N Touch

BRING HOME THE TROOPS

MINNEAPOLIS: There’s only one way the war against Iraq’s nuclear programme could have gone worse: if Bush hadn’t been lying about Saddam Hussein’s nuclear programme. But short of a Manhattan mushroom cloud, it’s hard to imagine a darker scenario than the one we’re in. No WMDs. No Saddam. Millions of new enemies. Billions in new debt. And an estimated 35,000 guerillas exacting a terrible tithe — one dead American soldier for every day we stay where we don’t belong. 

For the cameras, military and Bush Administration officials keep putting a brave face on their folly-turned-quagmire-turned-debacle. Hey, that’s their job. The most recent “bring ‘em on” moment comes courtesy of General Richard Meyers, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Meyers assures us that the President of Iraq’s bloodied mug will soon join those of his sons broadcast on Death TV, and that such appearances will reduce attacks on US forces: “If (Saddam) is still alive, it’s just a matter of time. He is so busy saving his own skin, he is having no impact, no impact on the security situation.” A day after Meyers’ rosy prediction, Iraqi resistance fighters bombed an American Humvee in central Baghdad, killing one US soldier and wounding three others. Paul Wolfowitz was certain the Iraqi people, eager for liberation, would throw roses at our troops. Cakewalk city, promised Cheney. Major combat is over, Bush announced at his thumbs-up aircraft carrier photo op. We’ll only need to stay a few months, swore Tommy Franks. We know exactly where the WMDs are, insisted Rumsfeld. We’ve found the WMDs, said Bush. Well, we will find them, they all say, though not often anymore. Every single thing they tell us turns out to be dead wrong.

Now they say things are getting better. Read the paper. Watch the tube. E-mail a soldier stationed in Iraq. Does the occupation of Iraq seem like it’s getting better to you?  We’ve got 148,000 occupation soldiers sweating out summer days hotter than most Americans will ever experience in their lifetime. Facing a minimum two-to-four-year occupation timetable, the Pentagon  won’t say if or when those guys will come home to their relatives, some of whom are so frustrated that they’ve formed the group Military Families Speak Out to demand the return of their loved ones. At the present rate of carnage, an American soldier’s chances of coming home in a bag are one in 400, and nobody knows how many Iraqis are dying. Pundits compare this to Vietnam, but that’s unfair. It took years for LBJ to screw up Vietnam this badly. It’s time to stop throwing good lives after bad. We came for Iraq’s oil, but we’ll never extract crude without seducing Iraqi hearts and minds. That war was lost before we fired the first cruise missiles in March, for a few simple reasons. First, Iraqis spent the ‘90s dodging American bombs and trade sanctions. We never knew their pain; they’ll never forget it. Second, our invasion allowed looters and rapists to take over the cities. Anyone who is short a car or a daughter rightly blames us for their loss. Third, we’ve transformed one of the Arab world’s few semi-modern secular states into an anarchic Third World dump. Iraqis hate us. They trust us to do the wrong thing each and every time.

Central Command has issued a directive to US forces: When a car approaches your checkpoint, fire “warning” shots at its engine. If it doesn’t stop, kill everyone inside. This policy results in a lot of dead, unarmed, Iraqi civilians accustomed to standard roadblock protocol (whereby motorists pull up and present ID to police). Some drivers don’t hear the bullets pinging off their engine blocks; others assume they’re being ambushed by bandits and floor it. Either way, they die. This happens all over the country, yet it never occurs to the geniuses at CentCom to issue new orders. On July 28, US Task Force 20 murdered five innocent Iraqi drivers in Baghdad’s Mansur section in this way. “All of the soldiers shot immediately,” says Abu Hassan, a local store owner. “The people are angry and very upset.” This isn’t going to get better. We’re stupid and mean occupiers, which only makes the Iraqis’ seething resentment over our inability to restore water and electricity worse. More Iraqis will join resistance groups like the Revenge Army and Black Brigades. The attacks will continue, as well as our inept attempts to quell dissent. Iraq will devolve into an Israel/Palestine-style spiral of attack, retaliation, rinse, lather, repeat.

Pro-war or anti-war, most Americans think we’re obligated to stick around until we’ve rebuilt Iraq. Get real! You have only to look at Afghanistan  to see that we’re never going to build schools, skyscrapers and superhighways in Iraq. We will never establish a democratic regime. Sooner or later, after the American public has quit caring and stopped paying attention and gotten sick of losing a soldier a day, we will withdraw. And when—not if—that happens, Iraq won’t be any closer to democracy than it is today. . Why not admit that the invasion was a mistake now, before more people die in a meaningless war? Cut bait and bring home the troops. Sure, the French will mock us; we deserve it. Iraq may become a Shi’ite theocracy, but nothing—except a brand-new president with a new take on foreign policy—can stop that now. Disaster is inevitable. It’s infinitely better to take a few PR lumps in the international community than to keep feeding the fedayeen a fresh-faced youngster every day. Please, Mr Bush: Bring the troops home.

