N Touch

MUCH ADO ABOUT RED HOUSE


“The old order changeth, yielding place to new….”: Lord Alfred Tennyson, The Passing of Arthur.

Should the People’s National Move-ment Government go ahead with its plans to shift Parliament from the Red House to a nearby complex it would be the fourth or fifth time in our history that the seat of Government, for that is what the Red House is, would have been moved.

The uproar caused by Prime Minister Patrick Manning’s recent announcement of Government’s intention to de-establish the Red House as the home of Parliament and the seat of Government, the reactions of horror triggered, are indicative of a colonial mindset, which proclaims that “What was good for Massa, must be good for us.”

Clearly, the argument should be not whether Parliament should be relocated, but whether the money that would be allocated, if substantial, would be better spent on improved education and health facilities, as well as on teacher training and medicines for the aged and lower income groups. It is a question of priorities, not whether British colonial Governors presided there, and that the Crown Colony Legislative Council sat at the Red House.

To say that the association of Parliament with the Red House is an untouchable part of our history is an absurdly cringing and grovelling posture. The British had no such qualms about continuity, when they not only abolished the Cabildo as the principal form of Government, but removed the colony’s seat of Government from the Cabildo building on Sackville Street, Port-of- Spain, after Trinidad was ceded to Britain by the Treaty of Amiens. They relegated the Cabildo to the power equivalent of a British Town Council and stripped it of its old authority, which had been peculiar to it.

The British set up a Council of Government, abolished it (the Cabildo) in 1840, and put in its place what would today be known as the Port-of-Spain City Corporation. Even the Spaniards, Trinidad’s first colonisers, had shifted the seat of Government from San Jose de Oruna (St Joseph) to Port-of-Spain. I add, without comment, that the Cabildo building in St Joseph had been rebuilt on several occasions. I wish to make this clear. The Cabildo, though in essence a Town Council, had, nonetheless, been the principal Government structure.

Britain neither wished to continue for long with the old Spanish Trinidad system of Government and would stamp its own on Trinidad. The Spaniards, when Trinidad and Tobago was a colony of theirs, had established San Jose de Oruna in 1593 as their capital, and the Cabildo building erected there was the seat of Government.

Admittedly, it was horribly modest by today’s standards, and certainly nowhere as imposing as the Red House. But one year after St Joseph had been founded, the Spanish Governor at the time, Antonio de Berrio, moved there and pompously declared it the (place of the) seat of Government. Several of the world’s nations have not only shifted their Parliament buildings and rebuilt them, but like Trinidad under the Spaniards, actually moved their Parliaments (seats of Government) to entirely new cities.

For example, the United States of America, which recently invaded Iraq without the sanction of the United Nations, had New York City as its first Federal capital. This was from 1785 to 1790. George Washington’s first inauguration as President of the United States was held at New York City’s Federal Hall on April 30, 1789, and would be the last Presidential inauguration there.

But the 13 States, then comprising the USA, which on July 4, 1776 had declared their Independence of the United Kingdom, were somewhat uncomfortable with New York State, whose capital was New York City, or indeed any other State, housing the capital. They would later reach a compromise. They carved out the District of Columbia, created the capital, Washington, there and so it has been to this day.

The recently independent Americans did not concern themselves with such ‘important’ reminders of their colonial past and the historical value of Parliamentary buildings constructed during British rule. Good Heavens, they not only refused to have any truck with them, but within five years had shifted their Parliament from New York City’s Federal Hall.

In turn, the Brazilians shifted their capital and Parliament from Rio de Janeiro, which had been the choice of and built by their former Portuguese colonisers, to the entirely new city of Brasilia. Those who had reservations with respect to the twin move were not the Brazilians, but rather foreign nations with diplomats accredited to Brazil, as this meant having to face the cost of relocating their Embassies and Missions to Brasilia. They grumbled, but they complied.

The ancient African nation of Kush, which demonstrated to the world that Empires can be humbled, when shortly after the Crucifixion of Jesus (known to his followers as the Christ), its troops had defeated the forces of Imperial Rome, changed its capital cities, and, ipso facto its Parliament buildings, several times.

