London Bridge did not fall down on Saturday night. In the eight minutes that terror reared its ugly head, death, hatred and fear did not triumph.

This is the most important message from the latest attempt by jihadists to strike a crippling blow at an important European landmark.

In the end, the story is not so much about three terrorists and their bloodthirsty mission, but about the many heroes who responded swiftly to put down the attack. Most significantly, it was not just about the speed and capability of the first responders but the selfless acts of scores of unsung heroes, resulting in many lives saved and a major disaster averted.

A few hours later, in the other UK location that had been the target of a recent deadly terrorist attack, a crowd of approximately 50,000 struck another blow against the ideology of hate by turning out in support of Ariana Grande’s Manchester benefit concert.

These responses, defiant proclamations of love and freedom to those bent on infiltration and destruction, are as important as all the other anti-terror activities.

In the UK, as had been the case in France, Germany and other countries struck by terror attacks, people have demonstrated their resilience by getting back up and resuming their normal lives.

There is no denying the new reality across the globe of increased security and intelligence gathering and sharing. It is essential, however, that freedom be preserved by resisting violence and terror on all fronts.

There is an important lesson in all this for T&T. This nation is by no means far removed or immune from terror. The fatally flawed ideology of the so-called Islamic State has unfortunately lured some nationals of this country to the cause of the Caliphate.

So while the latest London terror occurred thousands of miles away and preliminary reports suggest no T&T nationals were directly affected, the repercussions from Saturday night in central London have been felt powerfully here. It brings to the forefront concerns about how prepared T&T is for such an attack.

This country has experienced in its recent history the 1970 revolution and the attempted coup of July 1990. Both were quickly brought under control by the country’s armed forces.

This time around, however, the challenges are greater. There is a new breed of terrorist at large, unleashed on the world by networks with more sophisticated ways of recruiting, indoctrinating and an increased capacity for striking with deadly force and without warning. In addition, this country’s criminal underworld provides an available base that can be easily infiltrated by terror operatives.

T&T’s national security infrastructure has not yet been tested or challenged to that extent, so its ability to respond is not yet known.

Never to be underestimated is the strategic geographic importance of these two islands, located just off Venezuela, as stepping stones to major cities in the Americas.

While the terror focus appears to be on Europe, this part of the world could be the next target of the deadly jihadist campaign. Terror networks spawned in far off Middle East locations have long had within their sights the United States of America, and that country’s allies in Latin America and the Caribbean are not likely to be ignored.

However, defeating terror is not only about military might and the reliability of the country’s intelligence gathering and sharing.

As the people of London demonstrated on Saturday night- and as did the people of Manchester last month - it isn’t only up to the armed forces of a country to fight terror. Ordinary citizens also have a role to play by being more alert, more conscious of maintaining personal security in physical spaces as well as in cyberspace. Being aware that the threat could easily come from within is also important.

The authorities for their part must ensure surveillance is maintained on suspicious groups and individuals, increased patrols by air, land and sea and manpower and technology is deployed to strengthen T&T’s borders.

Terrorism has changed the world in ways that require new and enlightened responses to the threat we all face. This country needs to be prepared.

Terrorism has changed the world in ways that require new and enlightened responses

I’m probably not an innocent observer of the ongoing high drama in the judiciary cascading from the most recent appointments to the high court bench. But let me pretend to be one—and not just a lazy columnist who should be a more diligent investigator who digs up the political and personal backstories to the brouhaha for my reader.

Any ignorant observer of the spectacle, which has consumed the bar and bench in a justice system widely experienced as dysfunctional, has got to also be asking the question that has been persistently haunting me over the past month:

How would the resignation or removal of the current Chief Justice and of the entire Judicial and Legal Services Commission (JLSC) at once (including the Public Service Commission member serving ex officio) improve access to justice for anyone?

It is a version of an earlier question I had been asking: Whatever sins had been committed by her or by others in her elevation to the high court, how on earth would embarrassing and removing Marcia Ayers-Caesar from the bench do anyone justice?

In addition to these two simple questions, I have two simple, puzzling observations. On April 26, accused prisoners in cases abandoned by the former Chief Magistrate rioted in the court building—and media reporting left one wondering how and by whom this was incited. When it was proposed that Mi’Lady stoop back down as Her Worship to discharge her pending matters, there was hue and cry and pedantic argument that this was illegal and impossible. Yet, when it was decreed that all of these matters would start “de novo,” in the Latin legalese, there was as loud an uproar that this was unjust and would be overturned in law.

The entire issue of the JLSC appointments is throbbing with the appearance of not being what it seems to be, of something else altogether begging to be discovered beneath its surface. And lingering under there also is the disciplinary matter involving the Police Commissioner’s wife (elevated simultaneous with Ms Ayers-Caesar from the magistracy) over a bail determination in which she intervened, a matter overseen by a Presidential nominee on the bench “perilously close” to his own elevation, as Senior Counsel Martin Daly and Eminent Citizen Reginald Dumas have framed it with considerable intrigue. If any current affair begs for investigative reporting, it is this one; and it was made all the more opaque by the media’s removal from Thursday’s Law Association votes of no confidence in the CJ and JLSC.

There have been accusations of disingenuousness and misrepresentation aimed at both the Chief Justice and former Chief Magistrate. But citizens like me would like more honesty from all sides.

It’s not hard to imagine lawyerly greed motivating objections to anything. “First we kill all the lawyers”—we learn words for this distrust even in English class. Some of the loudest advocates of justice and transparency in this affair seem no more honest than Dick the Butcher, the original speaker of Shakespeare’s words.

Schoolchildren would also be easily confused as to why members of the bar have focused their sights on the symbolic gesture of declaring a lack of confidence and undermining the effectiveness of key leaders of the justice system. I welcome accountability in the judiciary, and believe there’s not enough of it. But the voices calling for heads to roll don’t sound like reformers, and several aren’t even trying to.

The public needs to keep asking what exactly is going on here. What interests are at stake among those calling for the CJ and JLSC to leave? And to keep the advocates as accountable as they’d like to hold those in power in the judiciary. These “champions” have no credibility in my eyes unless they show sincere regard for the sufferers of the system. Whoever is at fault for the current mess, I don’t see any evidence of how the proposed remedies involve a plan to leave things in less chaos than there is now.

Notwithstanding all the hubris he is famous for, the expensive, inconvenient splendour of the law term opening, despite all the innuendo, the CJ is a man who is young, smart and visionary. I admire his judgments. And at the very least rhetorically—though there is evidence of more than that—the current Chief Justice has championed commonsense court reforms. What is also clear is that these have been resisted by the bar with the same stubbornness as the West Port-of-Spain traffic plan. So have Parliamentary efforts at justice system reform. Worse, some of those ended up with scandals like Section 34.