Disabled fighting for worthy cause

THE EDITOR: Who is breaking the law? Is it the physically challenged or the vendors who occupy the city streets and pavements? The Commissio-ner of Police, recently in a statement, said the protesting disabled citizens are breaking the law, while legal or illegal vendors can occupy the city streets and pavements and are not being charged.

Who gives the vendors the right to occupy space which does not belong to them? Should the Police Com-  missioner and the Mayor of Port-of-Spain get together and crack down on vendors who are also breaking the law? Isn’t vending illegal on the city streets? The physically challenged or disabled are fighting for a worthy cause. They want to be recognised and they want their civic rights, and to obtain productive employment. They are not asking for “handouts,” but a fair chance. On the other hand, the vendors, what cause or concerns are they fighting for, are vendors fighting for equal rights too? Equal rights to occupy the pavement to ply their trade?

One group of citizens can break the law and another group can do as they well please. Isn’t it about time the vendors are relocated and placed in a central location? They block pedestrians from walking on the pavements, sometimes pedestrians have to be dodging in and out onto the streets and playing “cat and mouse” games with motorists. Why should this be? Isn’t it a dangerous practice? Vendors argue that they have a right. A right to obstruct or destruct? I am in sympathy with my fellow citizens of the disabled community. For too long have they been neglected. Equal rights, Equal opportunities! It is about time that the government of the day recognise these citizens as human beings with needs as well. So I get back to the question, “Who is breaking the law?” honest, upright, decent citizens or citizens who feel “de road is mine?” Questions only the relevant authorities can act upon swiftly.

KEN SMITH
Woodbrook

CBTT fights for positive changes

THE EDITOR: On behalf of Citizens for a Better Trinidad and Tobago (CBTT), I wish to thank all those who went out of their way to assist the group over the past ten years. We assure you that CBTT will continue to address the daily issues facing residents of all communities. The group takes a “hands on” approach when dealing with the problems plaguing society. By getting out into the streets and interacting with the people, members are able to identify with and understand the concerns of the community.

As a community-interest organisation, CBTT specialises in attacking issues that hurt our communities. It identifies the problem, implements solutions, and teaches the residents how to overcome similar obstacles in their daily lives. The very purpose for the existence of the group is to stop drug abuse, domestic violence, murder, rape, incest, child abuse, discrimination, racism and victimisation in society, even though we experience tremendous problems from perpetrators of these ills. They simply feel threatened because they fear their evil deeds will be exposed sooner than later. However, the group is encouraged by the fact that it has the support of righteous and law-abiding citizens. We are sure that this country would have been safer, more productive and less corrupt if our recommendations were implemented. However, we keep fighting on because we wish to be part of the answer instead of part of the problem.

CBTT assures its supporters that it will continue to try to bring about positive changes to the lives of individuals by spotlighting attention on the issues threatening their safety and unity as well as teaching problem techniques, self-love, community pride and respect for others. We will also continue to be there to quietly console the families of murdered victims. We have seen young boys and girls, with their beautiful faces, lying inside coffins — their lives stolen much too soon. Too frequently we hear the cries of grief as mothers and fathers gaze upon the lifeless bodies of their young children. It is the spirit of these slain young people which drives volunteers of the group to continue fighting to stop the senseless killings in our society. CBTT cannot do it alone, so its volunteers give their unequivocal support to other groups, which have the will-power to fight against all social ills in society.

HARRACK BALRAMSINGH
President, CBTT
La Romaine

Corporal punishment is biblical

THE EDITOR: Please publish this article so that, hopefully, at least one person will know the truth.

I refer to an article in your newspaper dated Friday August 1, 2003, with a headline ‘Ban licks at home.” And it started by stating that (I quote): “Former Independent Senator Diana Mahabir Wyatt thinks the country should consider outlawing the hitting of children in all circumstances.” I want to state without any animosity whatsoever that the previous government erred by banning corporal punishment in schools. (I am not speaking about indiscreet flogging by a teacher or parent). Now there is a suggestion that consideration should be made to do so in homes. This will certainly open doors for more crime.

