THE EDITOR:
IF Police Commissioner Trevor Paul’s initial convenient summary dismissal of Vernon Paul’s allegations of influential political icons being involved in a plot hatched prior to the General Election in 2002 to destabilise the Opposition by planting cocaine and a missile in the water tank of former MP Sadiq Baksh is indicative of the mechanics of our Police department (and by extension the office of the DPP) it is small wonder that so few murderers and kidnappers are brought to justice. 

It would seem that our Police Force find it easier to limit their exertions to “easy” pickings -- like booking a restaurateur for beautifying the pavement outside his premises (obstruction, no doubt) and picking up vagrants instead of criminals off the street (more obstruction)! 

Mr. Paul’s inertia in this matter is diametrically the opposite of the energy (and expense) squandered by the DPP in his apparent determination to incriminate respectable and prominent Indos.

 Regarding that recent abrupt, and to some premature, conclusion to the Narayansingh/Ramesir murder trial, I fail to see where Judge Hubert Volney can be accused of “directing” or instructing the jury to bring in any verdict.

As a layman, that verdict was always self evident and Judge Volney, from what was reported, merely reminded, or instructed that jury panel of an option, albeit not often employed, open to them after hearing the State’s evidence.

If, they were at that point unanimously not convinced that the evidence presented by the State was credible enough to return a verdict of guilty against the defendants there can be nothing wrong in his instruction.

He even asked if they required more evidence or questioning.

 The purpose of utilising the time (which translates to money) of the defence team of lawyers is not to incriminate but to disprove and lay open flaws in the prosecutions case, which, at that juncture, must be credible enough to have the jury sufficiently persuaded by the “evidence” presented by the State that those before the court are indeed guilty of the crime with which they have been charged.

If the jury, after hearing the State’s case, were not convinced that this was the case, or felt that the veracity of the State witnesses testimony was questionable, what was the defence team to defend?

In some respects it would have been very interesting to see the entire State case blown to smithereens, as it surely would have been.

Justice Volney saved them that embarrassment.

The jury’s decision, of course, only highlights the weakness of the State’s case and reinforces the arguments presented by Chief Justice Satnarine Sharma which led to that other matter between PM Patrick Manning and the CJ, now under arbitration, which it is to be hoped will now be as swiftly resolved.

Is this perhaps why the DPP is so determined to doggedly fight on?

That CoP Paul could airily refuse to issue instructions for further investigation of his namesake’s allegations at such an early stage on a matter of vital concern  (as if it were a matter of mere sidewalk obstruction) and decline to interview the principals named, as previously promised is deserving of far more critical appraisal than that of Justice Volney in the Naraynsingh matter.

Now that he has been provided with signed copy of the relevant document/documents he has been forced to rethink his decision.

In the interest of “integrity” and “transparency” the PM, AG, DPP, CoP -- and I go so far as to say the Minister of National Security -- have a collective duty to the nation to ensure that Vernon Paul’s information be thoroughly investigated, not just repudiated;  even if it means the embarrassment of personal interviews.

This is a matter which calls for a Commission of Enquiry (televised like the Airport Commission of Enquiry) and, if we are to believe Mr. Manning’s avowal of transparency and integrity at all costs, the services of Scotland Yard and/or the FBI are also called for a thorough investigation of the allegations and those cited therein.

Nothing less will suffice.

It is time for proper instruction and investigation.

There must be no obfuscation or obstruction.

THE EDITOR:
I wish to express my opinion at the unusually frenetic pace at which the Government is currently moving to officially establish the Caribbean Single Market and Economy (CSME), when one takes into account their blatant procrastination and non-performance in most of their local responsibilities.

From the endless stream of pro-CSME propaganda in the media of late, one of the more highlighted “benefits” from ratification of the CSME is the “free movement of (skilled) labour between member states”.

What has me particularly curious is that, despite the relative abundance of technical and vocational institutions in TnT, and the resulting surplus of skilled workers on the job market, this government magically deems that there is a “chronic labour shortage” and has already begun importing ‘skilled labourers’ from mainly Jamaica and other islands to assist in the current construction boom.

Now, couple that scenario with the General Elections just less than two years away (maybe less), and the ruling PNM in grave danger of losing due to the public’s dissatisfaction with their utter arrogance and neglect with respect to crime, agriculture and the ridiculous cost of living among other things.

To the Manning regime, the CSME is the ideal excuse to initiate a second wave of “small island”’ immigrants, for the sole purpose of putting an X by the balisier come election time; thus it will have a more “legal”’ essence as compared with the first major induced influx of small islanders after the PNM’s embarrassing defeat in the 1958 Federal Elections (which then prompted former Prime Minister Dr. Eric Williams to brand Indo-Trinidadians a “recalcitrant minority”), so as to dilute the vote of the Opposition.

As the PNM (and populations of most CARICOM states) are overwhelmingly Afro-based, the CSME with “Godfather of the Caribbean” Manning as its head will consequently serve to further marginalise and demoralise the “Indian” vote in TnT, thereby cementing the party’s hegemony in local politics.

Indeed, a very frightening prospect.

THE EDITOR:
But seriously, show some environmental responsibility.

There are two major projects within the city of San Fernando.

First there is the Chancery Lane project, whereby trucks are leaving trails of mud along Chancery Lane, Independence Avenue and Lower High Street

And then there is the Cipero River project, leaving trails of mud along the Gulf City Link Road.

At this time it is trails of mud, due to the unusual rainfall in January.

Soon the sun will shine, heralding the dry season and a dust bowl will form.

What is interesting, especially with the Chancery Lane project is that the contractors are aware of the problem and workers are seen running after the trucks with shovels and a garden hose.

A simple solution, a la Vision 2020, is for the contractors to have a pressure washer and water tank, just before the trucks reach the roadway.

Here, the wheels of the trucks are washed and the load secured.

The result is that the immediate environment is muddied to a minimum.

The cost of this simple solution is approximately $5,000.00.

And the workers do not have to run after the trucks with a garden hose.

But seriously, OSHA is not only for the workers, but the population as well.

THE EDITOR:
As a consumer, I would like to hear National Flour Mills’ (NFM) response to a report that its white flour does not contain the required level of calcium.

The report said that a study by CARIRI found that the calcium level was way below what was stipulated by the Chemistry, Food and Drugs Department of the Ministry of Health.

Now, this is a serious diet and health matter, since, I am sure, the authorities would have determined the calcium level based on those considerations.

I would like to know why NFM is short-changing its consumers, and, especially, why the company is hoodwinking people on a health issue.

Since NFM is majority-owned by the government, I would also like to hear a response from the Ministries of Health and of Consumer Affairs and what action the Food and Drug Authorities are prepared to take on this blatant disregard for the nation’s health by a State organisation.

At a time when there is increased focus on health and wellness, NFM must come clean on this issue.

I am anxiously awaiting NFM’s response.