THE EDITOR: When one examines constitutional reform, it is usually with the intent to correct certain shortcomings which have been either under observation, or which have repeated themselves and become virtual sore points, which citizens and government can no longer put up with. Let us not forget though, that in a democracy, where the voice of the majority is supposed to rule, and in a republic where the voice of the people is sovereign, in both cases acceding to the dictates of citizens, government and all prospective candidates for government, will have their own separate agendas. The less stricture and checks upon government and the greater their unfettered power, the more preferable this is for them. It is imperative that the people ensure that their desires, concerning government, are set down and fulfilled.

Some of the sore points can be listed as:
(1) Failure of the Judiciary to clarify intent of the Constitution re (a) the Occah Seapaul fiasco (b) Power, place and relationship between Judiciary and Government (c) Determining and settling the correct relationship and behaviour, between the government and the Presidency. All citizens must understand that the pillar of the Judiciary in a country is not limited to prosecutorial duties only. The Judiciary, being one pillar among three ie (1) the Legislative (2) the Judiciary, and (3) the Executive, must possess such integrity, as to be able to properly settle all questions of law in a country, bringing clear and precise decisions based on law and recognised tradition (precedents) free from error or ambiguity. A country must be able to rely on its Judicial pillar for this. If this is not available, there exists a tremendous shortcoming. Whether this is a Constitutional problem or not, this cannot be ignored, in this context.

(2) The place and duties of the President seem to be imprecise, as the intent of the Constitution on this is not elaborate, and whether by mistake or design, is couched in too few words. Too much seems to be left to the dictates of conscience rather than definite law, almost leaving the determination, up to the immediate need of the nation. Citizens still cannot seem to determine the place and use of the Presidency; even though this office has demonstrated its usefulness, by deciding what should be done, in the intractable situation of an electoral tie, and settling this, if not amicably, at least decisively, and with remarkable foresight. Citizens must — even now — try to appreciate the correct gravity and importance that a firm decision here had made on the release of tension in our peace-loving island. What would have been our dilemma and course, were it not for the Presidency? In this alone, the Presidency has justified its existence. I believe that it is a grave pity that Presidents have occupied and left the Office, but none, especially the last President, has seen fit to apprise us of the usefulness and nature of the Presidency, especially since this Office has taken some severe and most irreverent flak, from the last regime.

(3) More and more governments have found themselves hamstrung and severely inconvenienced and frustrated by the fact that they are given the responsibility to assure efficient service and production, from government funded “Ministries,” yet their authority is compromised. Select persons in charge of operations have also complained of being “toothless” in the administering of discipline, in order to ensure efficient service. What we have existing in our country is a virtual three-ring circus where government, who are the managers of the people’s monies and are the sole and only protectors of the people’s interests (there is none other) can spend the people’s money, but cannot assure value and efficiency for this, neither can the ultimate managers that they hire. Accountability and responsibility are quite literally removed from these because of the existence of a third and intervening party which purports to protect the rights of the worker. Unions, laws, lawyers, courts, tribunals, arbitrators and ombudsmen etc somehow all appear to be insufficient or inefficient in ensuring the cause and rights of the worker. The existence of Service Commissions are as important as having a third leg on a human being. This alone has been responsible for the culture of sustained occupation rather than performance and the illogical and diseased dependence and preoccupation that our country has with qualification rather than simple capability (which very effectively condemns about half of our population to being non-entities), and our incomprehensible tolerance and acceptance of mediocrity as a persistent culture in our lives. Responsibility without authority is a prescription for frustration and inefficiency.

(4) The public demand that those who spend our money are fully accountable and are totally free from excuses. The public also wish the power to dismiss with alacrity those who fail to perform or deliver, and no longer wish to tolerate occupation without performance, at their expense, both in funds and in results. This philosophy also applies to its government. Mechanisms must be put in place to allow this facility to the nation, and must no longer be tolerated for extended “terms.”

