Veera, young lady of true grit

THE EDITOR: The young lady Veera Bhajan, who was born without arms, is a young lady of class, and an exemplar to all the peoples of Trinidad, and also the school children of this country. This young girl showed true grit while determining that her handicap would not deter her from attaining her goal to succeed as a scholar, and her life’s ambition of being a lawyer. Many children going to school with all their faculties are not so interested in an education, but only go to school as a formality and to socialise. People such as Veera must be emulated , not criticised, for their success, and ambition for supremacy. Imagine this girl from small, in spite of her handicap of no arms, decided to learn to write with her foot. What greatness, so much determination! She decided that this infirmity would not stop her from being successful in her educational pursuits.

Children from other backgrounds should take example and follow in her footsteps. It was encouraging to see that she received the Humming Bird Silver Medal for her ambition and courage to suceed, while getting five distinctions in the CXC examination. Some other person under a similar handicap might have given up and sought social welfare from the Government, but she weathered the storm to success in the first part of her life’s ambition. It is also heart warming to know that the government is going to support her financially until the end of her education. Since Cro Cro and Sugar Aloes always sing commentary songs, I hope they would houour her in their songs for Carnival 2005 while comparing her with people who are not so ambitious and courageous.

It is time we sing elevating songs of love and freedom and stop the social enslavement in song in this country. The blind genius Mikkel Trestrial must also be congratulated for his success in his examination and placing seventh in the world in “A” Level Sociology in spite of his visual impairment. We must be proud of our people while living in peace and love with one another. We must also ask God to intervene in this country where all is not well, so that young people would follow in this girl’s footsteps who was created by the Almighty as an example of His greatness as Lord and Master of the Universe, although there are social calamities in the world today.

HORACE DESORMEAUX
Maraval