May I refer you to the Bible which says in (and this still stands) Proverbs Chapter 13, Verse 24. ‘He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is careful to discipline him.;
Proverbs 22: 15 … Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline will drive it far from him.
Proverbs 23: 13 … Withhold not correction from the child, for if you beat him with the rod, he shall not die. Verse 14 says … you shall beat him with the road and shall deliver his soul from hell.
Proverbs 29: 15 … The rod of correction imparts wisdom, but a child left to himself disgraces his mother.
Many crimes being committed by young people today may be as a result of no corporal punishment. Again I am not referring to odd cases of indiscreet beatings.

GERTRUDE EDWARDS
Tacarigua

Sad Sir Gary hails Noreiga

JACK NOREIGA has a unique place in cricket history as the only West Indian to take nine wickets in a Test match innings. But Sir Gary Sobers, who was his captain in his only four Tests, yesterday remembered the off-spinner as much as “a jovial personality and a real team man” as “a very useful bowler.”

Noreiga, who died in his native Trinidad last Friday, aged 67, following a stomach operation, took nine for 95 in the first innings against India in the Second Test at the Queen’s Park Oval in Trinidad in 1971. It was the highlight of a brief career that began a month short of his 35th birthday and ended in the same series. He had replaced Lance Gibbs whose penetration made him the West Indies’ finest spin bowler with 309 Test wickets. “Lance was going through a bad patch at the time and Jack filled the gap tremendously,” Sir Gary said. “He was a very useful bowler, especially at the Queen’s Park Oval. He flighted the ball, had good control over line and length and turned it. “Like most Trinidadians, he enlivened the dressing room with his humour,” he added. “He was a jovial personality and a real team man. I’m saddened to learn of his untimely passing.” Noreiga’s fleeting encounter with fame came during his first season of regional cricket in the 1971 Shell Shield, nine years after his only previous match, against the 1962 Indian touring team. He was chosen for the first Test ahead of Gibbs after helping Trinidad and Tobago to their first victory over Barbados for 26 years with match figures of 11 for 197 at the Queen’s Park Oval. Captain Sobers was one of his victims. His momentous nine wickets in India’s first innings of the second Test were in succession after Ashok Mankad was bowled by Grayson Shillingford, but his personal euphoria was marred by the shock of defeat by seven wickets, the only result in the five Tests.

Throughout, the West Indies bowling lacked penetration on lifeless pitches as 21-year-old opener Sunil Gavaskar amassed 774 runs at an average of 154.8 in four Tests and India held on to take the series. Dropped for the Fourth Test, Noreiga returned for the fifth and final at Queen’s Park, taking five for 129 in the second innings, but Gavaskar’s 124 and 220 ensured a comfortable draw for India. Of his 17 Test wickets, at an average of 29 runs each, 15 were at Queen’s Park. By the following year, the Noreiga magic had worn thin. After losing his place in the Trinidad and Tobago team after three Shield matches, he was not picked for the Tests against New Zealand and played out the rest of his career in club and zonal cricket in Trinidad. He later became coach of Moosai’s Sports Club in the National League’s Second Division, a position he held at his death. He was father of nine and grandfather of seven. Noreiga will be cremated today after a funeral service at the Santa Rosa RC Church, Arima which begins at 10am.

US help coming for karate clubs

The American-Trinidad and Tobago Karate Union has announced its  assistance with the programmes promoted by the TT Karate Federation (TTKF) in the next calendar year starting in September.

This will include financial support for new clubs joining the TTKF to assist with start-up costs associated with advertisements, protective equipment, training programmes (coaching, officiating — WKF rules). The TTKF is also looking to host JKF (Japan Karate Federation) official’s seminars and workshops and exams in Trinidad and Tobago next year. This was revealed yesterday by Sharon Grell, executive director of the US-TT Karate Union in an e-mail from New York. President of the organisation is Keith Taylor. These programmes are open to all karatekas from TT including those from the TTKU. “We are suggesting to the TTKU that their members participate in these programmes and pass  the JKF dan examinations before appointing technical committees. To not do so would be like the ‘blind leading the blind’,” Grell said.

This is an open challenge to the TTKU, the US-based official said. “We are also asking the Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs to oversee this programme to ensure fairness. The TTKF is willing to accept the results of the JKF Examination Committee. Is the TTKU willing to do so?” she asked. Candidates for dan testing must be able to perform the eight shetai (mandatory) kata and demonstrate bunkai (application) and kihon (basics) for the kata demonstrated. The ATTKU official said she is very confident that both the TTKF and the TTKU members are capable of excelling in the exam. Contact numbers for further information are TTKU —- Selwyn Tompack 662-4278 (President);  TTKF — Roger Howai 674-2844 (President)

Top cop laments no Police in Pro league

POLICE football section chairman Senior Superintendent Randolph Protain has lamented the withdrawal of ex-national champions Police from the TT Pro League because of lack of funds.

