What I heard sent me thinking about “roti expenses” too. “Everliving Calypso” sang by Allan “Brother Mudada” Fortune was thunder. Calypso support came from 2016 National Calypso Queen Amrika Mutroo with “All Lives Matter.” Enjoyable melodies came from All Rounder with “We Only Passing Through”, Karene Asche’s “Against All Odds,” Mark “Contender” John with “Can’t Buy One,” 2016 Calypso Monarch Devon Seale with “Pyramid of Love,” and to high-end it all, Singing Sandra, Drupatee Ramgoonai, Timothy “Baron” Watkins, and Edwin “Crazy” Ayoung. Backed by a lively support staff, MCs’ Meagan Sylvester and Omari Ashby rightly called it a “high-class” occasion. But it was the cost-saving initiative by TUCO president Lutalo Masimba (Brother Resistance) that inspired my loud applause. Mr Masimba’s objective is to reduce TUCO’s dependency and elevate the organisation’s professionalism and reputation. Now, this column frowns on those who persist in making little or no effort on their own. And who, wittingly or unwittingly, show little or no regard for the tax dollars that others work hard to pay. After winning last Sunday, Masimba (“Mother Earth”) commendably said: “I give thanks to the Most High. TUCO expects to do some cutting while seeking to deliver a world class product with restricted budget, cognisant of the economic realities.” Mr Masimba’s objective sent my mind to the “roti war.” My civic interest here is not primarily in which Prime Minister spent more than the other. Whether it was $300,000 or $1.6 million. Or whether the roti was dhalpuri, parata or dosti. Just stop it. Whether Eid, Divali, Emancipation or Christmas, stop such lavish, tax-dollared expenditures at this time. For those who wish them, let such occasions be more community- driven than politically-sponsored.

Some may disagree, but governments must have limits. Get back to basic needs. Let the donors and organisers themselves do such celebrations in their various districts.

After all, these religious or cultural occasions essentially rest on humility, simplicity, devout worship and thanksgiving. No doubt, this project began with good intentions. But what is the evidence — the consequences? Firstly, there is no evidence that such expensive, lavish celebrations bring ethnic unity, national harmony or improved social capital to deal with the many social and economic challenges facing this resource-diminished country. On the contrary, there is quite often ethnic arousal of relative deprivation by one against the other. Worse yet, there is collateral damage. The inevitable comparisons of expenditure between one Prime Minister and another will lead to further ethnic and political fractures within an already fragile society.

I say with respect and without malice, find less ostentatious, thrifty ways to celebrate and worship in this multi-racial society of worrisome contradictions, especially when there is no national cultural policy — assuming one is possible.

Any reasonable society will be quite bothered if it sees its government of whichever party demanding that citizens prepare for hard times, spend less, travel less and yet see this same government spending tax-payers’ money in extravagant ways.

I wrong? The society is already deeply troubled by the vanity expenditures and uninspiring examples by those who should know better. This country should be wary of the “anti-establishment anger” now rocking other countries far and wide. Re-elected president Masimba’s appeal to make the 500-member TUCO more self-reliant is a clarion call for others to follow. TUCO could practise self-help but a little push here and there is still necessary. What about that multi-storied, “concrete eye-sore” south of the CRH at Trincity? Long abandoned by its former beneficiary, it should now be given to TUCO with all the elements of accountability inserted. Supported by last Wednesday’s Newsday editorial, Masimba’s passionate calypso beat towards selfhelp should be encouraged.

He made the announcement delivering the feature address yesterday at the People’s National Movement (PNM) public rally held at Eddie Hart Grounds, Tacarigua.

He was responding to a United National Congress advertisement in yesterday’s newspapers with the claim that the Couva Children’s Hospital remained unopened.

Rowley said a construction site was opened for the last election (under the previous administration) and they had to wait until the end of July this year for the contractor to hand over the Children’s Hospital.