Its capitals have included the legendary city of Meroe and Napata. It was to the north of Napata, in Philae and Elephantine, that Kushite soldiers had engaged and overcome troops of the arrogant Roman Empire. Today, a portion of Kush forms a not insignificant part of the Sudan, and the other, that of Egypt. But as I stated earlier the Government should first establish priorities, if the removal of Parliament to the planned location at its immediate North, indicates substantial expenditure.

MAD DOGS OF WAR

The slaughter of the Muslims of Iraq has begun. The world’s only super-power, aided and abetted by the country from which it sprang and against which it became a rebellious son, leads the onslaught. Blair, the Prime Minister of Britain, like an old woman who has become dependant on an errant son, is content to be led in the hope of picking up some of the crumbs.

The very people of the United States of America and of Britain are vociferously opposed to this unjust and cruel war. So are the people of the rest of the world. In the United Nations itself there is no support for the war. In fact there is open rejection. So the USA and its side-kick Britain, have embarked on an illegal and immoral war of destruction and genocide. The USA did not dare pick on someone its own size when the Soviet Union shot down the American plane the 007 over Shakalin Island. How many Americans, including very important ones, died then? And the USA dared not do anything about it. What cowards they are.

Since a “Third World country’ Vietnam ran the forces of this super-power out of Vietnam, that has been rankling in their breast. They did not dare confront the Soviet Union, but they beat up little Grenada, refusing to allow British ships to enter while the unequal ‘war’ was going on. Britain had to tolerate the snub. They promised the small West Indian islands’ governments financial benefits in the form of Caribbean Basin Initiative. After they had used these governments to give a false garb of legality to their unlawful action, they laughed the claims of these governments to scorn, saying that they had misunderstood the CBI promise.

They helped the Afghans to get the Russians out so they could later move in themselves to gain possession of the oil rich resources of that country. They have tried repeatedly to assassinate Fidel Castro, they encouraged and then betrayed those Cubans who were foolish enough to lead an attack and be slaughtered in the Bay of Pigs. American air-cover never turned up as promised. They were sacrificed. The USA backed the removal of the Sandinista government of Nicaragua. They fathered the assassination of Allende in Chile and the imposition of Pinochet whom Thatcher later protected. They used and then betrayed Noreiga who languishes in jail in the USA. They snap their fingers and our Minister must go to Washington to ensure they have continuous flow of oil from us. We may be small, but we are an independent nation. We are not at their beck and call. We remember what they tried to do to the West Indies by trying to block the sale of our bananas to Europe under favourable conditions. They wanted to run us off the market so they could sell their own bananas grown by their multi-nationals with cheap Mexican labour! Thank God we found support in Europe. Because we West Indians and the government of Canada do not sell our manhood and support the wrong they are doing in Iraq, West Indians living in Canada are required to get a visa to enter into the USA. That is vindictive.

It is time we liberate Marli Street in Port-of-Spain and order the removal of the steel barriers. If the USA, in opposition to the wishes even of their own people, will wage unjust wars for greed and support regimes like that of Ariel Sharon who is wanted for war crimes by Belgium, they must put up with the consequences of their own action. They live in fear of attack all over the world because of their cruel and oppressive policy. Fundamentalists? That is fundamentalist Christianity. Christ weeps! That is the shortest sentence in the bible – “Christ weeps.” And Jehovah must once again, as said in the Old Testament, “Repent that he has made man.”. It is time to stop this cruel, illegal and unjust war in Iraq. I cannot sleep when I think of the terror to which the people there are subjected by this shameful abuse of power by Bush and Blair. Might has now become Right! May God help us. Imagine the arrogance! They want to dictate to Caricom that we must oppose or abstain from voting at the UN General Assembly when non-aligned States convene a Special Session at the UN to discuss the ‘war’. They call that Democarcy! What shameless bullies they are!

