N Touch

US paving the way for democracy

THE EDITOR: Citizens of Trinidad and Tobago have been able to see, via the international media, the deteriorated infrastructure in Iraq created by years of neglect by the Ba’ath Party regime.

Even before economic sanctions began, the regime failed to maintain essential power, water and sanitation systems. This neglect has had a disastrous effect on the health of Iraqis. The under-5 child mortality rate, for instance — which had fallen from 83 deaths per 1,000 in 1980 to 50 per 1,000 in 1991 — surged to 133 per thousand in 2001, according to the World Bank. The United States and the coalition forces have begun to focus on the rebuilding of Iraq. Retired General Jay Garner recently addressed the citizens of Iraq and communicated to them that the coalition forces are visitors who want only to help the country begin the process of rebuilding and establishing an interim authority — then leave.

Garner is reiterating the position of the United States government that the coalition’s purpose after helping to liberate the country from the repressive regime of Saddam Hussein is to provide Iraqis the opportunity to take control of their own destinies. Power, water and sanitation systems are now being systematically put back on line by coalition members working side by side with highly skilled Iraqi technicians using supplies and equipment donated by Iraqi citizens and coalition members. Ministries are being re-opened. Bridges are being rebuilt. Life is being restored.

Democratic societies like Trinidad and Tobago will appreciate the work the coalition is doing to create an environment for the establishment of democracy, one that would include women and members of all religions. Already political parties are being formed and the Iraqi people are feeling the freedom to speak out about what they want for their futures. Democracy — the right to disagree — is a fundamental property of freedom; and the coalition will not engage in actions which discourage people from voicing their opinions. It is only a matter of time before the citizens of Iraq, like citizens of this country and free societies throughout the world, will feel free to choose a government by free and fair elections.

Iraqis, also, are already participating in public religious ceremonies long banned by Saddam, something that most of us in this part of the world take for granted. Most Iraqis now welcome and greet Garner and his deputy Major General Tim Cross of Britain as they tour the country. They realise that the coalition will stay only as long as needed to get the country’s economy going — and to get Iraq’s oilfields producing again with revenues benefitting the people. The reconstruction teams will rid the oil-for-food programme of the internal corruption left over from Ba’ath Party rule. The party diverted large sums of money from feeding the Iraqi people to party members’ personal gain. One result: at the beginning of the 1990s, seven percent of Iraqis were malnourished. By 2000, 27 percent were, says the World Bank. Garner plans to continue holding “town hall” meetings throughout the country where local businessmen, dignitaries, politicians and ordinary citizens can voice their wishes for their country, building a democracy from the grassroots up.

While visiting the secular, autonomous Kurdish region in northern Iraq, Garner congratulated its citizens on progress they have made since 1991 in establishing democratic self-government. He suggested their “spirit of free Iraqi people” could be a model for the rest of the country. Even in grade schools students learn a curriculum of democracy, demonstrating the region’s wishes for a future democratic society. Citizens of Trinidad and Tobago, the coalition and all free people of the world will welcome a democratic Iraq based on human rights and equal rights into the global community of countries where “a mosaic” of citizens — not ruthless dictators — make the decisions.


ROY  L  AUSTIN
US Ambassador
Port-of-Spain

Better a friend than an enemy

THE EDITOR: Don’t know if my good friend Malcolm “Milli” Jones would mind if I related a certain story. If he does, I crave his forgiveness. It’s just that what’s happening now with the marrish and the parrish washing dey mout’ on him reminds me so much of that indelible experience.

It was 1973 or 1974, and I was, in-between Ashford Sinanan’s departure and Solo Lutchman’s arrival, Trinidad and Tobago’s Acting High Commissioner in New Delhi. Milli, whom I had previously met through our common friend, Felix “Cabs” Alcindor, as a senior official looking after the interests of the government and people of our country in our foreigner-dominated oil sector, was in Delhi on official business. After a hard morning’s work, I took him to one of the capital’s best restaurant for lunch. As we stood waiting to be seated, two white American women of late middle age and considerable girth entered. Having surveyed the scene for a moment, one of them approached Milli and me, the only two Afros for miles around as we stood talking intelligently, turned to Milli and blurted: “Are you the head waiter, Sir,?” I am happy to recall than when our consternation had dissipated, we resumed our conversation in a quietly dignified manner.

