THE EDITOR: The much touted and more commercialised “Mothers Day” reminds me of the mothers who are not worthy of the name.
Everybody would like us to believe that mothers are the greatest in all circumstances bar none, but I am positive that many children would like to disagree. Many women today give birth to children and then systematically abuse them in one form or fashion. If you ask them why they do it, they will tell you that that was how they were brought up.
I know of a mother who had eight children. She was married quite young and didn’t have the mothers’ manual that comes with having babies. So she beat the hell out of her children any time she felt like it for various reasons. She is quite old now and literally deserted by her children. She is suffering physically and mentally due to her still lingering ability to verbally abuse her children. Now she wants her children to pamper her and fuss over her, but when she cannot have that, she wishes the vilest things upon them.
I known many others who have similar types of mothers and some are lucky that their mothers are dead, but this specific mother with the eight children is still alive and making her children suffer. Sometimes I go to Port-of-Spain for shopping and I see women dragging their small children along and a small baby in their arms. The attitude these women display to these children makes me cringe. For those women who have exemplary mothers, I say congratulations because some mothers have it all together.
EDEN SINGH
San Fernand
THE EDITOR: I would like to make some positive comments about the public health service.
While enjoying the Easter weekend in Mayaro, I suffered some increasingly severe abdominal pains and ended up at the District Hospital. I was pleasantly surprised to have received excellent attention from extremely kind and courteous staff members. Everyone sought my best interest, from the greeting by the guards at the entrance to the efficiency of the nurses who admitted me and the professionalism of the Nigerian doctors who attended to my complaint. Even though there was a change of shift, I was never left alone until I was comfortable enough to go home. My family in the waiting room was also treated with courtesy. I would like to once again express my gratitude to the doctors, nurses and guards at the Mayaro District Hospital. May God’s guidance and blessing be with you always.
V BOSCH
San Juan
FOUR prison officers armed with placards spent all of yesterday outside the Port-of-Spain Prison, seeking to send a message to the relevant authorities to institute a system where persons in possession of illegal arms and ammunition can surrender the weapons. The action by the prison officers was prompted by the brutal murder of their colleague Winston Sandy, a paramedic at the Port-of-Spain Prison, who was gunned down at Alexander Place, Laventille, last Wednesday night.
He was shot twice in the head, twice in the hands and once in the leg. Kenneth Forgenie, a shop steward of the Prison Officers’ Association, said yesterday that prison officers who worked alonsgide Sandy have been badly affected by his death, and they all feel that the time has come for the government to put a system in place to rid the country of illegal weapons. He referred to a statement by Police Commissioner Hilton Guy recently during the second launch of his anti-crime initaitive, where he indicated that more than 75 percent of the murders are being committed with illegal arms and ammunition.
The Commissioner called on all police officers to try and seize as many of those weapons as possible during raids and searches. Forgenie claimed that the criminal elements were now in possession of sophisticated arms and ammunition, and those weapons are being used in several murders and shootings. He added that his colleague was an innocent man and did deserve to die such a horrible death. He added that officers will again stage the placard protest on Wednesday and Friday, with the hope that someone in authority will heed their call to introduce what he referred to as a “gun amnesty.”
Ramon Ransome, a prison officer for the past 31 years said that the “straw which broke the camel back” came on Wednesday following the murder of his colleague. He pointed out that Sandy was killed by an illegal weapon and it is time that the authorities put something in place to rid the country of such weapons. He added that the situation has reached a crisis state and the authorities must act with haste now. He pointed out that the fear now exists in the prisons that any day now another prison officer could suffer the same fate as Sandy. There are over 2000 prison officers in the prison service.
On Saturday night, prison officers staged a candlelight vigil outside the Port-of-Spain Prison. Prayers were offered for the slain officer. Police investigations have so far revealed that one month ago, Sandy, 35, reported to senior officers at the Port-of-Spain Prison that he was receiving death threats from gang members from the Nelson Street area. President of the Prison Officers’ Association Claude Galston, last week issued a call for certain prison officers be issued with guns to protect themselves. The funeral of Sandy will take place today at 3 pm at the Holy Trinity Cathedral under full military rites. His body will be interred at the Western Cemetery. The prison band will provide music at the funeral and the eulogy will be read by a prison officer. Prisons Commissioner Leo Abraham, members of his executive, and other senior officers will attend the funeral.
