THERE were so many pleasing aspects to the evening that it is difficult determining which should be the object of focus. There was Ron Reid’s deft touch to his pair of double second pans; Orville Wright’s delicate tinkling of the ivories; and the totally awesome bass playing of David “Happy” Williams. Surinamese drummer Harvey Wirht may possibly have been a tad too loud at times, but his undoubted skill on the skins was in evidence, while the radiance and charm of US-based vocalist Nia Allen was eclipsed only by the soulful power of her voice. The “secret” MC (he remained out of sight, but everyone knew it was Alfred Aguiton, well-known jazz aficionado and chairman of Ample Advertising) brought a welcome breath of fresh air to the job; the exhibited works of graphic artist Kenneth Scott showed off his expertise and versatility; and the mouth-watering menus on offer from culinary artiste Jacqueline Danclair appeared to appeal to the most discerning of palates. It all happened down at the Central Bank Auditorium in Port-of-Spain last Friday night at the opening performance of the two-night production “Reid, Wright and be Happy – The Concert” presented by Sanch Electronix Ltd.
An almost full house of patrons, after engaging in social chit-chat during the cocktail hour, experienced the best in entertainment in a three-hour showcase from three-widely acclaimed Trinidad and Tobago nationals. In making comments to the audience before start of the second segment, producer Simeon Sandiford alluded to the event as “our little experiment.” He said it was a new approach to marketing culture and promised that with the continued thrust he would successfully bring a Grammy Award to Trinidad and Tobago in two years’ time. “We intend to travel with this bandwagon and teach the world to read and write, and I am sure they will be happy for it,” he quipped. The playbill opened with just Reid and Wright giving interpretation to Williams’ composition “Happy’s Story.” The full ensemble then gathered for a groovy rendition of Ray Holman’s “Pan On The Move,” before vocalist Nia Allen was introduced. The lass, who recently graduated with a Degree in Music Education from Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts, won instant favour with patrons for her inspirational treatment to the Wright composition “I Know It’s Real.” A truly remarkable performance of the late Andre Tanker’s “Morena Osha,” presented in a reggae/jazz styling, was followed by Reid’s keyboard and Wright’s double seconds engaging in musical conversation to Reid’s “Laura’s Waltz.”
Allen came back to do an appealing rendition of “God Bless The Child” before we were treated to some great bass playing by Williams in the showcase of his composition “Keep The Master In Mind.” Wright paid tribute to his musical mentor, the late Olive Walke, leader of the now defunct La Petite Musical Chorale, with a sensitive, classical treatment of the choir’s best-known folk song, “Mangoes.” Williams, on the other hand, chose to remember his late father, the great bassist John “Buddy” Williams by giving a stunning display on the instrument while rendering the Manning Sherwin classic “A Nightingale Sang In Berklee Square.” Not forgotten was the late Grandmaster of Calypso, Lord Kitchener (Aldwyn Roberts) who would have been more than pleased with the aggregation’s jazz interpretation of his 1963 Road March winner “The Road.” The three nationals finally, but forcefully, showed pride in their identity with a new, but endearing twist to Ian Wiltshire’s mega hit “Trini To The Bone.” Sandiford made presentations of the group’s CD to Lester “Eifebo” Wilkinson of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism; Brian Harry of the Tourism and Trinidad Development Company (TIDCO); Kenrick Sooknarine of Cariflex; and former First Lady Zalayhar Hassanali representing the Charity Foundation, Women Against Breast Cancer.
THE PUBLIC Services Association (PSA) has extended its congratulations to 14 dismissed retail officers of the Trinidad and Tobago Postal Corporation (TTPost), after the court ordered the Cor-poration to reinstate them effective June 1. In a release issued on Wednesday, the PSA explained that on February 1,2002, TTPost terminated the employment of the 14 retail officers and the matter was taken before Industrial Court member, Thompson Brodie. At the trial TTPost conceded that it had violated the rights of the workers and agreed to reinstate them effective June 1. As part of the settlement the Corporation agreed to preserve the periods of service between the time of termination – February 1, 2002 and May 31, 2003 for the purpose of pension and seniority. In addition, the Corporation agreed to pay half the salary payable to the workers between February 1, 2002 and May 31, 2003, and to offer the option of VSEP to those who did not wish to return to work at TTPost. The PSA stated that it “salutes these 14 retail officers who stood side by side with the Association in its relentless battle against the TTPost management.”
