THE EDITOR: Please publish this letter to my fellow citizens. It is indeed disheartening to learn of these brutal crimes that are being committed against loyal, productive, generous and law-abiding citizens. Even more tragic, the search for the offenders are usually futile. The loss of any human life, whatever the circumstances, is the gravest of human tragedy. To die in the way that Vernon Roopnarine died is beyond any human understanding. What has our society sunk to and what are the answers to deal with such a plague to the safety of all citizens? I can easily blame the Government of the day or the Protective Services but I know that this has been emphatically stated already.

The thing about this is simply that TT is too small to have kidnappers and other criminal elements running around committing more crimes. This tells me that for too long the Government and the Police have been starved for ideas to deal with the escalating crime situation. What then could be some of the solutions to alleviate the burden on the government and other tried agencies? The long term plan is obviously a restructured education system. The immediate plan is to utilise the Army and the services of the experts in other large cities. I live in California and I can say that I move about freely without having to worry about the time of day or where I am going or the people I may encounter.

The reason is simply that all services are easily reached in cases of emergencies. No one knows what may happen but to feel safe is a great feeling. The people in authority must stop talking about all these fancy plans that cost so much money but cannot be implemented to get the desired results. TT is too small for criminals to hide. No notice is required if you want to catch criminals. Your plan must be to do early morning raids with notice. The police need the authorisation to combat this situation.

KESHORE SATRAm
California USA

THE EDITOR: I would like to dedicate this note to Loreis Clarke in remembrance of her life. She recently passed away and would be sadly missed by her son, family, friends and co-workers. Her life was dedicated to her son and being a fire fighter. As for being a fire fighter where the female population numbers less than one hundred, she joined the Fire Service on October 15, 1996 and fought her way through training, then to the hard task that lay ahead.

However, her true potential would not have materialised and she was unable to fulfill all her endeavours in life. The most gracious almighty will show her the way to a new beginning. Upon losing this battle of life, we who are here are made stronger while losing a ‘sister.’ Thanks to this sister, her memories will live on.

LEISA HAMILTON
Fire Fighter
Bethesda

THE EDITOR: This is a letter to all citizens purchasing townhouses from developers. If we look around us we see that in almost every nook and cranny, townhouse complexes are being constructed. In some cases a complex of 15 may be built in a space that should accommodate ten. The properties are highly priced — 800,000 and up, over priced in most cases and owners are unknowingly subjected to unscrupulous practices by developers. My advice to first-time owners is before you purchase, check the following tips:

Ensure that the property has been treated for termites, subterranean particularly, as should be the case with any new development. Ensure that you have appropriate standard locks on all doors, in our case the developer purchased in bulk used locks that had been banned overseas. This had also been the case with the plumbing, particularly the toilets. It is advisable to change main locks as developers often have master keys. Look closely at the material being used in construction such as tiles; again rejects are purchased in bulk from overseas. also take note of the woodwork and the type of wood that is purported to be used. Enquire about the paint that will be used, and how many coats will be applied or you may discover that within six months of occupancy you will need to do a paint job.

Do not depend on water supplies that are shared by all residences. ensure that your property has its own plumbing for installation of tank supply. If parking is provided for 15 cars ensure that this is in fact so. Most developers do not live on compounds that they build and are not generally concerned about basic amenities. Really, the Consumers Division should be providing such guidelines to citizens, particularly as Town and Country Planning Regulations seem non existent.

A FORTUNE
Diego Martin

THE EDITOR: Please allow me the opportunity to voice certain concerns regarding the Licensing Department in St James. On September 12, 2003 I went to renew my driving permit and I arrived there long before the opening hours of 8 am. By 8.05 am there were about 30 persons waiting for the typist, who arrived at 8.30 am.

The cashier could not receive monies until the typist arrived. This sort of thing must be eradicated from government offices. Come on Mr Minister, ensure your employees get to work on time. We are aspiring to be a first class nation, but workers’ attitudes must change.

GERMAINE MURRELL
Port-of-Spain

THE EDITOR: Reference is made to Sat Maharaj’s article in one of the daily newspapers on September 3, 2003, “It’s a problem of Culture.” I have read articles written by Mr Maharaj before and I am quite sure I am going to read lots more of this type — of his opinion which I consider devious. He dealt at length with Dr Selwyn Cudjoes’ achievements, especially his appointment to the board of our Central Bank. I am not desirous of quoting the amount of rubbish Sat has written.

