N Touch

EARLY CHILDHOOD STAFF RETIREMENT AT 50?

Members of the Early Childhood Education fraternity in Tobago have expressed concern over a proposal that “staff may only work in ECS (Early Childhood Services) from the age of 18 to 65 years.” In fact, some persons rejected the recommendation outright. They argued that at age 65 a female teacher, as obtains in the ECS, just cannot or is unable to “cope” with these naturally hyperactive infant children.

But a strong argument was put forward that the 65-year-old pre-school teacher can still serve effectively in that capacity. “I think I have the right to work, and my work might not necessarily be running around with the child in the playground; mine might be the story-teller, or the arts person, or the needlework person, or the cook, in the Centre, because the Centre would be (the workplace),” Schools Supervisor Eleanor King argued. This query generated much debate during a consultation on Government’s proposed standards for regulating early childhood services in Trinidad and Tobago, at Works Building, Shaw Park, last week. The session brought together teachers, Board members and administrators within the early childhood services community in Tobago. King, facilitator/moderator, stressed that the ‘18-65 age limit’ clause, like one dealing with the question of persons being “fit to be in the proximity” of the toddlers, had legal implications. The recommendation was outlined at Section 2(1)(9) under the heading ‘Staffing Guidelines’; sub-heading — ‘Personal Suit-ability of Registered Providers, Edu-cators/Caregivers, and other Staff Members’, in a document titled “Draft Document for Consultation” which contained a compilation of the proposed standards that formed the basis of the discussions.

Under that same heading, on the much-debated issue of “fit” persons coming into contact with the little ones, it is proposed at Section 2(1)(1): “The Gover-nment of Trinidad and Tobago has to satisfy itself that anyone who either applies for or is registered to be an ECS provider, is ‘fit’ to do so; furthermore that any person employed or living in the premises is ‘fit to be in the proximity’ of young children.” King added “We know why we saying that we want people to be fit to be around our children. Maybe  it (the clause) needs to be clarified, but we need… all of us would want people who are ‘fit’, to deal with our children, to be in proximity with our children”, she stressed. Another consultation is to be held, in east Tobago, on Thursday. Following these consultations throughout the country, another document will be prepared, which will also be put out for public comment and another round of public consultations before the final document of standards becomes law.

NACTA: Lack of enthusiasm for Local Government Elections

The most recent survey conducted by the North American Caribbean Teachers Association is showing a widespread lack of enthusiasm among voters for the political parties in the upcoming July 14 local government elections. 

Voter turnout is projected to be the lowest in a decade. Voters feel that the campaign is low-key and is not focussing on local issues that are of real serious  concern to the people.  Voters are of the view that the local bodies have virtually no power and they express an almost complete lack of confidence in the local governments making any significant difference in the quality of life in their neighbourhoods. And they also express the view that the central government has usurped most of the power of the local governments to make their continued existence meaningless. Voters are calling for local government reform that will  shift power away from the central government and empower the local bodies. NACTA’s latest poll was conducted to find out opinion on issues relating to  the local government elections.

The survey was coordinated by Vishnu Bisram, a pollster and newspaper columnist in New York. The poll is showing growing voter apathy that will result in a lower turnout than in 1999 when less than a third of eligible voters cast ballots. But the PNM will have a much higher turnout of its supporters than the UNC and as such the PNM is projected to rout the UNC even in its backyard. The low turnout is attributed to widespread discontent with both the ruling PNM and the opposition UNC for their inability to work together to tackle a host of critical issues that impact on the well being of the nation, a release stated. This has caused most of the voters to tune out from the politics and the campaign. Respondents said the parties are fighting each other for power while crime is rampant and quality of  living is declining.

The public posturing of the PNM and UNC and their trading of allegations of corruption have turned off a lot of voters who feel that both parties are only interested in power and that they lack a genuine concern to address the problems of the nation. On the issue of corruption, an overwhelming majority of  voters (from all ethnic groups) is of the view that corruption has now become a part of the politics of the country.  Respondents (including a majority of  PNM supporters) are disenchanted with the PNM for not moving fast enough to crack down on corruption and to prosecute officials  who were or are allegedly involved in corruption. Many are questioning whether the PNM is genuine in its promise to provide good governance and its expressed commitment to prosecute the corrupt.  In fact, a majority of respondents (from all races and ethnic groups) believe a deal has been made “to let off” the alleged corrupt of the former  UNC government.