(5) Opposition politics seems to have run its course and outlived its usefulness. At the moment, there is none so irrelevant to the country and national life as the tremendously skewed antics of the present Opposition. They are not worthy of newsprint, air-time or publicity. Their contribution is less than nought in that their every purpose is to destabilise and depose a legitimate government and interrupt the legitimate functions of government and country. There seems no purpose for a first runner-up in the electoral race, if representatives truly represent the voice of their people, and senators represent the informed and the conscience of the nation. Both parties should be able to call government to account in Parliament and can adjust to suit, any of government’s intentions. The agenda and intentions of government should be known to Parliament, press and people, and should not be, or occur, in secret.

(6) The fiasco that occurs in government’s behaviour and projects, as occurred in so many projects in the past, chief example now being the airport project, should never again occur. It is offensive and vexatious to the population to be the victim of thieves in government who manipulate processes from legal and proper to improper and illegal, in order to enrich themselves and their friends. All such discoveries should be labelled and attract the gravest prosecution (ie defrauding a trust). To be such a victim of fraud costing many millions of dollars and then to have to spend more on discovering this and then prosecuting this constitute gratuitous waste that is unbearable for the nation to countenance and deserves the harshest penalties. This also highlights an unforgivable failure by that government. Some mention should be made in the Constitution for gross dereliction of proper duties in government, by any government official, who is aware yet sits stoically by. Such a one must be guilty of or by association and conspiracy.

(7) Borrowing and/or spending large sums of money, should be brought before Parliament for discussion, and/or approval.
Parliament as much as possible should not frustrate or hamper the intent of Cabinet or government, unless this proves necessary. A Congress of the Upper and Lower House, should be entertained as a desirable option, under certain circumstances.

(8) The only consideration in determining legislation should be the ultimate welfare of what is right for the nation, and if the wording or design is correct, or inclusive enough or precise enough, to allow maximum benefit. To use the creation of legislation as some sort of bargaining tool or to benefit the few rather than the many is reprehensible in every way. Mention should be made of all corruption in the production of legislation and frustration of the people’s business caused by manipulations. I am sure that more can be said. Our Constitution need not undergo too severe a change. I have written from the point of view of facilitation, rather than any other pattern. I am one who firmly opposes an executive President which can pave the way for an unconscionable despot if we take the performance of the last government into full account. I believe that the Office of the President as it is, remains necessary, but clarification is required. This clarification does not necessarily have to be made in the Constitution.

TERRENCE C BARRAN
La Romaine

THE EDITOR: Please permit me a space in your newspaper to express my views on the present police service at Princes Town. On August 13, I called the station to report an incident at my home, between my family and a renter. I repeatedly called the station for some form of assistance, but they never responded. Someone could have been killed (that day), and the police could not have cared less. They told me the third time I called that they had already sent a vehicle and it would be there shortly. We waited for more than three hours, but they never showed.

What is the purpose of police officers in this country? Aren’t they supposed to seek justice and provide us, the citizens, with a bit of guidance and protection? In the past I’ve called the station at Princes Town to report incidents such as this and even worse, but they always managed to give me the same answer, “We’ll send a vehicle shortly.” I am sick and fed up with this foolishness. It’s high time stricter measures are put in place to rectify this problem. From the police station to my home, the longest time it should take, is fifteen minutes. So, what was the problem? I wold really like to know!

ZAFIRAH ALI
Port-of-Spain

THE EDITOR: Fishermen and Friends of the Sea has noted the abundance of “small change” PR activities about the “good deeds” being performed by the foreign energy sector; a few scholarships, passing a few cheques, painting an orphanage and a relief programme for needy families. While charity is appreciated, what nationals want is to be paid fair value for “our” natural resources in line with the royalty ratios paid elsewhere. These green-washed charitable deeds benefit only a few individuals while millionaire CEO’s smile for the camera. We are concerned that Trinidad will soon run out of gas and while in the midst of a “gas boom” 35 percent of all citizens are below the Global Poverty Index.