I don’t think, either, that this is about democratic immaturity, our rush to cannibalise those we’ve put on pedestals, instead of seeking other forms of atonement when they err—a motivation fraught with old ideas about who really ought to be on them.

There’s something else. But one conclusion that’s easy to draw is that little of this seems to be about justice.

I welcome accountability in the judiciary, and believe there’s not enough of it. But the voices calling for heads to roll don’t sound like reformers, and several aren’t even trying to.

I had heard rumours of a secluded beach tucked under the hills of Paramin that boasted a 200-year-old statue of an unknown Saint. The intrigue was too much to bear and I was immediately overwhelmed with a desire for adventure. Saut d’Eau, was only my second hike along the North Coast, with the first being Paria Bay, and it was one I will never forget.

The forest, like those I had visited and those I am yet to visit, took on a life of its own. The further we descended into its depths, the more mystical and spellbinding it became. The woodland’s canopy was efficiently spaced which maximised sunlight-hoarding and resulted in the uninterrupted green arbor above our heads. We continued along the trail, for what seemed like an eternity, stopping ever so often to recapture our breath from the pilfering terrain.

On the final descent I became so agog with anticipation that I decided to take a shortcut through the forest instead of following the trail. This was a mistake. Predictively and ignominiously, I lost my footing and slid uncontrollably down the side of the incline. I began to pick up speed, trying desperately to grab ahold of something, anything, that would have arrested my descent.

I frantically grasped at the unforgiving earth but came up with nothing but loose stones and sun-dried leaves. Kicking and flailing, I was running out of time as I quickly approached the precipitous edge of Mount Vigie. Fortuitously, I was able to grasp the root or thin stem of a tree, mere inches away from death’s door.

I was beaten and bruised from the fall and to make matters worse, I now felt a tingling sensation in my palm. Giving in to my curious condition, and against my better judgment, I looked down and saw a crimson red fluid flowing in rivulets down the side of my right hand. I winced for a moment but didn’t feel any pain, at least not yet. With my resolve renewed and the adrenaline coursing through my body, returning to homeostatic levels, the pangs of all the injuries I had just endured vied for my attention; and, yet none stung more so viciously than the steely blows to my ego.

After a few more minutes of steady descent, we could finally see the beach. It was not especially long; though, something along the berm caught my attention. There, hidden by the mountains but in plain sight of the beach, laid a statue of Saint Peter. I was not certain as to its age nor by whom it was commissioned but one thing was for sure, it was the only one of its kind on the island; and if not for that alone, it was special.

Peter was erect, facing the ocean, dressed in his finest robes. In his left hand, closest to his heart, he held open a bible and in his right he made, what appeared to be, a benevolent gesture. He was ghostly white and though he was semi smooth to the touch, I couldn’t quite figure out the material that gave him his particular texture. He was believed to protect the fishermen as they made their daily journey into the unknowns of the Caribbean Sea, which didn’t come as much as of a surprise because in the days following the Cedula, Saut d’Eau was used as a fishing dockyard.

On the eastern end of the beach, separated by a few large slabs of intimidating rock, we stumbled upon a waterfall emptying into the bay. It was the first time I had ever seen such a sight and as legend has it, this 30-foot cascade was the reason the early French inhabitants named this isolated stretch of sand Saut d’Eau.

I had seen the beach and its ocean debouching waterfall, I experienced its magic, drank coconuts from its shores and danced with Saint Peter. It was time to go and I couldn’t have asked for a better day! I was still in awe from the beach experience; however, the real elephant in the room was the challenge that lay ahead. Thinking of the ascent zapped me of my short-lived joy and made my stomach turn. The return leg would be as long as it was unforgiving and maintained a constant incline of about 60 degrees. However, putting the horrors of the mountain climb aside the trek to Saut d’Eau was one of the most exhilarating hikes I’ve ever had the pleasure of experiencing.

• Saut d’Eau is a secluded beach situated beneath the hills of Paramin;

• It means “waterfall ” or more literally “jumping water;”

• The aller-retour via Mt Vigie is extremely grueling and the lack of safety rails or signage may be of concern to some;

• Though the beach is also known as Saint Cion Bay, it boasts a statue of Saint Peter, the patron Saint of Fishermen;

• Stay hydrated;

• Do not attempt alone.

Things to consider: Seitu Joseph

SEEPERDAD JASMIN MRS. of# 48 Ackbar Trace, Siparia Old Road, Avocat Departed this life on Sunday 4th June, 2017. Wife of: Seepersad Ramdass(Paul) Mother of: Tara, Soomatie, Boyie, Phoolooand Sassie Mother in Law of: Ramesh (Dec), Prakash,Sudesh and Surace GrandMother of: Twelve (12) Great Grand Mother of: Three (3)Sister of: Hitler, Kalap, Mootilal, Naresh, Charlie and the Late Baby, Ramkissoon, Balkaran, Basdaye, BradfordAnd Krishna Relative of: The Ramjit's and The Kunjal's.Friend of: Many

Funeral Service for the Late Jasmin Seep-ersad will take place at9:30am on Wednesday 7th June, 2017 at the House ofMourning #48 Ackbar Trace,Siparia Old Road, Avocat andthence to the Shore of Peacefor Cremation According toHindu Rites. Enquires can bemade at Boodoos Funeral Home, 1273-5 S.S Erin Road,Penal Tel.: 647-7527

Overall market activity resulted from trading in 13 securities of which one advanced, five declined and seventraded firm.

Trading activity on the first tier market registered a volume of 301,833 shares crossing the floor of the Exchange valued at $2,774,408.39. Sagicor Financial Corporation was the volume leader with 212,206 shares changing hands for a value of $1,888,727.40, followed by Scotia Investments Jamaica Ltd with a volume of 41,935 shares being traded for $104,837.50. GraceKennedy contributed 29,434 shares with a value of $83,886.90, while Scotiabank added 9,740 shares valued at $564,920.

Clico Investment Fund enjoyed the day’s sole price increase, climbing $0.01 to end the day at $22.51. Conversely, Sagicor Financial Corporation registered the day’s largest decline, falling $0.09 to close at $8.90.

On the mutual fund market 268 shares changed hands for a value of $5,999.29.

Clico Investment Fund was the most active security, with a volume of 238 shares valued at $5,357.29. Clico Investment Fund advanced by $0.01 to end at $22.51. Calypso Macro Index Fund declined by $0.08 to end at $21.40.

The second tier market did not witness any activity.