TOBAGO DAC: WE WERE RIGHT TO CHANGE NAME

The recently-formed alliance between the United National Congress (UNC) and the National Alliance for Reconstruction (NAR) in Trinidad proves members of the Tobago NAR were right in effecting a name-change and reverting to the Democratic Action Congress (DAC). So said the DAC’s Public Relations/Communications Officer, Ashworth Jack, during a press conference Wednesday at the party’s offices at Breeze Hall, Scarborough. Jack was accompanied by Dr Jeff Davidson, a member of the DAC’s interim Committee.

The press briefing, said Jack, was called “against the backdrop of all that has been happening in terms of the politics in Tobago and in Trinidad in the last couple of months, and in particular looking at what has been happening in terms of the arrangement, in terms of the NAR/UNC and what has happened in terms of the DAC. “The DAC, led by former NAR Tobago Leader Hochoy Charles (who was conspicuously absent), was formed by members of a faction of  the Tobago NAR following a no-confidence motion in the party leadership (Charles, Jack, and Judy Bobb) by another faction led by deputy chairman Christo Gift which has remained the NAR. The UNC and the NAR in Trinidad recently forged what UNC Leader Basdeo Panday described as a “non-agression pact” to fight the July 14 Local Government Elections.

When news of this development broke, Gift said the Tobago NAR was totally against it and would be left with no choice but to go it alone. However, Jack told reporters he was very surprised to hear this from Gift, since, he claimed, Gift, like other members of the then Tobago NAR, was well aware that this was the intention of the NAR in Trinidad. Jack claimed for more than a year the Tobago NAR had been toying with the idea of “returning (to the DAC) or changing the name of what was then NAR, “and a number of meetings were held taking into consideration what was happening in terms of the national politics and in terms of the  politics of the party. He said that at a monthly membership meeting of the then Tobago NAR in early September last year, “we would have discussed the change of the party name at length. “That came about because in that same month the now political leader of the NAR, Mr Sankersingh, the then secretary now chairman of the NAR, Mr Constantine, and Mr Rawle Raphael, met Mr (Hochoy) Charles, Dr Davidson and I in this very place (at Breeze Hall), “he told journalists. “And their discussions centred around their ability or inability to survive as an organisation; and one of the things that they were saying was that they do not think that they could survive as a party in Trinidad alone, and therefore they would have wanted to form some kind of arrangement with some other organisation.” They named Team Unity and the UNC.

Jack said: “We would have registered our concern about the kind of arrangement and how it would affect Tobago, Tobago as party and Tobago as an island. “He said they explained they were aware of “our problem in Tobago but you need to understand our problem in Trinidad.” They maintained they had no choice but to form some kind of arrangement in Trinidad, and we made it clear that the other option we had was to consider the possibility of a name-change, according to Jack. “In fact,  we made very strong terms that we would have had to look at that. We would have also said to them ‘we want to have an organisation that was independent of any decision-making anywhere else, but we were free to form any arrangement that was in the best interest of Tobago if and when that time comes, “he said. It was however decided that any such move to change the party’s name would be outside of election time. It was against this background that several months later steps were taken to effect the change to the DAC.

Debate on free trade?

SO FAR, Mr Errol McLeod, President General of the Oilfield Workers Trade Union, is the only influential person in our country to oppose publicly our membership in the Free Trade of the Americas Agreement which is due to be launched in the next two years. Mr McLeod’s forthright opposition to the FTAA is welcome not because we agree with him, and we do not, but because we hope it would stimulate a national debate on the meaning and nature of this hemispheric trade agreement and its implications for Trinidad and Tobago and the Caricom region. Not even the UNC Opposition, preoccupied as it is with a policy of aggressive non-cooperation, has seen the need for a national debate on the creation of both the Caricom Single Market and Economy and the FTAA and the challenges which these new arrangements will pose for our country and the region. UNC leader Mr Basdeo Panday, erstwhile champion of labour and man of the Left, now seems more intent on playing the race card than being concerned about these coming trading agreements, particularly the FTAA which, according to Mr McLeod, is “not in the best interest of this nation.” The OWTU leader, in fact, believes that TT is not ready for the launching of this hemispheric pact in 2005 and accuses Trade and Industry Minister Ken Valley of “negotiating out of ignorance.”

