LETTERS September 12, 2000 From: Kurt Garcia
Dear Editor.
The more things change, the more some people remain the same way. In this land of national unity and equal opportunity for all, two African braided children are being denied places in a school that Rastafarian hair styled children already attend. on the basis that their hair is too long. This only represents as far as I am concerned a continuation of the historical discrimination of people based on skin color, race, ethnicity, religion or hairstyle. It is a great jump in logic to assume that there is any basis for one's length of hair or absence of it, contributes to "enhancing a pupils performance and character grooming, and improving the quality and status of the school", as stated by the school administrator. It is the same as saying that differences in height, skin tone, facial features etc would be an impediment to what the school say's is their stated aims and objectives as was in the case in the colonial past. What warped logic and bias against the people whose braided hair is part of our cultural diversity.
If they are checking for dirty hair, please include dirty mouths, skin, feet,crevices etc.
I patiently await the responses of those who swear loudly that we need national unity and equal opportunity for all in order for this country to progress. I also await especially the sermons of the champions of social justice, one in particular Anglican Dean Knolly Clarke.
August 06, 2000 By Cindy Williams
THE EDITOR: Many moons ago we were promised the UNC’s Rising Sun newspaper and we were all beginning to feel the sun had set before it had risen.
Recently, however, it was brought to my attention that if I took a weekly look in the mirror, I would see myself: that although it is election showtime, the blast from the bomb has no heat, certainly is not independent and has no punch whatsoever.
This sudden change of direction which I noticed had me looking at how some “weakly” journalists who were heavily against bad governance in the past, are now busily avoiding serious issues about bad governance and focusing on any trivia and irrelevant issues that can be dredged up.
They seem to be more interested in discrediting critics of the government, and would go to any lengths to spin a story to show their party of choice in a good light.
The way they behave and write you would swear the Opposition and it’s supporters are in Government and the Government and it’s supporters are above reproach.
These “weakly” journalist have lost all credibility with the discerning reader. So much big game in the forest and they are busy hunting rabbits.
July 27, 2000 From: Kurt Garcia
Every year as a matter of routine, our well meaning Emancipation lyricists proceed to exercise their vocal options and actions in repeating the same cliches and obvious rituals. Somehow or the other we continue to fail to pay emphasis on year round education about Emancipation and it's attendant issues, in a sustained and cohesive way. Unless we come to the realization that Emancipation is a process and not a day and is included as part of the school curriculum for everybody and not just some, there is never going to be a significant dent in the massive ignorance that presently prevails on the matter.
My advice to them is to suspend the costs associated with Emancipation ie transport, rentals, performance fees, advertisements and construct a 5 year professional plan to deal with spreading the message and understanding of Emancipation to the widest possible audience. The use of the media to achieve and sustain this goal, is of vital importance to it's success. This should be done after the broadest consultation possible, with the aim of attracting fresh talent and all available resources. Emancipation has a significance unmatched by any other holiday in this country, but yet still if it is allowed there would be no recognition of such. It is only through the perseverance of people who cared that there is some sort of limited acceptance to the event that marked the beginning of the end of the institution that was responsible for the greatest atrocity committed against humanity known to man, chattel slavery.
July 12, 2000 From: K. Edwards
The Church and or it's representatives should be very careful that they do not reinforce the image that traditionally they are self-seekers and never in the forefront in the fight for social, economic and political justice.
Two recent events which has brought this perception or reality to the forefront is their obvious elation that" their " concerns have now been addressed by the politicians in relation to Clause 7 of the infamous equal opportunity bill, they now seem quite comfortable and happy. But did they ever stop to think for one moment that there are others in the society who might be oppressed and denied their constitutional rights by aspects of the legislation.
In the second instance the African Doctor who has suffered immensely at the hands of red tape or indifference or both, for the past 5 years, happens to be a licensed Pentecostal Pastor. One would have thought that by now they would have intervened or lend support to this grave injustice being done to a fellow believer, or even raise the matter with the Prime Minister who obviously had not counted on their ability to mount a protest on Clause 7.
Another issue that comes to mind is how they all treated with 'Ras Shorty I' another firm believer in Christ. They just never came forward when he was pleading for help from any quarter. Come on Pastors and all adherents to religion do not appear to be judgmental or selfish and only join the struggle against injustices, when it affects you personally or those who you approve of.
We are supposed to equal in the eyes of the Lord I think.
God Bless.
July 11, 2000 From: Jasper Webster
Recently there was a show in the Savannah called ' Masters of Protest '. Because of the negative comments, I heard and saw written, I attended the show and left wondering what the brouhaha was all about.
