N Touch

Say ‘no’ to Bush

IN AN earlier editorial we had pointed out that George Bush’s totally unjustified and illegal invasion of Iraq was an obvious illustration why the United States administration wanted no part of the International Criminal Court. The American government, wielding the might of the world’s only superpower and intent on having its way in the world, had placed itself and its country above the constraints of international law and justice.

As far as this newspaper is concerned, Bush and his warmongers in the White House and Pentagon should now be facing charges before the ICC for the atrocities they have committed against the Iraqi people who are still suffering from severe deprivation and dislocation following the total and violent destruction of their country more than two months ago. It is now clear that Bush’s justification for the US invasion of Iraq, that its dictator Saddam Hussein posed an immiment threat to the US and the world by his stockpile of weapons of mass destruction, was nothing but a huge hoax. So that both he and British PM Blair should now be held accountable not only for the wholesale physical demolition of Iraq but also for the slaughter of thousands of innocent lives, largely women and children, who could not flee the prolonged and massive US-UK aerial bombardment.

As a result of the US rejection of the ICC, however, Bush and his right-wing war hawks can continue with impunity to fool the American people with their jingoistic rhetoric about scoring a magnificent victory against Saddam Hussein. Unbelievably, however, that outrage is not enough for Bush and his superpower brigade. The US Government has now decided to suspend US $47 million in military aid to 35 countries, including Trinidad and Tobago and several other Caribbean states, for their failure or refusal to give US citizens immunity from the tribunal. We are saddened to learn that some 51 nations have already buckled under this kind of US blackmail, but we expect that Trinidad and Tobago and other Caricom states, firmly subscribing to the paramountcy of international law, will be categorical in their refusal to concede to US demands. Certainly TT, with special connections to the ICC, must say a firm no.

Regardless of their country’s power, Bush and members of his ultra-conservative regime must not be allowed to capriciously dismiss the demands of international law and justice upon which peace and order and the maintenance of a civilised world depend. Nor should they be encouraged in the arrogant idea that their military and economic might entitles them to exercise some kind of hegemony over our planet. Moreover, we consider the excuse which the US has given for rejecting the ICC as not only overbearingly specious but also a grevious insult to the world community, the United Nations, the 90 countries which studied, signed and ratified the treaty setting up the Court. The American government’s fear is that the ICC could become a forum for politically motivated prosecutions of US citizens. It may well be that this fear reflects the lack of confidence among American leaders of their own system of justice which history would show has been riddled with bias and prejudice.

In any case, it is a brazen insult to the carefully devised mechanism, processes and regulations of the Court and the distinguished jurists selected from different countries — TT’s Karl Hudson Phillips QC is one of them — to preside over trials of the court. To presume that this company of eminent legal personages would stoop to engage in “politically motivated prosecutions against American citizens” reveals either a dangerous kind of paranoia or a determination to use force unilaterally, in pursuit of self interest and with total impunity. As we said before, the invasion of Iraq is a case in point. We must tell Bush and his warmongers an unequivocal no.

The making of Fort San Andres


Ten years ago, Dr Clare Broadbridge invited me to see the work in progress on the restoration of Fort San Andres. Failing the original photographs published with this piece, Newsday readers must imagine the ugly, bare concrete Ministry of Works’ staircase blocking the entrance to the Fort on the seaward side, and the excavation of the original sea wall.

It was Dr Broadbridge who insisted that those stairs be torn down and replaced with the graceful twin flights of steps we see today that made an ideal setting for the speeches at the opening of “The Story of Port-of Spain.” But that was not all. Imagine, then, a building painted a tasteful fawn-beige fronting South Quay and dusty pink facing the sea as you read what I wrote a decade ago. “Those who stop to stand and stare at the work in progress where the Beetham Highway meets Wrightson Road in Port-of-Spain will see what has been hidden for a hundred years or more. Exposed to public view for the first time this century, sea water once more laps against the stout walls of Fort San Andres, the historic gateway to Port-of-Spain. Until the Traffic Branch moved out of that venerable building, few people knew that it was once a fort. Two or three old canons and a low wall at the back of the building bore mute testimony to what it had been at one time.