Mr McLeod has not given precise reasons for his opposition but they could not be very different from those objectors who demonstrate persistently and vociferously at international discussions on globalisation and free trade. These conscientious protesters regard the free-trade movement as creating a new world economic order designed to benefit developed countries with their advanced productive systems and efficient use of technology while poorer states, still struggling with the problems of underdevelopment, will find themselves with little or no protection in a brutal world of open competition. As we have noted before, the reality we must face is that the CSME and, more so the FTAA, will be something of a two-edged sword. A few weeks ago, Mr Anthony Hosang, president of the TT Manufacturers Association, put it simply this way: “If producers manufacture goods that can take advantage of the FTAA, we will enjoy tremendous opportunities. However, if our products fall short in any way, we are in danger of seeing our business disappear.”

While we understand these concerns, we cannot agree with Mr McLeod that TT should reject membership in the FTAA and the regulations of the World Trade Agreement. The free trade movement is now a tidal wave that is sweeping the countries of the world along with it; whatever its pros and cons, we cannot attempt to evade it without being left behind, isolated, incurring serious economic damage. Indeed, the nature of our trading economy, based largely on the export of hydrocarbon and energy-based products, would render our membership imperative. We cannot expect to enjoy free markets for such a range of products without reciprocating. It is the non-energy manufacturing sector of our economy that will face the severest challenges from the formation of these new trading agreements. How will they deal with the demand for greater productivity? Will the increasing use of technology result in more unemployment? What strategies will then be needed for expanding the non-oil sector? But our country, our society, the public at large are still not really aware of the full ramifications of these treaties, precisely what they entail and what should be the national response to them. Perhaps someone will want to reply to Mr McLeod. Or the Opposition may ask for a debate since the agreements may also impinge on our constitution.

Peace begins with me


I had the honour of being invited by the Ministry of Education to deliver the feature address at a conference of principals (primary and secondary) and school supervisors of the Caroni Education District, which was held last Monday at Couva. The conference was merged with the dedication of the impressive new administrative office facilities for the Central school supervisory unit. By the time the programme began, the entire Camden Court location of the office, was a sea of cars. Interest was high and participation of schools, principals and school supervisors was at maximum. Despite a slightly late start due to a bit of inclement weather, the programme was a well organised and interesting one. Perhaps the most commendable of all was the theme: “The Role of Religion in Maintaining a Culture of Peace in Our Schools.” The relevance of this theme was primarily a common observation among the many distinguished persons who brought greetings, or made remarks publicly. This spiritual focus provides a very healthy signal in our education. In delivering the feature address, yours truly made the point that religion, apart from basically being the common denominator among all our peoples, is essentially the bedrock of character development and a sound value system. Peace is emphasised by all our religions: it’s a common theme. Therefore, if the principles and philosophies of peace are inculcated into our children in a meaningful way, a culture of peace would not be difficult to forge and maintain.

In making this point, I called attention to the famous song line: “Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me.” As the saying goes, having the beginning is having half the job done. How do we begin? We begin our process of developing this peace culture by the “me” rule…peace begins with me. Each individual in the school environment (as well as parents) must take personal responsibility for what obtains in the environment and what needs to be fostered. When each person holds himself/herself responsible, the attitude which tends to isolate and exonerate self, while blaming others, will find no place. In many ways, religion teaches this to us. The Bible itself says, “Every man must bear his burden” (Gal. 6:5) Yours truly also noted the characteristics of God-fearing people, making the point that if these qualities — love, honesty, kindness, temperance, personal integrity, modesty and the like — were healthily cultivated in our children, by developing in them a fear of God, fashioning a culture of peace will certainly not be an elusive dream. The awareness that God is ever-present with us, and we are therefore accountable to Him for our behaviour, (even if our actions are hidden from others) does make a significant difference in the way we conduct ourselves. When, in the fear of God, we are consciously aware that “you can hide from man, but you can’t hide from God,” there is a definite sobering, restraining factor. Also forming part of the feature address was the matter of the role of religion in self-discipline, a virtue which is at the heart of culture of peace and success. “Religion makes disciples and a disciple is a disciplined one,” I gently reminded the esteemed, attentive crowd.

