As President, Professor Max Richards administers the oath of office to members of the Integrity Commission tomorrow, and a member of the last Integrity Commission is expected to be appointed the new chairman.
Sources said it was likely that the President would be appointing John Martin as chairman and Gordon Deane as Deputy Chairman. Martin served as Deputy Chairman under the last Commission, which was chaired by Justice Gerard Des Iles. Des Iles who has been concerned about the lack of the declaration forms, is not expected to be re-appointed. The appointment of the members —five in all — however does not mean that the Integrity Commission will be functioning effectively.
The declaration forms which were required under the Integrity in Public Life Act 2000 are still to be brought to Parliament for passage by affirmative resolution, even though they (the forms) had been prepared since September 2001. Attorney General Glenda Morean conceded on Sunday that the Integrity Commission could not function properly without the declaration forms. But she also pointed out that UK consultant, Bernard de Speville also found that the proposed forms were an effective way of dealing with the issue of corruption and he had made certain recommendations.
Noting that Cabinet would be deliberating on these recommendations this Thursday, the AG said hopefully there would be a decision, thereby enabling the new forms to be ready for presentation to Parliament. The last Integrity Commission had the task of investigating the failure by Opposition Leader Basdeo Panday to make certain declarations. The Commission began its investigation only after it was presented with information arising out of investigations under forensic accountant Bob Lindquist. The Commission then referred the issue to the DPP and Panday was subsequently charged.
The two-year term of the Tobago Regional Health Authority (TRHA) expired on Sunday, August 10, and health officials on the island are now moving expeditiously to have a new board appointed.
THA Secretary for Health, Cynthia Alfred, indicated however that they were finding it a bit difficult to locate a qualified doctor and nurse to fill two of the major positions on the board. These positions were previously held by Dr Edmund Michael and Nurse Shirley Superville. Secretary Alfred stated that there were several specifications with respect to the composition of the board, one of which states that a doctor or nurse who had been associated with or employed by the RHA cannot function on the board except he/she had resigned or retired for a minimum of three years from that position.
“You can imagine the situation that puts us in because persons, retired persons, (qualified) persons who would have left their places of employment are unable to sit on the board because many of them have not yet reached the three years.” Alfred explains. The Health Secretary noted that a list of names for the TRHA board for the new term should be completed and submitted to the relevant authorities in Trinidad for approval by today. However, the current CEO of the board, Ynolde Seetahall, will administrate in the board’s absence until the process to appoint a new board is complete.
THE United National Congress (UNC) is making the big move on the issue of constitutional reform. Firstly, within the party.
Beginning today, the UNC will launch a series of national consultations throughout the country in which a team of specially selected persons will solicit the views of UNC members on proposals to revise the party’s constitution. The first meeting is being organised by the combined constituencies of Nariva and Toco/Manzanilla and will be held tonight at the Guaico Presbyterian School, Sangre Grande. On the team are attorney Garvin Nicholas, Dr Tim Gopeesingh and Councillor Carol Cuffy-Dowlat. High on the agenda, according to a release from UNC’s Public Relations Unit, is the present constitutional position of the party’s deputy political leader being appointed by the political leader. Newsday learned that the UNC’s executive is advocating that the party’s constitution be changed to allow the political leader to appoint three deputies. Except for a few posts, all positions in the UNC are elected by the party’s membership. Political leader Basdeo Panday for the first time in 1995 when he was then Prime Minister, opened the contest for posts to ministers of his Government.
The UNC’s internal elections of that year, led to leadership factions in the party which saw former Attorney General Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj winning the post of deputy political leader. Maharaj was later expelled from the UNC, after he refused to support the then UNC government’s bills in Parliament. The proposed change from election to the appointment of three deputies, is similar to what obtains in the ruling People’s National Movement. The UNC’s Constitution is 14 years old and a constitutional team headed by attorney Garvin Nicholas, Dr Tim Gopeesingh and Councillor Carol Cuffy-Dowlat, will conduct the meetings. The constitutional team moves to the constituency office of Gerald Yetming, MP for St Joseph tomorrow. That meeting will incorporate the constituencies of St Joseph, St Augustine and Barataria. On Thursday, the team will solicit the views of party members from the constituencies of Port-of-Spain North/South, St Ann’s East, Diego Martin Central and Laventille/Morvant. The party’ PR Unit in a release yesterday, stated, “the review team will get the views of the members as to what changes will be necessary to push the party forward and reinforce its position as the alternative government.