There are critical issues that these corporations must address such as the ominously secret and questionable closed-door royalty negotiations for gas and oil, or the absurd fact that a hundred years after, our oil nation still does not have an Emergency Response and Evacuation Procedure and now we are “playing with gas.” The energy sector exports our children’s patrimony and gives us 1/600th of the gas value that they receive. They have not been financially or environmentally responsible in our corrupt third world economy which lacks transparency and accountability and has been plagued by generations of corrupt ministers. These PR campaigns by the hypocritical energy sector is commonplace when they have something to hide and to those of us who know of their global reputation it is an insult not only to our intelligence, but to our sovereignty.

GARY ABOUD
Secretary
Fishermen and Friends of the Sea

THE EDITOR: On behalf of the Trinidad and Tobago Boxing Board of Control, I wish to congratulate Kerston Manswell on attaining a Silver Medal for Trinidad and Tobago in the Pan American Games. His splendid performance is indicative of the talent latent in the youth of Trinidad and Tobago. The Boxing Board is encouraged by the achievement of this young man and will continue to pursue its policy of channelling the youth of the nation into this sport. The Amateur Association must be commended for its untiring efforts in this direction.

MELCHIOR TAYLOR
Chairman
Trinidad and Tobago Boxing Board

THE EDITOR: The pained assessment by one Dr Tim Gopeesingh, of the circumstance of the VSEP’d Caroni workers published in your Thursday August 7 edition was poignant indeed. Caroni workers have “walked the plank,” “one sector of the population was painfully and woefully experiencing the last rites of generations,” “a major segment of the population has been thrown into hopelessness, future poverty and bondage” and so on. Dr Gopeesingh also juxtaposed his current analysis with that of “a nation joyfully celebrating Emancipation, 158 years since the abolition of slavery.” There are interesting dichotomies here. Some might call them parallels. In 2003, the Caroni workers were offered and accepted VSEP packages of varying compositions. In 1834, the plantation owners (!!!) received twenty-five pounds sterling for every slave which they “lost.” The slaves received not one red cent.

In 2003 the Caroni workers who accepted VSEP were offered parcels of leased land to enable them to become cane or food crop farmers. In 1834, the crown colony government increased the minimum parcel sizes of land to deny the slaves the opportunity to own land. In 2003, the Caroni workers were freed of any further obligation to their company. In 1834, the “freed” slaves, were required to work for six additional years as “apprentices;” no different from slavery, really save and except for a guarantee of freedom, after the further six years of plunder of their labour, whilst the Crown Colony government made arrangements for indentured labour, for the plantation class. In 2003, the Caroni workers defied their trade union, and accepted the Government’s offer in droves. In 1834, anyone thinking about forming a trade union would have been flogged to death. Those who revolted against the “period of apprenticeship” were arrested, sentenced and thrown in jail immediately. Yes, Editor, there are parallels. Dr Gopeesingh must be lauded for bringing his incisive analysis to the fore, so that we could now appreciate the plight of the VSEP’d Caroni workers.

Juxtaposed against the plight of the emancipated slave, 158 years ago, one may wonder why we celebrate Emancipation at all; particularly when we compare the terms of severance of the Caroni workers in a buoyant economy, versus the terms of severance of the slaves, in a hostile colony. In 1975, the British investors decided to pull out and leave the cane workers and farmers of South and Central, high and dry. A PNM government stepped in to save thousands of jobs and prevent a social crisis.

Today 27 years later, the PNM (only the PNM could have) had the courage to shut down Caroni, in as humane and considerate a manner as possible, accepting study after study which showed that Caroni Limited in its current mode of operation was not sustainable, and after years of vacillation by several prior governments, on this vexing issue. Clearly now, Trinidad and Tobago has come full circle. The two major ethnic sectors of our society have experienced the hardship of severance, one more so than the other. Both have had the experience of governance one longer than the other. Yet, we have endured; and we will endure. Perhaps we can now lean on each other, learn from each other and continue the process of forging a nation from many people, with shared experiences.

ETIENNE MENDEZ
Chaguanas