I now make reference to the last four paragraphs of Sat’s article. He said, “The problem with Cudjoe, Afros and education is essentially one of culture. This is not only a Trinidad problem, more a genetic one.” He further stated that Afro Trinis should try harder to Indianise themselves and their attitude to books, rather than try to creolise Indians. I must ask Sat Maharaj what he meant in a previous article, “Indians and Africans must come together and unite to achieve national unity.” Judging from his discourse, it is only when an Indian is in authority that anything is appreciated by him. I know that he has a lot of followers who would support him no matter what he says or does, but he is only one person. In this era no civilised citizen should take in Sat Maharaj and his rhetoric.

I would like to remind Sat and all who think like him that this is Trinidad and Tobago, and articles like those would never and could never tarnish the image of our lovely country. There are few things with which I want you to acquaint yourself. This is Trinidad and Tobago and a multiplicity of races belong here. Most of us are happy and our objective is to make our country a happier and better place in which to live and like it or not you Sat would have to live with that until you die. We could see through your discourse the ulterior motives that are spewed all over the place, so what you and your cohorts are trying to do for personal gain will not work because we are serious, educated and constructive Africans and Indians and other races who will live here until the good Lord is ready for us one by one. Maybe your programme is for the next life.

LENNOX BENJAMIN
Trincity

THE EDITOR: FFOS finds it very fitting that on September 11th the US Ambassador to TT warned of a possible terrorism threat when earlier this month the World Markets Research Centre and a US counter-terrorism official rated TT as the Caribbean country facing the highest risk from terrorist attacks (The Gleaner, Jamaica, August 31st). While we appreciate the Ambassador’s warning, we should also be equally concerned of the likelihood that we may fall victim to acts of negligence as well as acts of terrorism. Although foreign oil and gas interests are usually prime targets for sabotage, as in the case in war torn Iraq, FFOS believes it is far more likely that we may see a repeat of the Petrotrin accident that we witnessed in Barrackpore on Monday September 8 as a result of pipeline neglect.

The fact is people are often oblivious to pipeline locations as many are dangerously undefined. Old pipelines are sometimes forgotten and left to corrode. Accidental damage often occurs because unknowingly constructions crew could easily rupture pipelines criss-crossing underground during digging operations. If Monday’s explosion came from the rupture of a 6-inch pipeline, what kind of massive explosion can we expect from the rupture of a 36-inch, 40-inch or 48-inch pipeline accident, such as the ones currently utilized in our offshore platforms and on our land? While  terrorist attacks may be a possibility for any country, a major accident within our booming energy industry is a much more pressing, and immediate, concern.

GARY ABOUD
Secretary
FFOS

THE EDITOR: Victor “Sharkey” Henry may not be a household word in present day football, but his exploits on the field for Paragon, Malvern, the Regiment, Boissiere Youths and as national striker of the 60’s and 70’s would never be forgotten by his colleagues and spectators of the era. His skills too have been imparted to many of today’s players, for he was at one time national junior coach and coach of Mucurapo Senior Comprehensive, San Juan Senior Comprehensive, and San Juan Jabloteh.

Victor “Sharkey” Henry was also wicket-keeper for Boissiere Youths and the Regiment. But cricket gave way to football which was his “life.” He loved and breathed the game and every waking moment was spent in planning new strategies to keep ahead of the field. He entertained football fans not only in Trinidad and Tobago, but in many countries as far as New Zealand and Australia. Victor “Sharkey” Henry said goodbye on Tuesday 9th September 2003 in a Boston hospital but his memory lives on.

ARCHIE HENRY
Port-of-Spain

THE EDITOR: To the Roopnarine family… our prayers are with you. Seek guidance from the good Lord. His patience, healing and understanding is with you. Don’t go looking for vengeance or expect the police, PM Manning, Chin Lee or anyone who sits in the massive Red House to empathise with your loss. They are detached from the loss and hurt of the citizens of Trinidad and Tobago. Go on and live and build, stay focussed. Things happen in life we don’t comprehend immediately, perhaps never. But it makes us stronger and molds us into the people we eventually become. Your loved one, Mr Vernon Roopnarine… has gone to a better place and his reward is there. God Bless.

RUTH and LESTER BABOOLAL
England