Training in discipline is therefore very central in religion. This fact makes religion an invaluable asset in achieving desired goals in school discipline. Identity crisis, along with the big self esteem and self-image problem were also highlighted. Added to this were self-confidence, self-management and self-motivation, with supporting religious facts. The rapidly growing complexities, as they relate to teen depression and psychosomatic challenges, and the capacity of religion to play a vital role in the prevention and management of these difficulties, were also included in my offering. This was followed by exhortation on the use of the dynamics of religion to enhance communication skills, coping skills, conflict resolution, anger management and interpersonal skills — all imperatives in developing and maintaining a culture of peace. It was also established that prayer and peace were synonymous. The Scripture indicates that when we pray, “the peace of God will keep your hearts…” (Phil 4:7). In her vote of thanks School Supervisor II, Claire Mathias showered high praise upon Director of School Supervision, Janice Blackman and School Supervisor III, Bernard Gibbs, along with “others who work very hard over the years” to ensure that proper facilities finally came to the supervisors. Speaker after speaker had earlier spoken of the very trying conditions under which the supervisors functioned in their old facilities. Everyone agreed that School Supervisor III, Krishna Jeelal did an excellent job as chairman of proceedings — serving a full diet of good humour. Following the feature address, Blackman created quite an impact in her reply, which glittered with her wealth of experience (some 42 years) in the field of education. She quoted and reinforced key points of the feature address and heavily supported the idea of spiritual and moral values education as an absolute essential for schools. Also bringing enlightening words of greetings were Nanram Maharaj and Sushil Pargass of the Principals’ Association. Quality items of entertainment came from Freeport Hindu School, Montrose Government School, Couva Holy Faith Convent and Felicity Presbyterian School. Prayers were offered by Pundit Lutchmidath Persad-Maharaj, Imam Shazaad Mohammed and Pastor/Principal Jorsling Peters.

Feeding vagrants not the solution

THE EDITOR: I write with regard to the state of Tamarind Square. This park is a landmark. In the early days of the PNM, Dr Eric Williams spoke to the people there from the balcony upstairs Chee Mooke Bakery opposite the Square. It was once a place in which children were able to run and play. My grandmother used to stroll with us right there, my father in his day used to play football there, my siblings and I used to play catch there. And not such a long time ago! I have spent a lot of time at Chee Mooke Bakery and so have had the misfortune to see the denigration of this park. When I began writing this, it was to be a brief note highlighting mainly the pollution in the Tamarind Square environs caused by the vagrants, but it developed into much more. All those dear weeping souls, who support vagrancy, you unfortunately give credence to many lawless acts; squatting, defacing public and private property, loitering, littering, indecent exposure, public nuisance, prostitution, rape and buggery, and illegal drug use. Good citizens are inadvertently ‘supporting’ vagrancy over a ‘normal positive and productive way of life by regular daily hand-outs — cash, meals, beverages and clothing. At what cost?

On Sundays, it only gets worse! Intermittently, during any given Sunday, between 6 and 15 cars pull alongside the square to feed some 50 vagrants! By evening time, the drains along the Tamarind Square and immediate environs are strewn with assorted food containers and soft drink bottles. Has any consideration been given to the quantity of refuse that is left after all that food and drink is consumed? And what of the human waste — of so many people? Well it goes right there in what’s left of the grass and in the drains and on the pavement — mucus, spittle, vomit, urine, faeces and even menstrual waste. May I suggest, before you consider, for your next ‘thanksgiving’ the distribution of food tot he vagrants, stop and look south down the East Dry River from Independence Square, pass down by the Lighthouse at Sea Lots — some of that is yours! You have a part in this mess! Unfortunately, I cannot see your ‘thanksgiving’ as a real solution. Try rehabilitation to encourage constructive lifestyles, medical help for those several vagrants who have serious health problems or drug counselling for those so afflicted! I admire the effort of you kind people, but surely contributions would go further if invested in our children! The many nurseries, pre-schools and other schools especially the orphanages and children’s homes could do so much better with such generosity. The Ministry of Health is opposite the Tamarind Square, that is to say the Minister of Health (UNC and now PNM) come here every day! (And we even have — imagine, SWMCOL on the next block and the PNM PoS South Constituency office on the south side too!). Yet nothing has been done! None of them has ever had to come and wash down the pavement like I have had to …

Are we going to allow the same sad thing to occur at Adam Smith or Victoria Square, the ‘Hollows’, the Botanic Gardens, the Queen’s Park Savannah or any of our public spaces? The vagrants are only a part of the picture of Trinidad and Tobago — they threaten our sense of security in the streets, they affect people’s livelihoods, they affect our ecology and environment. And no one is bigger than the environment. When the cruise ships venture into our port and the few hardy tourists venture into Port-of-Spain, some actually come all the way down to the East End of Independence Square. Can you see how Tamarind Square concerns TIDCO, DOMA, and FFOS too? What does the Tamarind Square say about Trinbagonians as a people? When I look at the vagrants, and I do every day, I see sad reminders of our society’s continuing inability to tackle and solve problems. I cannot believe that vagrancy could be considered a condition to be encouraged. Yet the vagrant population continues to grow because they are really comfortable. Productivity and discipline seem to have been slowly washed down the East Dry River and got mixed up with a lot of debris. And tolerance? We seem to have become so accustomed to tolerating nonsense we take it for granted! I continue to agonise on whether we really want solutions to any of our country’s problems. And whether we will become a fully developed nation by 2020!