He pointed out that the hospital exists 20 minutes from the Children’s Hospital at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex, Mt Hope and there were no doctors and no nurses to staff the hospital. He reported the hospital had gone out for public expressions of interest locally and internationally and they would evaluate proposals “to make a choice what goes in those buildings”.

He also responded to a claim that they had stopped construction on the Arima and Point Fortin hospitals.

“They paid money to print that lie in the papers today,” he declared.

He said a contract had been awarded for the Point Fortin Hospital under a government- to-government arrangement and to a contractor without any competition. He reported that there had been no agreement between this government and the government of Austria.

He further reported the current administration had no loan available and had to find money from the current account.

Rowley said when the month comes the Finance Minister, Colm Imbert, struggles to pay public servants’ salaries because they have to pay contractors.

He reported that work was continuing on both the Point Fortin and Arima hospitals.

He also commented on the claim that the Children’s Life fund had been halted. Rowley said the fund was worth $55 million and encouraged people to apply.

He added, however, they were conducting an audit “of the money they thief ” but the fund continues.

“You must amend these pieces of legislation to provide the changes that you request,” Khan explained.

“If they have no intention of amending the Municipal Corporation Act, they are not talking about reform. Don’t even listen to them. The UNC is clueless, the UNC is faithless, the UNC is devoid of ideas and is devoid of any robust policy at the national level.” Khan said said the Office of Attorney General is now drafting new legislation to effect the Government’s proposed changes.

He listed the proposals as being full-time mayors/corporation chairmen, devolution of some executive authority from Government to corporations, increase in corporation term from three to four years, and the nod for corporations to spend revenues such as land taxes that they collect.

Also corporations will perform social services delivery (with the local councillor knowing which family or pensioner is in need of help), limit contractors to residing within the region where the work is to be done.

As to the charge he would be facing, police remain tight-lipped yesterday to Sunday Newsday, but his mother, Gloria Charles, who denounced her son’s arrest at Piarco International Airport, said she visited him at the San Fernando Police Station yesterday morning and police officers had informed her about a warrant dating back to a case pending against him approximately two years ago.

“I waited over two years to see my son and they talking about some case where he didn’t pay some money, “Gloria, 56, said.

Gloria and Charles’ two wives and several of his ten children, journeyed from their San Juan home yesterday to the San Fernando Police Station and were allowed to speak to Charles. Gloria said he was being kept in a cell in the station.

Charles and the other four nationals, Asim Luqman, Andre Battersby, Dominic Pitilall and Leslie Daisley, were arrested at a hotel in Venezuela on March 19, 2014 for suspected terrorism activities. They were taken on several occasions to court and eventually pleaded guilty to a charge of espionage.

Umar Abdullah, head of the Islamic Front who visited the men in Caracas and who earlier this year spent over two months there, told Sunday Newsday he learned that the charge against Charles was related to a private civil matter.

Abdullah said, “It seems that while Charles was in a Caracas jail, he could not meet his obligation here in Trinidad.

The matter was reported to the police and it has become a criminal matter.

It is not that Charles committed a crime, or, was wanted for any criminal conduct.

This could happen to anyone.” Abdullah also visited Charles at the station.

About the predicament the five nationals had faced in Venezuela, Abdullah commented that the men would be consulting with attorneys to determine the extent to which their constitutional rights were infringed.

Over $1 million, he added, were spent on paying lawyers in Caracas to represent the men in their court appearances over the two years and eight months. Abdullah said, “Whilst the men were charged with espionage and the two years and eight months they spent were incorporated into the sentence they received. We would be speaking with attorneys here to determine whether we can have these convictions eradicated (overturned) based on the fact these men were forced to plead guilty.” Some time this week, Abdullah added, the men would be speaking to the media about their experience in Venezuela.

Acting Supt Wayne Thongs, 55, and woman police constable Dana Spencer, 40, will appear before a Port-of-Spain magistrate tomorrow.