PERSAD, HEEREELAL WINSTON retired Immigration Officer, past President of the Pointe -a- Pierre Rotary Cluband Past Assistant Governor-Rotary Club formally of Cocoyea, San Fernando peacefully passed away on Friday2nd June, 2017 at the age of 63. He will be lovingly remembered as the: Husband of: Patricia (Pasty) Gittens –Persad. Son of: Ramdai, Arnold Jugroo Persad(dec) and Betty Narinesingh. Brother of: Ramesh, Franklin (dec), Kenny, Sumin, Danny, Rudy,Judy, Robin and Chris. Brother in law of: Nora, Indra, Dinesh, Annette and David. Relative of: the Persad, Heerasingh, Bissoon, Narinesingh,Rajaram and Mongru Families. Uncle and Cousin of: Many. Friend of: Many.

The funeral service for the late Winston Heeralal Persad will take place at 11.00am. on Wednesday 7th June, 2017 at St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church, Torrance Street, Mon Repos follow by cremation a tBelgroves Crematorium #107-109 Coffee Street, San Fernando at 2.00pm In Lieu offlowers a collection will betaken up for Court Shamrock. Enquires can be made at Belgroves Funeral Home & Crematorium at 223-2178. To ex-tend condolences to the fami-ly of Winston Heeralal Persadlogon to www.belgroves.comDeath

According to the story, King Canute placed himself on a beach to show his courtiers that his secular powers were irrelevant when compared to God’s divine powers. He did so by, without success, ordering the incoming tide to stop and not wet his feet and throne.

Perhaps this is what Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley was trying to demonstrate on Sunday when he went on a ferry crossing to Tobago aboard the much maligned “fast” service provided by the country’s two passenger ferries.

If that was the plan, he succeeded in showing that perhaps his government was powerless not against divine intervention but when it comes to make public services work properly even when the most important member of parliament is on board. After all, his booked trip was late to depart, due to earlier technical problems, and faced another troubled and delayed crossing due to further difficulties with the ferry’s engines.

Beyond that, it is difficult to work out why the Prime Minister went on the ferry. According to reports, he seemed not so keen to speak to the increasingly frustrated truckers who currently have to face a chaotic and unreliable service whilst trying to keep Tobago delivered with supplies desperately needed. He also quickly left the port in Scarborough in an official car, after lowering the window to briefly wave to waiting reporters.

What we are all hoping for is that, finally, something more meaningful will be done about the appalling mismanagement of the ferry services for both cargo and passengers. Perhaps after seeing for himself how bad things are, the Prime Minister will show leadership and deal with this with the seriousness required now, as it became clear that the status quo was unsustainable. Asking for people to continue to be patient, quite frankly, is not good enough.

We also hope that he will not just revert to what is becoming a trademark of his administration: the buck-passing for anything that does not work by blaming the previous government (and the previous government has a lot to answer for) instead of actually dealing with the problem and taking responsibility for it.

This is even more so in the case of the sea bridge. The Prime Minister ought to remember that it was under his government’s watch that contracts were allowed to expire without proper replacement planning in place. It was also under his watch that a number of contradictory explanations and half-baked solutions were promised before the departure of the Superfast Galicia as the main cargo ferry serving the islands. And surely his Cabinet must have been aware of the deteriorating state of the T&T Spirit and T&T Express, if not from its own agencies but through the regular reporting of problems with the ferries by the media.

Perhaps now he has seen what everyone has been telling the government all along, something will finally be done—and quickly—about this vital and symbolic service. Effective transport links between Trinidad and Tobago are not just an essential to make our economy work but also a symbolically important message of how the two islands live together as one nation. Fail here, and the symbolism is about dysfunctional and incompetent public services separating, not uniting, the two islands.

Now it is time for Dr Rowley to personally take responsibility and make sure a lasting and efficient solution to the transport woes is found and found very quickly. We don’t envy him. After all, had King Canute been dependent on T&T’s public services for his beach act, there’d have been a strong chance the throne would have arrived too late—if at all—for the incoming tide. And with one or two legs probably missing as well.

During the 1980s oil boom, I got a call from the mother of a child with cerebral palsy whom I had not seen for years. She said she had good news, she had discovered a new treatment for CP, her child had improved dramatically and she wanted to share the treatment with me. I asked her to bring in the child and we would talk. A couple of days later she turned up without the child but with some beautifully decorated boxes titled Food Supplements which contained capsules of high potency vitamins and minerals and other exotic sounding stuff.

OK, I said, assuming she wanted me to try them out on my patients, I did not think they would do any harm, and she handed over four boxes or four months supply. Thanks, I said and got up to shake her hand and she said you owe me two thousand four hundred dollars! What? Yes, you can sell it to them for a thousand dollars a box. Nope. Here they are, and she flounced out of the office, highly indignant that I had wasted her time. I never got to see the child.

That event epitomised for me the start of the alternative medicine craze in T&T, the age of the charlatan, medical or otherwise, the era especially of “nutritionals.” Suddenly a country that was weak in institutions and regulations but strong in a tradition of “bush medicine,” hysteria and supernatural magic, was flush with money.

“Bush doctors” rapidly upgraded their status, opened western-looking offices, began to advertise freely, co-opted technical apparatus like computers that diagnosed your ailment or videos that purported to show worms and fungi normally found in your intestine or on your skin, in your blood. It all makes for hilariously funny radio and TV shows.

The bulk of the medical profession, intent on diagnosing the latest flu, making up sick leave certificates, giving monthly Vitamin B12 injections, prescribing the latest sleeping pill or anti-depressant or operating on healthy backs with minor anatomical variants, did nothing and today happily co-exists side by side with the charlatans.

Men and women of integrity talked about what they could do, did nothing and the public, ever ready to accept the latest “cure” quietly subsided into their graves. Competent physicians and surgeons fled T&T further diluting the quality but a people get the government they deserve, nor less the doctors.

Despite this depressing state of affairs, there is a great deal of overlapping between bush medicine and modern pharmaceuticals because there are many drugs used today which are derived from “bush.” It would be so good to know that UWI is continuing the work of Dr Compton Seaforth in investigating the pharmaceutical properties of some of our “bush.” It’s not enough to have a person state that such and such is good for you and that’s a thousand dollars please. I have seen too many children whose livers have been destroyed by home-made concoctions to ever accept that. We need to study these plants and barks.

The cinchona tree is native to South America. In the 17th century, a Jesuit apothecary working in Peru noted the beneficial effect of cinchona bark on treating fever in the local population. The bark contains quinine, an antimalarial agent, which was eventually synthesised in 1944. Quinine has benefited more people than any other drug used thus far to fight infectious diseases. It is no longer a recommended first-line treatment but is still a popular ingredient in such soft drinks as tonic water.

