The sparring over water occurred during debate on an urgent matter of public importance in the Lower House.

Persad-Bissessar cited recent news headlines of water woes in areas such as Todds Road, Chatham, Lopinot, Penal, Moruga, St Barb’s (Laventille), Maracas and Las Cuevas.

“It seems to be a widespread problem.

I have had first hand experience. What has happened?” Citing promises made in the People’s National Movement 2015 general election manifesto of sustainability in water supply, she said, “About 20 months later they have failed miserably.” She said people now face “pain and trauma” as WASA is allegedly not fulfilling its own water delivery schedule, leaving some people to pay $1,000 per truckload illegally.

Persad-Bissessar said if there is no shortage in the nation’s reservoirs, public complaints of non-supply must be due to poor management of water distribution. She asked how schools or tourist hotels could function without a water supply.

Hinds, in reply, cited news headlines from 2011, 2013and 2015 all lamenting water shortages saying it is nothing new, as he accused Persad-Bissessar of trying to create panic.

He said WASA has told him that the water- levels in their reservoirs are now “above average”. He proposed using the Madamas River as a new source of water supply.

Hinds estimated that 50 percent of WASA’s water supply is lost in leaking pipelines. He challenged an Opposition claim to have supplied 73 percent of all homes.

It’s not an affluent area but it is rich in culture – non-British culture, to be more exact. It has one of the city’s best known fruit and vegetable street markets, where those who know their exotic produce go to get it and those who fancy something different browse and marvel at strange, gnarled roots before taking some home and cooking them like potatoes.

For the same sort of reason the area is also attractive to a breed of politically-aware, left-wing Brits who see it as the real world, while despising the wealthier areas, such as nearby Greenwich and Blackheath.

The public library in Deptford, if it’s still there, has an unusual section. Somewhere between Archaeology and Cooking, there is Banned. The subversive, dresseddown sneerers like nothing better than a bit of controversial literature, particularly when it has been given the seal of disapproval of the British authorities.

There you would find a rogues’ gallery of works that have at one time or another been labelled unfit for human consumption. Lady Chatterley’s Lover is included, of course, that exquisitely written, thought-provoking tale of an aristocratic woman brought down by love and lust for a humble gamekeeper.

By today’s standards Lady Chatterley’s Lover is not really shocking at all, but in its time it was scandalous (first published in parts of Europe in the late 1920s, it became the subject of a highly publicized UK court case before finally being approved for publication in full there in the early 60s). The author, D H Lawrence, not only had this lady off her pedestal and onto the floor of the gamekeeper’s cottage, he had the man using the f word and the c word, not to mention some lavatorial vocabulary, all designed to convey the fact that humans have bodily functions and sexual instincts, the only thing separating us from the animal kingdom being that we do the latter for fun, not just procreation.

Those were relatively puritanical times, as the tale of country and western singer Kitty Wells demonstrates.

In the early 1950s there was a popular song called Wild Side of Life, in which a man sang about honky tonk angels, by which he meant young women of easy virtue who spent their evenings at cheap bars where country (honky tonk) music was played by live bands.

Wells, an old-fashioned wholesome, bible-quoting Nashville girl, decided to stand up for the reputation of these girls by writing and recording God Didn’t Make Honky Tonk Angels, which put the blame on the men who led the girls on with sweet talk and promises, designed to get their wicked way.

Wells’s message was controversial at that male-dominated time, and her song was banned by many radio stations. NBC, in particular, was troubled by the lyric, “It brings back memories of when I was a trustful wife”. She was obliged to change “trustful” to “trusting” before the ban was lifted, presumably because the powers that be thought trustful meant trustworthy.

It shows how strict (or biased, opinionated, prejudicial) the decision- makers were at that time.

A half-hour listen to music radio in Trinidad and Tobago shows just how far we have come along the road of liberalization and freedom of expression.

Hidden amid the thick mud of slang and deliberately skewed pronunciation on the airwaves we find the one-track mind that has prevailed among the young – and the not so young – since the Garden of Eden fig leaf affair – a scandal that never made it to the courts and the media only because it predated such things.

It has always been there, of course, contained in jolly, wholesome- sounding folk songs and the dark, steamy utterances of the old blues singers, whose Holy Grail in many cases seemed to be seducing underage girls.