North-South commuters need ferry service too

THE EDITOR: If Minister Franklin Khan is promising to provide a 1,200 passenger capacity, 40 mph, “city centre to city centre”, Trinidad to Tobago Ferry, why, oh why, oh why, cannot he relieve the plight of thousands of North-South commuters and provide something similar, compatible to their needs, to service the Port-of-Spain-San Fernando route? (See Newsday, March 23, “High Speed ferry for Tobago route”. I am sure that many such commuters would be happy to leave their vehicles home and opt for the 20-25 minute trip across the Gulf of Paria and arrive at work (and home), fresh and stress-free, (and safe and sound). I am equally sure that if Minister Khan provided such a North-South Passenger Ferry, his name would go down in the annals as someone who made a significant beneficial contribution to national progress. Not so?


GEOFF HUDSON
Port-of-Spain

Without plants there would be no humanity

THE EDITOR: The loss of forest trees can greatly affect rainfall, plant life, animal life, and also human life.

The loss of oxygen would be vastly exacerbated by the loss of trees. Our atmosphere has a tremendous percentage of oxygen in it which allows us to breathe. That oxygen is created by plants breathing in carbon dioxide, and breathing out oxygen. Without plants there would be no oxygen, and therefore there would be no humanity. Trees are the planets largest oxygen producers, and these huge plants pump out oxygen at a giant rate, but if about one third of those trees were gone a third of the planet’s oxygen-creating ability would be gone. Part of our atmosphere is what is referred to as the “Ozone layer” which is simply made up of three atoms of oxygen clinging to each other, which provides a tremendous screen against the ultra-violet rays thrown off by the sun that would otherwise kill all human life on the planet.

Ozone is created by oxygen in the atmosphere reacting to light from the sun. If the oxygen in the atmosphere is not being regenerated by trees, the ozone layer would quickly disintegrate and it wouldn’t come back and without the ozone layer humans would become susceptible to the tremendous rays of the sun, bringing more cases of skin cancer, and other related diseases. That devastation will be a by-product (or collateral damage) because of the destruction of the ozone layer. From this point forward the destruction of the earth will be all but irreversible. Grass would likely recover quickly, but trees however would take decades to grow, which the earth would not have. The earth is God’s own and the fullness thereof, of which we all are, and everything therein, so please do not let greed and indiscretion of mankind destroy this beautiful planet earth on which we live or else the Judgement of God will come upon us swiftly without remedy. Lack of water, famine, incurable diseases and lots of other disasters too numerous to mention.


FLORENCE DYER
Princes Town

Turkey must not be allowed to dominate Kurds

THE EDITOR: The war against the Iraqi regime of Saddam Hussein, effectively commenced on March 19, 2003, by coalition forces led by the United States of America, is a war against a brutal terror regime. The crimes of Saddam Hussein, his sons, and members of his dictatorial government are well known. This brutal dictator has oppressed and suppressed his own people, the worst act of atrocity being the ethnic cleansing by chemical warfare, against the Kurds of North Iraq.  He waged wars against neighbouring states to fulfil his extraterritorial ambitions.

Saddam Hussein has consistently ignored and disregarded the many directives of the United Nations to eliminate all weapons of mass destruction. The missiles fired against Kuwait provide irrefutable evidence to the world of the lies of Saddam Hussein that Iraq possesses no weapons of mass destruction. As the war to disarm him unfolds, more of such weapons will undoubtedly be revealed. The actions of President Bush and the coalition forces are consistent with dharma. In ancient times Shri Rama removed two unjust and evil regimes, those of Bali and Ravana. In the process he liberated two kingdoms and peoples from oppressed rulers. He also brought to an end the terror campaigns which the savants of these regimes engaged in, even outside their own boundaries. Shri Rama installed in their place dharmic rule and governments, run by the people of Bali and Lanka.

