THE EDITOR: In the ongoing debate on Abortion there appears to be an imbalance between the availability of the scientific date and the spiritual “data” in favour of the scientific. While most seem to be quite acquainted with the biological development of the unborn, they are not as thoroughly informed on the biblical. Please permit me some space to share the following information.

In any biblical discussion regarding abortion, the most crucial question is whether God considers the unborn to be a person. This takes precedence over other considerations such as free will of the mother, rights of women over their bodies, equality of the sexes, socio-economic distress, mental anguish, illegitimacy and a host of other considerations put  forward by others. If the Holy Scriptures clearly show the personhood of the unborn, then men and women have an obligation to seek their protection through educational, religious, and even legislative action. One must bear in mind that the ancients had only the most rudimentary knowledge of human physiology. They knew little or nothing of the respiratory system or the internal organs. The word for “lung” does not ever occur in the Old Testament. There are no distinctive biblical Hebrew or Greek terms for brain, nerves, diaphragm, or blood vessels etc. As such the texts examined here are not focused on the physiology of prenatal life but are intended to reveal the reality of God’s concern and involvement with prenatal human life. It is these texts, rather than any “physiological” passages, that constitute an appropriate judgment of the value of prenatal life in God’s sight.

First, there are passages where personal pronouns, proper names etc are used to refer to the unborn, indicating that the Holy Spirit regards them as persons. (a) Genesis 4:1 “…she conceived and bare Cain.” The first man to be born. Interest in Cain extends back beyond his birth, to his conception. That is when his “personal” history begins. Here the individual conceived and the individual born are one and the same, namely Cain. His conception, birth, and post-natal life form a natural continuum. (b) Job 3:3 “…A man-child (hebrew: geber) is conceived.” Again the basic continuity between the individual conceived and the individual born. Job’s personal history is traced back beyond his birth to the night of his conception. Note, that a “man-child” is conceived! This word “man-child” (geber) is generally used for the “post-natal.” (c) Psa 51:5-7 “…in sin did my mother conceive me.” The psalmist traces his involvement with sin to the very inception of life. This application of “moral and spiritual values” to David as an unborn suggests a relationship to God and the moral law even at his conception! (d) Psalm 139: 13-16 The psalmist’s praise, spoken from a post-natal perspective (v 14), assumes his identity with the prenatal individual described in verses 13, 15 and 16.

Next, there are passages showing that God has a relationship to the unborn that can be traced to conception or prior to conception. The capacity for such relationships with God is a foundation of personhood. In some cases such relationships can long precede the individual’s awareness. God’s dealings with individuals are intense and personal long before society treats them as persons in the “whole sense.” (a) Job 10:8-12; here the development of prenatal human life is understood not as a blind natural process, but as God’s creative and sustaining effort similar to Adam’s creation. (b) Jeremiah 1:5; here the prophet is commissioned before conception! (c) Judges 13: 2-7; Samson’s conception and consecration to God are described as acts, not of parental will, but of the Lord’s sovereign determination. (d) “…the babe leaped in my womb for joy” (Luke 1:44). Human emotion is explicitly attributed to Elizabeth’s unborn baby (sixth month v 36), John the Baptist. It is now well known that an unborn child can respond to touch at eight weeks and at 25 weeks can respond to human voices and feel pain and discomfort.

In addition, there is a provision in the Mosaic law relating to the unborn. Exodus 21: 22-25. It has been observed that “the most significant thing about abortion legislation in the Biblical law is that there is none. It was so unthinkable that a woman should desire an abortion that there was no need to mention this offence in the criminal code.” Nevertheless, this passage sheds light on the status of the unborn child in Biblical law. In spite of the obvious exegetical problems, this text does grant the unborn child a status in the eyes of the law equal to the mother’s. While some allowance can be made for the metaphorical, it is certain that God takes a deep interest in the unborn. Even if the texts examined do not constitute strict proof of personhood, they certainly do not rule that out. Far from showing that the unborn at any stage of development are less than persons, these texts point to the opposite. If therefore, there is any possibility that personhood is present from conception, then the more ethically responsible approach is to act on that assumption and treat the unborn as persons at every stage of prenatal development.

