Either we belong to TT or not

THE EDITOR: The first solution is a recommitment to Mother Trinidad and Tobago. It is either we belong to Trinidad and Tobago or we do not belong. Social commentators must stop running surveys about the views and attitudes of Africans, Indians, and etc but instead promote the views of Trinbagonians. The national flag should be prominently displayed and flown in front of every national building and private building. All schools should sing the National Anthem and recite the National Pledge at the beginning of the day, before daily prayers. Some schools do not display the national flag. One school had the national flag at half-mast and upside down. What therefore were the students singing and pledging to? Not even the principal and teachers were aware of the half-mast and upside down flag. The principal at 11 am was not too concerned, as it was the duty of the MTS guard. Since March 2003, I have not seen the flag at the said school.

At present it is now a fashion to be wearing caps with a “NY” insignia, a direct reference to New York. Even a young cricketer of the Shell Cricket academy wore one of the caps to an international cricket match. Brian Lara wore one during an interview. It is fashionable to promote foreign values. But will we support local values. Will we wear “TT” caps or West Indies Cricket caps? The answer, plain and simple is no. Each and everyone must provide their eight hours of work daily, a personal contribution towards national development. The practice of leaving one hour early as compensation for lunch must cease. Before leaving work, we must all ask ourselves, have I done a day’s work or have I completed my day’s work? The view of locals must always be sought. Foreign views always reflect foreign values, values that are usually incompatible with the local culture and customs. The government must provide all the necessary amenities to ensure performance and in-creased productivity. Politicians should not blame workers, when they themselves are failures.
• The failure of the health services — lack of equipment and resources
• The failure of the police service — lack of equipment and resources
• The failure of the fire services — lack of equipment and resources
• The failure of the education services — lack of equipment and resources
• The failure of agriculture — lack of equipment and resources

All workers should instead be encouraged to contribute to decision-making and policy creation. Promotion must be based on ability and performance, not seniority. Public servants should be encouraged to be vocal and the present limitation on public statements and representation, as board members, politicians, etc must be removed. But seriously, are we emancipated and are we independent?

PHILIP AYOUNG-CHEE FRCS
San Fernando