Those who had business with the Traffic Branch might have noticed (as I did while awaiting an interview with the Assistant Commissioner, Traffic) the thick, semi-circular rubble walls, and wondered whether this was an historic site — and why it had been allowed to go to wrack and ruin. Others just hurried past the sagging chain-link fence enclosing a wilderness of weeds, a car park and the dilapidated old building. Today (April 1993), Fort San Andres is being restored. The restoration is supervised by the staff of the National Museum, the work carried out by the Ministry of Works (2003 note: hence the need to tear out the staircase and replace it — to the bewilderment of workers, with twin flights of steps). Under the museum staff’s direction, they have uncovered part of the massive sea wall enclosing what was originally a small offshore island fort when Trinidad was a Spanish colony. Inside the building, the foundations of the original blockhouse are being laid bare while the building itself is having a facelift. Gone are the makeshift galvanised sheds of toilets and showers for the police; with these removed, the pleasing proportions of the building are being revealed. Any historic tour of Port-of-Spain should begin at Fort San Andres.

Before the Spanish colonists settled here, native Arawak hunted in what was then swamp. The Spanish built the fort to defend their colony from marauding buccaneers and foreign powers. Here the slave ships landed their cargoes of misery. French planters fleeing the Revolution in Saint Domingue (Haiti) disembarked here. Ships, or lighters, full of immigrant indentured East Indians, Chinese, Portuguese, tied up alongside the mole built in 1770 by Don Jose Maria Chacon to connect the island fort to the mainland . . . The restored Fort San Andres will provide our National Museum with space for displays explaining the history of the Fort — and the Port; it will show the background of each immigrant group. A son et lumiere is planned as well as a craft workshop to employ local people. This is an exciting project to beautify that part of the city, to educate Trinidadians old and young, to attract tourists and to provide employment in the craft workshop (including on-the-spot sale of craft items).

The museum staff are hoping to train young people to act as guides to the city, to show local people, school parties and tourists our interesting city churches, point out the intricate ironwork on the Union Club and other buildings (2003 yes, I know Nicholas Towers is pretty impressive, in both senses of those words, but the Union Club was a lovely old building. Which reminds me, historians today surely are concerned about the fate of Harriman’s/McDonalds — one of the few original historic buildings still standing on what was Marine Square). Guides will also be pointing out the delicate tracery of our gingerbread houses — and of course the Magnificent Seven, those majestic buildings on Maraval Road facing the Queen’s Park Savannah. (2003 note: again one shudders to think what the Ministry of Works could be doing in Stollmeyer’s Castle behind the high galvanised fence fronting Wildflower Park. One prays they’re not demolishing that antique plunge bath).

The museum staff are hoping that Fort San Andres will be unveiled to public view in August (1993) and by year-end the son et lumiere and the craft workshop will be operational. Perhaps guides may be recruited and trained, ready for the next tourist season. That done, the museum staff intend focussing on Fort George, the burned-out police HQ on St Vincent Street . . . (2003 note, but the Police weren’t having that — unfortunately, for what one sees there today.) The Ministry of Works and LID (2003 note — was that what CEPEP was in ’93? It would explain the mistake of the staircase) have given the necessary labour for the work, Canada has provided voluntary service consultant experts in restoration, the EEC (European Economic Commission) has promised all the equipment needed for the son et lumiere and multi-media display. Local architects are donating their services to the project. Money and materials are problems that Republic Bank is hoping to solve. The bank will double any contribution made by covenant — or otherwise — by business, big or small in the private sector, and by individuals who give as little as a dollar to Friends of the Museum . . .”
Next week — Where is “Encounter with Worlds?”

There is no local ‘government’

THE EDITOR: Local Government is not local and it’s not the government we need. It’s not local because, among other things, (a) the candidates are selected by national parties; (b) national parties in Government allocate funds which the “Local Government” body may or may not receive, some being taken at times and even given to other ‘local’ bodies; (c) local loyalties are predominantly with the national party rather than with the local community. It goes so far that, if you are known or considered to be a member or sympathiser of a national party, you benefit or suffer in matters of social programmes (like URP), other employment and cultural activities. Accordingly, “local government” does not bond the local community; it divides it.

Secondly, we do not need “government”. The very word indicates “rule” as of some outpost of Empire. Local government is merely an agent of central government. The local government body attempts to satisfy the needs of the people but are the people consulted or involved in the development of policies, plans and programmes for servicing their needs? They are merely told in some ad hoc fashion what the body intends to do or they see it done, and people ask for this and that and protest over one thing or another. This is a rough guide to what, at least, needs to be done: (1) Change the name to “Local Authority” (LA); (ii) Remove national parties from involvement in Local Authority; (iii) Open general meetings of the Local Authority to the public; (iv) Allow citizens the right to propose regulations and programmes to the LA and to attend the relevant committee and all general meetings; (v) make available for public scrutiny and comment the budgets and programmes of the LA; (vi) make financing equitable among the LAs of the country and ensure that allocations are not reduced unless Parliament consider it necessary because of some national crisis.

