your only options. Which will it be Mr O’Brien?  Whichever you choose, your presentation remains inspirational, if premature — unless of course, unlike Mr Manning, you are not in denial.               

T G MENDES
Port-of-Spain