Govt must reward those who work for social change

THE EDITOR: Sir, the intention of this letter is to solicit via this popular medium public opinion on a matter I consider to be of grave national importance since it hinges on how small persons are treated and viewed in the society. I thought it was important in light of the achievements of Brian Lara, and what tragedy has been averted if his early talents were not seen and nurtured by caring persons. A tragedy from the point view that if these set of circumstances did not occur we would have lost an obvious legend in Lara, simply because no one cared enough. Thank God at least this one has been averted. Lara has now blossomed into a hero extraordinaire. The Order of Caricom is a fitting tribute.

My issue is however, how many missed opportunities for greatness we have squandered as a society because of petty differences, jealously or simply refusing to give merit where merit is due. No the brittle “Square peg in round hole” philosophy which at one time almost crippled us as a society. We must develop the maturity and objectivity to call a “spade a spade” and to pronounce justice not on narrow self-centred motives that cannot aid in the development process. Talk of Vision 20/20. We seem always in the reactive, rather than in the proactive mood.

To the above end and consistent with my introduction, I refer to the deafening silence surrounding the role and efforts of community development consultant and social activist, the inimitable Mr Lennox Smith, in first bringing the idea of converting the burnt out rum bond on the Eastern Main Road to a training facility with Laventille in mind. I remember all too vividly the germination of the idea which immediately caught the eyes of the then Minister responsible for tertiary Education, Mr Ganga Singh. I myself attended several meetings summoned by the former Minister with the Chief Executive Officers of the National Energy Skills Centre (NESC) and YTEPP, for the establishment of what was then generically called an “Inner City Training Facility;” largely dedicated to the Laventille and environs community.

It was also to be modelled along the MLIO Trade School concept. I recall quite vividly the difficulty of both CEO’s comprehending some of the salient concepts of the MLIO model to which Mr Smith had to repeatedly refer for clarity during the almost three months of discussions. Finally, a draft proposal was prepared, site visits were arranged and a floor plan emerged. Funding was now being awaited. The change of Administra-tion seemed not to have affected the fundamental tenets which gave rise to the use of the burnt out premises for Vocational Skills Training purposes.

There was a formal sod turning ceremony by the Prime Minister, Mr Patrick Manning. The tune of $21 million was secured for the project, but not a word of Mr Smith’s involvement or contribution was uttered. If due recognition was denied Mr Smith, at least commercial etiquette would dictate that a finder’s or due diligence fee should have been offered to Mr Smith. It should be also noted that in a meeting with the successor to former Minister Singh with the advent of the Manning Administration, we were told that this project was identified as a major pillar with Laventille in mind, and that Mr Smith’s involvement would be duly noted (including monetarily).

Of course Smith is no stranger to injustice as was his experience with MLIO and its manifold social improvement efforts, both in and out of Laventille, in the interest of the poor. But is this approach by decision makers an appropriate one? I submit it is not, in the sight of God and the virtue of moral. I am sure there are many other such cases as Mr Smith’s In the society. Those with the creative and intellectual en-dowment should be allowed to have their God-given talents work in the interest of their fellow men and the fostering of a better society. High-handedness, petty disposition and rank ostracism will not augur well, especially for a society as small as ours.

Political influence, ethnicity, religious creed or not being part of the influential class cannot, and must not be a basis to debar a citizen from what is justifiably his or hers. No doubt just as Lara, Mr Smith has worked hard and made sacrifices for something to which he has dedicated his life. That is to see Laventille emerge out of the socio-economic quagmire it has found itself. Lara’s theatre of operation or chosen vocation has made him immune from the long reaches of spite and envy, and even there he had to grapple with unreasonable critics. Just as Lara, I trust that the national community will some day come to see Mr Smith’s contribution as he seeks to re-engineer a new dispensation that will see Laventille and environs take its rightful place in the national order.

TERRANCE BANISTER
Special Projects Office
Morvant Laventille Improvement Organisation