The Local Authority should be, as far as possible, a community working together to satisfy its needs despite whatever differences. The effect of the changes I propose can be enormous, including, for example, growth in the spirit of community and fall in the crime rate. To provide for this we need Constitutional Reform, the earlier the better. “I think the passage of time has exhibited the deficiencies of the Westminster system when applied to a country of our size and composition. After 40 years, the time is more than right to consider fundamental constitutional reform.” I didn’t say that, Sir Ellis Clarke did, framer of our constitution and Past President of TT.


VAN  STEWART
Diego Martin

Time to eradicate dengue

THE EDITOR: The wet season is here, but not yet in full fury. Mosquitoes are busy in search of stagnant pools and human victims. They invade the households nearest to their breeding water in large numbers. We must all take the necessary precautions if we live near their haunts.

We all know they are dangerous carriers of contagious diseases. There were many victims of dengue fever in Chaguanas. Unfortunately, due to the lack of statistics, I do not know the number of people affected. However, it was clear that the hospitals were kept busy. Recently the Mayor complained about the danger of flood damage in the low-lying areas of Chaguanas and its suburbs. This emp-hasises the fact that we need to embark upon an eradication campaign. Years ago, before Chaguanas became a borough, the Caroni County Council was very vigilant in its fight against insects and other pests. The environment was frequently checked with a view to eliminating stagnant water. Pools of stagnant water were poisoned and family houses were sprayed with mosquito repellent.

Today, I find that the Borough has been lax in its quest for better public health. More attention should be paid to lazy drains and canals in order to lessen the danger of infestations. I think it is urgently necessary to re-introduce the spraying of houses. Gangs should also be dispatched to ensure that all breeding places are destroyed or controlled. Trinidad is relatively safe from malaria and yellow fever. Dengue fever must be added to this list. I do not believe that dengue is difficult to control, judging from the habits of its host, chief among which is the preference for clean water to lay its eggs. All water vessels must be kept covered. Dengue fever is a fatal disease and the country should expand as much resources as possible, financial and otherwise, to eradicate the peril. Don’t you agree?


SALER AMEERALI
Chaguanas

In defence of Conrad Aleong

THE EDITOR: The BWIA Board of Directors decision to turn its back on Conrad Aleong, ex-CEO of BWIA was reprehensible. Any Board of Directors that sees it fit to release a CEO, who showed profit in a business, for the first time in its 63- year history, for three years running – “is suspect.” This is the type of Board that shoots and asks questions later.

Conrad Aleong’s departure from BWIA is not what irks me. What troubles me is how the whole matter leading to his resignation was handled. No one raised a finger in his defence; not the Chairman of BWIA, the Prime Minister or even Minister Ken Valley of “If I had TCL stocks, I would sell them” fame. One gets the impression that there just may be extraterrestrial forces influencing our social and moral conduct in TT. We no longer do what is right or wrong; only what is prudent or safe. Could someone tell me the rationale for the forced resignation of a CEO of the calibre of Conrad Aleong, who brought BWIA into three years of sustained profitability and growth along with complete modernisation of the airline, for the first time in its 63-year history?

At this writing, several major US airlines have already filed for bankruptcy, with Air Canada as an imminent casualty in the wake of September 11, the “airline cruncher.” The entire airline industry is in disarray, yet our Government sees it fit to make political hay of the BWIA issue, while it forgives the outstanding tax liabilities of Dominion oil, remains conciliatory with Caroni (1975) Limited, with debts of over $2 billion- the perennial “basket case” that from all appearances, has taken a solemn oath never to make a profit.

The workers are never satisfied with what is offered to them in the form of VSEP. It seems apparent that the only offer that would be acceptable to them is the entire TT Treasury. Petrotrin is not far behind, as a state- owned company that is always acquiring every type of business in sight but is yet to show a profit in its balance sheet. These are a few of the companies that enjoy sacred- cow privileges, with the Government, but not BWIA that is only allegedly asking the Government for the financing of $116 million to which the Government acquiesced, with the stipulation that BWIA reduces significantly, its operating expenses.

Our Prime Minister, Patrick Manning is alleged to have remarked that he is totally fed up with BWIA. How many times has BWIA approached the Government in the last three years for assistance? And even if it did, is the $2 billion Caroni (1975) Limited debt, just “paper work write-off?” We are already talking about calling on Virgin Airlines and Liat already poised for a merger with BWIA to take up the slack, without any signs of remorse as though BWIA never existed. We are known in TT for our “short attention span,” as our once famous “Humming Bird.”

