Trinidad’s loss, Grenada’s gain

Harvey’s elevation comes on the heels of a robbery at the St Martin de Porres RC Church in Gonzales, not far from where he attended primary and secondary school. That incident, which is currently before the courts where the facts will be ventilated and a determination made, drew condemnation from the highest recesses of this nation.

Not only was Harvey treated brutally, but the robbers seemed bent on demonstrating the idea that there is nothing sacred.

In the wake of this incident, when Tropical Storm Bret was upon us, many people on social media joked that the adage “God is a Trini” was about to be disproven, driven in part by vengeance from the Almighty for the attack on one of his own. As jokey as this was, it taps into a simple truth: when evil is done, society as a whole pays. As some people say, if you spit in the air, it must fall on you.

However, Harvey’s appointment must have been in train for a long time. Still, the fact that it will require him to relocate to Grenada exemplifies the kind of pattern many others have followed. Many others have left Trinidad and Tobago after experiencing crime. Some have not waited around, taking in front before in front take them.

This is one of the hidden side-effects of the crime situation: brain drain. If the State continues to fail to arrest this situation, more and more of our talented and hardworking citizens will make a choice to go where they feel safe and where they feel they can flourish.

Unfortunately, there are no official statistics which track migration done for the reason of avoiding crime, but it is highly likely this has contributed to a shrinking of the middle-class. That shrinking of the middle-class has itself been identified as a further cause for concern, setting up the conditions for social strife by accentuating the difference between the haves and the havenots.

Harvey will undoubtedly flourish in his new role and is clearly committed to service wherever that may take him, and for this he must be applauded. He has given tremendous service to Trinidad and Tobago.

Harvey was born on November 9, 1948. After discovering his priestly vocation, he carried out his philosophical and theological formation in the St John Maria Vianney and Ugandan Martyrs regional seminary in Trinidad and Tobago. He was ordained a priest on June 27, 1976.

According to the Vatican, after priestly ordination Harvey held the following offices and carried out further studies: lecturer in philosophy in the Archdiocese of Port of Spain (since 1976); formator and vice-rector of the St John Maria Vianney and Ugandan Martyrs regional seminary (1976-1979); parish priest in Morvant and Laventille (1979-1985); brief specialisation course at the University of Lancaster, England (1985); higher studies in the Graduate School of Theology of the University of Berkeley, California (1985-1988). He has been parish priest in Maloney (1988- 1996), parish priest in San Fernando (1997-2007), and parish priest in Gonzales and at the Holy Rosary Church, Port of Spain (2007-2016).

He is currently episcopal vicar for the clergy.

Now more than ever, we need more people to act as shepherds in communities. The current problems in the country will lead anyone to despair. But our warmth and resilience as a people — and the example set by people such as Harvey — are what we need more of.