THE EDITOR: Mr Panday had a whole seven weeks to complete constitution reform within the period of six years that he was officially in office and did absolutely nothing.
Today however, he demands that Mr Manning who has a five-year term of office must do it now. Mr Panday has said that constitutional reform could be completed in two months. My period of seven weeks above has reduced that by one week.
If I could therefore attempt some sort of priority time table for Mr Panday over his six-year period as Prime Minister, it would look something like this:
1. Visit US to be godfather for somebody’s child.
2. Spend about a month in India at the expense of the India government.
3. Visits to spend time with children in their basement home in a wealthy top flight district neighbourhood in London.
4. Weekends of golf in Tobago and elsewhere.
Unlike the crime proposals put forward by the Manning government to remove bail from anyone charged with kidnapping, which Mr Panday labelled as to “paste paper over the cracks,” the above list of Panday priorities were more important than crime and constitutional reform. Perhaps other readers could fill in some other things which Mr Panday considered top priority before constitutional reform during his six years of office. What are the “fundamental problems of the society” which take priority over crime that could cause the implosion he is talking about?
LESTER RAYMOND
Belmont
THE EDITOR: Friendly Fire: a situation where certain forces are hit by missiles coming from their own allies.
This phenomenon started twelve years ago when the American soldiers opened fire on their own country men! At this time it is the turn of the British to become target of American warhead missiles! When it is felt that that was enough up comes the scene involving the American and Kurdish soldiers!
They were mistaken for Iraqi targets and who had a chance to view the BBC footage must have lumps in their stomachs as a result! This is what it costs to rid the country of Iraq of one dictator! The charge that Syria is providing war equipment and night vision goggles to the Iraqi soldiers is another reason for the prolonged war! It is also curious to read of Dr Waffie Mohammed’s views about both America and Saddam, who also believes that he is walking in the footsteps of Saladdin.
The only difference is that Saladdin had a deeply united following against the Crusaders from Europe many centuries ago. With the invasion of Kuwait in 1990, the Middle East world did not trust Saddam at all (And still doesn’t)! This is what the Iraqi propaganda machinery does not want the world to know as each capture of a town or city results in civilians hailing the invaders as saviours!
JEFFREY M JOSEPH
Fyzabad
THE EDITOR: I just wanted to take the opportunity to not only agree with another writer, “Fran Langer”, but also to build on the point. BWIA should in no way try to blame the situation in Iraq for contributing to their failure.
BWIA has been plagued over the years with the “no money” syndrome and here’s what they did to rectify it: Executive salaries, hiring who they know and not who best fits the job, declaring a profit (yeah right) after years of debt, buying new planes with the so called profit and neglect that long list of debts, continuing to maintain that the operation cost of the company stands close to USD700,000 daily with all these new aircraft.
Now I have been an employee of the airline in the past and there are even more internal politics that cost the airline money but I digress. This company needs a “C” check. Government needs to intervene because we don’t want the airline to fold its wings. It was once our pride and still a very big part of our culture. However, though, if taxpayers are to bail the airline out again then I say that the whole senior management be changed. Start all over again and this time do it right.
A RAMHARACK
Caroni
THE EDITOR: If the PNM is really serious about education being a major focus of policy, they will have to show action on several fronts: more state schools; state funds for state schools, not religious schools.
Democracy implies the separation of state and church. Moreover, religion is the major divisive factor in the world today; greater resources for pupils and teachers; reform of the present examination system. This is merely a device to sort students into arbitrary categories of “ability” at arbitrary points of time.
Our focus must be on educating each child to the limit of its ability, not on seeing who can tolerate anxiety best at a given point in time in a formal setting. A related focus must be to use educational assessments primarily as diagnostic measures: to determine what help (opportunities and resources) students need to improve; to determine what understandings of students’ cognitive, emotional social, and physical development teachers need to improve their teaching. The relationship between teacher and pupil is dynamic, interactive, and personal; it is not one where pupils are the empty vessels into which teachers pour their knowledge or stupidity.
It follows that the school (teachers) should play a greater part in assessing the educational performance of their pupils/students, not external and formal examinations. The emphasis must be on teaching and student learning in the classroom, not on exams in a formal setting; and good teaching really means helping pupils/students to learn. Our concept of school education must also include technical education and business studies. It is these that underpin the entrepreneurial base of successful modern societies. All economies involve the production and distribution of needed goods and services.
The opportunity to provide these goods and services is essential for eliminating the dependence of the individual on government and for creating wealth in our society (which is why the kidnapping of members from the entrepreneurial class should be viewed as a major crime — 25 to 30 years hard labour). It is technical skills that earn high wages in industrialised countries. Students must be given the opportunity to acquire these skills. (PS The ability to make rotis has made one Trini a millionaire in New York! I still can’t make a good roti.) There must be teaching skills and resources available to deal with the learning disabilities that many students face.