Until the end of the 18th century, no effective treatments for heart failure were available. In 1775, a patient consulted the Scottish physician William Withering complaining of symptoms of severe congestive heart failure or “dropsy.” After hearing the physician’s dire prognosis, the discouraged patient sought help from a local gypsy, who administered a secret plant mixture. Rather than dying, the patient soon regained his health. Withering eventually discovered that the active ingredient in this herbal mixture, digitalis, came from the leaves of the foxglove plant. Digitalis is still used today but has important side effects. The halos so prominent in Van Gogh’s later paintings may be related to digitalis poisoning.

The bark from the willow tree has been successfully used for more than 3,000 years for treating painful, inflammatory conditions. The bark contains salicylic acid or aspirin. Health practitioners discovered the benefits of willow bark thousands of years before the active ingredient was synthesised. Aspirin, with its long history, is now the world’s most commonly used medication.

In the 1960s, the US National Cancer Institute realised that in addition to surgery and radiation therapy, physicians needed a new approach to improve the outcomes of cancer patients. They began to screen thousands of biologic samples derived from plants and animals and soon discovered that an extract from the Pacific yew tree inhibited cancer cell growth. They named the agent “paclitaxel,” and, subsequently, this compound was found to retard the growth of many different types of cancer cells.

Periwinkle or “old-maid” is commonly found in local gardens. One member of this family, Vinca, contains several toxic chemicals, and can be poisonous to dogs. In 1963, one of the chemicals extracted from the plant, vincristine, was found to have anticancer properties and was approved by the FDA as an effective agent for treating several different types of cancer, especially childhood leukemia. In fact in the 70s vincristine was responsible for the first permanent cures seen in childhood leukemia.

Common sense surely should promote an open mind when discussing “bush” but common sense also dictates a scientific approach to outlandish claims.

As I look at the current economic situation, I am amazed that the Minister of Finance and his advisers appear to be only concerned with improving revenue and do not seem to be looking as much at ways to reduce expenditure.

One basic principle is to live within one’s means. For example, if I have $1000, I cannot go in the grocery and get $1200 in food. I will have to get the equivalent of $1000. The common man pays PAYE, VAT. Every economist in this country has stated over the last 40 years that our food import bill is exorbitant. Yet, governments have not done anything about it and we continue to haemorrhage foreign exchange to satisfy those with exquisite tastes.

That aside, over the last 44 years I have heard all the different governments preach about diversification of the economy. Yet still the dependence on revenue from oil and gas continues unabated without any serious efforts at achieving same. Please don’t tell me downstream industries like methanol and ammonia is diversification. Without oil and gas these fall flat, as is evident currently.

I would like to use an example to illustrate what real diversification is about and how simple changes can significantly improve revenue while expenditure can be reduced in the short term.

After Grenada was levelled by Hurricane Ivan, the government there took a decision to use the government assisted employment sector (equivalent to Cepep, URP) to rehabilitate the agriculture industry which was decimated. All counties were to identify the estates and use the workers to rehabilitate them. This has been going on there since.

The production of nutmegs, cocoa and banana are at the highest level ever in that country. Their exports, as far as I am aware, contribute significantly to the economy. Meanwhile in Trinidad, Cepep workers continue to paint white rings around potholes and culverts rather than contributing to improving food production and reducing the food import bill.

Another sector which continues to be neglected because of the attitudes of our people, is tourism. Trinidadians believe that we were not born to provide “service.” We have oil and gas so we rich. All one has to do is visit any hotel or any service industry in this country and anyone, even a child, can see and have to endure this attitude towards providing an efficient courteous service.

I will like to ask the government and present opposition (previous government) why it is most, if not all, of the other Caribbean countries are showing increases in tourism of between two and five per cent annually, while our tourism is decreasing by the same two to three per cent? Isn’t it clear?

Until, the governments, and I mean PNM, UNC, and all other elected politicians get serious we will continue to be the laughing stock of the Caribbean which I recent experienced when a relative in another island told me “but all yuh doh have oil again to fry Bajan flying fish.”

Come on Trinidadians, wake up and smell the coffee, and elected politicians, get real and do your work. The suggestions here can be easily implemented without any exorbitant output of money, unless of course you guys and girls have ulterior motives.

Based on the news over the last two weeks, it appears that all the ministers are living it up on tax payers’ money. I guess the current government is trying to outdo the previous one while the normal man keeps pulling out his hair at the level of corruption existing.

Yet still when we are rated poorly on any corruption index, there is big hullabaloo in the press with every government official having some excuse to claim unfair rating. Uhum yes! The people believe you.

Come on, Trinis, let’s put an end to this stupidity. Let’s all tell them like it is: Do your job or we will have to find someone who can.

Ivan K Grimes

There is a saying that people who live in glass houses should not throw stones.

It is laughable that former Minister of Education Dr Tim Gopeesingh is now complaining about alleged corruption at the Education Facilities Company Limited (EFCL).

In a letter to the Editor, Dr Gopeesingh stated that corruption at EFCL was a “case of jobs for PNM party hacks, who, in turn, award contracts to the ‘boys’.” He also mentioned “the illegal activities at this corruptly-administered state enterprise.”

I wonder if Dr Gopeesingh would be willing to tell us what transpired at the EFCL when he was Minister of Education.

There were many allegations of corruption that went unanswered.

Could Dr Gopeesingh tell us about the secret EFCL millhouse in Maraval where contracts worth hundreds of millions of dollars were, allegedly, backdated shortly after the People’s Partnership lost the last general election?

Could he tell us if these backdated contracts were for work not done and paid for?

Could Dr Gopeesingh tell us which UNC financiers, if any, were the major beneficiaries of this scheme?

Please note that this is not to detract from the current scandal under the governing PNM.

It does not matter which party wins the national election. When they get into governance, the EFCL seems to be the favoured vehicle for alleged corruption.

Linus F Didier,

Mt Hope

The world is changing and T&T also has to make sacrifices. The poor and jobless do not benefit from subsidised gasoline and ferry rides to Tobago, as they cannot even feed themselves.

Instead, use that money in another way to start diversifying the economy and create jobs for all. Give tax breaks, reduced electricity and give incentives to the following:

• manufacturers—who will produce locally and export to bring in foreign currency;

• agriculture—grow all types of food with an aim of feeding our nation, for export, and to reduce the food import bill;

• recycling—of glass, metal, plastic, paper, wood, waste, etc, to save the environment;

• manufacturing plants—to make merchandise from those recycled materials above.

• tourism—encourage all forms of tourism: swimming in rivers, fishing, hiking, bird watching, sport and medical training, leisure and water sports; and

• hotels—build wooden cabanas/hotels/restaurants in our mountains, nearer to beaches and rivers.

We have to stop this dependency on handouts. Take pride in obtaining an education, getting a job, saving to own a home and pay expenses.

Creating jobs for everyone is the answer, which will happen if we go in the direction outlined above. Now is the time to use the money to diversify the economy away from gas, oil and subsidies.