The authorities can’t control what people think about, but they can stop us singing about it and glorifying it in film, on TV etc.

Sometimes, though, those who seek to dictate what is and isn’t permissible have to take into account the zeitgeist, the spirit of the times they live in. Thus Lady Chatterley got waved through in the end because, as a sexually frustrated poet once said, sex began in 1963. Lawrence had been helped by pioneers such as Elvis Presley, who wiggled and writhed in a provocative way to the outrage of the prim and protective but without actually causing the breakdown of society.

The wigglers and writhers of the carnival, not to mention the singers whose pearls of dubious wisdom blurt through the overworked speakers, should be thankful that t h e a u r a l m e s s d i s – g u i s e s t h e m .

Or perh a p s t h e y k n e w that already.

Leah Mohammed (four for 19), Angelina Sookraj (23) and skipper Janelle Noel (two wickets and four catches) helped St Stephen’s hold off their rivals in an exciting final.

Having won the toss and batted first, the Princes Town-based St Stephen’s College compiled 111 for six in their 20 overs.

Despite a valiant effort by Swaha Hindu College in their chase, their efforts were unrewarded as they were bowled for 101 in 12.3 overs.

Both teams were involved in their first trips to the final of the Girls Open competition. Before the start of play, all players were introduced to PowerGen’s officials- Surin Ramsingh (general manager), Sonya Lequay (Director of Human Resources and Administration), Denise Labadie- Sudan (Manager of Human Resources and Communications) and Francois Ottley (Generalist) as well as SSCL president Surujdath Mahabir and members of the triumphant West Indies women’s T20 team Merissa Aguilleira, Anisa Mohammed, Britney Cooper and Stacy-Ann King.

Angelina Sookraj (23 off 15 balls), skipper Janelle Noel (14 off 16 balls) and Kaseann Edwards (10) were the main run getters for St Stephen’s College while Nishal Ragoo (2/12)and Merissa Salickram (2/19) were among the wickets for Swaha.

In search of 112 for victory, Anushala Bhoodram topscored for Swaha Hindu College with a quick-fire 25 which included two sixes and three fours of nine deliveries and picked up the “Most Runs” award. Nishal Ragoo (12) and Kemesha Vincent (10) were the other players who reached double figures but their efforts were in vain.

Leah Mohammed was awarded the “Best Bowler” prize.

Summarised Scores: ST STEPHEN’S COLLEGE 111/6 (20 overs) – Angelina Sookraj 23, Janelle Noel 14, Kaseann Edwards 10; Nishal Ragoo 2/12, Merissa Salickram 2/19 vs SWAHA HINDU COLLEGE 101 all out (12.3 overs) – Anushala Bhoodram 25, Nishal Ragoo 12, Kemesha Vincent 10; Leah Mohammed 4/19, Janelle Noel 2/6, Kayle Dookran 2/35.

She says the name is evocative of a sexy mysteriousness, hinting at the intimate nature of the items she carries without being vulgar or distasteful.

The family woman and mother of two from La Brea has a Bachelor’s in Business Management but after seven years of professional work she desired more fulfillment in her career. With the gracious support system of her family, she was encouraged to follow her dream of becoming an entrepreneur and opened Bare Secrets in 2014.

Although still employed at an “8-4” job, Bare Secrets has given her an outlet to be her own boss and supply services and products that make her proud.

“I love what I do, I love making my customers happy, I love seeing them satisfied,” says a loquacious Deanna of the close relationship she shares with her clientele.

Today, she speaks with WMN of her entrepreneurial path, the reasons her clientele feels comfortable and applaud her quality service, and what makes “Bare Secrets” a thriving business.

Q What is being an entrepreneur like? What challenges and triumphs have you experienced since embarking on this journey?

Being an entrepreneur is fun and exciting, it has always been something I wanted. Probably (because) I grew up with both parents being involved in businesses of their own, which encouraged me from young to be my own boss. As in everything, there are challenges. My schedule is extremely hectic. Being based online, I have deliveries which are done sometimes daily. So I do deliveries on a Saturday and after work hours on Monday to Friday. My family assists whenever needed (I am thankful for them!). However, those challenges are nothing compared to the satisfaction that I get when customers call or send messages regarding their contentment with their purchases.

Q Would you say your professional work relates to some of your personal passions?