President Bush, Prime Minister Blair, the governments of Spain, Italy, Australia, and many others in eastern Europe and around the world, in their military campaign against Saddam Hussein and his terror regime, are on the side of dharma. They are engaged in actions similar to Shri Rama of ancient times. It is unfortunate that the present government of Trinidad and Tobago, the PNM government led by Mr Patrick Manning, choose not to be on the side of dharma. We also regret that the government of India, the motherland of our ancestors, continues with its “non-aligned” position, and has not openly taken a position of support for the coalition forces of liberation. The quisling nature of the government of India is so evident in its failure to effectively deal with Taliban regime of Afghanistan and its Al-Qaeda operatives and had to await an American solution. It continues to fail the people of India and the Indian Diaspora in not possessing the political will to deal decisively with the failed and terror state of Pakistan.

We trust that the post Saddam Iraq will be one of democracy and freedom for all its peoples. A federal democratic republic allowing nationalities like the Kurds and Shiites some degree of self-government and autonomy, a position enjoyed by the Kurds at present, may be the future model of a new Iraq. The United States and coalition forces must not allow Turkey to intervene in northern Iraq to pursue its national self-interest and not the interest of the Kurds who already enjoy freedom from Saddam Hussein’s direct rule, as precarious as this had been. Turkey wants to replace Saddam Hussein’s domination of the Kurds with their own rule. This must not be allowed to occur. It is unfortunate that some local groups and organisations have taken an anti-democratic, anti-people, anti-American and anti-west stance on the liberation of Iraq. These organisations are clearly misguided by their blind loyalty to Islam and are incorrectly viewing the conflict as one against Islam — a clear indication of their Islamic agenda in their actions by using the cover of Islam. The position of exiled Iraqis and the people of Iraq such as the Kurds, Shiites and the ordinary people must be considered.


D H SINGH
Secretariat
The Hindu Writers’ Forum
Chaguanas

TT reaping bitter harvest of local hate

THE EDITOR: Self-preservation is the first law of life: it is that intrinsic need to want to defend ourselves in whatever challenges.

Yet, there is a natural tendency to want to help; even when, sometimes, our basic needs are minimally met. And this wanting to help will always be noble, to yield grater love and, so, to share with each other a harmony of existence. We may consider ourselves living in one big yard — the West Indian family. Then, War-like it is, when our Prime Minister is openly criticised for wanting to bail out a financially strapped neighbouring airline — by the platitudinous excuse of ‘the thousands of hungry and starving’ of Trinidad and Tobago. Really, what is hungry and starving are those mouthpieces which expose their emptiness of any sense of self-preservation.

Today in Trinidad and Tobago we are reaping the bitter harvest of ‘local’ hate. And remember, our yard is big! To lift off to any respectable world order, we must ground with our brothers — the ‘Caribbean Man’. Finally, and in the spirit of our new President’s opening salvo, we are all part of each other. And, we are either nobody or a nation; of Caribbean people. And this, I am sure, is the full text and stroke of a master teacher, batsman statesman — slapping that dissenting voice for six.


RICHARD DINDIAL
Cunupia

More important issues than the Red House

THE EDITOR: Having bought in to the Government’s vision — developed country status by 2020 — I’m disheartened by our leadership’s failure to follow through. Nothing is improving.

Blessed with the highest per capita income in the region, Trinidad and Tobago’s state apparatus has been at the door of decay for some time — education is crisis, so too the health sector, national security continues to be under-resourced, our road network is horribly inadequate, public transport is chaotic … you name it. And nothing is getting better. We are now anticipating significant increases in revenue, and there are very real possibilities for us to achieve measurable improvements in people’s standard of living — a very unique opportunity. Few countries will ever be so fortunate. And what do our leaders do? They announce plans to relocate the Houses of Parliament. What madness …

I’m not saying the Red House is adequate or that Whitehall is suitable for Prime Minister Patrick Manning. But, there are far more important issues to be addressed before we get to the Red House. If we want to talk about buildings, let’s talk about hospitals, health centres, police stations, courthouses, community facilities, housing … Look around you Mr Manning. Look at the state of this rich nation: there is real work to be done! What about training teachers: what about refurbishing and equipping health facilities; what about retooling our security services; what about upgrading our infrastructure; what about our state institutions — they all need new technology, improved work processes, and enhanced human resource capability. Unemployment and social relief programmes are a must, but they need to be linked to some form of education/training initiative, and aligned with the country’s development plan. Development isn’t about money; it’s a state of mind. Come on Mr Manning, think! Living in hope.


