According to Taylor Caldwell: “I am not alone at all, I thought.

“I was never alone at all.

“And that, of course, is the message of Christmas.

“We are never alone.

“Not when the night is darkest, the wind coldest, the word seemingly most indifferent. For this is still the time God chooses.”

Well, folks, I wish to extend Christmas greetings to all our readers and, by extension, the national community.

In these trying times, I prefer to find comfort in the words of Oren Arnold who had this to say: “Christmas gifts suggestions: To your enemy, forgiveness; to your opponent, tolerance; to a friend, your heart; to a customer, service; to all, charity; to every child, a good example; to yourself, respect.”

I have many things to say this week and I hope my Editor will indulge me.

I wish to start off by paying tribute to someone who has left an indelible mark on Trini Christmas over the years.

I speak of none other than Alexandra “Daisy” Voisin (September 23, 1924 to August 7, 1991).

Daisy was incredible and undoubtedly the Queen of Parang here in Trinidad and Tobago. During her successful reign, she composed Sereno Sereno, Daisy Voisin, Daisy Daisy Daisy, El Nacimiento de la Verdad and many others.

Alegria Alegria, was however, her favourite composition.

The fame of Daisy and the La Divina Pastora group took them as cultural ambassadors on missions throughout the Caribbean, Margarita, Venezuela, and North America.

She had created such an impact with her performances that she became the most sought-after parang voice in the nation.

As a leading cultural personality, she became a household name, not only in Trinidad and Tobago, but also throughout the West Indies.

In 1982, she received the Parang Association’s highest award, a gold medal.

This was followed in 1988 with a National Humming Bird Silver Medal from the government. Daisy was not only a parandero, she was a gift from the Creator.

It was unfortunate that the government took so long to honour such an historic national icon.

It just goes to show that greatness is rarely appreciated. I still miss Daisy today and when I see her on television or hear her on a CD, it brings back fond memories of Christmas as a child.

May her soul rest in peace!

On a different but serious note, given the over-extending inefficiencies at the Port of Port of Spain, citizens of Trinidad and Tobago should brace for inflation that may get out of control in the coming year.

The utter madness at the Port must be put to a stop.

Both the Trinidad and Tobago Manufacturers’ and the San Juan Business Associations have been making a case for government intervention in the matter, especially when it comes to delays and the new delay surcharge of $200 per hour or any part thereof that was recently implemented by the Hauliers’ Association.

The consequences for such inefficiencies are clear.

When the Port is clogged up, the business sector may experience additional delays because of ships by-passing Port of Spain if the Port is unable to facilitate them at that time.

This means that goods will take even longer to land for distribution, thereby leading to inconvenience and additional costs would be passed on to consumers.

The causes for the delays at the Port are numerous.

The Port has nine diamonds that are used to offload containers from ships onto the Port.

Currently, only one is operational and it has been alleged that employees are sabotaging the equipment as retribution for the impending privatisation of the Port itself.

The inefficiency is compounded by the lack of co-ordination among the various agencies that have interests at the Port -- Customs and Excise Division, Ministry of Agriculture (Plant Quarantine), Ministry of Trade Official and the Bureau of Standards.

Officials from all these divisions and departments must be present if a container is to be processed and dispatched.

However, more often than not, one or more of these officials are always absent, thereby creating additional delays at the Port.

It should also be noted that once the businessman receives his arrival notice, with each delay, he incurs an additional cost that must be passed on to the consumer.

A demurrage fine is incurred (the amount is dependant on the type of container -- refrigerated or not; and the length of time the container is on the Port).

Customs officials take anywhere between one and five days to process documents and after delivery is authorised or the containers marked for examination, it goes to the CES station where it can take anywhere from two hours to two days, and that’s if you’re lucky.

The delays get even worse when there is a backlog. Last week, there was an estimated 2,500 containers to be cleared on the Port.

So, in addition to paying $525 to clear a 40ft container, the importer now has to pay an additional US $132 to the shipping company for a port congestion surcharge, additional fees as warranted by the delay and now a delay surcharge fee of $200 per hour or any part thereof by the Hauliers’ Association.

I am not saying that the hauliers are wrong, but they are passing on the burden of loosing business to the businessmen who will eventually pass it on to the consumer.

Now, it has been suggested that the various business associations form their own company to transport their containers from the Port.

It is an avenue to be explored, but the fundamental problem of the delay in the first place will remain.

How will this affect you?

According to Devanand Ramlal, Chairman of TTEC, the inordinate delays at the Port have set back their rural electrification and street lighting project and increased its costs significantly.

Who do you think will pay for the additional charges?

You, of course!

What about all the seasonal goods that would have been brought in for Christmas?

What will the businessmen do with it?

Consumers complain that the business sector is increasing prices to make more money, but they are incurring additional costs and some have been foolish to suggest that the business sector is doing this to make the government look bad.

What utter rubbish!

If the government does not act to make the Port more efficient, you, the consumer will be feeling the pinch.

Things wouldn’t be as cheap and then you will wonder why.

Well, there is your answer.

Serious and meaningful government intervention is required or you’ll be paying much more in the next year.

Just wait and see.

All this of course from a caring government and a government that delivers. I wonder what would have happened to this country if they didn’t care.

Now, for the joke of the week:

One day, a father leaves work and, remembering that he has to buy a Christmas gift for his daughter, he pulls over to a toy store.

He asks the sales person: “How much is the Barbie in the display window?”

The sales person answers: “Which one?

“We have:

* Work out Barbie for $199.95

* Shopping Barbie for $199.95

* Beach Barbie for $199.95

* Disco Barbie for $199.95

* Divorced Barbie for $999.95

The amazed father asks: “What?

“Why is the Divorced Barbie $999.95 and the others only $199.95?”

The sales person annoyingly answers: “Sir … Divorced Barbie comes with:

* Ken’s Car;
* Ken’s House;
* Ken’s Boat;
* Ken’s Furniture;
* Ken’s Computer and … One of Ken’s Friends.”

According to Samuel Goldwyn: “I don’t want any yes-men around me.

“I want everyone to tell me the truth, even if it costs him his job.”

Prime Minister Patrick Manning and Opposition Leader Basdeo Panday will do well to heed this advice.

Merry Christmas to one and all!