There followed, I seem to recall, a mumbling apology to which we paid no attention. So I am not at all surprised at the manner in which Mr Jones is handling his current national malignment. A former Prime Minister, when asked why he had appointed a friend Minister, enquired whether he should rather appoint an enemy. I don’t recall that there was a reply. Prime Minister Manning (and Trinidad and Tobago) should be happy that Milli is his friend. Otherwise, why should a man who has served his country so faithfully for so many years in such a key sector return after the government of our country had unceremoniously kicked him out — and to a pay-cut at that?

Man gimme a chance!!
HORACE  BROOMES
Port-of-Spain

Waiting on response to hike of fees

THE EDITOR: Kindly print my follow up letter which relates to no response by either the Ministry of Local Government or the Elections and Boundaries Commission. It refers to the hiking of the nomination fees for the Local Elections 2003, from $200 to $2000.

Sir, the Local Elections are due any time now, and I wrote a letter condemning this astronomical rise, to the detriment of young, aspiring representatives. It is sad to see that none of our potential candidates have joined the campaign against this drastic decision, by writing letters in the press. If they don’t, then the authorities will just ignore the situation, and democracy will be left unchallenged. This does not auger well for the future of our nation’s political well being.

I now make a personal call to Mr Jarette Narine, Minister of Local Government, and the EBC to respond, and give substantial reasons why these fees have risen from $200 to $2000. It appears that no one in authority has the gumption to respond to such a simple but important request, which clearly demonstrates a lack of leadership qualities. Recently, the PM sanctioned a $70,000 per month salary to a CEO, saying that quality leadership does not come cheaply. Can this be interpreted to mean that his leadership qualities lack substance, because he commands a much, much smaller salary? When food prices rise by two percent, there is much furore raised by ostentatious charlatans, but a phenomenal rise by 900 percent, not a sound is heard, just a funeral note. To those who are in authority, (the UNC and NAR included) please respond, as this will be one of my issues for the upcoming Local Elections.


DOODNATH  MAHARAJ
Lawrence Park
Arima

Baghdad at Laventille

THE POLICE, assisted by the Army, are set to launch a “Baghdad-type” invasion of the Laventille area which has become a virtual killing field for rival gangs and their armed assassins. Newsday has been told that the Police have “several packs of cards” identifying the criminals involved in the spate of murders which has taken place in Laventille, Sea Lots, Belmont and Beetham Estate, and the purpose of the operation is to flush them out. Again, the country will be hoping that this fresh initiative by the Police will serve its intended purpose and that the rising tide of cold-blooded murders in these areas will be drastically reduced or halted altogether.

Although the Police have not given any details about their planned invasion, we expect that it will entail, among other things, a round-the-clock surveillance, in terms of patrols, in the Laventille area and a systematic search for those whom the Police have identified as responsible for the series of gang-related killings. As an indication of their determination to bring peace and order back to Laventille, the Police, we understand, have asked the government to implement a limited state of emergency or curfew in the area to facilitate their operation. This, of course, is an extreme measure that may well impose some inconvenience on the residents of Laventille but, in our view, it is a price they should be willing to pay if it would help to curb the terror of murderous gun-play by gang members in their neighbourhood. The people of Laventille, most of whom are honest and law-abiding citizens, deserve to live in a peaceful environment, free of the kind of armed violence that erupts regularly within their vicinity and leaves bullet-ridden bodies in homes and on the streets.