Thongs, of the Western Division and who has over 35 years service, has been charged with committing several acts to pervert the course of justice, while Spencer is accused of misbehaviour in public office.

Director of Public Prosecutions Roger Gaspard gave instructions to charge the two officers, shortly before midnight last Friday, after he received and reviewed a report on the investigation of the alleged offences from head of the Fraud Squad Snr Supt Totaram Dookhie.

Last Thursday, Dookhie and a team of Fraud Squad officers detained Spencer at the Court and Process Branch in San Fernando, where she had been assigned, while, also on that day, the same team intercepted and arrested Thongs on the Foreshore, Cocorite as he was driving to the St James Police Station to attend a meeting.

Thongs was taken and placed in a cell at the Belmont Police Station while Spencer was detained at Woodbrook Police Station.

It is alleged that while they were both previously based at the Rapid Response Unit, Spencer presented duty slips to Thongs for work she had not done which he is accused of fraudulently signing.

The matter was referred to the Fraud Squad and investigations were carried out which led to their arrests.

I remember laughing and chanting those words all over the house, when I first saw Finding Nemo, followed at times by ‘This too shall pass’. We rarely need a philosophical treatise to make it through our daily lives.

Just one inspirational moment that stays with you, and it can bring light and laughter to an otherwise dark, ominous day.

So, as we debate roti prices, in other news this week, Ellen DeGeneres received a Medal of Freedom at the White House for the changes she has brought about by her own courage and authenticity. If we ever question the validity of popular culture Ellen exemplifies its power.

Not only does pop culture reach a large audience, but it can also have profound impacts on individuals and communities. It has the power to change and inspire. People depend on it for sustenance of their inner lives.

In 1997 on the sitcom Ellen when Ellen DeGeneres’s character came out as lesbian, just after she did in real life, the effects were phenomenal.

She had risked career and name, at a time when the American society was not yet ready to deal with such a public affirmation of homosexuality. While the ‘Puppy episode’, as it was called, was hugely popular, the repercussions were largely negative, leading to the eventual cancellation of the sitcom as ratings began to drop. Despite this, this one moment in television history, changed the discourse on homosexuality, making it possible for other public figures to come out of the closet. This one moment made possible characters like Will in Will and Grace, Cyrus Beene in Scandal, television series like the L-word, Orange is the New Black and others that feature gay content and characters in lead roles.

The world has come a long way since Ellen’s breakthrough. Today many nations, like Canada, The Netherlands, Sweden and the UK, have legalised homosexuality and same-sex marriages.

Prejudices are still prevalent even within these societies, controlled as they are, by law. But, though this may be so, the change in law allows for slow changes in the larger society.

And sometimes it takes one person to bear the burden for the rest of a community fighting for equal rights.

The world is no stranger to discrimination — The Feminist, Civil Rights and the Gay Rights movements are just some of the major ones the push against it. Within societies, there are always smaller groups of people fighting just to find a space and to be afforded the benefits that all citizens should enjoy under their respective governments.

One would think that by now, many of us would be open to arguments that speak about abolishing archaic laws that infringe on other citizens’ human and civil rights, but unfortunately people’s memories are short.

(Just keep swimming. Just keep swimming). And so we have victims of ethnic cleansing against the feminist movement, civil rights fighters against the gay rights activists and so it goes. If that isn’t evidence of the hypocrisy inherent in many one of us, I can’t think of any other that is.

With every new movement, the process begins again, a never-ending cycle of fights to be seen simply as human and to be given the respect that should be afforded to any human being. Saddled with the burden of morality, many cease to see clearly. The idea of morality is too often, a dark, frosted window that blocks our view of what lies outside and does not allow the light from outside to reach inside. Our lives are all like The Truman Show, a script, written for us.

We know no better, because the sets have been created for us and many of us know no other. But so be it. It is what it is.