The business problems BWIA faced with the California USA-based BWIA lessors International Lease Finance Company should not be over looked, but it is for the leasing Finance Company to dictate who BWIA should have as its CEO. The Prime Minister Patrick Manning did not see it fitting to stand behind embattled BWIA and Conrad Aleong, who was able to take BWIA out of the unenviable position of being in the “red” for over 60 years running. He was able to resuscitate the company, for three consecutive years of sustained growth. The PM’s gaffe: “I am fed up with BWIA,” would soon come back to haunt him. As an avowedly religious man, he should be cognisant of the biblical quotation: What comes out of a man’s mouth, defiles him and instead of proclaiming his disgust with BWIA he should rethink his position.


ULRIC GUY
Point Fortin

Right to life is predominant

THE EDITOR: The inalienable rights of humans are the rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. An inalienable right, as defined in dictionaries, is a right that cannot be taken away or given away. Human beings have these rights by the mere fact that they are human. They are then what is termed “God given rights.”

In order to have the right of the pursuit of happiness, one must first have the right of liberty and in order to have these two rights one must first have the right of life for without life the other two cannot apply. The right of life therefore is the pre-dominant right since without it the two inalienable rights cannot be obtained. Life begins at conception and even those in ASPIRE admit to this since when the male sperm fertilises the female’s egg the DNA of the new person, the baby is established, and this DNA distinguishes the baby as a separate human being. This human being then has the inalienable right to life, which cannot be taken away. If therefore a pregnant woman aborts this life she exercises her right to liberty or freedom of choice. She however supercedes the predominant right which is the right of the baby to life. Any government which, therefore, makes abortion legal is depriving its most vulnerable citizen of its most dominant right which is the right to live. It says in effect the baby is a non-human.

ASPIRE and other pro-choice groups will argue that the baby in the womb has life but it is not human or viable. They never can say though when it becomes human and viable because to define this will place limits on their demand for abortion at any time during pregnancy. Any government which legalises abortion, says to its citizens that it has the power and right to take away the inalienable right of a human life. The Europeans did this to the Africans and indigenous people and made them slaves. The Nazis did it to the Jews and exterminated millions of them. Countries which have legalised abortions have done this and are allowing the killing of millions of babies. We cannot let our Government do this to us. Abortion must never be legalised, for what becomes legal, becomes normal and what becomes normal will soon become moral. It would, indeed be a sad day for our country if we ever allow abortion to be legalised.

JOHN  MACKAY
Port-of-Spain

Experienced TT face tough V/zuela

Trinidad and Tobago football team coach, Stuart Charles-Fevrier and his technical staff, including assistants Jamaal Shabazz, Ross Russell and Brian Williams, have selected an experienced lineup to play  Venezuela in a friendly clash today at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo from 6 pm.

Birmingham City striker Stern John and the Wrexham trio of striker Hector Sam, winger Carlos Edwards and defender Dennis Lawrence are among a final 18-man team, under the captaincy of Reynold Carrington, announced late yesterday for the match. Omitted from the 22-member training squad were San Juan Jabloteh winger, Josh Johnson, W Connection midfielder Kenwyne Jones, Starworld Strikers forward Kester Cornwall and Joe Public defender Derek King. Speaking on the eve of last night’s training session at the Stadium, Charles-Fevrier said that he is expecting a short passing game by the Venezuelans but his team will “have to concentrate well, mark well off the ball and our communication with each other must be good.” But the team is inexperienced in the goalkeeping department, with 2001 Under-17 World Cup reserve Jan-Michael Williams, 18 and Jabloteh second-string Daurance Williams 20, jostling for a starting spot between the uprights.

The recently-appointed coach revealed that “though they are young, they are of adult-age and, in world football, most players begin their international careers between 18-21.” He continued, “we definitely have the confidence and, at this point in time, we’re looking to rebuild and try to get more depth into the national team. And we should give our youngsters an opportunity to play at this level.” In their last confrontation, Venezuela whipped the national squad 3-0 at San Christobal on April 30. The South Americans held a 90-minute training session at the stadium yesterday, followed by a similar stint by the national outfit.
 
