THIS TOWN IS NOT STRONG

Imagine what criticism of the regime might do to a career or a business. Ask yourself why so many educated people who have suffered under successive governments continue to remain silent?

I know it is the truth, because I have been there. For some strange, and certainly career destructing reason, I began to “take on” issues of injustice and corruption in this country when I was younger. It was both an uplifting and humbling experience. I met, and worked with, people who were wonderful, and whom I would not have met under normal circumstances. And while my interventions were successful — the major ones being the removal of the gas barge from the Blue River in the Caroni Swamp, the stopping of construction of the Caroni Racing Complex (houses before horses) and the cancellation of the infamous government-to-government construction programme - I paid a high price.

The construction company I owned was denied new work by the government. The following story was told to me by a local architect: He was part of the local consulting team on a government-to-government project for the ministry of national security. The Canadians actually used local consultants and contractors (which was a change from the norm). My company had bid for a section of the works. The bid was considered the “best bid” by the local consultants and the Canadians. However, the permanent secretary in the ministry, upon hearing the consultants’ recommendation, announced: “Peter O’Connor is trying to overthrow the government,” and I became the first named terrorist in TT! While the consulting team argued my case, the ps remained adamant — and, “one by one, the consultants buckled” (the architect’s own words) and the contract went to another. Shortly thereafter my company — for want of new work — was placed in receivership. We tried to collect money owed on other jobs. I had completed a job for NIPDEC after their contractor had failed to finish it. NIPDEC refused to pay the sum their consultant had certified. I had to go to court to get an arbitrator appointed. In 1986 the arbitrator ruled in my favour and NIPDEC was forced to pay. However, the “punishment” they meted out to the arbitrator, whom the court appointed, was to deny him work on any NIPDEC contract for the next 20 years! This town is not easy for true. Others can tell similar stories, but they won’t — because “this town not easy” and this town is coward too, so we all take this abuse.

And the private sector is “not easy” either. When I was working against the Caroni Racing Complex, I had the whispered support of “big people” in the private sector. “We admire what you are doing Peter — we need people like you - keep it up.” However, they would say and do nothing, publicly, to show their support.

When my company was forced into liquidation, I was unemployed for about six months. Some people considered hiring me, but “you know how it is Peter — we work for Government and you know …” When I asked a lawyer friend to put in a word for me on a job for which I had applied , he was told: “What! Peter O’Connor — did you see him on the steps with Lincoln Mayers!” When senator Mayers sat in protest on the steps of the new Hall of Justice, I had stopped by, and my photograph was on the front page of the Guardian. Directors of a state company recommended me for a managerial post. The Minister vetoed the board’s recommendation.

The good people at the insurance company, which held the mortgage on my home, told me when I went to see if we could come to some arrangement — “If you miss your payments we will put your home up for sale.” This from the people who admire what I write!

In ‘this town’ one must sit down and shut up, and one must not associate with people or groups who speak or act in ways governments disapprove. I spoke out; I worked a little bit against a few wrongs. I got praise on the cocktail party circuit, but I lost almost everything. So I “understand” why people don’t speak out, but I do not respect or admire these people. They are a bigger part of the problem than are our politicians. That’s what you are — Mr ‘Young Consultant PhD’ - you are the problem, as you hide behind the safety of your anonymity. Or maybe you are right, and I am wrong. But as long as I stand publicly alone in what I write, and silently admired by the anonymous public “this town will not be easy”. I asked myself as I wrote this if bitterness was my motivation for baring my soul and my business to you. But I do not think so. Bitterness I had — and I won’t deny that it can still well up within me sometimes.

But bitterness is a self-defeating affliction, and I believe that is all behind me now. I wrote this column because a clear case has been made about state terrorism against people and organisations who dare to take a stand. And this has passed without notice.

When, if ever, will we — from PhDs to the man in the street — find the courage to stand up and be counted when things are wrong? Am I a person of courage or am I just a fool? I know “this town is not easy”, and I also know that this town is not strong either.