POLICE have obtained a warrant for the arrest of an ex-Flying Squad officer after 26 kilogrammes of compressed marijuana was allegedly found at his Port-of-Spain home over the holiday weekend by officers of the Organised Crime and Narcotics Unit (OCNU), sources have told Newsday. The ex-constable was not at home when the party of OCNU officers searched his house on Labour Day morning, police sources confirmed. However, senior officers said the former officer’s ageable mother and two other disabled relatives, one a female, were arrested and charged with possession of marijuana for the purpose of trafficking. The three, who were in the house at the time, are due to appear before a Port-of-Spain magistrate today to answer the charge laid by an officer of the OCNU. Police sources said the party of OCNU officers, headed by ASP Franklyn Edwards and others, executed a search warrant for dangerous drugs at the man’s house, after receiving certain information.
The 26 kilogrammes of compressed marijuana were reportedly found on the premises and the illicit drugs have an estimated street value of $180,000. After the discovery, police sources said a warrant was obtained for the ex-officer’s arrest. He is to be charged for a similar offence as his mother and other siblings, police said. He had not been arrested up to late evening and colleagues of the former officer appealed to him to surrender to the relevant authorities, and not cause shame on himself. Senior police officers told Newsday that the officer resigned from the service a “long time” ago and had always been associated with illegal activities. Investigations, spearheaded by OCNU head, Snr Supt Kathleen Weekes, are continuing.
PEOPLE from the Venezuelan Army reportedly came into this country “clandestinely” over the holiday weekend to conduct negotiations on behalf of kidnap Venezuelan businessman, Jose Jesus Bomparte Cipriani, police said. The people from the Venezuelan Army are reported to be relatives of Cipriani, who remained unaccounted for up to late evening although $300,000 have been paid to the kidnappers who snatched and held him by three armed men on the night of June 12 from a house at Darcy Road, Boissierre No 2, Maraval. Police said Cipriani is still being held captive because the kidnappers want to “sock the well” — to see how much money they can get. The $300,000 was dropped off Thursday night in the Malick, Barataria, area, unknowing to local cops, who said they are working along certain lines as the investigations continue by members of the Anti Kidnapping Squad (AKS) officers as well as St Clair Police. Initially, the kidnappers had requested US$150,000 and 15 kilogrammes of cocaine for the Venezuelan’s safe release, but police sources said relatives of the non-national have insisted that Cipriani is not involved in drugs. He reportedly is involved in the shrimp business.
AKS sources also said they are not getting “full corporation” from relatives of the kidnapped 60-year-old man. Police also said that relatives did not want police involvement in the first place, and that the initial ransom demand was also unknown to them. Police have also said that there are Venezuelan nationals who come into the country as “cover businessmen” to conduct illegal transactions in this country. More often than not, police said, these “cover businessmen” are kidnapped for cash and drugs. The ransom demand is usually paid without the knowledge of local police. Investigations are continuing.
CEPEP will be contracted to the village and community councils in order to provide services for their community. This is one of the pledges of the PNM’s Local Government manifesto. Another pledge is to allocate the country’s resources to all communities in an equitable fashion. Deputy Political Leader Ken Valley gave highlights of the manifesto at the party’s launch at Woodford Square on Saturday. He said the PNM’s plans for local government were disrupted in 1995 when it lost office. “And now that we are back, we are eager to continue with the reform agenda for local government,” he said. He said the PNM would provide for greater autonomy and responsibility for local government bodies while making them more accountable to their community. He said the PNM would develop new arrangements for funding local government activities. Saying that the PNM would introduce programme funding as the critical basis for funding local government bodies from the central purse, Valley stated: “No longer would capital expenditure programmes have to be stopped because money is returned to the Treasury at the end of the year. Those funds must be (left) there so that those programmes can be completed in the new year,” he said. He said the PNM was pursuing the “push up” rather than “trickle down” theory of development.
