THE United States Embassy in Trinidad and Tobago finds no significant difference between successive PNM and UNC governments except “active” attempts by the former to investigate allegations of corruption against the latter.
According to the US Embassy’s Country Commercial Guide (CCG) for fiscal year 2003, “although the two major parties represent different ethnic groups and regions (PNM-urban/Afro, UNC- rural/Indian) there is little difference between them in their platforms”. “The PNM generally shares the same viewpoints towards economic reforms and shares the goals of fighting crime and drugs and improving social services,” the CCG stated. The CCG added that despite concerns raised by the Embassy following the December 2001 electoral deadlock, the absence of a working Parliament did not impact negatively on the business climate in TT and the PNM “continued the UNC’s policy of supporting foreign investment, especially in the energy sector”. “The government of Prime Minister Patrick Manning appointed in December 2001 has continued the sound macroeconomic policies of the previous regime, and is trying to further improve the investment climate,” the CCG said.
The CCG viewed crime and drug trafficking as the main political issues which could affect TT’s business climate. “The Manning government has maintained close cooperation with the US government on issues involving drug trafficking and international terrorism,” the report said. The CCG also noted that the PNM “has been active in investigating allegations of corruption linked to the previous government”. However the CCG does not say anything about UNC efforts to investigate corruption allegations during its six years in office. The report added that since 1992 “almost all investment barriers have been eliminated” and “the investment climate is very good”. The CCG expects this trend to continue with plans to further expand the US$1 billion Atlantic LNG plant will bring increased foreign direct investment into TT which has averaged approximately US$300 million annually over the last three years. The report further notes “rule of law and respect for contracts are a big part of business transactions” and US credit rating agencies have looked favourably at TT’s economic prospects.
President of the Police First Divison ACP Winston Cooper said yesterday that any attempts by government to bring in a person outside the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service, to be appointed as Commissioner of Police, will be met with strong opposition.
He also described as “rubbish” statements attributed to a government minister who claimed that no one is qualified in Trinidad and Tobago to be Commissioner. According to ACP Cooper, all members of the police executive are capable and qualified to fill the position of Commissioner of Police since they all worked from constable to Commissioner. He claimed that although the appointment of Commissioner was a political one, it will be disrespectful and unfair to bring in a foreigner or civilian to the post. Guy who will proceed on pre-retirement leave from tomorrow, will officially hand over to Deputy Commissioner Everald Snaggs who will celebrate his 59th birthday that day.
THE EDITOR: The recently concluded international cricket season in the Caribbean has shown that a young West Indies team have the potential to once again stake a claim among the sport’s elite. Led by Brian Charles Lara, the chosen one has once again risen to the top of the world batting ranking with a total of more than 800 runs in six Test matches this year.
The question among many fans will once again arise. Who is really the world’s best batsman, Lara or Tendulkar? With his phenomenal consistency Sachin Tendulkar stands poised to surpass his countryman Sunil Gavaskar as Test cricket’s leading century maker. For years younger than Lara, the Indian maestro may very well put this record out of the reach of future aspirants. Brian Lara’s second coming as captain has given him a new lease in his cricketing career. Boldness, being more of a team man and leading by example being the key factors. Tendulkar has the company of Ganguly, Dravid and formerly Azharuddin, all world-class batsmen, to inspire him to display his considerable talent. Lara does not have that kind of supporting cast. The majority of the time that he comes to the wicket, the pressure on him is enormous. This is what makes him so unique.
I have always maintained that Sir Vivian Richards is the greatest batsman I have seen, until I saw Lara. He combines the artistry of Rowe or Dujon — I never saw Worrell — the savagery of Kanhai or Greenidge — never saw Weekes and Walcott — the genius of Sobers and Richards —never saw Headley. Has Tendulkar ever played the kind of innings under extreme pressure such as the 277 at Sydney (1993), the 213 at Sabina Park (1999) or the 153 not out at Kensington Oval (1999), rated by Wisden as the second greatest innings in the history of Test cricket. All against the might of Australia. Five double centuries adorn his cabinet so far. Only Bradman (12) Hammond (7) and Miandad (6) have scaled loftier heights. How then can one judge who is better? This is just for argument sake. Beware South Africa, beware.
MICHAEL DENNY
Arima
THE EDITOR: Firstly, allow us to congratulate all the athletes who won medals at the CAC Senior Championships in Grenada. Our congratulations also go out to all the other athletes who competed at these games.