Today, the fact that the American government has awarded Ellen a Medal of Freedom, is a powerful statement as to how much she has changed the attitudes and scripts of many, in her advocacy for LGBT rights.

Through her humour she has entertained countless people, bringing laughter to millions across the world, including us here in Trinidad. She stands now as a model of courage, and the power, as Oprah Winfrey puts it, ‘to step out of the lie of your life and allow yourself to blossom in the fullness of your truth.’

Indeed, there is competition and often conflict among its members in their own operations. A convenient analogy would be cricketers or footballers who compete against each other for their clubs, but join to play for the National Team.

The piece which I wrote in 2008 described the angst of the PNM against the criticism and perceived interference of the JCC in government’s physical development philosophy and plans.

“Physical development” refers to designs and construction of roads, bridges, buildings, industries as well as flood mitigation and the like.

While Manning and the PNM were being critical, the UNC was cheering the JCC, using JCC arguments to criticise government’s burgeoning construction programme as being unplanned, poorly prioritised, and favouring foreign construction interests over locals.

But the same UNC, during their turn feeding at the trough of government largesse from 1996 through 2001, were rabidly against the JCC, for its criticisms of the UNC’s construction programmes.

During those years, the PNM in Opposition supported the issues the JCC was raising and saw the JCC as a patriotic institution. Roll back through the years to when the JCC was founded in the mid 1970s and you will find that the JCC was always befriended and supported by the opposition, regardless of who sat on that side, and was attacked by the government regardless of who controlled the trough.

The JCC developed in the 1970s to protect the local industry from Dr Eric Williams’ decision to by-pass the locals and ask foreign governments to “send” their out-of-work contractors to build our country.

They came, without the benefit of tenders, or controls from our professionals, and were given priority access to our materials already in short supply—cement, gravel and blocks, critical components in every building project.

This, you might agree is like having to bake bread, but with shortages of flour and yeast, and trying to bake more by hiring more bakers. They were also given priority in payments, while locals who had completed projects were made to wait years for payments.

And yet, with all these advantages, the government-to-government contractors failed to build better or more quickly, or at lower costs than locals. And many left our country with our money, owing suppliers and subcontractors. To this day, the JCC is asking that foreign contractors be required to post bonds which can be “called” to pay local bills should they default.

This history alone should be noted by the media, the public and the people who alternate in bringing and overseeing the construction programmes of the State—our politicians.

But with regards to the politicians, they only note the value of a group of dedicated professionals, many actually working within government, state entities and our universities, when they are in Opposition.

And that rather long prologue brings us to the present, and a seminar hosted by the JCC last Wednesday.

Titled “Economic Revitalisation through Mobilisation of the Construction Sector”, this seminar was opened by Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley, who stayed to hear a couple of the recommendations, and was briefly visited by the Ministers of Planning and Development and Works and Infrastructure.

The new Minister of Works and Infrastructure could have become more informed had he arrived on time and sat through the day’s sessions.

But like most ministers of both parties, he no doubt believes that becoming truly informed is an unnecessary burden to carry.

One could not help leaving the allday session without feeling a sense of despair, and for me, almost doom.

All of the issues identified from the 1970s, through to the present, still remain as unresolved deterrents to the efficient development of the country’s infrastructure and public buildings stocks.

Current issues of procurement legislation and transparency are on the JCC’s front burner, and despite government’s promise to have the procurement legislation effective by March 31, 2017, professional analyses indicate that this is hardly possible.

Transparency remains a sheet of lead, as this government is now joining the UNC to keep hidden the alleged legal opinion which the UNC claims gave them the “right” to award a contract in defiance of the law.

And this in spite of our High Court and our Appeal Court ruling that the opinion belongs to “we the people” and should be revealed.

The State suppression of the truth and the JCC continues, to the detriment of the potential development of our country.

Nothing ever changes.