The party is also promising a neighbourhood Home Care facility, training for community leaders, Drug Abuse and Alcohol Prevention treatment and rehabilitation programme, the Youth Placement Service, Civilian Conservation Corps and the National Social Development programme for all communities. The PNM is promising greater decentralisation, with central government focussing more and more on policy formulation, while local government bodies assume more responsibility for implementation of this policy, Valley said. He said the PNM would change the structure and functions of local government bodies to enable them to plan and organise their affairs towards the achievement of community-oriented goals. Valley said the village community councils may once more have pride of place. He added that in order to facilitate this process PNM would introduce legislation to incorporate the Association of Village and Community Councils. He said the PNM would improve the human capital in local government through training, institutional strengthening and capacity building.
THE CARIBBEAN Court of Justice which comes into operation by year end is expected to be another regional institution which not only emerges from the post-colonial sovereign impulse of West Indian societies, however belated that may be, but is also expected to demonstrate our own sophistication in governing ourself according to the rule of law. In this sense, the CCJ will be a kindred institution to the University of the West Indies which was born out of the need of newly independent WI states to organise the tertiary education of their own people instead of depending on overseas universities as we did in colonial times.
On the one hand, then, it is good to learn that popular regional support for the CCJ now stands at 84 percent but, on the other hand, it is disheartening to hear criticism of the Court coming from prominent persons within our region who should know better. One prominent WI jurist has sought to brand the CCJ “a hanging court,” expressing the miopic view that the real motivation for setting up the Court is to facilitate the implementation of capital punishment having regard to decisions of the Privy Council in recent years which have virtually imposed a moratorium on hangings among Caricom states.
We find this submission quite absurd for three main reasons. The first is the fact which Barbados Attorney General Mia Mottley pointed out on Friday, that Caricom Heads of Government had agreed to set up the CCJ in 1987, seven years before the Privy Council’s anti-hanging ruling in the Pratt and Morgan Case. Secondly, what the Law Lords have succeeded in doing is to inject their abolitionist views into our judicial system which requires our courts to impose the mandatory sentence of hanging on convicted murderers. This, in our view, amounts to an impertinence by the Law Lords who cannot frustrate the operation of our criminal justice system by taking the decision for us to abolish the death penalty. That is a matter we must decide for ourselves.
We expect, of course, that the judges we appoint to the CCJ will be selected from among the promiment jurists of the region and the Commonwealth and that they will approach matters coming before them impartially and independently, strictly according to the law and without any abolitionist bias. How, in heaven’s name, could such a court be deemed “a hanging court?” Thirdly, we would like to adopt the sentiments expressed by the Barbados AG when she said: “The reality is that in this region we not only have to love our own, but we must also respect our own.” AG Mottley noted that the CCJ will acquire its own prestige and stature by the quality of judgments delivered by its judges who, she felt sure, would have the required intellectual capacity, judgment, integrity and sensitivity.
In view of all this and the fact that the UNC government had been progressively engaged in the creative processes for the CCJ, we are taken aback by the opposition to the Court now coming from within the ranks of that party. Last Wednesday, Siparia MP Kamla Persad-Bissessar declared that establishment of the CCJ in Trinidad was pointless, given the rate at which the country’s citizens were being murdered. Being an attorney herself, we find such logic bewildering. The fact is that, unlike the Privy Council, the CCJ will not be a court to which convicted murderers can appeal as a strategy to escape the sentence duly imposed on them. Instead of being pointless, then, the CCJ could be quite relevant in TT as it would deal with murder cases strictly according to their merits and cold-blooded killers will no longer have the Law Lords to rescue them from the hangman. But then, in a policy of objecting for the sake of it, reason and logic can become a nuisance.
This year’s Labour Day was, by all accounts, a success. The announcement of the formation of the Federation of Independent Trade Unions and NGOs (FITUN) clearly energised many to come out, calls for unity notwithstanding. It is the view of FITUN that trade union unity is a necessary and desirable objective, but unity is not an abstraction. Unity does not mean that “all ah we is one”, just because we are trade unions. Unity cannot be merely cosmetic with everybody sharing the same platform or even belonging to one umbrella organisation.
