THE EDITOR: Mr Manning in the budget presentation in October 2002 boasted that citizens will no longer have to pay for birth certificates. Last week, I went to the Ministry of Legal Affairs to obtain a birth certificate. I was told by the clerk that I must officially pay $25 for the birth certificates. After almost six months we cannot obtain free birth certificates. Can someone explain this to the population?

A MITCHELL
Morvant

THE EDITOR: Like most of my friends, I have recently revitalised an old hobby of movie going, which is attributed to two factors. Firstly, there is the allure of new and ultra modern cinema complexes — “new ting” to sample, as some Trinis would say. Complementing additional venue options is the upsurge of potential Academy Award calibre movies that span all categories from fantasy/mystical to dramatisations based on true stories. Needless to say, it is often a challenge to acquire preferred seating, and so, I have found my head steeply elevated in the foremost rows once too often.

Even as I capture an old affinity, so too I resurrect a seemingly ageless bewilderment. Why are seats placed so close to screens in cinemas, when it is as clear as distilled water that no normal human being can possibly enjoy viewing from literally under the screen unless discomfort is your pleasure? Having been in the first five rows of a cinema on several occasions in the recent past, it is understandable how patrons chose to sit in the aisle furthest away from the screen instead of in the front rows. Consequently, it is now common place for a cinema to be sold out with the first two rows remaining 50 percent vacant.

You would agree that movie enthusiasts cluttering the aisles is a security risk since emergency situations may be easily compounded. Cinema architects and owners must be forced to put a stop to this disservice, which is synonymous with a stiff neck and sight disorders. For the exception of another patron blocking you, if the screen in a cinema is unacceptably obscured when viewing from a seat/s, then that seat/s should be removed.

DEXTER RIGSBY
Mt Lambert

THE EDITOR: What about the increase in the NIS? We were promised this in the fiscal year. When would that be Mr Manning? Everybody  is getting increases and marching up and down protesting and shouting. Poor retirees are too weak to march and shout. Give us the NIS increase now. It is time. The old folks are dying out each day; let them enjoy something before it is too late and let the big boys get their $50,000 to $90,000 and have a good time.

MOHAMMED ALI
Gasparillo

The Editor I shall be grateful if you would permit me some space to address the issue of the government bailout of BWIA. With the greatest respect, I suggest that the view propounded by Senator Economist Mary King is both ingenuous and parochial. In that view, BWIA is examined solely as an investment vehicle for government that should more properly be taken up by the private sector and operated to ensure a profit for its brave investors. Failing which government should insist on policing the airline’s operations to expunge unprofitable routes. All very nice and tidy. It is such thinking that has resulted in the privatisation of our postal and other utilities as well as the divestment of critical national enterprises that are seen as having no other purpose than economic viability via efficiency. When Mr Valley was venting his nonchalance at the fate of BWee, he could not have been taken seriously by anyone who understands the greater purpose of our national airline, a full justification of which is detailed in “Revised National Economics.”

In short, BWee is as great a necessity as our Bus Service, but at an international level, and is in fact more vital to our tourism industry and development than any other single instrument on which investment dollars are poured for tourism return. And in the real world, airlines are crumbling globally in the wash of terrorism, SARS and fuel prices. No intelligent investor would touch any airline with a ten -foot pole. And the irony is that taxpayers’ dollars should play no part in BWee’s expenses, since BWee is more a national resource adjunct for our tourism and deserves funding similar to TIDCO’s entitlement. The biggest expense that has beset the airline perennially has been the cost of fuel which this country extracts from our land and labour and sells to BWee punitively, all in the name of conforming to crippling regulations. BWee is in practical terms, part of our infrastructure to facilitate foreign investment. If this cannot be seen, we are mental retards.  I recommend that government buys out all small investors in BWee (particularly gullible staff investors), and begin to pay management fees based on productivity and improvement on investment returns simultaneously selling fuel at a cost to the airline. Placed as we are in the middle of the western hemisphere, we are a natural hemispheric hub and we should develop our Latin tourism more aggressively using our national airline. The myopic view of conventional investment is inapplicable to BWee.

MF Rahman
Lange Park

THE EDITOR: Mayor Nagessar recently complained that Chaguanas, already prone to mild flooding, could be affected by the delay in opening of watercourses and could suffer disastrous consequences when the imminent rainy season comes into full force. It must be remembered that the borough, which is the latest community to receive municipal status, is situated in the lowlands of County Caroni and at the same time hosts a few dangerous rivers including the Caparo and Cunupia rivers, etc. These are small waterways, swift in their flow to destinations in the Gulf of Paria. It is very significant to recognise that these rivers are sourced outside the limits of the borough, and not within the reach of the Mayor’s corrective measures. Thus the Mayor is duty-bound to alert flood watchers in sufficient time so as to ensure protection from casualties.