He noted the lawmen were “Team of the Year” in the South Zone last year, but expressed concern about the inability of a police team to play at the highest level because of financial constraints. Snr Supt Protain made the comments when the 2003 Police Inter-Department Football League was launched at the Police Training Centre, St James Barracks last Saturday. “There is need to understand the importance of police football as part of the community relations thrust, and there must be further emphasis by senior officers on football and by extension sports on the whole, to make that impression on the community,” Protain said. The Inter-Department League was officially opened by Acting Police Commissioner Everald Snaggs. “Police football has served as a nursery for senior police teams,” Ag CoP Snaggs said. “There was a time when Police were one of the stronger teams in national football.”

The top cop expressed the hope Police footballers will return to the force they were in the past. He later kicked off the ball to formally start the new season, a powerful  right footer from the half line, which  just missed the goal. Port-of-Spain edged Western Division 2-1on penalty kicks, after the teams battled to a 0-0 deadlock at the end of regulation time. There were ten teams in the march past which was won by Court and Process Section. In the round-robin series Western Division shut out CID  2-0 with a Sean Rosales double; and PoS Division edged Northern Division 3-2 on penalty kicks to advance to the final. Action in the league began yesterday with two matches, Traffic Branch vs PoS and Police Training College vs Eastern Division.  All matches kick off at 4 pm at the St James Barracks.

Powerboat horse power at Arima

THE Carib Beer sponsored Friday Lime featuring an exhibition of the Great Race powerboats gives added impetus to the vision of the Arima Race Club to get ordinary people involved in the “Sport of Kings.”

President of the ARC, Gerard Ferreira, former Mayor of San Fernando said yesterday the Friday Lime seven-race card starting at 2.30 pm is crucial to the recreation of the image of the club as a modern entertainment centre. “It is an exciting opportunity, aptly titled ‘Where the Surf meets the Turf,’ for everyone including children to participate in an evening of fun and entertainment which will go right into the night,” said Ferreira. He was speaking at a media conference in the hospitality suite of Carib Brewery, Champs Fleurs attended by Colin Murray, Public Relations Manager; Alfred Bell, secretary of the Powerboats Association; and Richard Ramdwar, Committee Member. Ferreira said apart from the action on the track and the dazzling prospect of viewing the racing machines up close, there will be an assortment of activities including music by a DJ, the presence of the attractive Carib Girls and hampers at stake in draws for the “lucky losers” who place bets on the card. He said although the card was hastily put together, he was impressed with the co-operation of the trainers and owners to make the Friday Lime a reality. “Every effort was made to frame the races with horses that would not interrupt the regular programme of racing. Fields comprise seven to 12 horses with an average of ten. A total of 63 horses have taken entry,” said Ferreira. Feature event will be named after champion powerboat Mr Solo.

In his opening remarks Murray said the Friday Lime presents a unique combination of Great Race competitors and horse racing. “It’s a pity the boats couldn’t go around the track at Santa Rosa Park,” quipped Murray. He said he expects a bumper crowd, bigger than what turned out for the last Friday Lime when the West Indies and Australian cricketers were honoured during the last Cable and Wireless series. Bell, representing the Powerboats Association said both sports have a lot in common. “Both are very competitive, have highly trained riders, can easily reach their members, race in classes, both like the Carib Girls, love to lime and are driven by horse power,” Bell explained. He said it was a great way to amalgamate both sports and thanked Carib Beer for the opportunity to bring powerboat racing to fans who normally would not get a chance to interact with the exclusive sport. Bell said the boats will be on display in the forecourt of the ARC from 11 am until just before sunset since the boats must ready for an exhibition at the Grand Bazaar the next day. Richard Ramdwar, son the former Commissioner of Police Dennis Ramdwar who was a top powerboat official himself, expressed his appreciation to the ARC for making several adjustments at Santa Rosa Park to accommodate the powerboats. “We made a site inspection and the ARC were quick to reconfigure the main gate so that the boats could come in unimpeded. We were also impressed with the layout for the exhibition,” Ramdwar said.