Unity must be built around agreed upon policy positions on key issues and a commitment to work to achieve a common programme of activity and struggle together to win shared objectives. In addition, if there is one organisation it must be democratic with every member having an equal voice. It must be a modern umbrella with clearly assigned responsibility given to each member of the Executive and having proper mechanisms of discipline and dispute resolution. None of these existed in the NATUC and we were all guilty of not ensuring that after its formation in 1991 the flesh was put on what was really just the skeleton of a unified trade union body. As a consequence the differences that obviously exist within the movement and between unions not only continued, but under the conditions of the Panday UNC which openly sought to influence (many would say control) the movement, the differences became serious contradictions that could no longer be contained. The split was therefore inevitable. It must be noted that in 1999, when it had become obvious that the divisions were about to break-up NATUC, Errol McLeod, as President of the organisation, proposed that the leadership focus its attention on developing policy positions on the key issues as well as establish mechanisms that would address the fundamental differences that existed. His call was rejected by the majority of those who now are in ‘NATUC’. That is why that organisation has not reformed itself and still operates on the old bases.
In our development of FITUN we have made a conscious effort to create a new “best practice” for a labour umbrella. Thus we have determined that every member organisation will have an equal voice and vote, regardless of size, thus removing the old style of larger unions having more weight by virtue of more voting delegates. Our approach will counter the tradition of ‘big union chauvinism’ that the old system actively fostered. We have also put great importance on the development of common policy positions so that around these positions we can build a programme of acting involving all, regardless of the party loyalties, affiliations or sympathies of the leaders. In this way we hope to maintain a clearly “independent” position, challenging whichever government may be in office, based on our consistent actions on policies that do not change depending on who occupies Whitehall. FITUN also has, by deliberate policy, sought to include those sections of the mass or social movement that are not in trade unions. In the 1930’s the trade union movement and the labour movement were virtually the same, given that when the workers were mobilised the entire community was simultaneously organised into action. Today that is not the case. The mass movement is comprised of workers, communities, women, youth and other key groupings. But all of these sectors have very similar problems and, with the implementation of first structural adjustment and now neo-liberal policies, the problems that the majority of the population face have the same root.
In order to develop a struggle against these policies — be it the FTAA or the equitable distribution of our gas and oil wealth — it is necessary that all sectors are brought together. In the first place this bringing of different sectors into a single umbrella organisation enables a sharing of perspectives so that, for example, youth can better understand trade union issues or trade unions can appreciate the travails of those who are differently abled. This enriches the policy positions that are developed as well as laying the conditions for the building of wider solidarity. Thus community problems can be joined by workers, and vice-versa, as is now the case with the battle against Atlantic LNG Train IV. FITUN therefore is an important development and will, if we do the work, lead the charge against neo-liberalism in the country. It is hoped that others, rather than feel threatened will see the wisdom of our approach and seek to join. One of the significant outcomes of the strategy of linking trade unions with NGOs is the new relationship that has emerged with the organisations that represent the differently abled. They were central to the June 19 activities in Fyzabad as they truly deserved to be. Their struggle is really a struggle for dignity and for basic rights. In this regard their struggles very much reflect those of the workers of the 1930’s. Last week I interviewed E R Blades, a veteran of that period, and he clearly stated that workers were subjected to terrible indignities in the pre-June 19, 1937 period. He gave several graphic anecdotal accounts of such indignities and the fact that they were fighting for not just better wages and conditions of work , or for their rights — be they political or social, they were fighting for their dignity as human beings, no less equal than any other.
Today that struggle is not finished as the plight of the differently abled demonstrates. Then too there is the fact that so many in our society live below the poverty line, in a land of plenty. The ILO’s call for decent jobs is most applicable to Trinidad and Tobago with casual, temporary and contract workers being exploited on a daily basis, as are the workers in the security sector and in most of the service sector. We have therefore committed ourselves to campaign for “Jobs (for the jobless), Decent Jobs (for those who are working under terms and conditions that are unacceptable) and Job Security (or sustainable incomes) for All”. Given the reality of today’s Trinidad and Tobago there is clearly a need for a labour movement that addresses all the many issues affecting working people and the poor. The large numbers that gathered in Fyzabad on June 19 and the spirit of commitment to struggle for a society built on the principles of “peace, bread and justice” for all bore testimony to that need.
THE EDITOR: As one whose electrical engineering education stopped at HNC level and that over fifty years ago, it is with profound respect and diffidence that I would like some clarification on Professor Gifts’ letter regarding the speed of light. I have read much of Einstein’s Theory of Relativity and understand nothing about it. But I do have a logical mind and Professor Gifts’ explanation of the speed of light leaves me puzzled.