Most definitely! There is a joy in being able to give a customer that confident satisfaction when they try on or purchase something. We as women all want to feel confident on a daily basis; we are no longer a society that keeps things for special occasions because every day is special in itself. So, my main focus was to ensure that each customer felt confident about themselves when trying on any garment we offer.

Q Tell us about “Bare Secrets” – when was its genesis, why did you choose to focus on intimate apparel and swimwear, and what has your customer response been like?

Bare Secrets officially started on May 25, 2014.

I chose Intimate Apparel after research in the industry and what was needed as well as what I like. I did the entire Business Plan and surveys.

When I was finished, I knew that this is the market I would like to be part of. I wanted the customers to have undies that matched… swimwear that suited their body type, comfortable sleepwear, accessories that are needed … My mission is to give the customers what they are looking for in an atmosphere which is discreet, comfortable and satisfying, (which) invites customers to feel comfortable when purchasing.

Q What are some of your bestselling products? And how do you stay in touch with what your clientele wants?

Oh, lingerie and swimwear are the bestselling ones. Because we are focused on being discreet and convenient, customers are comfortable with the way in which we interact. I go to meetings organized by someone who is interested and they can invite a number of other women to view the items, try on and purchase. I keep a record of what is required by some because the thing about women, we are talkers, so they message, “Hey do you have this?” or “Can you get it for me?” and that makes it easy with us staying in touch.

Q Who is your market at Bare Secrets? Why should they choose Bare Secrets for their intimate apparel and swimwear choices?

My market ranges from 18 to 65 plus. I cater for everyone. I try to incorporate current styles with comfort. It’s one thing to look gorgeous but it’s another to feel comfortable so that’s why I aim to have my customers choose me… I want them to be comfortable while being fashionable.

Q What do you believe makes you and your business unique, sellable, and relatable?

Service, Availability, Appreciation. We offer a service where we care more than just about the sale of an item, we care about how you feel. Because we’re based online, I try to be as accessible as possible, be it meeting for deliveries or coming to the comfort of your home/business for you to try and purchase items. And we appreciate all our customers, we are focused on ensuring they are all satisfied when they purchase

Q What is it like having a business in your hometown? How does it feel to be part of economic and entrepreneurial growth and expansion?

It’s great, actually. La Brea is a small community, when I launched I must say support was great. I have a few customers who are frequently calling … for something new to be added to their intimate stash. And that is actually very rewarding to know that in our community you can add growth and people don’t have to venture far for what they need.

Q What is your advice to other women who may be thinking of starting their own businesses? What are some of the most important lessons you’ve learned?

The most important thing I have learnt is that when God births you with a vision no matter how many bumps may come, keep pressing. We women are made for this. The ups and downs, the ins and outs of life. Things will not always be perfect but in knowing who you serve He allows us to be prepared for whatever comes.

Last words or thoughts?

When you love what you do it’s never too much to go the extra mile… it becomes who you are.

God has blessed us all with talents and we may sometimes think this isn’t for us, but He knows why He chose to birth that idea in you. Leap out in Faith.

The most common types of arthritis are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In osteoarthritis, the cushions on the ends of your bones, called cartilage, wear away.

That makes the bones rub against each other. You might feel pain in the affected area namely your fingers, knees, or hips. Rheumatoid arthritis affects the joints. It causes pain, swelling, and stiffness. This disease often occurs in more than one joint and can affect any joint in the body.

Arthritis mainly causes pain around your joints. The symptoms can be constant, or they may come and go. They can range from mild to severe. More-severe cases may lead to permanent joint damage. You may also experience: One or more joints that are swollen or stiff Joints that look red or feel warm to the touch Tenderness Trouble moving Problems doing everyday tasks There are several exercises that you can do in managing your arthritis. These include:

Gardening This is a fantastic method of exercise for people who enjoy recreational exercise. Gardening burns calories and boosts pleasure-enhancing endorphins, easing depression that can be associated with RA. However, you will have to pace yourself especially if you have RA in your wrists as you can experience a flare-up if you dig for hours at a time.

Cycling This form of exercise avoids putting weight on the knee joint, can help maintain knee joint mobility and strengthen leg muscles. Stationary cycling is a good option for persons who have less balance and are just starting. As your leg strength increases you can begin to ride a non-stationary bike which can be a good social activity that you and your friends can enjoy.