Fortunately, Chaguanas is located in the lower and idle courses of these rivers, where there is hardly any thunderous force in their flow. Our discomfort from flooding is self-made. Houses are densely compacted in many areas and the disposal of household waters is through networks of man-made channels that are generally inadequate to meet the required efficiency.  These drains are frequently clogged by household garbage and decaying perishables which often block the flow of water and generate stagnation, which in turn, creates breeding grounds for mosquitoes and vermin. Concrete covers are made to clamp down escaping wastewater. Labour gangs clean blockages as necessary with long-handled forks, hoes, rakes, spades and other tools. On Eleanor Street, as well as on other streets in Chaguanas, the pavements are broken in several spots and are dangerous to pedestrians.

Garbage bins for public use are urgently needed as the pavements and drains are littered with banana skins, orange peels, plastic bottles and other refuse. The Corporation needs to devise ways and means to dispel these nuisances. The focus of the Mayor and Councillors is indeed very heartening and augurs well for the future. With regard to flooding, we may not need to worry too much. The terrain of our land is generally low and will not cause extreme peril. One encouraging sign is the fact that the signals transmitted by the present team indicate that our representatives are hunting for improvement opportunities upon which to focus attention. In conclusion, for the Chaguanas area, I recommend the appointment of a Borough Engineer and staff to take care of enhancements, adornments and necessities.

SALER AMEERALI
Chaguanas

THE EDITOR: Anaparima, The History of San Fernando and the Naparimas, is fine, enjoyable and at times even gripping account that can look quite a few serious chronicles proudly in the eye, and I wish to congratulate the author, Michael Anthony, for a splendid job of sustaining and piquing interest over 800 pages with a suspension bridge of data and anecdotes spanning the years 1595 to 1900. Deserving praise and thanks must also be extended to former San Fernando Mayor Rakeeb Hosein who first ignited Anthony’s idea of a history with a request for a brochure that led to much more. Torrance Mohammed, Borough Councillor; Marlene Coudray, CEO; and Mayors Gerard Ferreira and Hazel Rogers-Dick, also played key roles in recognising and giving support to the idea of a historical account of San Fernando. They, and the Borough Council/City Council are to be abundantly complimented.

It’s comforting and gratifying to know that among the establishment there are still those who can rise above the mundane and reach for the islets of culture and civilisation. Also impressive is the contribution made to the book and to the history of the place and the period by Tobago-born Samuel Cartar, my great-grandfather who edited and produced The San Fernando Gazette from 1874 for about 20 years, recording for posterity the life and times of the southern capital. The book is a trove of personalities and events, but another of the outstanding individuals was Julien Maisonneuve, private enterpriser, occasional fiery orator, whose farsighted views on road building and the use of asphalt were unfortunately never appreciated nor accepted by the Borough Council. If he is not currently honoured by the City Council, its members should give it a thought. Thank you, Michael Anthony for recording this wonderful part of our history, and for the long hours and patient research involved. You have successfully moved to correct the view that too little attention is given to right and achievement, and to the good that we do as a nation.

LLOYD CARTAR
Westmoorings

THE EDITOR: I feel compelled to register my alarm and dismay on reading the Minister of Education’s declaration that CAPE will soon be with us. This “policy decision” is indeed frightening because those truly involved in Education — the secondary schools’ teachers and principals — are all too aware of the many procedural flaws that still plague the CXC’s O’Level examination after some thirty years! How then can we trust them with higher level examination? Has the goodly minister herself ever met with these stakeholders, these professionals who have to deliver the curriculum, to hear their views, to discuss this drastic move from the Cambridge A’level exam? Has she studied any Cape syllabus and noted its unrealistic demands — in comparison to Cambridge? Is she aware of the sense of uneasiness and distrust that persists among parents, teachers and students in Barbados where CAPE is that Government’s preferred examination — because after two years, perhaps even longer, Barbados’ teachers are still groping in the dark? Does she have any idea of the slip-shod, haphazard manner in which students’ scripts are marked — as neither the examiners/markers nor the time frame allotted for marking by CXC is ever adequate thus accuracy of marking is always compromised for speed? Does the minister know, for example, that there are teachers who mark scripts for some CAPE exams but they have never read the prescribed texts? Who has been consulted? Whose views have been accepted? Who has really been advising the minister — certainly no sensible right-thinking principal or Secondary school teacher!