And, in a strenuous effort to woo their faithful and convince the undecideds, both the ruling People’s National Movement (PNM) and the United National Congress (UNC), held rallies yesterday at the Eddie Hart Savannah, Tacarigua and Couva, respectively, in a final push for power The PNM, which controlled eight of the 14 Local Government bodies after the last polls, is hoping to maintain its status or increase the number of corporations it currently has.

The party held the Port-of-Spain City Corporation; Point Fortin Borough Corporation; San Juan/ Laventille Regional Corporation; Arima Borough Council; Diego Martin Regional Corporation; San Fernando Borough Council; Tunapuna/ Piarco Regional Corporation and Sangre Grande Regional Corporation.

The UNC (People’s Partnership) held on to its traditional corporations in Couva/Tabaquite/Talparo; Rio Claro/Mayaro; Princes Town; Penal/Debe; and Siparia.

PNM general secretary Ashton Ford said yesterday the party was confident in retaining its eight Local Government bodies.

“Based on our campaign and based on our feedback on the ground, we are very confident that we would retain the eight corporations that we have. And we are working hard in the others to see if we can get them. If we do not get control, we are hoping to at least make inroads,” he told Sunday Newsday.

Ford said the PNM was eyeing the the Siparia Regional Corporation, where it currently holds three of the eight electoral districts.

“We are hoping to also make inroads in Mayaro (regional corporation), Princes Town and Chaguanas..

We are also hoping to do well enough in Couva/Tabaquite to retain the one seat that we have and get one or more in the Penal/.Debe Corporation. But we are confident of retaining the eight they ave now,” he said. Ford said the party had followed its campaign strategy as outlined by Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley and campaign manager, Energy Minister Franklin Khan.

He said: “Franklin Khan was the man who led the charge for Local Government reform and Dr Rowley also dealt with national issue relating to the economy, crime, health education. So, I think the message went through to the people despite the insecurities we face.” UNC chairman David Lee said he was optimistic the party will retain its six corporations. He said the party also stood a good chance of wresting the Sangre Grande Regional Corporation from the PNM.

“I also feel good about the Sangre Grande Corporation in making some inroads into that corporation and also along the East-West Corridor,” he said The Pointe-a-Pierre MP said the UNC had done its homework.

“The candidates have been out there working the ground and we will be working the ground up until Sunday night (tonight),” he said.

Saying the party’s hard work will pay off, Lee said the UNC still was not leaving anything to chance even though its election machinery was in place.

He said on election day, the party was paying close attention to the polling divisions in the Siparia, Sangre Grande and Chaguanas regional bodies.

Garcia pointed out that as minister he alone has the authority to expel a child and, “I will not hesitate to invoke it”.

In the two minute, four second video the female student in question is threatened and pushed before a group of females started punching and kicking her. After the major beating the student sat on the ground and one student is seen kicking her in the head. The incident is reported to have occurred on October 26.

It was reported that all of the students involved are in form four and following the incident 10 were suspended.

The beaten student received soft tissue injuries but was treated and also received counselling. She has since returned to school. Back in 2009 the school made papers for a “gang war” between El Dorado West and East.

Garcia spoke about the incident yesterday at a media conference held at the school together with the school’s vice principal Susan Ramsaroop (the principal is out of the country), Minister in the Ministry of Education Dr Lovell Francis and Chief Education Officer Harrilal Seecharan.

He described the video as “a mob of girls mercilessly beating” another girl.

“So devastating was the licking that that student received that a number of persons called me expressing their disgust at what they saw. Among those persons that called me was the prime minister of this country expressing his grave concern at what has been happening,” he said.

He said while the school did an internal investigation the Education Ministry will be launching its own investigation and “other forms of action” may be taken. He also reported he will meet with the parents of both the victim and the students who beat her. He said it was “unfortunate” that the suspended students were not sent to the Learning Enhancement Centre in Couva.

Garcia said he was informed the incident occurred outside the school but noted that does not exonerate anyone. He added that when students behave like that there is a reason and it does not occur in a vacuum. He said there is a foundation with the parents and the support from them.