All students are equal in importance, with or without disability. Compassion on the part of teachers, and their patient and unremitting encouragement (not insults or humiliation) of these students will pay great dividends as well as gratitude from the student and his/her parents. (Einstein was considered a dud in algebra; and Tom Cruise (like many others) is dyslexic.) Adult/further education must be freely available to remediate or continue the learning process, and education must be extended to our prisons.
Illiterate prisoners have no meaningful future in a knowledge-based society. Literacy, numeracy, and technical skills must be provided as far as our resources permit. Hopefully, this might reduce our crime rate. As Jean-Paul Sartre, the French philosopher, says “There is no love apart from deeds of love”. So let’s have some action, PNM!
KENNETH AQUAN-ASSEE
Maraval
GEORGETOWN: Accomplished centuries from Justin Langer and Ricky Ponting, as well as a forthright 77 from Adam Gilchrist, led Australia’s domination of the West Indies in yesterday’s second day of play in the opening Cable and Wireless cricket Test.
Pacer Vasbert Drakes took five for 93 but Australia, resuming on 120 for one, piled up 489 in reply to the home team’s modest first day total of 237.At close, the West Indies were 16 without loss in their second innings, still trailing by 236. Langer and Ponting set up the commanding position by stretching their second wicket stand to a mammoth 248 — an Australian record in the Caribbean.
Left-hander Langer, overnight 55, stroked his way to 146, his 14th Test century, lashing 18 fours and two sixes from 271 balls. Vice-captain Ponting was just as impressive in cruising to his 15th hundred at this level just before lunch. The 28-year-old Tasmanian right-hander, resuming on 46, eventually fell for 117 off 195 balls in 289 minutes. He struck 18 fluent boundaries. Drakes brought the West Indies back in the afternoon as five wickets fell for 77 runs, but Gilchrist stopped the rot with another important counterattack.
The left-hander smashed nine fours and two meaty sixes in 77 off 81 balls. He gained excellent support from Andy Bichel (39) and Brett Lee (26) toward the end of the innings. Bichel lashed eight fours in helping Gilchrist put on 85 for the seventh wicket. The West Indies had to wait until after lunch to make their first breakthrough, as Langer and Ponting took full advantage of excellent batting conditions. The 33-year-old Drakes removed Ponting to a low catch to Marlon Samuels at first slip.
Darren Lehmann (6) also fell to the Barbadian as substitute David Bernard hauled in a stunning diving catch at backward point. Langer was Drakes’ third victim as stand-in wicket-keeper Wavell Hinds pouched his thin edge in the second over with the second new ball. When Drakes’ pace mates Mervyn Dillon and Pedro Collins also got into the act, Australia slid to 362 for six. Dillon trapped record-breaking Australian skipper Steve Waugh leg before for 25, while Collins’ inswinger gained a similarly clear verdict against left-hander Brad Hogg (3). But Gilchrist and the lower order restored Australian dominance with a volley of boundaries.
Drakes returned to claim Bichel as Hinds held an excellent one-handed catch to a thick edge. Jermaine Lawson ended Gilchrist’s quest for an eighth Test century with a return catch and followed quickly by bowling Jason Gillespie (7). Drakes got a deserving fifth wicket to end the innings as Lee spooned a pull to wide mid-on. In fading light, West Indies openers Hinds (2) and Devon Smith (13) safely negotiated five overs from the spinners until close. The five-day match continues today.
GEORGETOWN: West Indies wicket-keeper Ridley Jacobs will miss the Second Test between the West Indies and Australia due to a leg injury, team officials said yesterday.
A veteran of 48 Tests, Jacobs was ordered to rest what he had described as a groin injury sustained Thursday while attempting a sweep shot off the bowling of Australian leg spinner Stuart McGill during his unbeaten innings of 54. The Second Test starts at the Queen’s Park Oval in Trinidad and Tobago on April 19.
In Jacobs’ place should come Carlton Baugh, the diminutive 21-year-old Jamaican who represented the West Indies “B” team in this year’s Carib Beer Cup, the premier annual regional tournament. The selectors had named Baugh in the squad of 14 to oppose Australia in the four-Test series as an apparent understudy to Jacobs, 35. Jacobs is to fly to Trinidad and Tobago today for an evaluation. Officials said he would bat only if necessary in the second innings of the First Test. Opener Wavell Hinds has been acting for Jacobs in the match so far.
PUNTO A PUNTO can continue his upturn in form for trainer Douglas Bennett by taking the Handicap 1 and Lower feature on the Arima Race Club Day 11 programme at Santa Rosa Park, Arima, today.
The six-year-old son of Researching was the subject of some support to take a 1350-metres sprint at the end of last month but found Man Of Class two and a quarter lengths too good. But that confidence would not seem to be misplaced on the selection at the top of his form, as the lone grey in the eight-horse opener on today’s programme apprears to have thrived since. That race was his second this term since coming off a two month rest. Punto A Punto had a successful 2002 season by normal standards, winning four races and finishing second on four occasions from 17 starts.
