And now, 2004 aboard the SS TT!

THE EDITOR: Crime in 2003 surpassed our wildest imaginings and ended with even more desperate calls for the PNM government to do something (anything) to demonstrate that they were, in fact, worthy of continuing to hold the reins of power.  2004 was not yet one week old and we were treated to the news that there have been a record five murders in the first four days! Believe it or not, using those figures as a guideline against last year’s two for the same period, the projected murder tally for this year could well be somewhere between 450 — 550 in a country now considered “safe” by the UK and USA, who want PM Manning’s assistance in approaching the Haiti issue.  What hypocrisy — as if he doesn’t have his hands full here!

In the face of the continued criminal ascent (and our descent)  to anarchy, coupled with his recent memory “slip,” Mr Manning, who would have everyone believe that we are now better off and that the PNM have a road map to 2020 (beneficial to the people, not the party), has found it politic to once more reinforce his  ghoulish spectre of the nasty alternative to PNM governance. The reminder that the allegations of “corruption” (if not the original one of “voter padding”) have not been forgotten and are yet being actively pursued to an obviously successful conclusion — this is the PNM “spin.” How anyone could actually continue to fall for those party lines after two years is beyond comprehension;  the moreso in light of the number of continuing troubling disclosures that things may not be quite what they should be on the ss TT. Recent writings by the press show a troubled fourth estate who themselves seem to have realised the severity and futility of the current situation but are yet hoping against hope for a miracle — anything to avoid a disturbance to the status quo for business, Carnival, etc.   One is almost tempted to say anything to avoid active involvement! PM Manning denies any crisis and declares that the average citizen need not be unduly concerned at the degeneration — the rationale being it’s only the boys on the hill at war, I guess, killing each other. 

A continued denial of any crisis or failure on his government’s part.  There has, to the best of my knowledge, been but one of nearly 50 cases that fits his criteria;  kidnap victims having in the main been grossly ill-treated;  particularly of recent times. Mr Manning would, I presume, have us believe that unlike those corrupt UNC individuals,  his “community leaders” (Mark Guerra, etc) are  persons of high integrity and not shady characters with dubious records and motives.  Just as he would have us accept that “it slipped his mind” to report on his unscheduled and unadvertised stop off and meeting in London with British Gas officials which has resulted in either his Energy Minister or himself suffering with further memory loss as to what exactly is the current position with regard to disposition of the assets of all Trinidadians! From one who when he assumed office was so conscientious that he found it necessary to enquire of a Police Station in the wee hours of the morning (before any charge had been laid) whether it would be necessary for him to discipline an employee (former employee?), these lapses are worrying.  Is the stress getting to our PM?  He has now apparently also forgotten that he is not the one to appoint a Commissioner of Police — his power ends with  vetoing the suggested appointee. 

Whilst he proudly proclaimed to all in Africa how fortunate he was to be given a “second chance,” it has not been demonstrated to the nation that he is really any more capable this time around;  therefore we are not as fortunate as he. Do we need a PM so out of touch with reality?  More especially one who wants the Red House for his personal office and has come up with a brand new “force” he commissioned under a spanking new Brigadier — not yet suitably explained to either Parliament or public.  One who has further usurped the power of the Police Commission and ignored the relevant authorities on his proposal to relocate Parliament and other statutory bodies? It obviously also slipped his mind on the eve of elections in October 2002 that the Muslimeen owed a substantial sum to Government when he planned to gift state lands to them and it clearly slipped his mind that Mr Panday requested independent observers for that election! How can things possibly get better in 2004 for the ss TT — the entire ship’s complement needs replacing, not reshuffling.

VIRGINIA VERITY
Port-of-Spain