BECAUSE of our determination to expose corruption wherever it occurs, particularly in the public service, we have been been strongly critical of the non-performance of the Integrity Commission. We have accused the Commission of failing to perform its constitutional mandate to ensure that integrity is maintained in the upper echelons of the administration and the government, including Cabinet ministers. We are now alarmed to learn that the hands of the Commission have been virtually tied since September 2001 because the forms for public officials to declare their assets have not been laid in Parliament. We find this omission quite scandalous, particularly since we have been attacking the impotence of the Commission not knowing that, in truth, they were helpless to do anything.
Now that the term of the Commission has ended and he is no longer chairman, Justice Gerard des Iles is free to explain the handicaps under which he laboured. His story is disturbing. He revealed to Newsday that he had written to Prime Minister Patrick Manning three times earlier this year, asking him to have the declaration forms, which were ready since September 2001, laid in Parliament as required by the Integrity in Public Life Act 2000. Des Isles said he received no response from the Prime Minister nor from his Permanent Secretary to whom he had spoken on the telephone. The only reply he got came in the form of a letter from a junior secretary, three or four months later, informing him that his three letters were receiving the attention of the Prime Minister. The former Integrity Commission chairman described this failure by the Government as “a breach of the law as it stood.”
As the head of a government which boasts of its commitment to upholding standards of integrity in public life, we expect Mr Manning to tell the country why he has permitted the Commission to lapse into such impotence. Whatever new ideas he might have about dealing with corruption in government and about replacing the Commission with another body, that can be no excuse for him to ignore or overlook the demands of the law. The Prime Minister must be consistent on this crucial issue. He cannot proclaim to the world that his government is basing “our new society on integrity” and then refuse to take the necessary action aimed at ensuring that integrity is maintained in his own government. Mr Manning must also be reminded that, whatever his feelings about the Commission, his party, while in Oppositon, had given full support to the new Integrity Act. In fact, the PM now opens himself up to the kind of charge levelled by former Attorney General Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj who said the failure to have the forms approved by Parliament “provides cogent and compelling evidence that the Manning administration does not want the Integrity Commission to function.” Mr Maharaj, who produced the Integrity Act while he was AG, is now seeking, through an action in court, to compel the government to enforce the Act. He says the administation’s lack of response to des Isles brings into question whether the country would ever have the benefit of an Integrity Act.
It seems to us that the Prime Minister is also engaging in a fanciful idea when he talks about replacing the Integrity Commission with another anti-corruption body. The possibility of gaining the support of the Opposition for such a change, having regard to the UNC’s non-cooperative stand, seems remote indeed. In practical terms, the Integrity Commission is what we have unanimously put in place and, to the extent that it serves as a deterrent or watchdog with respect to high public officers and their operations we must ensure that it is able to fully perform its functions. The Prime Minister must explain why he has stymied the Commission by failing to act on Mr Des Isles appeals.
Basketball’s Charles Barkley once said he wasn’t a role model. This is like the President of the United States saying he doesn’t want press coverage. Star black athletes have no choice about being role models. The only choice they have is what type of models they choose to be. On Wednesday, Kobe Bryant appeared in a Colorado court to face the rape charges against him. His innocence, or lack thereof, obviously has important personal consequences for the basketball superstar. But he already is a guilty man when it comes to the damage he has caused in the communities he influences the most. Our nation’s black youth idolise Bryant, but the example he sets undermines the very values family, marital fidelity, sexual responsibility crucial for their futures. Here’s what I am talking about: 60% of black children grow up in fatherless homes. 790,000 black men are in jail or prison; 70% of black babies are born to unwed mothers. 320,000 black babies are aborted annually.