Among the $83,290.50 earned from his campaign was a cheque for beating Stewards Cup winner Cash Wager on Independence Day. Having shown he can step with the best, today’s event on the eight-race card represents a big drop in class for Punto A Punto. Among the seven runners he has to contend with from trainer Maniram “Boboy” Maharaj stable, only Smooth Operator and Man of Class look likely opponets. Smooth Operator has performed with distinction on the turf and would have taken some beating if the event had not been switched to the main course.
Man Of Class, on the other hand has been a revelation on the sand since joining the barn famous for the green and white colours last year. The son of Bandsman raced consistently this season having already made seven racecourse appearances. And though the battle-hardened five-year-old hardly runs a bad race, he may find a fresher Punto A Punto, with Ricardo Jadoo aboard, and two kilos better off at the weights a different proposition.
COLOMBO: Sri Lankan cricket captain Sanath Jayasuriya said yesterday he has officially resigned to allow authorities to groom a successor for the next World Cup.
“I gave a letter to the board referring to my announcement that I’ll be resigning after the Sharjah tour,” Jayasuriya told The Associated Press. Jayasuriya announced his decision to step down as captain after his team lost to Australia in the World Cup semi-final last month, but the selectors and Sports Minister Johnston Fernando persuaded him to stay on until the Sharjah tour. Jayasuriya said it was not the pressure of being captain that made him step down, but that he felt the need to groom a successor for the next World Cup to be staged in the West Indies in 2007. “I’ve been performing well (as captain),” he said.
Jayasuriya said he personally felt vice captain Marvan Atapattu should take over from him, but that choosing a captain is the job of the selectors. He was appointed captain after authorities sacked Arjuna Ranatunga over his failure to take his team to the second round of the 1999 World Cup in England. Jayasuriya has led Sri Lanka to victory in 18 Tests out of 38 matches and 67 one-dayers in 119 matches. Cricket board’s chief selector Lalith Kaluperuma confirmed Jayasuriya’s resignation. “He (Jayasuriya) has given a letter saying he’s not willing to continue. In that aspect will have to look for alternatives,” Kaluperuma said adding that a final decision will only be taken at a selection meeting next week .
DHAKA: Middle-order batsman Yuvraj Singh’s maiden century, backed by lethal bowling, helped India crush Bangladesh by 199 runs in the opening match of a tri-nation limited-over cricket tournament in Dhaka yesterday.
Bangladesh crashed to 77 runs in reply to India’s 276. It was Bangladesh’s 33rd consecutive defeat in One-Day Internationals. The team narrowly passed their lowest score of 76, against Sri Lanka in Colombo in 2002. Even many Bangladeshi fans at Bangabandhu National Stadium cheered Singh’s brilliant unbeaten knock of 102 from 85 balls. He reached the landmark after striking a boundary off Khaled Mahmud, the Bangladesh captain, in the last over of the match.
Singh’s knock included some elegant shots, including four sixes and nine boundaries. He went on playing impressive shots in spite of wickets falling around him and was named “Man-of-the-Match.” With a tough target of 277 runs to win, Bangladesh lost five top-order batsmen at 38 within the first 15 overs. India’s pacer Avishkar Salvi marked his debut by claiming the wicket of opener Mohammad Ashraful in his first over.
Ashraful’s departure on five started a Bangladesh slide with four other top-order batsmen following him to the dressing room too early, disappointing the home crowd of nearly 20,000. Salvi, who finished with two wickets for 16 runs off seven overs, was brilliantly backed by fast bowlers Ajit Agarkar and Zaheer Khan. Khan had a haul of four wickets for 19 runs, and Agarkar finished with three wickets. Off-spinner Harbhajan Singh contributed with one wicket.
GEORGETOWN: Many spectators attending the four-Test series between the West Indies and Australia are being scanned for weapons and restricted from access to the players as authorities tighten security.
On the opening day on Thursday, most of the estimated 8,000 spectators at the Bourda Cricket Ground were scanned for weapons in procedures intended to meet demands of the visitors and the game’s governing body, officials said. “This is a dress rehearsal for the 2007 cricket World Cup, and this is the first time security has ever been so tight at Bourda,” security chief Conrad Plummer said. “This is also the first time that everyone going into the ground will be scanned for weapons, and this would continue until the match here is over.” The heightened security has come amid a violent crime wave in parts of the South American country that has left more than 200 people dead since February 2002.
Plummer said Australian cricket officials and the London-based International Cricket Council (ICC) were adamant that security be tightened given incidents on the last Australian tour of the Caribbean four years ago, when dozens of spectators invaded the Bourda playing area thinking the West Indies had beaten the visitors in an exciting one-day match. Several Australian players were forced to quickly exit the playing area to avoid over-exuberant spectators. Plummer said that authorities have for the first time set up closed-circuit cameras in the main pavilion and in the players’ dressing room to ensure none is hurt. “Getting it right is very important because we are going to bid to host matches in the 2007 World Cup, and the ICC wants to ensure that we are able to do so,” Plummer said.