We have read with some interest a letter to the Editor of this newspaper published on Wednesday July 9, 2003 titled: Coaches Cry Foul Over Choice of Team Officials. The selection of team officials has always been a burning issue for many coaches in Trinidad and Tobago. All of what the writer(s) have stated is indeed fact. There exists, at this time, no coaching policy by the NAAA. Nepotism seems to be the order of the day where selection is concerned. This, however, did not begin with the current executive. This policy is as old, it would seem, as the NAAA itself. It would appear that individuals of the athletic fraternity seek to be elected to the executive in order to travel with national teams and not necessarily to work for the advancement of track and field in Trinidad and Tobago.
How difficult is it to develop a coaching policy? As stated by the writer, a management policy was adopted by the executive because it was expedient for them to do so. This policy basically ensures that only members of the executive will serve as national team managers. This policy was agreed to even without putting it to a vote or making an amendment to the constitution of the NAAA. During the tenure of the former executive led by Mr Francis Williams-Smith, a special general meeting was called to adopt a motion for the Trinidad and Tobago Track and Field Coaches Association to be the vehicle for the selection of national coaches. This motion was carried and the constitution should have been amended to reflect this change. However, the minutes of this meeting were somehow conveniently “misplaced.” We are IAAF certified Level 2 Coaches, certified Level 1 Officials as well as certified Level 1 Lecturers in the IAAF Coaches Education and Certification System. Our coaching counterparts in the other Caribbean countries, who incidentally, have not been as successful as we have been, all represent their countries at the highest level on the international stage of athletics.
At the recently concluded seminar for IAAF Lecturers in Kingston, Jamaica, the area representative of the IAAF, Mr Teddy Mc Cook, reiterated the position of the IAAF for qualified coaches to accompany national teams. Mr Mc Cook expressed his concern of the position adopted by Trinidad and Tobago and their persistence in sending uncertified coaches to meets sanctioned by the IAAF. This position, he reminded the Trinidad and Tobago contingent, was counterproductive as we have been unable to benefit fully from IAAF subsidies. In the current executive there are only two Level 2 Coaches, Dr Ian Hypolite and Nadine Hamid. We are aware of their uphill struggles to convince the executive of the NAAA of the need for adopting a coaching policy. A development programme for track and field is also a dire necessity in Trinidad and Tobago. The NGC has been doing a credible job through their Right on Track programme.
The NAAA, as the governing body for track and field, must lead the way in this aspect. As a nation we are steadily falling behind in the race for athletic superiority in this region. We have been fortunate to be the birthplace of some exceptional athletes such as Darrel Brown, Marc Burns, Ato Boldon, Ato Modibo, Fana Ashby, Damion Barry, Sheridan Kirk, Cleopatra Borrel, Nicconer Alexander, Julieon Raeburn, Candice Scott and Jacey Harper just to name a few. The administration of track and field must change its paradigm to ensure success and continued participation of our young athletes in the sport. We have been losing many of our athletes to other sports and several of our coaches, as well, are seeking “greener pastures” through other sports.
IAN CARTER, DEXTER VOISIN
IAAF Level 2 Coaches
IAAF Level 1 Lecturers
THE EDITOR: I read recently that some men dressed in army type uniforms wearing ski masks entered homes on two occasions, beat up occupants comprising men, women and children in the El Socorro, San Juan area. I read too that the men claimed to be Police and arrived in San Juan in Army Jeeps, the registration numbers of which were noted by residents and given to the Police and Army.
A few days ago, I read that the Minister of National Security, Mr Howard Chin Lee received a report of the investigations undertaken by the Regiment and he said that there was no evidence to prove that the men who did these horrendous acts to our law abiding citizens were soldiers. I am to ask Mr Chin Lee why were the Police not appointed to investigate these crimes on the first occasion. The men promised to return to the area the night after to finish off their job which they did. Very surprisingly, no police were posted in the area to give some protection to our citizens.
The Minister should have had these matters properly investigated by the Police, not the Army. No one could have any faith in the Army investigating themselves. What heats me though is that in the military, and this includes the Police, the numbers of all vehicles, the names of all personnel leaving their compounds and their destinations are recorded. Are we satisfied that all these checks were made? Were any weapons seen? If so, what weapons, men and vehicles left Teteron just before the incident? What happened to the investigation that the Hon Prime Minister ordered to reach him within 48 hours? This too appears to have been swept below the carpet. Believe me when I say that this could happen again. Come on Dr Fuad Khan and MP Gillian Lucky, what have you all done, or what are you all doing? Dr Khan, you have a responsibility to your constituents.