Patricia Blades,

Bayside Towers,

Cocorite

Over the past two weeks as the controversy surrounding the Chief Justice became more intense, several people—Martin Daly, Gerald Ramdeen, Israel Khan, (to name a few)—called for the Chief Justice to resign. Several organisations too, mainly the Express (June 3) and the Law Association feel the same way. The editor of the Trinidad Guardian (June 4) is of the opinion, that a meeting of court judges should get together and decide.

Having given the feature address to the Judiciary at its formal opening last year on the theme of The Law and Culture, and having taught many of today’s lawyers, judges and magistrates at secondary school, what is of great concern to me is, who gives organisations and individuals the right to decide the fate of the head of our Judicial system? The public would recall that Calypsonian King Austin, via the pen of Winsford DeVignes, asked, a few years ago, “Who is to guard the guards?”

All legal theorists know that when Montesquieu theorised on the separation of powers (executive, legislative and judiciary) that we in Trinbago have usurped in our Constitution, he was thinking deeply of the idea of authority and who must be the final decider of conflicts, if or when they arise. Similarly, when Max Weber theorised on his “Authority Systems” (traditional, legal and charismatic), he was deeply concerned with who in the society must have ultimate control.

Accordingly, social scientists, after years of study and discussion, perceive authority, whether moral or legal, to be the power to judge, to settle disputes, to have the right to control, to determine facts and to make laws for the welfare of mankind. Authority in the eyes of social scientists then, is a right given to people and institutions who must act in an impersonal manner by some agreement or rules established by the culture of a people.

Authority is not mere holding of power gained from violence; rather it is that element of legitimacy given by the people that makes it vital and necessary.

In terms of the people, there is no special, coherent body or law association who can state equivocally that they represent the people. Thousands of years ago Plato and his fellow Greeks showed and proved that some of the most stupid of persons can lay claim to be the people.

In terms of legal authority, Ivor Archie, as Chief Justice, is no ordinary mammal. Four hundred out of four thousand lawyers, democracy-wise, cannot judge him. Judges of our court system have no power over him, according to our Constitution. Our history in the Caribbean clearly shows that although we have had an avalanche of colonial kings, queens, elites, plantation owners and even an Imam striving for control, our people as a mass of level-headed, mature adults, regardless of race, religion, colour and beliefs, have won the right to decide in whose hands ultimate authority lies.

Our culture of free and fair elections stands foremost in that decision. Though some politicians may display charismatic authority and win elections, in the long run, it is the people who ultimately decide to make such charisma legal or not.

The Government of the day, whether judicial, executive or legislative, simply expresses society’s understanding of justice and our moral principles, while protecting the people from threats. Hence, President Carmona knows that no power was given to him to intervene and Dr Rowley was right to state metaphorically that Montesquieu would have been most upset if he did.

Organisations such as the Law Association have the right to throw their hats into the ring; so too do TUCO and PanTrinbago, but these lawyers of today write and behave as though the culture has given them the authority to imprison and judge Ivor Archie.

Truly, they can ask Archie to beg pardon; truly Archie can ask them to ask Marcia Ayers to beg pardon. In this regard and conflict, Israel Khan has no more power than Sugar Aloes and the Law Association is not bigger or more impressive than the PSA.

Lawyers must understand that they are not the most important institution in the society. They are not more powerful than the family or even the trade union. They must know that when they weaken the JLSC, they weaken the courts, and when they weaken the courts, they weaken themselves.

Surely at law school they must have read Ronald Dworkin’s views on laws including the importance of integrity and the upholding of community values. For what is law but an expression of the community’s beliefs. Law does not exist in isolation and judges have been given the authority by the community to determine rules and laws as expressed by the community’s culture, but judges must hold and show, above all, integrity and not personal power, fame, finance or political divide.

The Law Association, Martin Daly, Israel Khan, Gerald Ramdeen, Anand Ramlogan, Kamla Bissessar and the editor of the Express newspaper must know that no one has given them ultimate power or power over the JLSC. While they have the freedom and right to speak, it is only the people of Trinidad and Tobago, standing together as a legislative group, that has that power, and the voice of the people is greater than the people in power.

​HOLLIS U LIVERPOOL

The State has appealed a last minute injunction granted to Opposition attorneys stopping the proposed appointment of two new High Court judges originally carded for this morning.
Within hours of High Court Judge Frank Seepersad delivering his decision around 2 am this morning after a marathon hearing, attorneys representing the Office of the Attorney General filed their appeal on the issue.

The T&T Guardian understands that they sought an emergency hearing and were assigned one at 10 this morning. The appeal is expected to run simultaneously with another over an injunction granted two weeks ago blocking the Ministry of Finance's drive to collect and process valuation returns forms needed for the collection of property tax.

The injunction instructing the Judicial and Legal Service Commission (JLSC) to advise President Anthony Carmona to defer the appointments, scheduled for 11.30 am today, was applied for by Opposition attorneys representing former agriculture minister Devant Maharaj, whose name is also listed on the property tax lawsuit.

Maharaj's lawyers claim the appointments might be affected by the eventual judgment in his ongoing case challenging the composition of the JLSC.

In his 22-page decision on the injunction, Seepersad said: "Having regard to the fact that the court does feel that there is a serious question to be tried, that damages in the circumstances cannot be viewed as an adequate remedy and, more importantly, that the balance of justice results in a circumstance where it is just, convenient and necessary for the court to intervene, as a greater risk of injustice can be occasioned to the public in general if persons are appointed to the office of Judge in a circumstance where the JLSC lacks the constitutional authorisation to enable any such appointment."

He also stated that there was no need for the appointments to be made immediately.

"At this stage, the court has no information before it to suggest that there is a dire need for more judges or more importantly, that the administration of justice is severely compromised and that this current state of affairs is such that without the two proposed appointments severe prejudice would be occasioned to members of the public. In the absence of any such evidence, the court feels compelled to protect the status quo pending the hearing and determination of the substantive claim," Seepersad said.

In his substantive lawsuit, Maharaj is claiming the JLSC was performing its duties without its full complement of five members. His lawyers contend that shortly after the lawsuit was
filed last month the JLSC had admitted it was operating without its full complement of members, leading to the eventual appointment of Ernest Koylass, SC, on May 17.

The other members of the JLSC are Chief Justice Ivor Archie, retired judges Roger Hamel-Smith and Humphrey Stollmeyer and head of the Public Service Commission (PSC) Maureen Manchouck.
Maharaj is also challenging Stollmeyer's position, as the Constitution states that the JLSC members are the Chief Justice, head of the PSC, a sitting or retired judge and two "persons with legal qualification...not in active practice as such". His lawyers claim that a retired judge does not fall in the last category.