The planned Police-Army “invasion” will need their support, especially in terms of the intelligence and evidence they may be able to provide. If they want to rid their district of this menace, they must be prepared to cooperate, not clam up in an “oath of secrecy”. When 25-year-old Kevin Alexander was gunned down at his home on Rudolph Charles Link Road on Sunday night, he became the year’s 74th muder victim, a large number of these murders having been committed in Laventille. What puzzles us about the rising level of such gang-related assassinations is the claim by the Police to know who the perpetrators behind them are. Why are these men not being hunted down? Are any of them, at least, under surveillance? Why is there no Police breakthrough if the killers are known? What we suspected some time ago is now being confirmed by senior police officers who seem to believe that most of the murders in the Laventille area are related to jobs on NHA, URP and CEPEP schemes. The feeling is that several gangs are operating within these make-work programmes and are fighting for control and leadership.

Clearly this must be an area for thorough investigation by the Police. It is surprising to learn that two former Flying Squad members assigned to the programmes as a means of helping the Police obtain information had to curtail their mission when persons engaged in the schemes raised objections. Who exactly are running these projects, a lawless breed or government appointed officials? The country is becoming ever more anxious and fearful about this rising tide of violent crime not only for individual citizens but also for the long-term stability of the society. Where will it all end? Will gang-style killings become a permanent feature of life in Trinidad and Tobago? Why, in a small country such as ours, this kind of brutal and murderous rivalry can become so rampant, with the authorities seemingly incapable of stopping it? Will the Laventille “invasion” have any effect? We must wait and see.

CARIBBEAN, A US LAKE


The United States of America has, since 1904, adopted and put into effect the utterly absurd position that it reserved the right to intervene militarily in any Caribbean country if it felt that the country’s ‘political stability’ was threatened. Or more to the point if it considered US investments in the country to be under threat.

This policy, enunciated in the Roosevelt Corollary of the Monroe Doctrine, has made a mockery, not only of its own protestations of democracy and the Rights of States, but as well of the insistence by Caribbean Governments of sovereignty of their island homes. It goes against the concept of the Charter of the United Nations and proclaims to Caribbean nations that they are free to say that they are free just so long as they behave themselves as good little boys and girls according to the gospel of Saint Theodore (Roosevelt), author of the Roosevelt Corollary.

Several Caribbean nations — Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Grenada, Haiti, Nicaragua and Panama — have fallen victims to the Roosevelt nightmarish politics of intervention. In 1953, Guyana, then British Guiana, was in a larger sense an indirect victim of the Roosevelt Corollary, when the United States demanded that the United Kingdom Government remove the People’s Progressive Government of Dr Cheddi Jagan. Commentators insisted at the time that there was an “or else” to it.

Trinidad and Tobago escaped by the skin of its teeth (forgive the cliche) following on the intervention of some of the officers and soldiers of the Regiment, who had protested orders which they felt could have possibly led to the shooting of several of the leaders, as well as followers of the so-called Black Power Revolution. It is a matter of history that late Prime Minister, Dr Eric Williams, ordered United States warships out of Trinidad and Tobago’s waters, which clearly had been given conditional intervention orders by the then Administration of later disgraced US President Richard Nixon.

Again, in 1990, the George Bush (senior) Government had contemplated military intervention, I am told, in Trinidad and Tobago following on the July 27, 1990 attempted coup by the Jamaat al Muslimeen. My advice was that it would have been a limited intervention to protect American interests in South-East Trinidad — Amoco et cetera; interests in Point Lisas; United States citizens here and the US Embassy at Queen’s Park East.

Instructions were given to all United States citizens in Trinidad and Tobago to register with the US Embassy, and tentative arrangements were made to evacuate them in the event that an emergency was considered to have arisen. American helicopters touched down in the Queen’s Park Savannah in an area opposite to the US Embassy. Grenada was not so fortunate. United States planes bombed Grenada in October of 1983, and later US forces landed in that island State, in the wake of the overthrow of the then Grenada Prime Minister, the late Maurice Bishop. I have written before, beginning shortly after the US military intervention there, that United States warships were directed to sail for Grenada even in advance of the takeover by Bernard Coard and company.