NATHALIE PHILLIPS
Port-of-Spain

Medical care, not abortion

THE EDITOR: Those who advocate the legalising of abortion ie the poor choice people, seem to operate outside of ethical and moral boundaries which are accepted by society at large. We are starting to see their true colours as in their comic strip character on their web page. Now, they feel they can intimidate the government into entertaining their pro-abortion agenda by needling them, stating that if this Government does not do it, the next Government would, it’s just a matter of time. Well, the present Opposition party may know more truth than the party-abortionist assume. They seem to understand that Trinidad is present under the population replacement levels of 2.2 to sustain a stable economic growth. According to statistics given by WHO as at 2001 we were at 1.6. That could be the only explanation for them to have felt confident in offering as a campaign incentive, $1.000 to each new born baby. Imagine that! What a pro-lifers dream. No one dared to criticise that proposal in any fundamental way. By the look of things they are acting responsibly. If the present Opposition party was pro-choice, the pro-abortionist would have gotten a foothold in there and the opposition would have certainly attempted to use this issue in some way, if it were at all possible, to discredit the present Government.

The will of the people is very important to politicians and as such, if not from their own conscience, they certainly are not prepared to entertain this deathly issue of legalising the killing our pre-born children. Even under the guise of offering poor women access to medical care. (If the pro-abortionists really cared for poor women, why not aggressively try to get basic medical care they need for themselves and their families?) The fact remains, that under the present crime situation in the country, no sensible and responsible Government would allow the legalising of murder in any form including that of aborting the pre-born human babies.


JACQUELINE ALLAMANI
Petit Valley

Pseudo prophet of doom and gloom

THE EDITOR: No political leader in recent memory has turned ‘race’ into such an inflammable focal issue, and divisiveness into such a profound ideology, without an iota of remorse or impending culpability as Basdeo Panday. I have set out to highlight a few of his inflammable utterances: He allegedly accused the PNM Government of discrimination of State resources and also declared that the time has come to fight against racism and discrimination in the society. Along with admonitions levelled against the late Lionel Seukeran and Ashford Sinanan, whom he referred to as East Indians in the past who betrayed their own for political office. It seems apparent that all East Indians, who followed their own gut-feelings that go counter to the convictions of Basdeo Panday, are singled out and vilified and even categorised as being against the Indian cause. Here is a politician who extols the virtues of inclusion, while his mission is tied surreptitiously to dividing the two dominant races (Afros and Indos) in TT. If taken seriously, he is obviously not appealing to other segments of the society for political support, like the Afro Trinidadians, Syrians, Lebanese, Chinese or French Creoles. His focus is wholly geared to East Indians; what we say, reveals who we are. These remarks account for some of the deficiencies, as well as the lucidity of his vision. It would be fair to say that very little of consequence or relevance can be associated with his redundant rhetoric at this point in time. However, it is the duty of a few of his trusted supporters to muster their courage and let him know that the volcano has burnt out and, like everyone else, he too has already had his fifteen minutes of fame, which is allotted to all of us.

We should not be made to believe that a civil war is in the making between Afro and Indo Trinidadians, after these many years of living together, side by side, in an otherwise peaceful coexistence; in areas like St James, with a lower to middle class closely netted, integrated Afro Indo community, followed closely with places like Siparia, Rousillac, Cedros and Chaguanas, just to name a few. There unity within diversity among the races was commonplace which, sad to say, is slowly but surely being subtly ruptured by devious self-serving politicians, a trickle down strategy emanating from Basdeo Panday and his cohorts. Like the boy who cried “Wolf!” Basdeo Panday has played the race card so many times in the past that most people have grown tired of him and his tirades. We are not about to transform TT into another Guyana or Fiji which is the apparent aim of Basdeo Panday’s subliminal messages for his supporters to consider as an option. If not overtly heralded by him, surely his implications cannot be misunderstood. Most of the people of TT are at present looking ahead towards unity between the races, leaving Basdeo Panday and his supporters nothing worth salvaging. Panday’s pseudo prophetic utterances regarding the imminent destruction of TT, under the PNM Government, has not yet materialised, neither will his desire to divide the races. I would be remiss if I fail to point out the hypocrisy in Basdeo Panday’s remarks regarding rampant racism and discrimination in TT, levelled primarily against East Indians. During the 1995 general election, there was a tie and it was left to the then president of TT — ANR Robinson to free up the deadlock, which he did by proclaiming Basdeo Panday’s UNC political party as his choice to run the Government of TT. To the consternation of everyone, a few years later, Basdeo Panday allegedly accused the same President of favouring the PNM (of all things) and elaborated with aspersions against the President unfit to print.