T&T footballers have been going through final preparations for their key World Cup qualifying clash with the United States tomorrow amidst the challenges of being at a high-altitude at the Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Denver, Colorado.

The state-of-the art facility lies 5,430 feet above sea level and T&T coach Dennis Lawrence took the opportunity to take his troops there two weeks earlier in a move to acclimatise. Not only have they had two warm-up matches against local MLS team, the Colorado Rapids, but Lawrence, an ex national defender who has experienced the rigours of high altitude in the past, also trains his team at the nearby Prentup Field, which is the Rapids’ training ground. T&T are bottom of the six-team standing in the hexagonal stage, with three points from four matches and desperately are in need of a victory.

In a release yesterday, Lawrence advised the players not to allow the history of T&T and the USA to affect the encounter. Defender Aubrey David, who is no stranger to the high-altitude conditions as a member of MLS outfit Dallas FC, said: “I feel good at the moment. The sessions have been detailed and intense when necessary because the coach has ensured we go about things in the right manner with the boys”.

He noted, “I’ve been here before with Dallas so it’s nothing overly new to me but it was important for the other players, including the home-based ones to get here a bit earlier and settle in. The last couple days were good in that players were showing good signs in training and being able to execute what the coach wants without any issues,” the former Caledonia AIA player explained.

Meanwhile, US coach Bruce Arena told the press on Monday that the altitude issue is a big issue, “If you come in for one or two days, you can get through it because your body still hasn’t understood fully. Now all bodies understand, so we’re playing through that a little bit. Hopefully by Thursday, we are going to be a little bit more adjusted and ready to be a little bit better prepared for Mexico City.”

John Brooks, the national team defender practiced on Monday, two days after he injured his right leg in the 1-1 draw with Venezuela, in Utah. Tomorrow’s match is a reported sold out with US Soccer adding temporary seats on the north end line and in the corners of the mezzanine level to lift capacity by about 1,500 to approximately 19,500.

Kick off is 5:50pm (7:50pm TT time).

Makanah and Khitaany represent veteran Arab owner, Hamdan Al Maktoum, today and an across-the-card double is anticipated for respective trainers, Simon Crisford and Ed Dunlop.

Both achieved half-decent time-handicap marks on debut last month and will be ridden by ‘contract’ jockey, Jim Crowley, our official champion jockey.

That particular achievement highlighted the cause of Crowley and he was approached to replace Paul Hanagan last Autumn; for the Irishman it was a ‘no-brainer’ and he’s recently enjoyed a successful winter stint in Dubai where, of course, Hamdan is based in the finance department of government.

It must be a good job, he owns more than FOUR HUNDRED thoroughbreds currently in training or at stud!

Hanagan, incidentally, is now ‘back home’ (in Yorkshire) partnering winners for his old boss Richard Fahey who steered Paul to successive champion jockey titles; all’s well that ends well, eh?

On the championship front Silvestre de Souza is setting a hot pace but there are plenty capable of winning it, including Hanagan and Crowley who will again jump aboard Makanah in the thirteen-runner 2-y-o Novice Stakes over six furlongs of Wolverhampton polytrack this afternoon.

Makanah finished a creditable close third to heavily-backed, Fahey-trained, Zap on a ‘soft’ York surface three weeks ago, beaten about one length and staying on strongly. Solid form.

This Mayson colt will surely improve and is napped; even though it’s somewhat of a lottery round the tight Dunstall Park circuit Makanah looks a smacks of a classy type, definitely not one to oppose.

Crowley will then ‘hotfoot’ to Kempton where Khitaamy is one of fourteen ‘decs’ for an ‘aged’ Maiden Stakes over seven furlongs; what beats him will win and I’ll be surprised if he’s extended never mind beaten!

Finally you should exercise patience and wait for the ‘aged’ Maiden Stakes over ten furlongs of ‘good’ ground Ripon where Daniel Muscatt rides once-raced Nathalie for his guv’nor, James Fanshhawe, at 9.05!

It’s a long day for jockeys but Muscatt is delighted because he’s seizing wonderful opportunities being supplied by the much-respected Fanshawe, formerly assistant to Sir Michael Stoute!

Wolverhampton, 2.20 Makanah (nap); Kempton, 6.55 Khitaamy (e.w); Ripon, 9.05 Nathalie (e.w).

T&T’s Keshorn Walcott returns to action tomorrow resuming his rivalry with some of the world’s leading javelin throwers at the fourth meeting in the IAAF Diamond League at the Golden Gala Pietro Mennea in Rome, Italy.

Featuring in the stunning field are Olympic champion Germany’s Thomas Rohler, Olympic silver medalist and World Champion Julius Yego of Kenya and another German Johannes Vetter, who had outstanding throws at the beginning of the series in Doha.

In Doha, Rohler opened the Diamond League series in style setting a world lead and a Diamond League record unleashing the longest throw in 20 years when launching the spear 93.90 metres, the sixth best throw of all time. The throw broke Yego’s Diamond League record of 91.39 set in Birmingham in 2015. Yego, the Olympic javelin silver medallist, has had a slow start to the season, throwing 81.94 metres to finish seventh in Doha while Vetter set a personal best of 89.68m.

Rio bronze medallist, Walcott enters after making a great start in his season-opener at the Golden Javelin meet in Vantaa, Finland, last month. The 2012 London Olympic champion won gold in the men’s javelin with a best effort of 84.16m. Guardian Media spoke to the Toco-born athlete yesterday and he said: “Overall I’m feeling good and this is going to be a good competition for me. After this I have two competitions in Finland on June 13th and 17th which I am also looking forward to.”

Walcott will have to come good to surpass these tough competitors which also includes former world champions Vitezslav Vesely of Czech Republic and Finland’sTero Pitkamaki as well as German Andreas Hofmann, who has thrown 88.79m this season and is sure to be in contention. Pitkamaki also competed in Finland and he nabbed silver with an 83.51m throw.

T&T’s leading women’s sprinter Michelle-Lee Ahye will face the starter in the women’s 100m. She will challenge the likes of 2015 world 200m champion Dafne Schippers of the Netherlands and Tianna Bartoletta, Rio Olympic long jump champion. Schippers is the fastest this year, having clocked 10.95 seconds in California in April.

Olympic 100m and 200m finalist, Ahye, comes in with a bronze medal which she bagged in the dash at the third Diamond League meet, the Prefontaine Classic in Oregon, USA late in May, when she crossed in a wind-assisted 10.97. Earlier last month, the double national sprint champion opened her account in the series finishing fourth in the women’s 100m at the Shanghai meet, in China. Ahye got to the line in 11.21.

A partnership that will ensure the top football schools in T&T come up against the best football clubs in Brazil and Italy is set to be signed soon. Talks between the Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) and the Caribbean Football Trust Limited (CFTL), through its chairman and chief financial officer Chris Anderson will resume when Anderson returns to local shores sometime soon.