ANDREW DOUGLAS
Diego Martin

Warriors start campaign tonight

WHEN Trinidad and Tobago take the field against Antigua/Barbuda in tonight’s Caribbean Football Union/CONCACAF Gold Cup qualifier at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo from 7 pm, it will also mark the start of their campaign for World Cup 2006 in Germany.

Regional football boss Jack Austin Warner told this to the 18-man national squad at a luncheon at Royal Palm Hotel, Maraval, yesterday. In the opening match of the Group “B” series, Guadeloupe will play Cuba from 5 pm. Warner told the players: “The match is much more than qualifying for the Gold Cup.  It also means the commencement of the World Cup campaign.” And he urged the team: “Let’s not miss the boat this time.  We missed it in 1989 (qualifying series for Italia 90) under the NAR government and again in 1993  under another government.” He pointed out there will be a meeting on May 3 to decide whether CONCACAF will get four places in a World Cup finals of 36 teams or maintain the three and a half places they currently hold with 32  teams.

Warner told the players to play every match to win as if it is only three and a half places. “If ever a country needed to be unified, this country does, if ever a time for unification is needed that time is now, and therefore my plea to the national football team tomorrow (tonight) is you hold the future of your  country at your feet,” he said. Warner urged the footballers to recreate in TT the kind of fraternity, love, brotherliness that we are capable of and which we knew in the past. The 18-man squad was introduced to the media by coach Hannibal Najjar who indicated all his players are fit and ready to do their country proud tonight and throughout their three-match schedule. Sport and Youth Affairs Minister Roger Boynes called for the full support of football and said everybody in TT should come together to push football in this country.

He welcomed the ten overseas-based footballers and urged them: “Put out your best for your country.  Understand you are playing for Trinidad and Tobago. “Every team will be focused on beating you, We know that you are capable, we believe that you are capable.  We are behind you, Trinidad and Tobago as a whole will be backing you and we are looking for your support and your strength on the field.” He said government was working hand-in-hand with the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation on a soon to be launched football development programme. Boynes also announced that Petrotrin has approved the granting of  a lease to the TTFF at Forest Reserve for the establishment of a national football training centre. He urged corporate citizens to come out and support football and asked them to look at Maritime General Insurance, who yesterday re-launched their Stryka International Fan Club, from which members can benefit from discounts on  tickets to matches and other amenities for a $50 club fee.

Lara: We can beat B’dos in semi-final

STAR West Indies batsman Brian Lara is looking for another top class performance from the  Trinidad and Tobago cricketers when they clash with Barbados in one semi-final of the Carib Beer International cricket challenge in Barbados on Friday.

Lara, who scored a brilliant hundred in his only match for the team this season described the win against the Leewards as a top class effort. He said if the players can repeat they can come away on top. “When I joined the team in St. Thomas I felt a good vibe from the players. They are really confident and want to win for Trinidad and Tobago. We were beaten by the Barbadians in the early round but we have strengthened our team in the right areas and I am very confident of a win. I have come into the batting line-up and Mervyn Dillon has been added to the bowling squad. “It is a different story now and we are going all out to claim a victory or at least a first innings that will put us in the finals,”

On a personal note Lara said he was very happy to play as preparation for the upcoming series against Australia. “The more cricket I get in before the Australian tour the better it would be for me. Hopefully after this match I will have a final to play so that my readiness would be even better.” Lara took the team through their paces at the Oval yesterday in the absence of coach Phil Simmons who had returned to England to visit his family. He was expected to be in the country last night and will travel with the team to Barbados today. Skipper Daren Ganga yesterday was also very confident of success. “We have been presented with a wonderful opportunity to play in the semi-finals and we are not going to let up. The last time they beat us we were without two top players and now that they are back we are looking to make a clean start and win this one. “The pitch at the Kensington Oval is a good cricket pitch and we will be going all out to pull this one through,” Ganga said.