ABOUT 70 businesses in Port-of-Spain lost more than $100 million in the 1990 attempted coup. None of them ever received compensation. More than 100 writs were filed against insurance companies for failure to pay compensation for the losses incurred. There was a test case brought in the High Court by the Downtown Owners and Merchants’ Association (DOMA) which they lost. The other writs were left in abeyance without being formally withdrawn. Now, these businesses have suffered another blow. The insurance companies are now demanding that each of the businesses (some of whom filed three and four writs) pay $15,000 in legal fees for each writ filed. This amounts to more than $1 million.
DOMA President Gregory Aboud told Newsday last night that a lot of its members are very upset by the latest move. “It is unfortunate that this has had to happen this way. What this does is to awaken bad memories of July 1990 when we suffered these enormous losses through an act of terrorism.” Aboud said most of the businesses who suffered losses in 1990 were still repaying loans acquired to re-build. Several of them, according to the DOMA president, had to file for bankruptcy because the events of 1990 knocked them out. “It is really unfortunate, because instead of closing the door on the events of 1990, we continue to keep it open and remember these bad memories.” Aboud said that DOMA will hold a meeting at City Hall, Port-of-Spain, on Wednesday to update members of the latest decision of the insurance companies to seek legal fees arising from all the court actions taken.
Aboud said that following the events of 1990, the affected businesses filed claims with various insurance companies seeking compensation of more than $100 million. But the insurance companies refused to pay because the businesses were not covered for acts of terrorism. The insurance companies, according to Aboud, said that the assault and destruction of Port-of-Spain was as a direct result of terrorism and they refused to pay. The business owners filed writs against several insurance companies seeking compensation for their losses. Aboud pointed out that it was agreed by attorneys for the businesses that there will be a test case, which was brought by DOMA.
The DOMA president said his organisation lost the test case and it was ordered that each party bear its own costs. “What was not agreed upon was what should be done with the more than 100 writs which were filed and not heard. After we lost the test case, we actually forgot about the other cases,” Aboud argued. Aboud said that about a month and a half ago, the insurance companies wrote to the attorneys for DOMA seeking $15,000 in legal costs for each writ which had been filed. He said some business owners filed three and four writs because of the coverage which they had.
Aboud said business owners agreed that DOMA will seek a meeting with the Association of Insurance Companies (ATIC) in an effort to have this figure reduced. “I sought a meeting, I called, I wrote and I eventually got a reply saying they (ATIC) have no intention of meeting with us and that each individual owner can meet directly with the insurance companies/attorneys.” Aboud said his members did not want to go that route and they became very upset at the way the situation turned out. “I have not closed the door, I am still hoping that the insurance companies will still sit and talk with us and see what can be done. Asking us to pay that kind of money when it is we who suffered all the losses, it is really unfortunate.”
HIS SON was killed in the 1990 attempted coup by a rampaging soldier but 13 years later sports coach Michael Joseph is still seeking compensation for the death. His son, Michael Joseph Junior, a 23-year old father of two, was killed at his home at St Paul’s Street, East Dry River. What is particularly aggrieving Joseph is to see the insurrectionists whose acts led to his son’s death, the Jamaat al Muslimeen, still prospering daily.
He recounted: “My son was killed on July 30, 1990, during a lull in the curfew. A soldier came around the area and was shooting up the place, sending people scampering. My son was hit by a bullet fired by a soldier who later raped some women up in Cumuto.” He said: “I wish to add my voice to the letter to the editor from Niekelle Caesar. It is amazing this same Abu Bakr is being treated as if he is the most important person in Trinidad and Tobago. This man who caused murders, looting, loss of State property and damage to our nation’s reputation, is being treated as a god.
“I’d like to query what became of the judgment awarded by the High Court in favour of the people of the nation for the destruction of State property caused by the Muslimeen insurrection. The Muslimeen have been paid by both the UNC and PNM Governments but nothing has been done about the people who lost their loved ones, the hundreds of people who have suffered. The Government paid Mr Bakr compensation and we would like to know what has happened to ours? Why hasn’t the State levied on him for the $15 million he owes, which I understand has now grown to $30 million?”
