THE EDITOR: My name is Lawrence Nicholson. I am trying to trace an old friend called Garth Anthony Marcelle who may be living and working in Trinidad. I met Garth in the 1976-1979 period when he was studying at the South Shields Marine and Technical College. I think he was working for one of the oil shipping companies Shell or BP.

I would like to make contact with him again to see how he is getting on. If you could arrange for an article in your newspaper asking if anybody who knows Garth or his whereabouts could contact me at my e-mail address. I would be very grateful.

LAWRENCE NICHOLSON
South Shields, England
in002c3894@blueyonder.co.uk

THE EDITOR: I hope you will be able to accommodate our reply to Ms Dopwell’s label for ASPIRE (August 4.) First, we respect Ms Dopwell’s right to call us any name she pleases, however inaccurate. What we question is her claim to a monopoly of the truth. Second, we acknowledge and admire the excellent work being done by all the agencies named in her letter.  We hope there were more of them. The fact is that we still face at least 20,000 abortions every year. In spite of their excellent work the magnitude of the problem demands a far more systemic approach. Third, we speak for ourselves and we define our work — not Ms Dopwell and not anyone in the Planned Parenthood Federation of America, past, present or future. We stand for safe motherhood. In this, we are completely aligned with the work of the World Health Organisation. Fourth, we hold our work to be anti-abortion and pro-family. The restrictive criminal law Ms Dopwell vigorously defends has done nothing to stem the rising tide of abortions in our country over the last several decades or prevent the continued harm to women’s health.

Our work offers the opportunity of facing that challenge and the prospect of reducing the number of abortions. How is that pro-abortion? Fifth, Ms Dopwell seems to be more concerned with whether abortion is legal or not, rather than with how many abortions occur. So long as abortion remains a criminal offence she is happy, no matter the consequence. We differ: if making abortion legal can reduce the number of abortions through non-directive counselling and contraceptive uptake, we hold this as a morally superior approach. It protects life. Sixth, in our eyes, Ms Dopwell seems to defend a status quo of widespread hypocrisy. Since women with the means can obtain safe abortions from private physicians in spite of the criminal law, there is no problem. Leave the poor to suffer in silence. We see nothing Christian is this structured injustice.

Seventh, perhaps we could invite Ms Dopwell to an objective review of the Catholic policy of anti-contraception and Catholic practice of abortion. She will find both to be pro-abortion.  Women who are denied access to modern contraceptive methods are more prone to unplanned and unwanted pregnancies and so to the likelihood of abortions.  Data here as in other countries show that Catholics are the religious group that accounts for a higher proportion of abortions, than its representation in the population. Finally, ASPIRE is seeking to change the abortion law (repeat, law) in order to reduce the social problem of unsafe abortion in the short term (2-5 years), and to reduce the incidence of abortion in the medium term (5-10 years). That is infinitely more than can be claimed to be achieved under the present criminal law of abortion. 

DYLIS L MC DONALD
Project Director
ASPIRE

THE EDITOR: When I was a freelance writer for the Express in 1983-87, Owen Baptiste had a column called “No Sacred Cows” which shared licks free sheet, in an incisive manner. Thanks for exposing the sacred cow of prejudice on the part of Dr Maharaj, in respect of Cuban doctors. (My sisters — Mrs Ryan, Ms Edwards, Mrs Baboolal and Mrs Gonzales do not share his views, but are not high up on the totem pole enough to come out and say so, they are only nurses with a combined service of more than a hundred years, who hope to see better health for all). My nephew, who is a Nigerian trained doctor working here, will not share that view either. We, in Trinidad, were a Spanish colony for 305 years, a British colony for 165 years. I never was treated by an African looking doctor until I was an adult.

They were always Chinese up to that time. Now, if Caribbean people can come and help with our medical crises, then it would seem that we have more in common with them than anyone else who came in, because we shared slavery under Europeans, and three hundred years of Spanish influence. When once they settle in, the society might be surprised and delighted to see how much in common Caribbean people really have. You are the voice of good sense. I am glad. There is a language of the heart that caring people speak, and the medical terms are Latin for a reason. I believe that the Cuban doctors are a step in the right direction. The health care system has fallen apart, but not under the Cubans. It needs surgery. I hope they can assist.

LINDA EDWARDS
Caroni
PS: Did you notice that when they were trying to separate the Iranian twins joined at the head, in Singapore recently, that an international team of surgeons was assembled? Do you think they all spoke Singaporese? They all spoke the language of medicine.

THE EDITOR: It is with the greatest sadness that I see some 9,000 workers put on the bread line with hardly a peep from the wider trade union movement and religious bodies. Nine thousand workers mean nine thousand families. Do they not matter? How is it that experts keep linking poverty to our horrible crime situation and yet our authorities, economic, moral and political allow 9,000 more to join the fray? Are we so shortsighted that we cannot foresee the consequences of this? Or is that we really do not care? Why is it the government moved to save hundreds at TCL and hurried to give a licence to I 95.5 to save hundreds of jobs, but makes no attempt to save thousands? Let every one draw their own honest conclusions. My sympathies and best wishes to the 9,000 and families. I hope you will see the light at the end of the tunnel even if neither the government nor the religious groups are willing to light a candle for you.