Their orders were to overthrow the Bishop regime! However, when Bishop was removed by another set of impractical Communist romantics, the Americans shifted to an intervention theory founded on their “horror” at a legitimately elected Govern-ment bring overthrown. But the United States was careful to ask Caribbean governments (with the notable exception of Trinidad and Tobago) to invite it to invade Grenada. I was first made aware of this by a Caricom Prime Minister while on a visit to his country.

It was virtually the same tactic it had employed, when in 1965 it had despatched a force of approximately 20,000 to the Dominican Republic to remove Juan Bosch, the country’s elected President. The only difference, and it was one of detail, was that it had asked the OAS to intervene. This meant that the US as a member would have been entitled to that right. The United States was, for long, intent on a physical presence in the Caribbean, in much the same manner as many of the other colonial powers. From relatively early, in fact as early as the 1850s, a critical part of its Caribbean policy was to have Cuba as the principal jewel in its Imperial crown. It made overtures to Spain in 1854 with a view to its purchasing Cuba.

Unfortunately, arrogance was never far away, and in that year the Government formulated the clearly offensive Ostend Manifesto, through which it arrogated unto itself the right to invade and takeover Cuba should Spain rebuff its efforts to acquire Cuba via purchase. It would later rule Cuba for a period following on the Spanish-American War. In 1917 it would acquire three of the Virgin Islands from Denmark for some US$25 million. We in the Caribbean parade ourselves as being independent, and speak of guarding our sovereignty. But until world events force or encourage a change of USA’s Caribbean policy, we shall remain but a jest in America’s Imperial mind, and the Caribbean Sea, a US lake.

Top marks for Shell Academy

DR RUDI WEBSTER, Director of the Shell Cricket Academy, has identified a lack of mental toughness as the main reason for the current run of poor results by the West Indies team.

He made the observation yesterday at a media conference to announce the intake of the latest batch of young players to the St George’s, Grenada-based academy, which is affiliated to the St George’s University. The function was staged at the Kapok Hotel and attended by Nick Shorthose, Shell Regional Country Chairman; Andrew Hart, Country Representative, Shell Trinidad Limited; and Dr Michael Seepersad, Chief Cricket Development Officer. Also there were Kurtis Rudd, Shell’s Brand and Communications Manager for the region; Ellis Lewis, first vice-president of the TT Cricket Board of Control and representativs of Nemwil Insurance Company Limited.

Dr Webster, who is currently recuperating from cardiac surgery, is a former professional cricketer who specialises in sports psychology. He is a best selling author who has lived for many years in Australia and has a first hand knowledge of the sports programmes Down Under. He has been described as the “Viagra of the West Indies team” of the 70s and 80s led by Clive Lloyd, when the Caribbean cricketers ruled the roost for more than a decade and a half. He said yesterday the current West Indies team led by Trinidadian Brain Lara appears to be deficient in their psychological preparation to successsfully challenge the Australians who hold a 3-0 lead in the four-Test Cable and Wireless series.

“Mental preparation has been a weak link for the past five or six years. West Indies have been playing excellent cricket and even outplaying the Australians,” said Dr Webster. “You can see that after partnerships lasting more than two hours, the entire team plummets within a short time. This indicates that mentally, the players cannot cope with the challenges posed in the match,” said Dr Webster. Nicknamed “a performance enhancer”, Dr Webster is noted for his work with the West Indies team the last time the Australians toured the Caribbean. Then, after a disastrous performance at the Oval when the homesters were rattled out for a record 51 runs, they bounced back to square the Test series.