According to the Honourable Minister, CXC is celebrating its 30th anniversary so the time is right for TT to join the other Caribbean territories and support CAPE. Do we introduce CAPE here as our anniversary gift to CXC? Is this a rationale for interfering with our children’s future? The Minister further states that The United Kingdom Recognition Centre (NARIC) “will be pleased  to recommend CAPE as a higher entry qualification” — but it is yet to do so and still yet to have this recommendation passed! Re-assure us, madame Minister, will the prestigious LSE or any European University accept our Open Scholarship winners who have CAPE qualifications? Will the renowned medical schools in Ireland recognise CAPE? Remember, not everyone depends on SAT scores, not everyone wants to study in the USA or at home in the Caribbean. Why restrict our children’s choices of institutions for tertiary education? There must have been very valid reasons/ concerns why TT resisted CAPE for so many years. Have our fears been allayed then? I seriously doubt it! The Minister and her advisors need to tread carefully and not rush into making a decision that will impact so acutely on our children’s future. Give CXC more time to put its house in order; give CAPE a few more years to really prove itself as a truly suitable replacement for the internationally known and accepted Cambridge Advanced Level Examination.

F SHAH
Rousillac

THE EDITOR: I would like to take the opportunity to congratulate the management of TTPost for the professional manner in which they handled the recent allegations made by the Guardian Angels. I was amazed at the honesty and professionalism shown by the New Zealanders and local managers as they openly addressed the issue of mail being in the hands of the Angels — this is a first in our country. The fact that they accepted that an incident of mail tampering had occurred and that the matter was in the hands of the police was indeed admirable. For too long we have been subjected to corrupt practices at our state enterprises and time and time again, dishonest acts and breaches are swept under the carpet. One only has to look at WASA, NWRHA, BWIA and CEPEP to see the blatant abuse of office by senior officials, bent on lining their pockets, rather than focusing on improvements for the betterment of the people of Trinidad and Tobago.

I can only hope that the fraud squad can use their good office to fully investigate the circumstances surrounding the Angels and their vigilante activities. Shouldn’t Dr Khan focus his energies on fixing the nation’s health crisis, rather than maligning the postal administration? One needs to remind the good doctor that his political agendas should be left to the political platform. Furthermore, the good doctor must be reminded that there is a fine line between public interest and public mischief. I have in the past received other people’s mail in my mailbox and I did what was required by simply handing it back to the postman, rather than sensationalising the incident. I look forward to seeing the postman for my area as he rides his motorcycle doing mail delivery. One must take note that until a year and a half ago, the people in my area did not even have a postman delivery service; but thanks to TT Post, my pension cheque is now delivered to my home.

I have seen significant improvements made by TTPost and wish to commend them for their efforts to improve the quality of mail delivery. Who would have thought that the day would come when you could pay your phone bills in three minutes flat at a Post Office, rather than waiting in line for an hour, at a TSTT office. I do not know how many New Zealanders are working in TT Post, but it is good to see the local managers holding their end as reported on the television stations and newspapers during the smear campaign mounted by the Angels. Who says that we do not have local talent?

KRISHNA MUNGROO
Barrackpore

THE EDITOR: I would like to suggest that the NBN TV Station, TV4 The Information Channel start to give viewers after the news on Panorama a special political segment to bring to the public the debates in the Houses of Parliament, the Upper and Lower Houses where sometimes the action could be real hot with true Trini to the Parliament Bone bacchanal debates. At another time there are real serious and enlightening debates. Since the whole population cannot fit in the Parliament at the same time it is time, that the Parliament reach home to the people. Did I hear the Minister of Information acknowledge this suggestion, and remark, way to go?

RICHARD BOWYER JR
Cariapichaima

THE EDITOR: I refer to the West Indies’ wins in the fourth Test and the fifth One Day International and submit to all and sundry that these two games were more fete matches in the mindset of the Aussies on both occasions. Complacency on their part was so evident for all to see, if they wanted to. But I suppose we should be thankful for the crumbs and bones? In short we were totally outplayed in every facet of the game by a team that was in a word: superior.

To those who talk about a Test record being achieved and an unbeaten Aussie streak not wanting to be broken, I say again, both games were but fete matches for the Australians and the games prior to our One Day win were for them must-win games (ie World Cup) and the build-up to it. Clive Lloyd’s team though would have trounced Steve Waugh’s team any day, any place.

N KHAN
Port-of-Spain