Thanks to the voices of hope

THE EDITOR: Dear Mr Manning, thank you for what you have done these past days concerning the event of Hurricane Ivan. You have done Trinidad and Tobago proud by your generosity, by sending monetary funds for the rebuilding of Grenada, and help to the other countries in the region. The reason this country is blessed with resources, is for the leaders to share the wealth with other countries that are in need, especially the Caribbean. How can we stand by and be selfish, and self-centred at this time? God has spared this country from disaster. Do you know why the USA is wealthy? The world knows that any country that has a conflict, America is there, with food and aid and if possible arms. America gives, and gives and she is blessed. Mr Prime Minister, you are now preparing Trinidad to receive billions of dollars from the millions-of-dollars seed you have planted.

It is also a biblical principle that when you give you receive. Our country has been through a lot. Mr Manning, may these words encourage you, despite the criticism and pessimism that destroy families, undermine institutions of all kinds, defeat nearly everyone and spread gloom over an entire nation. As citizens of this country, we need to look for the good about us. There is so much that is decent and good upon which to build. Above and beyond the negative, the critical, the cynical, and the doubtful, we can and we must learn to look to the positive and the affirmative. We can give strength to the voices of hope. We can give thanks to those who work for peace. We can give added attention to those who feed the hungry and bind up the wounds of conflict. To the extent we cultivate this virtue of optimism, we will bless and receive the blessing. May God continue to bless this country of ours and to open the eyes of the citizens to appreciate and not to tear down this beautiful country of ours.

MARIA FIGUEROA
Cumuto