Swimming This will assist in maintaining your strength and stamina without putting too much pressure on your joints. Also in a lap pool (usually four-feet deep), you can walk from one side of the pool to the other at a brisk pace. The buoyancy of the water relieves pressure on your joints. This is an excellent exercise for persons with acute joint pain.

Strengthening exercises This is an excellent way to improve your mobility and flexibility by strengthening the muscles that support your joints. However, it is advisable to begin with a trained instructor. Ensure that you inform your instructor of your limitations and affliction, thereby enabling him/her to develop a workout plan specific to your needs.

There are some exercises you can do at home that will improve your muscle strength and flexibility. These include the following:

Chair stand This exercise is good for people who want to build leg muscles. Sit on a normal-height chair, stand up, and sit down gently. Focus on controlling the motion, using your arms to assist you if needed. Try doing ten to 15 reps, for added resistance or difficulty try a lower-height chair and control that motion more with your legs omitting the use of your arms.

Shoulder Bridge The basic bridge exercise primarily target your rectus abdominis and your gluteus maximus. As we get older it is important to tighten your abdominal muscles as it is the muscle that acts as a girdle assisting us in maintaining good posture.

Lay on your back, bend your knees and place your arms along each side of your body. Exhale through your mouth as you contract the abdominals and lift your pelvis. (Don’t arch your back or over flex your knees.) Inhale through the nose and hold the position. Exhale to lower your pelvis back to the ground and repeat the exercise.

Bicep-Curl This exercise will assist with the everyday activities such as lifting a mug of water or your laundry basket. You should start this exercise with one to two-pound weights and as you become stronger you can increase the weight.

Hold a dumbbell in each hand and stand with your feet wide apart as your hips. Let your arms hang down at your sides with your palms forward. Pull your abdominals in, stand tall, and keep your knees slightly bent. Curl both arms upward until they’re in front of your shoulders. Slowly lower the dumbbells back down and repeat.

Exercise is a wonderful place to start when attempting to regain your mobility, although it may be the last option you choose to explore when you are in pain. Exercise is beneficial for managing arthritis and your overall health.

It can strengthen muscles that support your painful joints, preserve and increase joint range of motion, improve sleep quality, boost your mood and sense of well-being and help you lose excess pounds that add stress to painful joints.

Exercise can only add to the quality of your life so you should consider giving it a try.

At the top of the list was playing the guitar pan with Panorama winner Massy Trinidad All Stars Steel Orchestra, which performed MX Prime’s runaway Road March winner, Full Extreme.

His involvement with winners continued as he assisted in arranging Five Star Akil’s Different Side of Me for his former primary school, St Margaret’s Anglican of Belmont, which placed first in the Junior Panorama.

The strapping six-footer played the double seconds with Valley Harps, of Petit Valley for the Panorama finals; the three-cello with St Margaret’s Super Stars in their performance of Bacchanal by GB Neutron; and with two single pan bands – Harlem Syncopators and Scorpion Power Boats.

In addition to this heavy pan workload, Larrier, a graduate of Trinity College in Moka, is a second year student at the University of Trinidad and Tobago pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Music, with an emphasis on the steelband.

“The vibes from playing with different bands, learning different styles of how to play and arrange, will help me,” he said of his attachments to the various bands. He loves classical music, R&B, reggae, jazz and actually “anything, depends on what the engagement calls for”.

Larrier’s love of music goes back to his deceased mother, accompanist at the All Saints Anglican Chapel of Ease, Maraval, who passed away about five years ago. He and his 18-year-old sister Ariel have since been cared for by their aunt, Jacqueline Douglas.

Larrier started music in standard three.

“My mother also played the guitar besides the piano and organ, and both my parents played pan.” However, under the astute guidance and care of his aunt, he has learned to balance academia, pan and travelling to and from their home in Carenage.

As he works towards his degree, Larrier is certain about his love of music but not yet sure where it will take him. However, his overriding wish is “to be the next arranger for All Stars”.

These were just a few initiatives by ReThink, a personal and organisational transformation centre with the aim of making this world a kinder, happier, gentler place through actions rather than just words.

According to founder of ReThink, Ernie Ross, the four-year-old organisation was a manifestation of Ross Advertising. He said the agency’s philosophy was “intangience” (a trademarked word they created), which was about intangible values and the science of human connection that makes it work.