“Apparently students are being allowed to do what they want,” he said.

He said in incidents like the fight the blame rests largely on the shoulders of the parents.

He reiterated he would meet with the parents saying that type of behaviour will not be tolerated at El Dorado West or any other school.

“It has brought the entire education system into disrepute, shame and odium,” he said.

On the history of students being expelled Garcia reported he did not expel any during his tenure and Seecharan said he could not recall it being done by previous ministers.

Asked about increased security guards, Garcia said he does not want schools to be seen as “jails” and does not believe that beefing up the number of guards would change the situation.

“I hate to see schools with high walls and barb wire fences.

Schools should be an extension of a community,” he commented.

On possibly taking action against the parents, which was a suggestion in the National Consultation on Education, Francis said they will ensure some mechanism to hold parents accountable is put in place but it will not necessarily be punitive.

Garcia also criticised parents who were having children hold up placards in protest and encouraging them to disrespect Education Ministry officials. He was referring to recent protests by the PTAs of several schools.

Have you ever considered what the ubiquitous stories of murder and images of dead bodies have done to our society? It is a question that I have been asking myself recently, and I believe that all the murder surrounding us has severely wounded our citizens, our communities and our society — not physically, but psychologically and economically.

Bodies are dropping like flies; and while we can probably fit some murders into the “gang related” category, many of our innocent compatriots have lost their lives senselessly and in the most gruesome ways. We have been left baffled by the “who would do this?” in most of these murders, but it’s the “why?” that creates the greatest anxiety amongst our citizenry — it is what foments the greatest amount of distress. That unknown factor has us feeling that anyone, anywhere, anytime, can be killed for almost anything by anyone, and because of that, we live in complete fear all the time.

When there is a murder, we focus on the victim; everyone wants to know the who, when and how. And as long as we’re satisfied that it isn’t someone close or known to us, and especially if we pass judgement and determine that person’s guilt posthumously, it’s on to the next body — the next story. We have become numb to murders, and for this reason, there is a psychological impact on our society, which we either haven’t yet noticed, or maybe decided to overlook.

With murder everywhere, our society now feels as though it has become more violent and intrigued by death.

This is not what Trinbago used to be like.

The psychological impact of crime’s omnipresence on us interferes with our daily lives and it challenges the fabric of our society.

When crime is this pervasive, our sense of safety is shattered, so we feel unsafe, insecure, vulnerable, helpless and powerless, which in turn makes us feel angry and frustrated. The majority of the population lives outside of the real hard-core areas that those people who wear police uniforms label as “hot spots”; but yet we all feel those same emotions; so just imagine the psychological impact on the residents who live in the heart of crime-ridden communities.

In addition to the psychological effect of crime on society, the country is wounded and suffers from the hefty price we pay – literally. In terms of tourism, the Prime Minister continues to feed us his asinine master-plan of Sandals in Tobago; however, as many countries do all they can to discourage travel to our country, it will be the greatest magic trick ever to get those rooms filled.

Then the budgetary allocation for national security over the last three years was approximately $25 billion and we have nothing to show for it.

Apparently, the more dead people we see, the more money we spend without a plan or purpose, at the taxpayer’s expense. Murder is putting a serious strain on the public purse, while every other area of government remains in deplorable condition.

Citizens lose valuable family time simply because they are stuck in hours of traffic every day while those in parliament zoom up and down the bus route. Patients languish in hospitals and mothers die giving birth, while politicians fly out for medical treatment. And while we consider trading in our vehicles for Venetian gondolas when there’s a drizzle, the streets of Westmoorings look like a duck’s back when rain stops.

As a society, we need to start understanding the holistic impact of an out-of-control murder rate. Everything and everyone suffers. So if you believe that a random murder on the other side of the country doesn’t affect you, think again because it is a national reality: who eh dead, badly wounded.