The content of the show was no different from the fare served in any calypso tent, if you liked a song you encored or stayed quiet, and there was nothing being said that night that I did not hear over the last 20 years from journalists, lawyers, politicians and others in this society. In fact, I have heard more acerbic and contentious outpourings from the original 'Masters of Protest' over the years, and look where they are today, I am speaking about Messrs. Panday, Maharaj and Humphrey. One is now Prime Minister, one is Acting Prime Minister[well sometimes] and the other is Attorney General.
So protesting and placard bearing does bear fruit, those who say different today but benefited from such actions, cannot now seek to ridicule or take away that right from others, there is always the possibility they may have to walk that road again, maybe sooner than later.
Protesting the disrespect
C. Williams July 07, 2000 7:21 PM
Hotep, I would like to protest the disrespect shown to you on Power 102. Normally when Dale and they use a news source, they identify it, but they used the info you gave on the political mischief being played out in Trinidad from a source in Miami and refused or did not see it necessary to credit Trinicenter.com or you for bringing to light information that not even the political parties involved knew about, far less Power 102.
July 06, 2000 From: Kurt Garcia
Dear Editor
I would like to strongly recommend as a measure of urgent national importance that all the stakeholders in our Education system, adopt the example of Mucurapo Girls R.C and others that utilize the period of the last week of the school term to deal with the Emancipation Day holiday, which always falls during the August vacation. What this does, is that it exposes our young citizens to what will have to be considered proper information, on the importance of Emancipation and its' legacies.
There is an urgent need to give our young citizens this information, so as to combat the vast ignorance about the history of our country and it's people. When one listens to some callers on talk shows and the outpourings of some media personnel in the print and electronic media, you can come to no other conclusion that there is an urgent need for people in this country to come to terms with the events and activities that shaped the destiny of this country and it's people. The fact that this major historical holiday falls during the vacation is no reason for the stakeholders in the Education system to downplay or not recognize and give equal opportunity to the importance of the lessons of Emancipation to all our citizens.
Can anyone suggest a better way forward to deal with the paucity of knowledge on the issue ?
"See the Hypocrites dem ah go down dey"
August 09, 2000
From: Kerri-Lyn Edwards
For the last couple of years every time Independence Day comes around in Trinidad, I keep remembering the Bob Marley tune "See the Hypocrites dem ah go down dey". My reason for so doing is that for many years those of us who have lived here all our lives would remember that there are several politicians, religious leaders and others in this society who harangued, harassed, and castigated the then political administrations of this country, accusing them of bias, marginalisation, alienation etc and all conceivable acts of oppression, for having our top National Award named the Trinity Cross.
They called the people who refused to change the name the most derogatory names and some even refused the award and others actively encouraged others to refuse it. We now fast forward to the period 1995-2000 where the very same people and their supporters who wanted the name change of our highest National Award is the now political administration, and hold the power and responsibility to change the name. Do you believe that they have all gone silent on the issue, so silent that it is mind boggling.
The only reasonable conclusion that one can draw from the actions of these people, is that it was motivated more by mobilization and communal concerns and was purely political strategy. The supposed righteousness of their cause has now been replaced by political expediency of the worst kind and their instincts most base leads to what one can only describe as world class hypocrisy and hypocrites.
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Something is rotten in not only Denmark
August 05. 2000
From Kurt Garcia
I heard on a newscast on Power 102 on the 5/8/2000, Pearl Eintou Springer of the Emancipation Support Committee arguing vehemently that the Orisha religion is being discriminated against by members of the Inter Religious Organization [IRO], and that they are being excluded from government functions.
This is a truly amazing scenario and it reeks of deception, double standards and the playing of either political or religious games, by the parties involved. These two groups and also as individuals had several meetings recently with the Prime Minister in his bid to secure his political agenda of, most ironically " equal opportunity". Both the PM and the groups came out happy and smiling in the media as to the "success" of their meetings.
Did it not occur to Miss Springer that, that was the opportune time to deal with and settle the matter? How come then, less than two weeks after these "successful meetings", Miss Springer is making these charges, and they are all dealing with the same head of government and the same issue.
Even though they are prone to mistrust and distrust between themselves, what about the Prime Minister's admonishment that state funds would not be used to promote and encourage divisiveness as was said about the Calypsonians. Does the IRO receive state funds, in addition to supposedly being the leading moral and spiritual organization in the country?
By God!.
Something is rotten in not only Denmark but also the state, over to you lady and gentlemen.
