Sorry, I cannot write nice things

THE EDITOR: It is a pity and I feel sad because I cannot write any good things these days about the country in which I live.

Should I stifle my conscience, should I say everything is alright when it is not? I am not a hypocrite, and I am very observant. Every day there is a murder, kidnapping, robbery and all types of crimes, so it is impossible for me to write in a different vein. So many negative things are happening these days that it is with great regret that I have to write what is the reality in my country with the hope that the ills would come to an end swiftly. What hurts me is that people who are conscious of the criminal activities seem to condone it by sweeping it under the carpet, and expect it to go away. If these criminals are truly exposed they may change their criminal ways, but when people allow these criminal activities to foster they would believe that their escapades are accepted because it gives the impression, it is not me so I don’t care. This would make them more arrogant, wicked and heartless.

We love our children very much, but when they are doing what is wrong we scold them and tell them to behave themselves, but although we love them we do not overlook the wrong that they are doing or we would be contributing to their indiscipline. I would be happy to write something nice again. The only nice thing that happened about a month ago was in the Cambridge examination results where Devon Singh came first in the world in Accounts, and Videsh Seereeram tied for first in the world in physics. They have set a very good example for other students to follow. The late Prime Minister, Dr Eric Williams said that the future of Trinidad is in the school bags of the school children, but when those bags are loaded with destructive objects, and when certain school children behave badly I cannot write good things about my country that is going through so much stress.

It is hard to write good things when 13  babies die in the hospital through insanitary conditions in the Neo-natal Ward, and when a man dies in the custody of the Police I feel sad to see the direction in which this country is heading. When peace, love and discipline are restored and when those in authority make a more serious effort to solve the crimes, and there is truly peace with the help of God then would I be happy to write nice things about my country once more.

HORACE DESORMEAUX
Maraval