It is generally accepted that the speed of light is constant and to my mind the Professor’s analogy with the traffic light does not make sense. If, as he says, a light is flashed towards a person standing still the speed of light will be measured as A. Assuming for the moment that the speed of light is 60 mph then that is A as measured by the person receiving the flash. If, however, the man moves towards the light at 10 mph (B) then the apparent speed of light will be 70 mph. A plus B. However this does not alter the fact that the actual speed of light has not changed but only apparently so to the man. Perhaps someone will point out the error in my logic, I am always ready to learn!
HUGH PUTT
THE EDITOR: The World Health Organisation (WHO) has released a new publication, Safe Abortion: Technical and Policy Guidelines for Health Systems, 2003.
The WHO is a large, conservative, public international organisation. Yet it has been unequivocal in establishing the enormous public health issue of abortion. It has stated what we like to deny, namely, that most women will have at least one abortion. “Of the 210 million pregnancies that occur each year, about 46 million (22 percent) end in induced abortion. Globally, the vast majority of women are likely to have at least one abortion by the time they are 45.” (p 12) This is not some radical little NGO. This is an international organisation accountable to all of the world’s organisations. It will be interesting to see how long it takes the Ministry of Health to acknowledge this publication, and working within our existing law, to take action along the lines recommended in the guidelines.
K T THOMAS
Tunapuna
THE EDITOR: This is an open letter to Muslims. Because we have been negligent in our reading of our Holy Scripture, despite its being available in English translation for over a century, we have come to rely on the teachings of others for our hearsay knowledge of Islam.
We cannot blame our scholars for our abdication of responsibility in this regard. That they have seized the reins of interpretation by default has placed a great burden upon their heads now intoxicated with power, fully usurped. The legacy of Islam received from God is its scripture, the preservation of which its author has undertaken, along with its dissemination and elucidation, having collated it as promised. No administrator has been appointed to disburse this legacy. No executor has been given authority. The result of our negligence has been a virtual caricaturing of Islam, since the foundation of our faith has been altered and the rules premised upon that altered foundation do not lead to salvation but to heresy.
Perfected Islam has been dismantled and re-engineered into a clone of precedent deviance and this has been accomplished by the simple misapplication of one single word “Abrogated.”
By claiming falsely that there remain in the Qur’an several abrogated verses, our scholars have concluded that while Qur’an states explicitly that Jews and Christians are believers, they are in fact unbelievers.
That while Qur’an states explicitly that Christians and Jews are to follow the Scriptures that are with them, those Sacred Scriptures are now corrupted beyond acceptance.
That while Qur’an states explicitly that we are to believe in the prior Scriptures, we must now reject them as corrupt.
That while Qur’an states explicitly that life is sacred, Muslims may kill unbelievers and opponents as they please.
That while Qur’an states explicitly that the adulterer must be flogged, instead they must be stoned to death.
That while Qur’an states explicitly that there is no compulsion in religion, religion must be forcefully imposed.
That while Qur’an states explicitly that women have equal rights as those given over them, they are in fact inferior.
That while Qur’an states explicitly that only women guilty of lewdness must be confined, all women rightfully ought to be locked up in their homes.
That while Qur’an states explicitly that women should dress modestly and not unduly display their charms, in fact only their eyes should be visible.
That while Qur’an states explicitly that the food of the Christians and Jews are permissible for us, that is not quite correct.
That while Qur’an states explicitly that we may marry Christians and Jews, only men have that questionable privilege.That while Qur’an states explicitly that only God’s Words should be studied diligently, pre-revelation practices of the Messenger have been re-established.These are some of the deviances which have become accepted Muslim practice globally and which lead to hatred of Islam and what is virtually a new religion of Muhammadism, repugnant as that word is to all who fondly profess to be Muslims.
The remedy to this malady is for all to read the Qur’an for guidance which God has promised through it. Our scholars are already outraged that this voice has been raised. But they are not being blamed as they are equally blind followers of their teachers and their teachers in turn. They also need to employ their thinking faculties and revisit the Qur’an shorn of delusions of their own knowledge. The Qur’an is holistically perfect and there is not a single word which has been abrogated remaining in it. All abrogated laws and rules have been replaced and forgotten as it states explicitly. In it is perfect guidance, true and sure, pre-edited and proof-read by The Author Himself Who has Proclaimed and Assented to its Laws.
M F RAHMAN
Port-of-Spain