Manager of the team, Omar Khan, said that each day is a different one and that the players must put behind them their defeat at the hands of Barbados in the earlier preliminary round match. “We are going to go very hard at the Barbadians. Lara and Dillon are back and will prove to be a handful for the hosts. All our players have had good performances this season and we just want them to come out and give of their best and we will be on our way to the finals,” Khan said. The same team which played against the Leewards in the last round was chosen with spinner Dinanath Ramnarine again missing. The West Indies player asked not to be considered as he was still coming to terms with death of his mother two weeks ago. TT team: Daren Ganga (capt), Imran Jan, Andy Jackson, Brian Lara, Dwayne Bravo, Zaheer Ali, Shazam Babwah, Lendl Simmons, Dave Mohammed, Marlon Black, Ravi Rampaul, Mervyn Dillon and Rodney Sooklal. Coach Phil Simmons, manager Omar Khan.

Najjar confident of victory against Antigua

TRINIDAD and Tobago senior football squad is ready for any challenge posed by the Antigua national outfit as Group “B” action in the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Gold Cup semi-final qualifying series kicks off at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo, today.

The Soca Warriors will face the Antiguans at 7 pm, a match which will follow the Cuba-Guadeloupe fixture which starts at 5 pm. “I think we’ll be ready for the match,” said head coach Hannibal Najjar yesterday, “I’m fairly comfortable that we have a good blend in experience and youth.” Ten foreign-based professionals are among the 18-man local squad —- captain Marvin “Dog” Andrews, Avery John, Stern John, Craig Demmin, Dwayne Demmin, Carlos Edwards, Collin Samuel, Evans Wise, Dennis Lawrence and Brent Rahim.

Najjar noted that the starting eleven for today’s match was decided last night following yesterday’s training session at the Hasely Crawford Stadium. But he bemoaned the fact that the team was unable to compete in any practice match before the qualifiers. “We haven’t had that luxury of seeing the other teams at all, in the eight teams that are competing (four in Group “A” based in Jamaica) we’ve been the only team without a practice match.” But Najjar is extremely confident that Trinidad and Tobago can open their campaign with full points against the Antiguans. Included in the Antiguan team are current Joe Public players —- defender George Dublin and striker Gayson Gregory, and ex-“Eastern Lions” midfielder Ranjae Christian.

Full Teams –
Trinidad and Tobago: Selwyn George, Craig Demmin, Dennis Lawrence, Marvin Andrews (captain), Anton Pierre, Avery John, Carlos Edwards, Andre Toussaint, Evans Wise, Jason Scotland, Brent Rahim, Devon Mitchell, Stern John, Kurt Williams, Dwayne Demmin, Hayden Fitzwilliams, Collin Samuel, Marlon Sylvester; Hannibal Najjar (coach).

Antigua: Janiel Simon, Rackley Thomas, Ranjae Christian, Neil Shyah Jeffers, George Dublin, Steveroy Anthony (captain), Kerry Skepple, Kevin Watts, Gayson Gregory, Troy Simon, Winston Roberts, Elvis Anthony, Tyio Simon, Arnold James, Verton Harris, Tamarley Thomas, Marvin O’Garro, Dave Carr; Ivor Luke (coach).

Cuba: Odelin Molina, Alexander Driggs, Yeniel Marquez, Silvio Pedro, Naryuri Rivero, Livan Perez, Jorge Ramirez, Lazaro Reyes, Rene Estrada, Lester More, Serguet Prodo, Alexis Reve, Maikel Galindo, Jaime Colome, Lazaro Ruiz, Reysander Fernandez, Juan Carlos Cabre, Alain Cervantes; Maximo Iznaga (coach).

Guadeloupe: Fabrice Mercury, Patrice Ramsamy, Jean Claude Lutin, Patrice Darcourt, Ruddy Likion, Alain Vertot, Dominique Mocha, Frederic Benon, Xavier Cassubie, Thierry Mocha, Samuel Denys, Jean Luc Lambourat, Courtant Theresine, Laurent Farnapoe, Michel Belia, Mario Adelaide, Pascal Chimbonia, Olivier Fauconnier; Roger Salnot (coach).