DOMINIC IBRAHAM
Woodbrook
THE EDITOR: It is fitting that Mr Clinton Bernard’s hysterical utterances provided the opportune end to the Commi-ssion of Enquiry, since the last two days of the proceedings summed up in total what the enquiry was truly all about: Self-righteousness, gallerying and the defamation of the name and character of persons alive and dead — via the use of the media — with the full confidence that they could not be touched, as evidenced by the challenge “Sue me if you want.” What a pity. Please let us use this sad example for what must not be done for enquiries in the future. Let those in authority select objective persons who do not have an axe to grind and would be humble enough to be guided by experts, such as the Law Association, who voiced their displeasure of the proceedings from the very start.
JONATHON JOSEPH
Tacarigua
THE EDITOR: I have read in the dailies about citizens of our country being held in handcuffs and shackles by the US Immigration Officers at US Airports when it was alleged that their travel documents were not in order or that they did not have enough money to keep them in the USA for the duration of their intended stay there.
We cannot, in all seriousness lay these inhumane practices at the feet of the US Ambassador here as he is not responsible for his Govern-ment’s policies and actions. If what was reported in the local press is true, then our Government should protest this treatment to our citizens, through our Foreign Minister, to the Foreign Office of the USA. I repeat, the US Embassy here cannot hold itself responsible for the policies of its Government. What, however, I, like most citizens of TT, am most unhappy about is the treatment meted out to our citizens in our own land by the US Embassy here. Just imagine, in this day and age, the US Embassy has our citizens, who wish visas to travel to the USA, queue on Marli Street, standing for hours in the unbearable heat and now compounded by the rain, some without hope of being attended to. Think of a stint of six hours without bathroom facilities at all.
Our authorities are allowing Marli Street to remain closed without legal authority with local US Embassy Security guards enforcing this illegal act. These guards enforcing this closure are exceeding their authority since the guards authority are confined to the estate of the US Embassy. A public road in TT cannot by any stretch of the imagination be considered the estate of the USA. Be that as it may, no one will quarrel if Marli Street remains closed and the Embassy put down a large tent there with chairs underneath where our citizens, especially the old, could shelter the rain and sun while awaiting attention of the US Immigration Department of the Embassy. I would have expected that our Foreign Minister would have sought protection for us in this regard. It is not however too late for him to tackle this problem. Prime Minister, put a hand please, for while we could have no problem with whether or not we get visas, we do not wish to be treated as second class citizens by guests in our country.
JOSEPH CARLTON
MAURICE
Curepe
A mother of three and a librarian attached to the University of the West Indies, became the country’s latest road fatality victims when the car in which they were passengers, collided with another car at the O’Meara Intersection of the Churchill Roosevelt Highway early yesterday.
Their deaths caused the road fatality rate to move to 102 persons killed for the year so far. Carla Romania Clarke, 32, died instantly following the accident, while Christopher Phillip, 24, the librarian, died around 4 am at the Port-of-Spain General Hospital during emergency surgery. The driver of the car, Gerald Phillip, 39, survived the accident but suffered severe injuries to the pelvic region. He was resting in serious condition at hospital yesterday.
According to police reports, around 12.30 am yesterday, Gerald Phillip was driving his car east along the Churchill Roosevelt Highway, when he lost control of his car and swerved into the path of vehicle PBM 2952 which was travelling in the opposite direction. The car then deviated on the southern side of the highway and crashed into an electricity post. Clarke died immediately, while Christopher was severely injured. He died hours later at hospital. District Medical Officer Dr Vidya Maharaj along with Cpls Antoine and photographer Cpl Clarine Diamond went to the scene. Christopher and his brother Gerald were rushed to the Port-of-Spain General Hospital. Gerald was treated and warded while Christopher died while undergoing emergency surgery.
At La Horquetta yesterday Joycelyn Phillip, mother of the victim described her son as a “Saltfish.” She claimed that Christopher was her youngest child and was loved by everyone who knew him. The weeping mother of five said that her two sons left home on Saturday night saying that they were going to Tacarigua to pick up Carla. She said that she never thought that it was the last time that she would ever see Christopher alive again. Sobbing uncontrollably, the grieving woman explained that she was asleep around midnight when she was told by her husband that Christopher was injured in an accident. As a result, she went to the Port-of-Spain General Hospital where she was told that emergency surgery was being carried out. After waiting for hours, she asked nurses at the hospital for information on her son, but nobody bothered to inform her that Christopher had died. She was informed of the death only around 7 am yesterday. A relative who broke the news of the two deaths to Gerald said that he took the news of both deaths very badly.