ULRIC GUY
Point Fortin

Good work by CEPEP Pt Fortin

THE EDITOR: Kindly permit me space in your newspaper to speak about the CEPEP projects now taking place throughout this country. Firstly I must state that I am a big critic of the programme, simply because of what I have seen taking place in most of the areas, some people in blue uniforms just cutting, clearing and painting stones, trees and other objects in white wash and other colours including our national colours of red, white and black, which I have found to be monotonous and in poor taste. However most recently, I had the opportunity to travel to the Granville Beach Resort in Cedros, via Point Fortin, where I came across a few CEPEP projects and I must say that it was like a breath of fresh air. The first one was on the compound of the Guapo Government Primary School where I saw a magnificent bit of landscaping, featuring various types and colours of teas and other shrubs, which was expertly done and almost made the old wooden school building appear not to be there. The reconstruction of a new school on that site will create a most beautiful landmark in that village. Further down on the Dunlop roundabout there is a bit of landscaping, which has the potential to create a beautiful relaxation park, but again the painting of stones and other objects tend to take away from the natural beauty of the park. The introduction of shade trees will help.

Then we stopped at Cap-de-Ville junction, a popular stop-off point, where we had some refreshments and awaited other friends going to Granville. There was this beautiful bit of landscaping in progress. The first thing that got my attention was the elaborate use of rocks and stones, all in their natural forms and colours of grey, brown, white and various shades of orange forming beds of marigold, crotons and bound bush, with different colours of hibiscus and other flowers and shrubs which appear to be done by someone who knows what he is about and who has properly planned the project. On that site there is a sign that reads, “Another CEPEP Project by Point Fortin Environmental Services Limited.” I also noticed preparation in progress for the construction of what seems to be carat sheds with benches I hope for relaxation. What I liked most in that garden was the rock garden of grey face stones and rocks with different types of cactus and other desert plants, no paint whatsoever. I asked who was the contractor at one of the bars on the junction and I was told that it is one Paul Lara. I would like to congratulate Mr Lara on what I see as one of the best parks to be created in this country (by the way, you have the name of my most favourite cricketer, Brian Lara). I only wish that some of the other CEPEP contractors could read this article and see it fit to make a trip to Point Fortin to see the work that is being done in that area before continuing with their projects. They would surely get some new ideas and maybe people, including myself, will start looking at CEPEP differently. Way to go Point Fortin.

S MOHAMMED
Central

BWIA board, same khaki pants

THE EDITOR: After looking at the new composition of the BWIA board and the new executives installed by that board, it is now my firm opinion that the airline does not have long before it self destructs. It was said on several occasions by the representatives of the Trinidad and Tobago Airline Pilots Association (TAPLA) and the other trade unions that a forensic investigation into the airline’s finances was needed. This, if conducted efficiently, should bring out the truth about where the airline’s revenues are being directed. Questions about Tobago Express, aircraft leasing deals from the time of Ed Acker, about Kateserve Ltd and other companies which supply BWIA with services, about the repainting of the obsolete Tristars and MD83’s need to be answered. How does the present Government expect BWIA to survive, when the only person that resigned was the former CEO? The board of directors have now replaced this CEO by a group of people who were recruited by that same CEO, and obviously would be dedicated to his same policies.

Is that Mr Valley’s idea of “putting the airline back on track?” Well, in my opinion, according to the Mighty Shadow, “its the same old khaki pants”. After this summer season is over and revenues from ticket sales begin to fall, I predict that the Government would be called upon by the board for yet another financial bailout. At present, revenues from ticket sales and other services cannot even pay for the aircraft leases, imagine that! These revenues also have to fund Tobago Express, pay staff, as well as pay other companies and agencies for goods and services. Come on Mr Valley and other members of the inter-ministerial team which was set up to re-organise the airline. You need to change the entire board and top executives and arrange for a proper forensic investigation to educate your Government on what is really going on at BWIA.

CLAUDE ATKINSON
St James