Black political leaders love to blame this pathetic and depressing picture on racism. However, the messages of moral relativism and uncontrolled sexual passions that many black athletes and entertainers deliver to the young black men and women that worship them do far more damage than the feelings harboured by any white racist. Black Americans can’t control what racists feel. But we can control what we do. It doesn’t take an advanced degree in psychology to understand that children live by what they are taught. Children from broken homes with a father who does not go to work, love them and teach them about values and responsibility, will look to the outside for guidance, because there is nowhere else to look. Unfortunately, too often what they are taught by black athletes and black celebrities is that life is an empty ride, that it’s all about what you get and has nothing to do with who you are. Blacks have good reason to feel that they are shortchanged by mainstream American culture. Our Supreme Court’s recent decision overturning Texas’ sodomy prohibitions suggests to our vulnerable black community that private behaviour is of no public concern and that morality is unimportant.
So if Bryant is found not guilty of criminal charges, and he and his wife kiss and make up, everything is OK. Forget about the millions of black children who have received a message that personal conduct, sexual and otherwise, is not relevant to how they approach life. In addition, our politically correct public school systems play a key role in delivering the message to our black children that there are no objective moral standards for behaviour. Those schools have long dismissed the concept of education as the transmission of values and wisdom; instead, they deliver a message that the point of education is developing skills for financial acquisitions. However, if financial gain is emphasised, and values are not, some kids will decide that there are potentially more efficient ways to make money quickly than sitting in classrooms, ways that include dealing drugs.
The black community needs to restore its own sense of responsibility. As part of this process, we need to hold our black celebrities accountable for their behaviour. Black athletes need to start thinking about what their behaviour means outside the selfish, self-indulgent world in which they live. These athletes have received blessings outside the bounds of what most people will ever know. They must accept the deep responsibility that goes with this. They need to start thinking about the millions of lives they help destroy through the irresponsible examples they set and, more importantly, about the millions of lives they could save by setting a positive example. Black leaders business, political and religious should insist on accountability from our celebrities. Enough damage has been done by placing the blame everywhere except in our own community. Star Parker, founder and president of CURE, the Coalition on Urban Renewal and Education, is also author of the upcoming book, Uncle Sam’s Plantation.
THE EDITOR: My shock and horror at the idea of re-introducing beating in schools only began to subside when I realised its true potential. Here’s my suggestion. Of course, we don’t want mainly (or only) low-income children to receive these blows. Nor should schools be the only places where knowledge of fear and domination are nurtured. We want to make sure that a wide cross section of the population understands the power of violence in creating a responsible and community-oriented civil society. If you do something wrong, you can expect to be disciplined by almost any means necessary. This surely fits with the 2020 plan for peace and development in a society which okays hanging people whose appeals are still pending and sending the army into Laventille to assert (as state and not criminal elements) that might is still right.
Building on our long history of violence (in homes, schools, the streets, the hustings etc), I suggest that we extend beatings to the House of Parliament and to politicians who fail to deliver promises or to stop corruption and crime. When someone thinks that getting less than 40 percent of the vote is a good grade, they have clearly not been paying attention. A well-aimed guava stick might fix that. A good strap might stop others from lying about WASA salaries — just admit you didn’t do your homework. And, surely TTUTA will agree that the mismanagement of airport extension funds was a woeful tale of poor fourth standard arithmetic. Let beatings reach the highest levels so that all of us can equally feel the whip, so that not only schools will feel like jail and so that successive governments will know we have followed this quite dotish and brutish suggestion to its logical conclusion.
GABRIELLE HOSEIN
Port-of-Spain
THE EDITOR: The more I cogitate over the behaviour of the US Embassy and its security personnel regarding the Marli Street barriers, the more I become angry. Let me hasten to add that I am not easily enraged. But, I believe that a huge percentage of this population is very unhappy over the continuing unfair treatment and testing of patience of all citizens, particularly parishioners of All Saints Church. Just recently, (August 4 to be exact), patrons at a funeral for Roma Joan Inniss were subject to harassment by security guards on duty, who were attempting to refuse entry of the hearse into Marli Street. Can you imagine how depressing this can be?
This is clearly a case of American plutocracy; the powerful over the powerless. It reminds me of Pharaoh, the Mighty Egyptian Ruler’s attitude towards the enslaved Israelites, — Do as I say! To think that in this modern day, law abiding people who just want to exercise their freedom of worship are denied easy access to their church. While any rational thinking person will understand and appreciate that America must take all precaution and apply added safety measures to its property and personnel, a situation which is created by its own modus operandi, it is difficult to believe that these barriers which in fact are really only preventing a free flow of traffic, can prevent an attack by persons with unlawful and/or terrorist intent.