In contrast Joseph said that he is yet to find out why his lawsuit against the State for negligence in his son’s death and for compensation has never been called in all that time. He said his attorney, Stephen Salandy, told him he has repeatedly been given the runaround in bringing the lawsuit. He lamented that meanwhile three of his witnesses have died. Joseph said: “If you could forgive Abu Bakr for all the damage he caused, and give him big jobs and let him ride on the Priority Bus Route, why can’t you give a poor man and his surviving family something?”.
HIS SON was killed in the 1990 attempted coup by a rampaging soldier but 13 years later sports coach Michael Joseph is still seeking compensation for the death. His son, Michael Joseph Junior, a 23-year old father of two, was killed at his home at St Paul’s Street, East Dry River.
What is particularly aggrieving Joseph is to see the insurrectionists whose acts led to his son’s death, the Jamaat al Muslimeen, still prospering daily. He recounted: “My son was killed on July 30, 1990, during a lull in the curfew. A soldier came around the area and was shooting up the place, sending people scampering. My son was hit by a bullet fired by a soldier who later raped some women up in Cumuto.” He said: “I wish to add my voice to the letter to the editor from Niekelle Caesar. It is amazing this same Abu Bakr is being treated as if he is the most important person in Trinidad and Tobago. This man who caused murders, looting, loss of State property and damage to our nation’s reputation, is being treated as a god.
“I’d like to query what became of the judgment awarded by the High Court in favour of the people of the nation for the destruction of State property caused by the Muslimeen insurrection. The Muslimeen have been paid by both the UNC and PNM Governments but nothing has been done about the people who lost their loved ones, the hundreds of people who have suffered. The Government paid Mr Bakr compensation and we would like to know what has happened to ours? Why hasn’t the State levied on him for the $15 million he owes, which I understand has now grown to $30 million?”
In contrast Joseph said that he is yet to find out why his lawsuit against the State for negligence in his son’s death and for compensation has never been called in all that time. He said his attorney, Stephen Salandy, told him he has repeatedly been given the runaround in bringing the lawsuit. He lamented that meanwhile three of his witnesses have died. Joseph said: “If you could forgive Abu Bakr for all the damage he caused, and give him big jobs and let him ride on the Priority Bus Route, why can’t you give a poor man and his surviving family something?”.
PRIME MINISTER Patrick Manning yesterday predicted the PNM would make an unprecedented sweep in Opposition strongholds in this Local Government election. Though he didn’t give the date of the local government polls, Manning said that the PNM would win more seats in this Local Government election than ever before. “We shall make more history. They can’t take a single seat that we now have or a single corporation that we now control,” he boasted. On the other hand, the PNM shall make unprecedented inroads into Opposition-held constituencies, he said. “It will be the kind of inroads that make big men shiver and sleeping politicians wake from their slumber. Is thunder, ladies and gentlemen. Total thunder,” he said.
Manning was the only speaker at the Family Day of the People’s National Movement at the Eddie Hart Recreation Grounds, Tacarigua yesterday, which drew a massive crowd. Among those attending were the new Junior Finance Minister, Christine Sahadeo and THA Chief Secretary, Orville London. Noting that the PNM opened a regional office in Central on Saturday, Manning promised to meet with the public at that office in the same way he does at Balisier House and in San Fernando. “Men frightened, I tell you. They want to know why this man doesn’t leave them alone so that they could carry on with their antics and fool the people in certain constituencies in the country,” he said, adding that the plains of Caroni were now close to the heart of the PNM.
Obviously seeking to contrast his behaviour with that of Opposition Panday, Prime Minister Patrick Manning pledged yesterday that he would never refuse to declare the status of his property and bank accounts — local and foreign. Panday is currently before the courts for failure to declare certain assets to the Integrity Commission. Manning slammed the Opposition leader for failing to support the Anti-Kidnapping Bill and the Police Reform Bills. He dismissed as “rubbish,” “dishonesty” and “bankruptcy,” Panday’s argument that he and his party would not support legislation to curb crime and kidnapping unless government embarks on a process of constitutional reform. “He agreed to the package of legislation when he was prime minister and the country was facing the same problem. There was no talk then of constitutional reform,” Manning said.