Dr Webster said he spoke to Lara then, using the language of golf, the second favourite sport of the double world record holder, who went on the lead the batting for the home side and shock the tourists with several match-winning performances against the odds. Yesterday Dr Webster said the results of the Shell-sponsored academy can compare favourably with or is better than any similar institution in the world and named Ryan Hinds, Dave Bernard Jnr, and Carlton Baugh as those who have recently graduated to Test status. The three coaches running this year’s programme from May 16 to August 7 are former West Indies coach Roger Harper, ex-Test fast bowler Kenny Benjamin and noted Barbadian coach Dawnley Boxhill.

Four TT players are among the intake of 25 in the class of 2003. They are Dwayne Bravo, Amit Jaggernauth, Denzil James and Kenton Thompson. The others are: Krishna Arjune, Derwin Christian, Damodar Dasrath, Brian Stephney (Guyana); Othneil Baptiste, Greg Francois, Denzil George (Windward Islands); Mwanghi Broomes, Carlo Morris, Randy Thomas, Ryan Wiggins, Jason Bennett (Barbados); Juari Edwards, Tonito Willett (Leewards Islands); Shawn Findlay, Danza Hyatt, Maurice Kepple, Tamar Lambert, Andrew Richardson, Jerome Taylor, Dwight Washington.

Lara not worried about Aussie whitewash

BRIDGETOWN: West Indies captain Brian Lara, whose team went 3-0 down to Australia after losing the Third Test on Monday, said he wanted to stick with his young side and was not concerned about an impending whitewash.

West Indies, with an average age of around 25, suffered three consecutive home defeats for the first time on Monday and could also suffer their first home whitewash if they lose the fourth and final Test in Antigua, starting Friday. “The records are not really my main worry. That’s of little importance,” said Lara, adding that better days lay ahead. “We have got some very good players here and they are on the verge of making the breakthrough in Test cricket. “I’m quite happy with the look of the team, I want us to play cricket the way we are playing. We are not to going to play Australia every day of the week. It’s all about character building and that is what is happening.” He added: “The experienced players have been tried and tested, a lot of them have come up short and I don’t see any need to go back to them. “In the batting department, we have done pretty well. The batting is going to take care of itself.”

Lara, who raised eyebrows when he won the toss and asked Australia to bat first on a docile pitch, admitted he had miscalculated after the tourists made a match-winning 605 for nine declared. “The pitch came up short,” he said. “It was not the greatest Test track and I couldn’t tell it was going to deteriorate so much, so it was unfortunate I chose to bowl.” Lara praised the performance of 20-year-old debutant off-spinner Omari Banks from the tiny island of Anguilla. “Omari bowled well, there are areas he has to improve to play Test cricket,” said Lara. “When you play First-Class matches, you get away with things but not in Test cricket.”

Australia captain Steve Waugh joined in Lara’s criticism of the pitch. Waugh said before the match that he had special plans for getting Lara out but said they were not put into action because of the pitch. “They were not applicable on this wicket. They couldn’t be put into action in this Test, so it was back to Plan ‘B’,” he said. “We are not overcritical of the pitch but it was different to what you expect in the West Indies. “The pitches here have been flat and we don’t want pitches worldwide to become too similar. I’d hate to think they will all become like one-day wickets.”

Windies retain same squad for final Test

ST JOHN’S: The West Indies will retain the same squad of 14 cricketers for the fourth and final Test in Antigua as they attempt to stave off an Australian whitewashing, the WICB announced yesterday.

Australia lead the series 3-0 and will become the first team to sweep the West Indies in the Caribbean if they win the last Test, which begins Friday in the capital, St John’s. Australia regained top spot in the world Test rankings from South Africa after beating the West Indies in Barbados by nine wickets before tea on the last day of the Third Test on Monday. pThere are likely to be two changes in the West Indies’ final 11 in an effort to put the squad at full strength. Wicket-keeper Ridley Jacobs has recovered from a pulled leg muscle, an injury he sustained in the First Test and kept him sidelined in the latest two Tests.