For example, he explained that on Valentine’s Day, vendors who sell roses are not just selling flowers but a sentiment. Coca Cola too does not just sell carbonated beverages, but the brand satisfies a craving for human connection.

He therefore asks his clients three questions that drives intangience: Who am I? What is my purpose? How would I be remembered? Ross told Sunday Newsday those questions got him to thinking about his own life. As a single father of a 16-year-old daughter, he asked himself whether he was leaving enough for her materially. However, a friend of his told him the important thing was the values he left with her.

“That got me to thinking about what my life, my business was measured by. The manifestation of greater ideals, the things that were important to me, that I was going in my life but not in any structured way, gave birth to rethink. It was my moment of epiphany when I asked myself these three questions.” “We feel we can carry out national, regional, and international transformation by the work we do.

We are part of a massive global movement to shift conscience, and consciousness,” he said.

Ross stressed that he was not a guru of happiness but that he was searching, like everyone else. The only difference is that he has set up an organisation to do it and is encouraging others to do it as well.

ReThink is doing this through various programmes in TT and Guyana.

Random acts of kindness and pay it forward are interlinked. They encourage people to be nice to each other and for the receiver to do something nice in turn. It could be a smile, a hug, an encouraging word, giving someone a bottle of water or an umbrella to a mother with a child.

“It could be anything that you feel you could afford at that point in time to make someone a little happier.

It could be anything that could break the negative pattern that a person could be experiencing… If you do something unusual and unexpected, a random act of kindness, you shift their consciousness. They can’t help but be touched by that.

If you touch a small percentage of people and they touch a small percentage of people, you are beginning the shift.” He urged people not to be discouraged if someone reacts negatively or does not react at all because no one knows an individual’s personal problems or issues.

ReThink also plans to open a Kindness Caf? at its office on Alcazar St, St Clair, where kindness would be the currency. “We feel that we can trade on the idea and ideal that people are going to be touched by compassion and in time, if frequently touched by it, a shift would happen within them. It will eventually become a part of the changes we need here.” Kind Soles is a programme already launched in Guyana. So far, ReThink has distributed approximately 7,000 expandable sandals to primary school students in Guyana. The sandals, produced by The Shoe That Grows, a non-profit organisation in the US, is durable and comfortable, and perfect for quickly-growing children. Ross said ReThink plans to expand the programme to TT and other parts of the region, donating the sandals to anyone who needs it.

Feed the Need for Happiness was a one-off project that ReThink hopes to do again, and possibly make into a permanent programme.

In 2016, ReThink collected good, cooked food from restaurants and supermarkets and distributed it to the needy.

Ross said every day supermarkets threw away rotisserie chicken, pastries, sushi, sandwiches and full meals that were good, but would spoil if left for another day. He said Rethink is willing to get food warmers, coolers, and vans to pick up the food and distribute it to those in need, and further, to make it a national programme.

He noted that France banned supermarkets from dumping or destroying unsold food and that ReThink is trying to make TT the second country to do so. “There is too much need in this country for them to take good food and dump it, especially if we are providing resources for you to remove it from your place of business.” Soon to come will be the Project Happiness programme, which will be part of ReThink’s Happiness Initiative that brought us free doubles and bake and shark on International Happiness Day.

Project Happiness is a registered NGO out of the US that runs in over 80 countries around the world that teaches children emotional resilience. The curriculum is being run in numerous schools in Guyana, was available in 12 schools in TT in 2016, and ReThink is trying to activate it in this country once again.

Ross also hopes to bring a global initiative into the region, one designed to create harmony and understanding among people with varying views. He said the world-tested programmes, endorsed and supported by a renowned learning institute, could transform societies including school and business environments and the national community.

Ross has been doing random acts of kindness on a personal level for a long time. “There’s nothing that makes you more compassionate than having been there. So when you see someone in a similar or worse situation, it does something to you.” He said he came from “humble beginnings” in Guyana and when he came to Trinidad in the 1980s he didn’t know anyone, and went through a difficult financial time.