As a matter of fact, to support this position look at what happened recently in Russia, where a truck loaded with explosives drove through an iron gate and created massive destruction to sick, innocent people and property. Mr Ambassador, I am sure you will agree that these barriers virtually cannot prevent an attack on the Embassy. I think it’s high time for sensible dialogue and compromise for arriving at a solution, that while it may not be ideal to all, but it would at least bring some measure of satisfaction and peace, and in so doing, remove the feeling of animosity that exists at this moment. In a world that seems full of enemies, it is imperative that we work assiduously to create an environment in which we all can be proud and more importantly one that will benefit our future generations.
CARL HARDING
Diego Martin
THE EDITOR: On Wednesday July 6, 2003, Newsday carried a news report and a “Public Notice” which appeared to have no connection. However the two items are closely connected, by the contempt they express albeit unknowingly, for us, the people. The news reoprt, on page 4 carried the headline “Zero Tolerance for Crimes Against Tourists.” Judges of the Appeal Court denied leniency to a man who stole money for a British tourist’s room in a Tobago Guest House. Implicit in the Judges’ statement was the suggestion that stealing from a tourist is deserving of a heavier penalty than stealing from a local. The “Public Notice,” published on page 18 by TIDCO (of all people!) advised that “repairs at Maracas beach are in the works,” during the month of August 2003, and they (TIDCO) agologise for the inconvenience.
Is August not the month of greatest beach usage by Trinidadians, resident here and studying abroad? Does TIDCO not know this? Why not schedule beach facility upgrades in June, so facilities will be at their best for August, when more people use them, weekdays and weekends? Incidentally it’s locals who pay for the upgrades, so why not let locals enjoy the benfits, instead of having to climb through a construction site to bathe. And how will this affect the vendors who look forward to increased sales during the August school holidays? Now I don’t think that our Appeal Court Judges or TIDCO would state that locals are less deserving than tourists. However, they appear to signal that tourists deserve better protection and facilities than locals and this comes through clearly in their statements and actions.
2020 is a million years away!
PETER O’CONNOR
Cascade
THE EDITOR: I do not think that any one will dispute that the UNC at this time is in need of new leadership. This is in no way to discredit the incumbent Mr Basdeo Panday. He has served his time and served it well. However time goes on and it is with the utmost respect I say that it is time for Mr Panday to move on to a different phase of his colourful and interesting life. As I look around for a possible replacement I would like to suggest the name of Mr Surujrattan Rambachan. I had almost forgotten about him until his recent appointment as Mayor of Chaguanas. Here is a man who is articulate, obviously intelligent and from what I understand quite accomplished academically. I think the time is ripe for Mr Rambachan to begin developing his support base.
From there he would have to move out and appeal to the sentiments of the wider population not the least being the Presbyterian and Muslim sectors of the electorate. We have seen the importance of these sectors in the critical constituencies of San Fernando West and Tunapuna, and I think Mr Rambachan has what it takes for these communities to support him. In the past Mr Rambachan was seen as a firebrand, bordering on being perceived as a young hot headed youth. I think this was based on a 15 second segment show on TTT when he asked for more coverage of events related to the East Indian community (at the time most of the electronic media was State controlled). I am sure the country has matured much more since then as has Mr Rambachan.
NAUSHAD KHAN
Valsayn
THE EDITOR: Hello! Hello! This is an average citizen calling you Mr Prime Minister. I have a couple of questions to ask, out of sheer love and deep concern for my country. It is my understanding that numerous “Trinis to the bone” have actually pulled anchor and have left these shores. True or false? If in the affirmative, can you tell me why this is so Sir? I am not hearing you, sir! It is my understanding that potential foreign investors are now having doubts about the country’s stability due to the uncontrollable crime situation.
True or false Sir? If in the affirmative, can you tell me why this is so and what steps are you taking to remedy this unacceptable situation? Hello! Hello! I am not hearing you, Sir! Finally, are you still in charge Sir? Or is the country now being managed by the criminal element? Hello! Hello! I can’t hear you Sir! Anyway Mr Prime Minister, if you are still on line, sorry but I have got to “run.” There’s a bandit or kidnapper approaching, will call again, that is if I survive.
G WILDMAN
Glencoe