Squads —
Trinidad and Tobago – Jan-Michael Williams, Daurance Williams (goalkeepers); Reynold Carrington (capt),  Keyeno Thomas, Dennis Lawrence, Ian Gray, Nigel Daniel (defenders); Trent Noel, Carlos Edwards, Dale Saunders, Silvio Spann, Kurt Williams, Anthony Wolfe, Kerry Baptiste (midfielders); Hector Sam, Kendall Davis, Stern John, Nigel Pierre (strikers).
Venezuela — Luis Vera, Gabriel Urdaneta, Luis Vallenilla, Ricardo Paez, Giovanny Perez, Javier Villafraz, Leonel Vielma, Juan Garcia, Leopoldo Jiminez, Daniel Noreiga, Cristan Casseres, Wilfredo Alvarado, Javier Campos, Gilberto Angelucci, Juan Arango, Jorge Rojas, Manuel Sanhouse, Alejandro Chichero.

Grande teenager makes Windies team

West Indies newest woman cricket find, Anisa Mohammed started playing cricket at the age of five years.

And at 14 she has been selected for the West Indies Women Under-23 cricket team. Mohammed said yesterday she was surprised and excited by the news of her selection. She said she fell in love with the game at the tender age of five years, while playing windball cricket with her father Bobby and cousins on Maraj Hill, Sangre Grande. However Mohammed only took to the game seriously earlier this year and joined the Explorers Untouchables Cricket Club in Sangre Grande. “I really wanted more out of the game and decided to join Explorers in my village.” There she met coach David Muffet and he helped the third form Mathura High student develop her craft. She always loved off-spin bowling and Muffet taught her the finer points.

Mohammed, whose twin sister Alisa, played for the President’s XI in the regional youth series had a great first local season. In three matches she grabbed 17 wickets and was called to the national team. This gave her tremendous joy and she worked very hard prior to the series. She arrived on the scene a virtual unknown and made a name for herself. She grabbed the most wickets in the series —- 10 and had the shock of her life when she was named on the West Indies Under-23 team. Anisa who was born to Bobby Imitiaz Mohammed and Leela Mohammed in 1989 also has twin brothers and wants to do well to make her family proud.

Ato looks to make amends in Paris

SAINT-DENIS: A selection of the world’s finest athletes will meet tomorrow at Stade de France for the second Golden League track meet of the season.

Following the first rendezvous of the season in Oslo, Norway, last weekend, France’s national stadium welcomes US sprint star Maurice Greene, the three-time reigning 100-metre world champion, and other pedigree competitors. Among the stars will be Trinidad and Tobago’s Ato Boldon who has been having a disastrous outdoor season so far, and will be looking to make amends. However, Greene’s sprint rival Tim Montgomery — the 100-metre world record holder with a time of 9.78 seconds — is yet to confirm his participation in the event. Montgomery and his partner, the sprinter Marion Jones, recently had their first child together. The Golden League is an incentive-based competition consisting of six European track meets running from June until September. After Saint-Denis, situated on the outskirts of Paris,  the Golden League bandwagon rolls on to Rome, Berlin, Zurich and Brussels. In both male and female categories, victorious athletes can win up to euro15,000 (US$17,340), while a second-placed finisher takes home a maximum of euro12,000 (US$13,880).

In addition, should Greene set a new world record in the 100-metres for example, he would earn an extra euro50,000 (US$57,800). Should one of the many European athletes present — such as legendary Czech Republic javelin thrower Jan Zelezny — set a European record, they would claim euro10,000 (US$11,570). However, there is a downside as — according to French law — 15 per cent of all winnings are taxed. Organisers said ticket sales for tomorrow’s meeting have been steady and a crowd of around 48,000 is expected — including 15,000 children invited by one of the meeting’s sponsors. Among other big-name athletes scheduled to compete are: Olympic 5,000-metre champion Gabriela Szabo, and four-time World and double-Olympic 10,000-meter champion Haile Gebreselassie of Ethiopia. This time however, Romanian Szabo will compete in the 3,000 metres, while Gebreselassie runs in the 5,000 metres. The event is scheduled to start with the men’s 400-metre hurdles and due to end with the men’s 1,500 metres.

Boyz lose key players for Gold Cup

KINGSTON: Jamaica have lost two key players for this month’s Gold Cup in the United States and Mexico, technical director Carl Brown said yesterday.

Striker Keith Kelly, who plays for Belgian first division club Mons, has been ruled out after suffering a knee injury in a training match, Brown said.  Fellow striker Paul Hall, who plays for Rushden and Diamonds in England, has been axed after failing to turn up for the training camp. Jamaica face Cuba and Paraguay at home in warm-up friendlies before travelling to Miami, where they open their Gold Cup campaign against Colombia on July 13.