An official of the SSFL, who spoke to Guardian Media Sports on conditions of anonymity, revealed that the parties agreed to host a quadrangular football tournament before this year’s SSFL season begins on September 8 comprising of the Under-19 teams Brazil’s champion club as well as the Under-19 team of Italy’s winning Serie A team. They will come up against Shiva Boys’ Hindu School, winners of the SSFL Premier Division and the runner-up Naparima College in a ‘US$15,000 winner takes all’ format.

The source said SSFL officials have put forward a recommendation for the prize money to be broken down to facilitate the second and third place teams since the school teams will be at a disadvantage going up against established professional teams.

He said the parties have agreed to a four-team tournament but Anderson is desirous of having eight teams, as the sole sponsor of the event. “It is because of the short time available to us that the SSFL suggested that the tournament be scaled down to accommodate just four teams. Initially the idea was to have four teams from the SSFL, two schools from Jamaica, and the clubs from Brazil and Italy competing against each other in a tournament that will provide much needed international exposure to the T&T and Jamaican schools,” the SSFL official said.

He added, “We also wanted to have two tournaments, one in the sister-isle of Tobago and the other in Trinidad, most likely at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, but these plans may have to change and it is only when the sponsor returns we will know exactly what will happen.”

Anderson, who left T&T yesterday after confirming his group as the sponsor for the T&T Super League’s (TTSL) League Cup tournament as well as the TTSL’s Power Eight, is expected to be back to finalise all arrangements. According to the SSFL official, “The tournament this year will wet the appetite of football fans in T&T.”

Tobago tennis was plunged into sadness when it was told the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) could not fund the Junior ITF Championships scheduled for August 21-26 at Shaw Park this year due to financial constraints.

Dr Warren Steele, assistant secretary of the Tennis Association of T&T and president of the Tobago Zone of the TATT said because of this the island faces a sanction from the world body for the sport (ITF) and the Central American and Caribbean Tennis Confederation (COTECC) as the events have already been listed on their respective calendars since 2016. Steele said the pending cancellation could also hamper the country’s chances of becoming the hub of the sport in the COTECC region and beyond.

In a release yesterday Steele said the THA, their main sponsor since the tournament’s inauguration back in 2012, has advised that it is not in a financial position to provide funding this year as it only received funding to clear off debts to a number of small businesses on the island, which has come as a major shock to Tennis Tobago. “This tournament attracts players, their parents, coaches, scouts and other tennis aficionados from all over the world to Tobago’s shores. The exposure our kids get here in Tobago to an international level of competition goes hand in hand with the strategic intent of the National Association, which is to have a world ranked local player in the top 150 by 2026.”

Apart from a whopping $100, 000 to stage the event, the THA will need to upgrade the surface at the Shaw Park courts, which Steele believes could run into the millions of dollars. “The courts were built in a rush for the then Caribbean Games back in 2012 which was later cancelled. The surface is uneven, there is improper drainage and there is no rubber to cushion players during play as the asphalt is porous,” Steele explained. Following the construction of the facilities in 2012, there was also improper repair work done on it in 2014.

The Tobago Tennis boss is calling on corporate T&T and the Government to assist them in hosting this event as he believes it will also impact on the island’s desire to capitalise on sport tourism, particularly at this grim financial time. As a contingency however, Steele has sought the assistance of the parent TATT to utilise the National Racquet Centre in Tacarigua for the event but he made it clear the association will still need the finances to pull off the tournament.

Attempts to contact Jomo Pitt, secretary of Sports and Youth Affairs for comment proved futile. (WA)

Darius Joseph (Eastonians) and Natasha Fox (Pt Fortin New Jets) were the stand-out performers at the 2017 NGC/NAAATT National Juvenile Track and Field Championships at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo, on the weekend.

Both won three gold and one silver medal each. Joseph copped the Boy’s Under-14 80m hurdles, 300m hurdles and 100m titles and was second in the shot-put. The lanky sprinter dominated the hurdles races setting new championship records in the heats and finals and also improving on the silver medals he won last year.

In the 80m hurdles on Saturday he clocked 12.92 seconds to top the heats, breaking the 12.99 record set by Brian Morris last year. He was even faster in the finals, stopping the clock at 12.74.

In the 300m hurdles prelims he crossed the line in 44.74, erasing Morris’ 45.31 from the record and was quicker in the finals taking the gold in 43.90. His performance in the heats was impressive as the race was run using eight flights of hurdles instead of seven. He ended the first day with two gold medals as he took the 100m crown in 12.2 seconds. In the shot-put on day two, he secured silver with a distance of 10.67 and missed more medals as he was fourth in the 200m and long jump and seventh in the javelin.

Fox secured the Girl’s U-14 300m hurdles (47.24), the 200m (26.14) and 400m (1:00.55) and came close to a fourth gold in the 60m hurdles taking silver (10.68). In the 60m hurdles the winner, Kayla Caesar of Memphis Pioneers, took the gold.

Fox retained the 400m crown and improved on her fourth place finish in the 60m hurdles last year.

Cougars Athletic Club took the overall title. The green and black clad youngsters emerged as the top club for the seventh consecutive year amassing 367 points to finish first on the points table. Cougars also finished at the helm of the medal tally with 27 medals with 13 gold, eight silver and six bronze.

The Kelvin-Nancoo and Abeyola Akowe coached team was the best of some 40 clubs which competed with a dominating performance. The winners collected ten more gold medals than the second place Memphis Pioneers 21 (3/10/8). The battle for third was won by Simplex 10 (3/4/3) narrowly ahead of Abilene Wildcats 9 (3/4/ 2), Toco TAFAC 9 (3/ 3/ 3), Point Fortin New Jets 7 (3/ /3/1), Zenith 10 (3/2/5) and Eastonians 4 (3/1/0).

Leading the way for Cougars were Isaiah Germon and Janika Jordan, who won the two gold medals and one bronze each. Germon claimed the Boy’s Under-14 shot-put crown for the second year with a distance of 11.49 metres and then added the discus title (22.93). He missed on third gold when he had to settle for third in the javelin (27.17). ​

Jordan landed the Girl’s U-12 60m (10.63) and 150m (19.96) honours in championship record times and took third in the 400m (1:07.71). Octavia Cambridge won the Girl’s U-14 1,000m and took silver in the 800m. Clinton Lewis retained the Boy’s U-10 ball throw crown. Aaliyah Adams (Girl’s U-14 shot-put), Kareem Sanchez (Boy’s U-12 long jump) and Antonia Burton (Girl’s U-12 800m) were the individual winners for the champions.