In addition, he said as a child his mother encouraged him to be selfless and give to others. “Growing up my mom always told me, ‘If you are feeling down, find someone who feels worse. If there is a need in your life, fill someone else’s need. If there is an absence of love or money, give the love or money.’ Fill the need that you find in your life and there is a universal, irrefutable law that would bring it back to you providing you are doing it because you genuinely want to help, not so that you can get something in return.” Therefore, Ross uses his network of influence to bring the good work being done at ReThink to the notice of people who can encourage the change in communities and nationally. To those who believe a lot of money is necessary to have happiness, Ross said while money brings a certain amount of security and comfort, what is ultimately important is health, your relationship with others, and the sense that you are making a difference and serving a greater purpose in the world.

He stressed that a person can be rich but not be happy if the person does not have love, compassion, understanding, and other intangible things that give one’s life meaning.

“One of the biggest things for making people happy is gratitude.

We have so much to be grateful for on the island and in our lives but if we don’t acknowledge it, we won’t feel happy.”

Reports are that Kathleen Harper, 81, died in the one-storey building she owned along the Eastern Main Road.

Investigators are still trying to determine the cause of the fire, which is believed to have erupted at the back of Harper’s home.

Fire officials said Harper lived with two relatives on the upper floor while the ground floor was tenanted to the owners of NARS Discount Hardware.

Her relatives, including a niece, were not at home at the time of the blaze.

Sunday Newsday understands the tenants, Andy Assing, had only been occupying the space for six months.

Damages have been put at an estimated $6 million.

Fire officers responded to the report at about 10 pm. They believe the elderly woman fell through the building’s upper floor as her remains were found in a crouched position in the hardware store beneath. Officers said the blaze also consumed an adjacent business, Browne’s Furniture Store, a household name in the district.

Manager Sandra Browne, who lives a short distance away at Ninth Street, told Sunday Newsday by the time she got there the furniture store was not yet on fire.

“I went up there and my building was not on fire yet. I was told that the building next door was on fire but the wind was blowing so heavy that it looked as though it would catch the roof of my building and within minutes, even though the fire tenders were there, my building caught afire,” she said.

Browne said the water supply also was inadequate.

“So, because the water supply was inadequate, they were not able to contain the fire and eventually other tenders came and about three water trucks came. But by the time those water trucks were on the scene, my building on the top floor, was destroyed.

“It’s a warehouse, it contains mattresses, wooden furniture, so, the moment the fire spread across there, within minutes that was a towering inferno and a result of that there was that nothing was saved.” Browne praised the work of the fire officers, whom she said, worked fearlessly to prevent other buildings from being destroyed.

“Some of the tenders went to the back and wet them so in this way just two buildings were lost in the back,” she said.

Browne said she was struggling to come to terms with the disaster.

“I don’t even know what to think,” she said. “My grandmother lived on that spot and 60 years ago there was a fire on that spot.

“I stood in my grandmother’s shoes last night (Friday) because I was told it was before I was born.

She stood there and watched it burn to the ground.

“And I watched the property that replaced that house burn to the ground in much the same way. It was a surreal type of situation just standing in my grandmother’s shoes.” Browne said the business had ten employees.

Over time, disillusioned and embittered by the unresponsiveness of politicians, some question the purpose of elections and the suitability of those elected to serve their needs.

Are we entirely helpless in the face of the apparent insensitivity? Should we look to alternative solutions for addressing deficiencies? In the current circumstances, shouldn’t we commit to the adoption of a widely accepted multi-annual national development plan, crafted by consensus with civil society organisations and all political parties as a pathway to the future? Jamaica did it.

Such an inclusively defined long-term vision, owned by all, could serve as a road map for a fixed period for every government elected in the interim.

Imagine the savings in time and resources, usually wasted by successive governments in uncritically discarding plans of previous regimes.

This changed arrangement would be an expression of participatory governance principles.

Civil society would play a key role in conceptualising, implementing and monitoring such a programme. Moreover, each government would be forced to build on the work of its predecessor, lending the stability so sorely lacking in the development trajectory of the country.

In today’s complex and complicated world, our leaders and representatives must be equipped for the task, fit for purpose. They should be made to qualify for their jobs. All key public institutions list qualifications, including education. Yet, we find that the level of education required of the President, Prime Minister, minister, parliamentary secretary, or representative is undefined.