SYLVAN JAMES
Debe

THE EDITOR: It is noticeable that this category of citizens in Trinidad and Tobago is a forgotten group of people as it relates to social welfare.

It can be said that repeated governments have failed to address the diminishing income of retired public servants who have given yeoman service throughout the public sector. Notwithstanding the UNC government’s increase to such pensioners by a token two percent, in addition to a tax exemption ceiling of $30,000 per annum for all pensioners over 60 years that caused considerable relief thereof. Nevertheless, I personally felt that the gesture was inadequate because of the fact that pensioners’ medical bills in particular are exorbitant. By the same token I laud the PNM government granting some aspects of free medical to us retirees. However, I would be grateful if the government could review our meagre pension in order that we could survive in this global village. As a consequence, I would like to appeal to the honourable Prime Minister, Mr Patrick Manning that he would remember the forgotten soldiers of the State, when he is presenting the country’s 2003-4 budget.

RONALD PREUDHOMME
Retired Public Servant
San Fernando

THE EDITOR: “The customer is always right!” no longer holds true for the buying public. I am disgusted at the business world’s approach to the handling of a customer in Trinidad and Tobago. I think I have reached the end of my rope, and something has to be done by making it illegal for sales representatives/clerks to speak to me however they chose.

Whatever happened to the friendly greeting, “Hello, good morning, how can I help you?” Because of the employer’s need to make the quick buck, he substitutes experience for qualifications. Good common courtesy starts from home. These sales reps are no longer seeking your interest (the customer), but instead they tend to be caught up in the gossip of the day. Isn’t it the sales representative’s job to be quick, knowledgeable and eager to please me, the customer? Why is it now when every time I go browsing, a customer will sprint behind me breathless to ask, “Do you work here?” only to find out I am just as desperate to find a clerk. Where are they? Do they no longer flock to you at the entrance, like in those fabric stores and follow you around like a puppy dog.

If that’s what it takes to get service, I want to be followed. Why should I be the brunt of a date gone badly? A pleasant, “How may I help you?” would suffice instead of receiving a “hog-norant” (Trini for piggish) next please! You place your order, however simple it may be and she still gets it wrong! When you ask to see the manager, he/she automatically takes the side of the cashier, because we (the customer) could never make up our minds. Well sorry for trying to buy something here! Well no more I say! I leave these few words of advice to the employers of these “hog-norant,”  discourteous, “why do I work here” sales clerks. Good customer service is the ability of the business to make the customer’s business feel welcomed and appreciated, because without the customer you will have no business, no sales and no profit!

JACQUETTA WILLIAMS-CUMMINGS
Laventille

THE EDITOR: History and research repeatedly confirm that small developing nations need to allocate their resources with the greatest of care. We in Trinidad and Tobago are not exempt from this principle. Yet we continue to make this grave mistake of misallocation, duplication and creating artificial turf.

Let us take the John Donaldson and San Fernando Technical Institutes for example. They have helped Trinidad and Tobago over the past decades produce technicians and middle managers to meet the imperatives of industrialisation and the growth of commerce. Within recent times how-ever, many of us have been observing with great concern the dismantling of these two technical Institutes. With increasing fervour, the Trinidad and Tobago Institute of Technology, COSTAAT as an umbrella organisation to include our main technical and vocational institutions and The University of Trinidad and Tobago are being promoted. Further the associate degree now seems to be the way to go for many of our tertiary institutions except UWI. While I appreciate the value of this degree, I maintain that they must meet the needs of the nation and not be encouraged only to bring prestige to institutions. I certainly see no reason for introducing them to our technical institutions at the expense of existing NEC programmes.