DENISE KOO
Petit Valley

THE EDITOR: Citizens for a Better Trinidad and Tobago (CBTT) believe that corporal punishment in schools is an absolute form of punishment. In a desperate bid to prevent indiscipline and violence among schoolchildren, many are calling for the reintroduction of corporal punishment in schools. However, CBTT contends that physical punishment of children will have little or no effect on the behaviour of many students, although we must admit that many citizens are in support of this harsh measure. We believe that children are entrusted to their teachers and parents to be loved, guided and protected and it is a challenge to raise them to become good citizens. There are many positive ways to guide them. Kindness, time spent explaining, wise direction and setting the example of what we want them to become are some of the ways to assist our children.

Teachers and parents who force a child to fear and hate them, may lose their chance to make him or her a better person by talking, because they have closed the child’s ears. We should not try to solve problems with violence. Corporal punishment often makes children angry. It makes them feel they are evil. Discipline is far more than punishment for misbehaviour. In raising our children, we would teach them ethics, rules of conduct, the ability to plan and to learn from experience. Parents and teachers who beat their children should try to win back their friendship. We should communicate with them more effectively and show affection. We should teach our children to be self-disciplined rather than cooperate because of fear. Alternatives to corporal punishment should emphasise positive behaviour of students, realistic rules consistently enforced, instruction that reaches all students, parent/teacher seminars about student behaviour, use of school psychologists and counsellors, detentions, in-school suspension and even weekend school. We should find ways of engaging today’s children in the thrill of learning. Fear of pain has no place in that process.

Our first impulse is often to say, “I got beaten when I was a child and I turned out okay: or “I got hit when I was a kid and I deserved it.” It’s hard for us to think that people who loved us would hit us and we have to bury that pain deep inside us or excuse it. We usually go on to understand that people who hit us, parents and teachers, were doing what was accepted or even condoned at the time. Corporal punishment of children is an at-risk behaviour which can easily lead to chid abuse. Teaching children right and wrong, intervening when they do wrong, praising good behaviour, and establishing expectations for good behaviour help children to become respectful, caring, and responsible adults. Some of us who believe that we benefited from corporal punishment will never know if we could have turned out even better if we had been raised in a firm, loving home without any physical punishment.

HARRACK BALRAMSINGH
President, CBTT
La Romaine

THE EDITOR: Subsequent to the ONR’s loss in 1981, Mr Yetming could not have been found for a number of years. Then again in 1991, with NAR’s loss he disappeared. Having approached Manning in 2000 to assist in running the PNM’s campaign and being told “No Way Pancho” he ran to a meeting at Jerry Hadeed’s home in Santa Cruz to beg to come in the UNC. Panday in his eternal historical desire to maintain a broad-based political party warmly welcomed him. As soon as UNC is thrown into opposition politics, two years later Yetming is uncomfortable. He was absent from the recently Local Government elections campaign and is now subliminally talking that Panday should go, and not even serving his constituents. But Mr Yetming, leadership is not running away when your party has lost. Strong character is not about arrogance, egotism and lack of strength and courage. Understand carefully what leadership or about before attempting to even contemplate power.

Is it that you are looking for an excuse for disciplinary action by the UNC to join your friends in the PNM Government since you can’t withstand opposition politics for the next four years?
Hard work in service is the name of the game in politics, not running away and blaming others when times are rough.

OCTAVIA MOHAMMED
Petit Valley

THE EDITOR: Our magnificent seven do not look so magnificent anymore. Killarney (Stollmeyer’s Castle)  once so beautifully restored, now has the shabby look of a public service office, with sheets of paper attached to the door. A drive past makes you want to weep. Why can”t  government assist those buildings that  are privately owned with soft loans?  It is more of a financial burden to restore these beautiful old homes than almost any private family could afford. But doing so  means the salvation of homes that have been aptly identified as “magnificent”.

In old San Juan Puerto Rico, soft Government  loans transformed the old city ghetto into a beautiful, desirable section reminiscent of earlier, elegant days. Home owners saw the value of their homes soar as Old San Juan  became the residential area of choice, and a must- see tourist attraction. Who else has benefited? Merchants, artists, craftspeople, hotels, restaurants, cruise ships, and Government coffers. If memory serves me correctly, the loan rate was three percent as long as restoration guidelines were adhered to. If our Magnificent Seven homes were restored, they could be furnished appropriately. Guided tours could be instrumental in defraying costs and they would be a venue for interested tourists. A haven of history. We have no restored areas in Port of Spain. Some buildings have been attractively restored, but we’ve missed the boat as a place where both citizens and tourists can gather for a dose of old-time charm. Can’t we identify some area of Port-of-Spain as a cultural area in harmony with the past, similar to the French quarter in New Orleans?

