Recent mishaps are wake up calls

THE EDITOR: It has been my experience that life often gives you warnings before terrible disasters strike. As a nation we should take note of the recent downtown fires and the near crash of a Tobago Express aircraft. These events show clearly that we are not prepared to deal with major disasters. With respect to the downtown Port-of-Spain fire no amount of spin could hide the fact that the fire services were not properly equipped. Let’s put all the finger pointing aside and get down to serious business. The next time anything like that happens in any part of the country our protective services must be prepared! God forbid we have a disaster in one of our high-rise buildings or even worse, in one of the heavily industrial estates where there is a lot of flammable material.

In the case of the near crash of an aircraft, I am at a loss to understand why Crown Point airport was not equipped to handle that situation. Crown Point is an international airport in that it handles flights to and from London and many parts of Europe. The aircraft making these flights are much bigger and heavier than the ones used by Tobago Express.  One could only imagine the disaster that would ensue if one of these aircraft has any equipment malfunction as it approaches Crown Point. We in this industry have to get past the stupid notion that “God is a Trini” and that “it cyah happen here.” Well it could happen here and many disasters that could have been avoided have happened here. It is only the amazing nine day memory of Trinidadians that prevents us from recalling them. If we do not take stock of ourselves one day, something would happen that we will never be able to forget.

NAUSHAD KHAN
Valsayn