Our society needs artisans and technicians at all levels. The Senior Comprehensive Schools which at one time was thought to be the source of our future technicians have failed us. Indeed, they have not been able to match the performance of John Donaldson and San Fernando Technical Institute.
Taking all of the above into consideration, I am now constrained to recommend the following to the relevant authorities: Bring John Donaldson Technical Institute, San Fernando Technical Institute, and the Institute of Technology into one entity to form The University of Trinidad and Tobago; Redesign the NEC syllabus for all courses now being offered so that:
1) Secondary schools can deliver part 1 and existing Evening Programmes at our Senior Comprehensive Schools, “John D,” and “San Fernando Tech” part 2;
2) Allow John D and San Fernando Tech to deliver Day and Evening programmes for certain areas critical to national development in general and 2020 vision in particular;
3) confine associate degrees to such institutions as NIHERST, Cipriani Labour College, and recognised private institutions.

Whatever is done, I appeal to the relevant authorities, do not kill the nation’s technical life with a superficial and limited associate degree syndrome. Finally, I believe the time has come for us to stop promoting new initiatives without identifying objectives, providing rationales, and specifying outcomes. Indeed, we must stop rushing into ventures without brainstorming the consequences.

RAYMOND S HACKETT
Curepe

THE EDITOR: I wholeheartedly support Professor Selwyn Cudjoe’s declaration to awaken his people to their shortcomings, and to motivate them to take action towards achieving their potential.

I also agree that no citizen of TT should be comfortable if 80 percent of UWI students were of one race. However, I disagree with his suggestion that a system similar to that of the University of Michigan be used, where points for admission are awarded on the basis of race, among other things. I am also not prepared to accept until there is clear evidence, his claim that Indo-Trinidadians with inferior qualifications are given places ahead of Afro-Trinidadians with superior grades. Indeed, if Prof Cudjoe’s allegations can be supported he should hasten to the courts to ensure that discrimination is removed from UWI. However, if he has no evidence he should cease attacking UWI, an institution that has served this country well over the years.

I take note of Sen Montano’s analysis of UWI’s intake from 1993-2000, where a close correlation was found between the composition of those who applied, and that of those selected. A university professor has a responsibility to act in a professional manner. To use a system that will award points on the basis of one’s race for university admission, will not address the problem of low achievement. It will instead, perpetuate inferiority, low self-esteem, and an external locus of control among the beneficiaries of such a system. Only the most insensitive of students will feel comfortable for having gained entry because of their race, and not because of their ability. The esteemed professor should know very well that university is a place where rigorous academic effort is required, a disservice will be done to beneficiaries of this kind of affirmative action who do not have the required foundation for this level of work.

I agree that there is poor teaching in some schools. I am also aware that parental lifestyles and dispositions can affect academic achievement. I believe that inter-marriage and enculturation have made ethnic boundaries hazy in TT, and behaviour that hinders academic achievement is not lodged in specific ethnic groups. There are people who will keep their children from school to beg, to help in the market, or to work in the garden. Some believe that for girls, marriage is preferable to education. Some parents fail to declare high expectations for their children, and show no interest in their work until CXC time. Others do not recognise the importance of quiet study time in the home, and the need to control television. Our television programmers believe that cartoons and sham wrestling are the best programmes to offer on Saturday mornings when children are at home.

Prof Cudjoe should be lobbying for better distance education presentations on the Information Channel, where excellent teachers are hampered by chalk and talk technology. He should insist that there be homework centres with on-line support for children as they struggle with their work in isolation. He should demand that supervisors evaluate each school’s performance following SEA and CXC examinations, and take corrective action for improvement. The US-based professor should look at the research findings on dropouts and low academic achievement in TT. I suggest that he pay attention to the works of Jules and Kutnick, and the UNDP 2000 report, “Youth at risk in TT.” This research will keep him from expending effort in wrong directions. I detest those who cite the academic performance by sections of society to support notions of racial superiority. This is blatant racism. I believe that all children can learn, and if the good professor believes that also, he will insist that schools engage in good teaching and parents give support to the efforts of their children.

DAVID SUBRAN
Chaguanas