JANICE HERNANDEZ
Glencoe

THE EDITOR: People are crying for the head of Panday on a platter. If Panday has done wrong then he must face the laws of this land and abide with the consequences. Until then, one must not pass judgement. “Judge not that ye be not judged. The leader of the Opposition has a duty to perform. Are leaders afraid of Panday? Panday had a big case years ago and was exonerated by the courts. Why must Panday go? Brutus was Caesar’s best friend. The knife was wedged in Caesar’s back by Brutus. Caesar exclaimed “Et tu Brute.” Panday now has more strength and venom to spew. Why not constitutional reform? What do we have to fear, but we want a Caribbean Court of Justice. No problem. Constitutional reform now and all else will fall into place.

The nation, today is likened to “Sodom and Gomorrah.” But one man believes he is the boss and when I speak and whatever I do “no damn’ dog bark” while we underlings suffer. Divide and rule is the order of the day. Panday is a war horse and will fight to the bitter end for peace and justice. Eventually, he will retire when the time comes.Are our leaders Christians at heart? Repent for the remission of your sins. This world will pass away. See God in every face, not race.

RAMDASS HARRYLAL
Tacarigua

THE EDITOR: I cannot comprehend how the Emancipation Support Committee of TT could even contemplate celebrating Emancipation Day annually without the inclusion of a Thanksgiving Ecumenical Service or by commencing the day’s activities by playing the national anthem and offering a Thanksgiving prayer by a priest or pastor from one of our several denominational churches, as we cannot afford to leave God out of our celebrations which should not only be celebrated in Port-of-Spain but throughout the whole of TT. I must remind members of the Committee that it was God who freed the first set of slaves, when he sent Moses down to Pharaoh in Egypt with a message “Let my people go that they may serve me” Exodus 7(16) 8(1) 10(3). It was God who inspired Abe Lincoln of the USA and William Wilberforce of the UK to free our ancestors in America and England respectively, and consequently in all British Colonies from slavery.

Although I am a descendant of slaves, I will not participate in the Emancipation Day celebration march, unless and until some sort of thanksgiving prayer or service is included in the programme. I must also remind the Committee that it was God who inspired and moved Sir Winston Churchill of the UK and Franklyn Delano Roosevelt of the USA to free the Jews from tyranny, oppression and slavery in Nazi Germany during the second World War. So we all must give thanks to God for freeing our ancestors from slavery, and to remind ourselves that the God whom we serve is a God of freedom, and that we did not get our freedom to do as we like or to abuse, wound, kidnap, kill or steal from our brothers and sisters as we are doing today, but “to serve God”. Slaves were not allowed to serve God; they drove their slave masters to Church on the Sabbath to serve God, but the slaves themselves had to remain outside to tend the horses and carriages, all the other slaves went to work in the fields 12 hours per day seven days per week which obviously angered the Lord who had decreed that “for six days you shall work but the seventh day is the Sabbath of rest,” Exodus 31 (15) – (17). God wants everyone to serve Him. So please Emancipation Support Committee members, let us commence celebrations on Emancipation Day with the National Anthem, a Thanksgiving Service or prayer not only in Port-of-Spain, but throughout all of Trinidad and Tobago.

PASTOR MARTIN TAYLOR
Arima

THE EDITOR: An August 4, 2003 news item posted by MSNBC Online reported on the positive returns that have accrued to the Irish environment and the national coffers as a result of a sales levy imposed on plastic grocery packing bags over the past 17 months. “According to the Irish Department of the Environment, shoppers used around 1.2 billion plastic bags before the tax was imposed in March 2002. Since then, the use has dropped by around 95 percent. And in return, the Department has received an influx of cash to fund recycling programs from the 15 euro cents (about 17 US cents) charged for every shopping bag purchased. As of July 28, the levy has raised 13.5 million euros (US $15.15 million) that the Department has plowed into recycling facilities around the country.”

The MSNBC report goes on to say that other governments are looking at the Irish system in their attempts to reduce the negative effects on the environment by plastic bag litter. These nations include Australia, Britain, Bangladesh, South Africa, Germany and Canada. Every time I unpack my groceries and am left to discard flimsy plastic bags, I recall the attempt some years ago by the TT Supermarket Owners Association to phase out the use of plastic packing bags by asking shoppers to walk with their own bags and boxes. That proposal apparently was short-lived and met with little or no success. I would like to suggest that the Ministries of Local Government, Health, Planning and Development, the SOA, the EMA, SWMCOL and any other local environmentally-minded groupings and individuals make a renewed and concerted effort to `conscienticise’ citizens about this issue.

FR PETER DE LA BASTIDE
Parish Priest/Regional Episcopal Vicar
Sangre Grande