The 35-year-old veteran, with 48 Tests under his belt, would return for the match in his native Antigua to take over from 20-year-old Carlton Baugh, who had made his international debut in Jacobs’ absence. Merv Dillon, the 32-year-old Trinidadian fast bowler who was dropped after taking only five wickets for 325 runs in the first two Tests, is expected to regain his spot and replace Tino Best. Dillon has taken 117 wickets in 32 Tests, the only West Indies bowler with over 100 wickets. Best, the 21-year-old Barbadian fast bowler, went wicketless in his debut Test here. The West Indies squad: Brian Lara (captain), Omari Banks, Carlton Baugh, Tino Best, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Merv Dillon, Vasbert Drakes, Daren Ganga, Chris Gayle, Ridley Jacobs, Jermaine Lawson, Marlon Samuels, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Devon Smith. Manager: Ricky Skerritt. Coach: Gus Logie.

Northants footballers call off tour

ENGLISH footballers Northampton Town have cancelled their proposed two-match tour of Trinidad and Tobago.

According to Pro-Sports Limited official Peter Miller, the cancellation was due to flight complications. Northampton were expected here for one week, during which they were scheduled to hold a training camp. They were expected to play matches against T&T Pro League campions CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh at Manny Ramjohn Stadium today and the other match at the Dwight Yorke Stadium, Bacolet, Tobago on Sunday. Miller apologised on behalf of Northampton who had a poor 2003 season finishing last in Nationwide Two. As a result Northants were automatically relegated to Nationwide Three for the next season. The local co-ordinators of the Northampton visit said because of other commitments in England and the flight complications, it would have been impossible to reschedule the Trinidad and Tobago training camp. Northants managed only 39 points from 46 matches and scored 40 goals and let in 79 to finish with a goal-difference of minus 39.

Boxing in gayelle planned

INTERNATIONAL boxing matchmaker Buxo Potts intends writing Prime Minister Patrick Manning demanding he immediately names a new Boxing Board of Control.

Potts said the Prime Minister, as head of the Boards Committee of Cabinet, must take the responsibility for the sorry plight professional promoters and boxers now find themselves in and must do something to alleviate their problems. “I would like PM Manning to give an immediate response to our request. It is the only suitable outcome after so many promises. Something must be done now,” said Potts. The three-year term of office of the last Boxing Board of Control expired in December and despite assurances that a new board would be named, no announcement has been forthcoming. Potts said after waiting four months he is prepared to stage a professional card without the required permission of the Boxing Board of Control. He says he knows such a presentation will be illegal. “But together with fellow promoters we are prepared to face the consequences of our actions if that is what it takes to force the hand of the authorities,” said an angry Potts yesterday.

He contemplated the staging of professional boxing matches in illegal gayelle-style settings far away from the law where the fighters can parctise their trade without fear of getting arrested for contravening the Boxing Board Act. “The element of risk and the prospects of cashing in through bets on the respective boxers will attract fight fans and get the sport back on the road giving employment to the many who have been sidelined since last year because of the neglect of the Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs in not giving urgency to the naming of a new board,” said Potts yesterday. He said he was all set to bring in overseas fighters for last week’s Point Fortin Borough Day Festival and the current Siparia Festival but has been stymied since no approval can be obtained for the professional bouts. “The sport has been brought to a standstill and no one seems to be concerned at the official level to hasten the decision-making process.

“This sport is a business and brings relief to hundreds of people,” said Potts. Professional boxing has not been staged in a local ring for more than a year after the main promoters, Richforde Promotions, vowed not to put on cards in protest at the last Boxing Board of Control. Richforde have the majority of local professional boxers under their wings and without their input the sport was forced to shut down pending the naming of a new board. Potts urged PM Manning to treat the matter with the urgency it deserves and approve a slate of  conscientious and capable persons who have the sport at heart and the drive to take it forward. He made another call for the selection of former Director of Sport Neville Chance on the new board saying the retired public servant had excellent credentials for the position. “He has  an interest in the sport and a working relationship with the Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs to get things done,” said Potts.