The prime minister added that while constitutional reform was a “very lengthy process that could take years”, crime was an immediate problem, crying out for an immediate and effective response. Said Manning: “Where is the leadership? Where is the responsibility? As I told you it is selfishness, expediency and a huge tabanca for a return to power. Some people are just not capable of putting the country above their selfish desires.” Manning likened the Opposition UNC to “naked men running around, thinking they have on clothes, preaching about piousness and perfection when all their imperfections are glaringly revealed for all to see. They Opposition is naked. The stand humiliated in their nakedness,” he said.
MINISTER Christine Kangaloo yesterday called for society to mobilise for war—against HIV/AIDS which has infected an estimated 30,000 people in TT.
Addressing last night’s 20th International AIDS candlelight memorial at the courtyard of the Eric Williams Financial Complex, Kangaloo said the war was for TT’s future and the rallying cries must be “care, not fear” and dignity not denial. She called for a single-minded approach to win the war against the disease. There is no medical vaccine to combat the virus, but Kangaloo said a “social vaccine” — behaviour change has been proven to be successful in reducing transmission and changing the course of the epidemic. “We need to empower and entrust our people and our communities to develop mechanisms and organisations which will drive home this critical message of prevention.” Apart from prevention she admitted that care and treatment had to be “stepped up.”
Kangaloo said government’s National HIV/AIDS Strategic Plan is an expanded response which builds on existing initiatives, and coordinates and prioritises activities. The group Advocates for Youth Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights (AYSRHR) has been criticised for making condoms available to sexually active youths, but HIV positive people cannot get access to them at government-funded Queen’s Park Counselling Centre and Clinic. This “contradiction” was highlighted by Dr Amery Browne, Chairman of the Community Action Resource.
Browne said Sven Miki Grant from AYSRHR was vilified for distributing condoms at the Woodbrook Government Sec-ondary school, but many children in TT were sexually active and potential victims of ignorance. “We fail to accept the reality that our children of secondary school age and primary school age are experimenting with sex. Do we prefer those who make that choice experiment with safer sex or unprotected sex?” Browne said people did not have to agree with the method to accept the message. “It is time we stop shooting the messenger and heeding the message.” Browne called for all to dare to care in the fight against stigma and discrimination.
RELATIVES of Keiwon Sullivan, the nine-year-old student who was kidnapped and beaten to near death, are calling on Police Commissioner Hilton Guy to have a police officer posted at the Children’s Orthopae-dic Ward at the Eric Williams Medical Scie-nces Complex.
Andy Williams, father of the boy told Newsday that he was afraid for the life of his son since there are no armed guards at the hospital, and the security officers posted there have already stated that their jobs do not entail providing security for patients. A distraught Williams said that his son was slowly recovering and may be able to identify the man who carried out the brutal act on him. He feels that the man could slip into the ward undetected and “finish” off his son, because of the lack of proper security at the hospital. “I am scared, really scared, that the mad man who tried to kill my son will try to silence him” and no attempts are being made to provide the necessary security,” said Williams yesterday.
On Saturday afternoon, Minister of National Security Howard Chin Lee visited the injured child at the EWMSC, and assured Keiwon that he will do all in his power to ensure that the police bring to justice the person who did that wickedness to him. On Saturday Keiwon drank some juice for the first time since being hospitalised, and was fed some soup yesterday which was prepared by his father. Doctors at the EWMSC have assured relatives of the child that he was now out of danger. Police investigators are expected to interview Keiwon at hospital today to secure a statement and description of his attacker.
A TOBAGO police officer who was reportedly held with some two pounds of heroin at Crown Point Airport on Saturday afternoon, is to appear in the Scarborough Magistrate’s Court today. The 28-year-old officer, who was stationed in Trinidad and is said to be on suspension, is charged with possession of heroin for the purpose of trafficking and attempting to export a prohibited substance.
He was reportedly intercepted by members of the Organised Crime and Narcotics Unit (OCNU), assisted by Customs Officers. The man, who was said to have been living at Bon Accord with a close relative at one time, was reportedly in the process of boarding a Monarch Airways flight to London when he was arrested. The heroin, which was said to have been concealed in powdered milk, was discovered when his luggage was searched. The policeman is expected to appear before Senior Magistrate Annette McKenzie in the Scarborough First Court.
