Real issues not being dealt with

THE EDITOR: Please permit me a space in your prestigious newspaper to state my views on issues of today that concern me deeply. Firstly, I want to know if our beloved Prime Minister, Mr Manning has put on blinkers over the past few months. I want to know if Mr Manning has turned his eye away from the real issue plaguing our country to join in the revelery of the great Brian Lara. One should not get me wrong. I believe that we should celebrate this magnificent achievement and scorer, a son of our soil but there are other important issues at hand and we must not be blinded by the bright lights of the celebration.

When Mr Manning was awarding thousands of dollars to Lara for his effort on that couple of days, was he thinking about the striking ALNG workers, the workers who are employed under the minimum wage or the unemployed? When he was planning and promising parks and centres in honour of Lara, was he thinking about the people without basic amenities like water, lights, paved roads or the plight of the Arima people whose women are suffering? Has Mr Manning forgotten his promise of a better life to the very people who put him where he is at this moment? Has he gone back on his word? It seems that he failed to take notice of the continued rampage of crime on the streets: kidnapping continues, people are neither safe in their homes, streets nor even in police care. Is Mr Manning so high in his sheltered palace that he fails to see the many protests and strikes taking place at every corner of the country?

When he promised the additional 180 scholarships, it is obvious that a lot more plans needed to be made. What defines “underprivileged?” I was quite happy on hearing that my chances of winning a scholarship increased but it was short lived. What is the real plan? Obviously, your promises will benefit a great number of people, but when? Furthermore, if the Honourable Prime Minister is so focused on the achievements of sportsmen and women, why has Lara been one of the only benefitting people? What was done for the winning Under-15 cricketers, medal-winners at the various sporting events and even the numerous record-breakers? They represented our country as well, why couldn’t they be rewarded too? It is a great thing to celebrate our heroes and upcoming ones as well (inclusion of Dwayne Bravo and Ravi Rampaul and the Under-19 squad in the celebrations) but there are greater pressing issues present in our country. We should take off our blinkers - our lives depend on it.

S L BOODOO
Cunupia