Shouldn’t individuals attaining the highest positions of State/ government be required to acquire a minimum level of education? Surely, given the importance of their intended responsibilities/ functions, there ought to be some assurance that the individuals called to serve can perform effectively. Qualification may not be only about education, but can also be a proven record in the public or private sector or community service.

It is true that leadership of civil society organisations/trade unions/academia/business is no guarantee of outstanding, or even acceptable, performance in public office but at least it would indicate that all such office holders had exhibited some of the inherent qualities required for the job.

Finally, could we envisage elected leaders signing contracts effectively binding them to a probationary period for a proportion of their constitutional mandate to achieve some aspect of the national development programme? After all, they are State employees.

Performance contracts, with key deliverables based on the national development programme mentioned above, may possibly deter elected leaders from engaging in the time-consuming politics they practise to be re-elected.

These contracts may also dissuade them from making promises they know they cannot keep and that do not align with the national plan. The intent is to measure performance results against set objectives, increasing the likelihood that goals will be met.

Small countries cannot afford to waste time and resources.

WINSTON R RUDDER Petit Valley

We had the full complement of textbook and exams. The Moral Science text was essentially comprised of short stories with a moral lesson.

After the reading was done, we were required to answer the questions at the end of the chapter and at the end of term we were tested on our recall of the stories and moral lessons. One of the most memorable ones for me was on the art of lying, a story through which we were taught the value of lies. Basically, there are circumstances when telling the truth does more harm than good and therefore a lie is more useful.

Coincidentally, this week, I was reminded of the lesson while looking at an Indian film based on the life of the 13th century queen Rudhramadevi – (weak portrayals though the story itself is worth telling. It gets one out of five stars) – who masqueraded as a boy for most of her life. Had her father declared her a girl to the citizens, the throne would have been taken by the next male, a cousin under whom citizens would have faced physical and financial oppression.

In addition, the kingdom also would have been opened to attacks from factions waiting on the opportunity to claim the throne. A male heir who was trained in combat and had as his priority, the welfare of his people, served a greater good. The gender of the ‘prince’ thus remained hidden until it was eventually uncovered.

We all lie. That’s a given. Why and for what purpose the lie is told is what renders it its positive or negative character.

This reminder set the stage for the news this week, when we were informed of the hunting of flamingoes and scarlet ibises. Some friends steupsed loudly at the television when the Minister of Agriculture came on and declared that flamingoes weren’t protected under our laws. (News-watching is a community affair on my end. We marvel at the idiotic statements we have grown accustomed to hearing from people in higher office. We have stopped asking the question, how they so stupid? That’s now a given. We girls have realized that higher office demands a higher level of ignorance. Tempers flare in the TV room but the power of the group helps to calm the storm, for there’s always that body, the goodytwo- shoes who tries to explain the trajectory of ignorance and why it occurs).

If ever there was a tactless statement – No laws to protect the flamingoes.

Well, words fired, can’t return. What is the Minister going to say to retract that information? (Well he did declare today as I write this, that he will not tolerate the hunting of the scarlet ibis and it was good to see the flamingoes returning to the island).

So, anyway, for all you people who were probably hunting the flamingoes when nobody was looking, it’s okay. You can do it freely now. Unless of course flamingoes are considered wild meat, in which case, the government intends to deal with this issue. For now however, nobody is going to fine you.

I, Minister of Agriculture, in the fulfilment of my duties towards the people, have provided you with the truth.

See, this is a Minister that doesn’t really rock the boat so, since we all disappoint sometimes, one wishes to cut him some slack this time.

This body however, can’t really get over the fact that politicians lie as fast as the wind blows across the nation’s potholes and patchwork roads, and for the important things that we should know, but they decide to tell the truth about things that they should intelligently keep from the larger public.

Some of us have no issue with lies really, as long as you are doing something for the greater good.

This is therefore not a matter of morality as such. It’s about using some grey matter to curb a problem that we have of Trinidadians assuming that they can kill and sell everything that looks edible without any regard for the long-term effects on the environment.

Many living beings were hunted at will before they became endangered species. But we still wait for the process of endangering to begin.

So be it. Now that we have arrived at this point here, it’s time to review and revise laws and fines that were once put into place regarding hunting.

We definitely can’t look to the government to do that. Concerned citizens in any case usually begin the process of change and push governments into action.

And we know that our administration still has the task of the conservation of the population to address. So, what’s a few flamingoes!