The unsung hero in our environmental history

THE EDITOR: Environmental history was made in TT involving our Blue and Gold macaws on Wednesday December 17, 2003. With the release of 20 Blue and Gold macaws in the Nariva Swamp. Even macaw birds, can arouse passion and desire in people for media exposure. Oft times, those grabbing the spotlight are least worthy of the glory and accolades that are synonymous with such ventures. The unsung heroes, who are usually those doing most of the work, are the people no one hears about. They are for the most part, eased out on the periphery, where they are left to lick their wounds. I would be remiss, if I fail to reiterate that TT, through the years, has been transformed into a society predominated by transience, complacency and indifference much to our detriment.

The unsung hero, who was hung out to dry in this matter is Bernadette Plair an official of the Cincinnati Zoo, USA, our very own, home-grown, home-bred, who was saddled with the thankless job of bringing this historical event to fruition, without the “red-carpet” treatment being allotted to her, as is customary in most historical events. To add insult to injury she was given minimum media exposure while Pennelope Beckles — Minister of Public Utilities and the Environment and Dr Terri Roth AVP of Cincinnati Zoo, USA basked in the spotlight. The release of the Blue and Gold macaw birds at the Nariva swamp that made environment history began in 1993 with the view of rescuing the threatened bird species from, the endangered species list, back into their natural swamp-land habitat. In 1999 the fore-runner of the project in TT, Bernadette Plair, released the first batch of 18 birds, which was the first phase of the release programme. These birds were brought to TT, from a well nurtured bird population in Guyana. The project from its inception was the “brain-child” of Bernadette Plair.

At that juncture, being the initial stage of the project the event was free of fan-fare, with minimum media exposure, not to mention that there was no high ranking TT Government official or the presence of any official from the Cincinnati Zoo, USA, other than Bernadette Plair — director of CRESTT the coordinator at the project. Lo and behold, during the second phase of the release programme on Wednesday 17, 2003, the fact that environmental history was in the making, “eve ryone, who was somebody showed up.” If environmental history was in the making as purported by the press why was not Bernadette Plair, the main collaborator of the project given what was due her, when taking her commitment and dedication into account? Why was she side-lined and over-looked, while Penelope Beckles and Dr Terri Roth, were allowed to steal the spotlight? Minister Penelope Beckles remarked that she was indeed happy to be a part of the historic event. Yet continued to ignore the important part Bernadette Plair played with regards to the success of the entire event. She further went on to bestow praise on the Nariva Community for the part the residents played in helping to preserve the Blue and Gold macaw from extinction. (What part did Bernadette Plair, the Cincinnati Zoo, USA official play in all this?) The empty rhetoric of Minister Penelope Beckles was fraught with displaced praise and can be categorised as being disingenuous.

Why do we continue to eat and breathe politics at every turn? The VP of Cincinnati Zoo and Minister Pennelope Beckles should be admonished for failing to bestow on Bernadette Plair, the accolades for which she is most deserving. Members of the media that covered the event should not be left blameless. All the parties involved should have been made aware of the fact, as to who the main player in this history making event really was: It was neither Dr Terri Roth nor Minister Pennelope Beckles. An event of this magnitude cannot be accomplished by just “showing up.” Minister Pennelope Beckles and Dr Terri Roth, just by their presence could not in any way diminish the contribution, dedication and commitment of the “unsung hero” — Bernadette Plair, for whom this was a labour of love. Did not some one say a “king” has no honour in his country when male-chauvinism was the dominating trend? Now with the change of time we can feel free to say — a rancour, from any dispassionate faction of the society.

ULRIC GUY
Point Fortin