Why so many people are poor

THE EDITOR: I refer to “People on the street, millions on their minds” Newsday 10/11/04  pg 9. Christmas could definitely come early for a lucky Lotto player. With this in mind Newsday took to the streets of San Fernando yesterday to find out just how the average man in the street would spend the $10 million if Lady Luck were to smile on them. The above quote from Newsday and the replies given by persons in the street tells us all why there are so many poor people in TT today. If I were to win $10 million in any lottery I would not spend a cent of it. I would regard that money as capital to be invested, and apply part of the interest earned each year to charitable causes, to my lifestyle and reinvest the remainder of the interest to earn more interest.

Too many persons earned good money in their younger days yet today they have nothing. Why? They could not manage their finances as soon as their income fell into their hands they spent, spent, spent. A young person in school should sit down and count his capital — his capital at that age would be his hands and his brains — learn your lessons — you have to be able to speak your native language and understand it fluently. Learn to read, count and write. On weekends and holidays look for jobs or projects that can earn you some money and start saving even if in the beginning it is only $10 a week. Train yourself to be punctual, courteous, disciplined, well dressed and well groomed and when you are given a job to do, do it with all your heart and all your soul and above all, don’t grumble and don’t tief.

JACK LEARMOND CRIQUI
Diego Martin