Cougars showed their class in the relays capturing four of the five titles. They swept the mixed sprint relays winning the U-10 4x50m (28.94), U-12 4x100m (52.20) and U-14 (49.19) and the Boy’s U-14 sprint medley (1x2x3x4) in 2:16.71. The Girl’s U-14 sprint medley team dropped the baton at the second exchange and finished in fifth behind winners Simplex (2:31.37).

Runners-up Memphis Pioneers secured three titles courtesy Caesar, Cyril Sumner (Boy’s U-14 400m) and Janae Murray Girl’s U-14 long jump. In the relays, Memphis Pioneers were second in the mixed U-10 4x50m, U-14 4x400m, Girl’s U-14 sprint medley and third in the mixed U-12 4x100m and Boy’s U-14 sprint medley. Jernisa Kadoo (Girl’s U-14 100m), Nikita Gosine (Girl’s U-10 ball throw) and the Girl’s U-14 sprint medley earned gold for third placed Simplex.

Jabari Branche (Boy’s U-12 150m), Amaya Mitchell (Girl’s U-12 400m) and Faith Adonis (Girl’s U-14 javelin) were winners for Abilene Wildcats. Branche led an Abilene Wildcats sweep as Enoch Joseph and Giovanni Bobb-Semple were second and third respectively. For Toco TAFAC Patrice Williams (Girl’s U-12 ball throw), Joshua Gonzales (Boy’s U-12 ball throw) and Tyler Shears (Girl’s U-14 high jump) were winners.

Cahsani Mark (Boy’s U-14 javelin), Ce’Lese Adams (Girl’s U-14 discus) and Janae De Gannes (Girl’s U-12 long jump) also copped titles for Zenith while Kaii Williams (Boy’s U-10 60m) and Nathaniel Charles (Boy’s U-10 80m) sped to gold for Tobago Jaguars.

Kyle Williams (Boy’s U-12 60m/400m) was a double champion for Burnley while Ben Bannister (Boy’s U-12 800m) and Teheliah Francois (Girl’s U-10 long jump) produced gold for Mason Hall Police Youth club. Girl’s U-10 60m and 80m champion Jenna-Marie Thomas copped the two golds for her club IG Fastlane. Joshua Mascall (Boy’s U-14 800m and long jump) put his Fyzabad Athletic Stars on the gold medal table.

Other gold medals at the meet were: Tyrique Vincent of ZC Athletics in the boys U-10 long jump, Giana Paul of D’Abadie Progressive (Girl’s U-12 high jump), Christiemarie Maharaj (Girl’s U-14 800m), Aaron Antoine of Neon Wolves (Boy’s U-14 high jump), Jaidi James of Tobago Falcons (Boy’s U-12 high jump) and Jesaiah Greenidge of Concorde (Boy’s U-14 200m).

“When a child with a disability reaches adulthood, feelings about acceptance by others may linger. If young people learn to accept themselves during their formative years, explore interests, form friendships, accomplish, interact, and socialise at age-appropriate stages, it can help empower a sense of belonging when they’ve grown.”

This is the introductory paragraph on the page MyChild at CerebralPalsy.com which tackles the topic of acceptance (www.cerebralpalsy.org/information/acceptance).

With or without a disability, people have a need for acceptance. The need is more pronounced in those who live with a disability because the gap of acceptance by others is a dark chasm of discomfort, unawareness, misinformation, and narrow-mindedness.

How many of us are relaxed in the presence of someone who looks or behaves differently from considered norms? Unfortunately, social rejection of those who are different is more the norm in our society towards disability of any kind. Still it is worse for some forms of disability.

That tolerance, a national watchword, is one we do “watch” and when we look at the issue, it easier for us to think of racial tolerance and religious acceptance.

The ignorance displayed by purportedly educated adults/educators from varied school’s administration in the matter of Khaleesi Webb does not surprise me. It hurts me.

I remain bruised by the lack of action in T&T for the issues to which we assented under the Convention for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), but I am not startled. With the last administration attempting to widen the discourse, I had hope to see a more progressive PNM administration in the pursuit of these principles.

I wrote glowingly about those expectations. But the continued silence on the CRPD remains deafening. The mismanagement well, maybe, misunderstanding, of the tenets of the Convention is amusing, too.

One correspondence that came to me within the past year, titled, National Policy on Persons With Disabilities (Revised Draft 6, October 2016), said, “This document represents a revision of the December 2005 version of the National Policy on Persons with Disabilities to reflect the provisions of the UNCRPD, which was ratified by the Government in June 2015. The revision is also informed by the views and opinions solicited from key stakeholders through national consultations conducted in Trinidad and Tobago during 2010 – 2014.”

Then, after that claim, the sixth Draft of this 15-year-old document said:

“In T&T, there are approximately 52,244 persons living with a disability, which is equivalent to four per cent of the total population of 1,328,019, this according to the 2011 T&T Population and Housing Census.”

Of course, I strongly objected to this misinformation and misunderstanding of the CRPD’s tenets, since this accounted only for some of those with physical disabilities. The CRPD is specific and sufficiently loud on psychosocial disability, which fact would make these numbers given by the Ministry of Social Development to be nonsense.

To quote an amusing Facebook post, “It’s been a while since I had had so much “flabber” in my “gasted” as the State’s disability intervention inadvertently discriminated against (other) persons with disability.

I strayed only to pinpoint the level of ignorance about disabilities in T&T. It is not only a human failing but a systemic one. If those who were/are charged with leadership on disabilities discriminate against sectors of persons with disability, whither the population?

Differences and diversity in other people or groups of people is not tolerated here. I do not believe that it is understood either.

And so back to Khaleesi.

Her mother is quoted as saying, “My child was not given a fair chance. She was not called to be tested like the other applicants, some of whom were accepted, others rejected.

“My daughter is very brilliant. What she lacks physically, God has made up for it with her brains.

“I can think of no other reason why she was not afforded the opportunity to be tested, except for her disability.”

To those principals in the employ of the Ministry of Education, MyChild says, “Children – with or without disability – require the opportunity to become socially well-adjusted to the best of their abilities. Early on, they discover what’s unique about their abilities and their personalities. To accomplish this, the child needs opportunities to explore their interests and share their abilities. They need to play alongside and with others to become acclimated with social norms.”

Khaleesi’s mom understands “children with disability will require the ability to be successfully socialised with other children with like disability, with able-bodied peers, and with adults.”

It is those who live or manage disability that must teach others in the hope of affecting stigma and discrimination.

When the story broke, I saw this absolutely gorgeous photo of mother and daughter and looked up the meaning of Khaleesi.

“Khaleesi is an invented name introduced to the world by author George RR Martin for his wildly popular Game of Thrones series – it’s Dothraki for ‘queen’.”

For advocating for Khaleesi, mom Kerisha Crawford Webb is my hero, my queen of hearts.