The driver of the car which Phillip crashed into allegedly fled the scene shortly after the accident. Both cars were towed to the Arima Police Station. At Peters Street, Tacarigua, the three children of Carla stared at her picture and wept. They claimed that Carla who was a housekeeper, was a good mother. They expressed shock over her death and added that she will be sadly missed. The parents of Carla are expected to return from the United States today to finalise funeral arrangements. Cpl Antoine of the Arima Police Station is investigating.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has advised Government that effective use of prospective higher energy revenues is key to TT’s future development.
While commending the plan to achieve developed country status by the year 2020 through establishing a highly educated workforce and strengthening infrastructure, the IMF warned Government that this would require “tailoring its spending in line with the country’s absorptive capacity.” The IMF also encouraged government to invest part of higher oil revenues abroad through the revenue stabilisation fund to generate income for future generations. These conclusions were contained in a report dated July 10, following the conclusion of Article IV consultation between the IMF Executive Board and TT on June 23. Increased spending on education, health and infrastructure was praised, however the IMF cautioned “that adequate attention should be paid to the efficiency of such spending.”
IMF Directors encouraged the authorities to give priority to developing well-articulated, medium-term macroeconomic framework underpinned by a three-year rolling budget. They “welcomed” some of the fiscal initiatives announced by Government—the plan to create a unified revenue authority was viewed as a major step in strengthening tax and customs administration; the introduction of a system of pre-announced repo rates as market benchmark, the newly established Capital Markets Committee, and moves to integrate the supervision of insurance companies and pension funds with that of commercial banks, under the authority of Central Bank. The directors commended Government’s planned participation in the financial assessment programme. They advised that recent steps to reinvigorate structural reforms should include pension reform. The proposed restructuring of Caroni (1975) Ltd was regarded as a “positive step.”
Directors urged Government to maintain the momentum of the structural reform agenda and stick to their divestment timetable. Government was encouraged to consider eliminating overlapping benefits in the national insurance scheme and other public pension schemes. IMF Directors said: “efforts should focus on streamlining and harmonising the system of old age benefits and pensions, as well as the public sector pension scheme.” They welcomed Government’s commitment to further trade liberalisation, and the decision to participate in a pilot study to adopt transparency guidelines under the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative. Trinidad and Tobago recorded its ninth consecutive year of economic growth despite the global economic slowdown and lingering negative impact of the September 11 attacks. Unemployment fell from 14 percent in 1998 to about 10 percent in 2002. In March 2003, Standard and Poor’s upgraded TT’s credit rating from BBB to BBB-.
CONCORD, NH: Investigators looking for the bodies of two children missing from New Hampshire since July 4 focused their search yesterday along the route their father travelled across the Midwest, authorities said.
Sarah Gehring, 14, and brother Philip, 11, were last seen at a fireworks display in Concord with their father, Manuel Gehring. Gehring was arrested Thursday at a hotel in Gilroy, Calif and authorities announced Saturday that they were treating the case as a double homicide. Officials gave few details about why they believe the children are dead except to say that evidence found Friday night and early Saturday led them to that conclusion. Assistant Attorney General Jeff Strelzin would not discuss the evidence, or say if Gehring was cooperating with police. Strelzin said the search remained focused on the Midwest. Neither he nor Attorney General Peter Heed would disclose the source of the information that led them to focus their search there.
According to court documents in Concord, the children were in tears when they and their father left an Independence Day fireworks display. The documents also say Gehring was opposed to a new custody arrangement between him and his ex-wife that had been reached a week earlier. The children’s mother, Theresa Knight, has not spoken to reporters. Her husband, James Knight, thanked investigators Saturday, saying: “Everyone has done a good job. We’d like to thank them for their efforts throughout the country.” According to credit card charges, authorities say, Gehring apparently travelled along Interstates 84 and 80, stopping July 5 at Newburgh, NY, and Emlenton, Pa.; July 6 at Joliet, Ill, and Iowa City, Iowa; July 7 at Greenwood, Neb; July 8 at Winnemucca and Sparks, Nev; July 9 at Rocklin, North Highlands and San Francisco, Calif yesterday; and July 10 in Gilroy.
Gehring was jailed yesterday in Santa Clara County, Calif, and was scheduled to appear in court tomorrow on charges of being a fugitive from justice in New Hampshire. He was charged in New Hampshire last week with interference with child custody.