Among the boats on display tomorrow are reigning Great Race champion Mr Solo, newcomer Roughneck, Mobil Heatwave, Castrol Extreme, Matrix, Hero, Intense Too and Harddrive, several champions in their respective classes. Bell said that patrons in the Friday Lime will be able to get a good view of the powerful engines that drive the speedboats and officials will be present to answer any questions concerning the machines and the Great Race. Ferreira also threw out the suggestion to the sponsors of the boats setting up trade booths to disseminate information about the products which could amount to a marketing coup for all those who grasp the opportunity offered. The Great Race to Tobago, from Bayshore to Store Bay is on Saturday, August 23 with 18 boats confirming their participation so far.

Connection juniors settle atop reserve league

W CONNECTION ended their triumphant run, in both Under-15 and Under-17 categories in the TT Pro League, with a defeat and a victory in respective matches at the Marvin Lee Stadium, Macoya on Monday.

The Savonetta lads were handed a 2-1 licking by Joe Public, their only setback in the Under-15 division, while their Under-17 squad recorded their 13th win, 3-2 over the hosts in the other match of the doubleheader. Connection have sealed both titles, while the “Eastern Lions” are fourth in the Under-15s with 23 points, 14 behind Connection with a match in hand, and second in the Under-17s on 28 points, 11 adrift of the Southerners. Two doubleheaders were contested on Saturday, and North East Stars suffered their 13th defeat in as many matches, in both divisions, when they hosted Arima Fire at the Sangre Grande Recreation Ground.

Akim Armstrong and Keon Quow found the back of the net for the Fire lads, who blanked the Stars 2-0 in the Under-15s. And the Fire Under-17s had a comfortable 5-1 triumph over the Sangre Grande-based team, after a double from Darnell Edwards and one apiece from Keron Ross, Anthony Charles and Richard Charles. At the Palo Seco Recreation Ground, South Starworld Strikers remained in fifth spot after a 1-0 win over South West Institute of Football (SWIF) in the Under-15 division, while both Under-17 units featured in a 1-1 draw in the other confrontation. The doubleheader between CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh and Defence Force, scheduled for the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucu-rapo, was postponed as the Army-Coast Guard combination failed to turn up on Saturday morning.

Fighting spirit won v-ball crown

TRINIDAD and Tobago junior volleyball captain Aisha Sealy gave thanks to God and praised the team’s determination and fighting spirit which helped Trinidad and Tobago retain the  Caribbean Zonal Volleyball Association (CAZOVA) Junior crown in Martinique recently.

The dynamic 18-year-old St Joseph Convent (Port-of-Spain) and Glamorgan club player led her  team from behind to beat archrival Netherland Antilles in the grand final. After claiming the first set at 25-20, TT lost the other two at 16-25, 23-25. This was because the Dutch Girls virtually blocked out ace spiker KellyAnn Billingy at the net and prevented her from doing the demolition job she put down on the other teams with her rapier-like smashes. Sealy disclosed that they were behind in the fourth set when Marina Camps, the universal player, made a daring attempt to get the ball back into play during one of the rallies. The slimly built Camps flung herself full length over the scorers table got a hand to the ball, which sailed into the crowd.

 TT lost the point and surprisingly Camps was not injured and the team got into a huddle and prayed. “When Marina threw herself for the ball at such a great risk to herself, it spurred the team to fight harder. It brought out the best in everyone. I prayed to God and asked him to help us win the match. The break helped us to recover and overhaul the opposition,” Sealy said. “That moment changed the whole match. We were down but we never gave up. I don’t give up and Jenna and Marina were fighting hard, running all over and trying their best to keep the rallies going. I was trying to set up for the spikes but Kelly was giving up and seemed to have lost her focus. “I kept urging her to keep playing, keep fighting —- we can do. I don’t know where I got the strength but I knew that this was my last year in the juniors and I did not want to loose the title and trophy. I wanted us to come home back as champion and winner once again. Throughout the game, I was begging God to help us, and he did,” related the skipper.

Sealy was also captain of the national senior team at last year’s CAZOVA Senior Championships which were staged locally. They finished second to perennial champions Barbados in a heart-stopping final at the Jean Pierre Complex, Mucurapo. This was a back-to-back championships title campaign for TT and the second time that the Saleem Ali (assistant coach) and coach Macsood Ali-trained Trinidadians overpowered the Dutch girls in the preliminary and grand final matches. Billingy copped the “Most Valuable Female Player” and “Best Hitter” awards, Marina Camps took the “Best Receiver” while Jenna Ferguson collected the “Best Libero” prizes. Sealy and her triumphant teammates resume training this week in preparation for NORCECA Junior Championships which will be held in Montreal, Canada next year July.