THE EDITOR:
IN this politically interesting island, full of twists, spins and spills, Chairman Panday’s convening of “peace talks” or a “unity meeting” on December 2 did not surprise me at all.

You see, it was summoned for the day after (repeat, after) the departure on a six-day visit to New York of the “Winston Dookeran Safari”.

I’ll return to that phrase.

But why am I writing?

Mr. Editor, are we all witnessing the creation of a party political leader out of cardboard and PR, rather than through the sweat and fire of people representation?

Out of many Press comments we read:

(1) “… (Dookeran) in Parliament: learned, non-aggressive to the point of being apolitical.”

- Dr. Tony Mahabir writing from New York (September 2005)

(2) “… Dookeran will have to forge his own identity and transform the party in a way that makes him a leader …”

– Jack Warner to B.C. Pires (August 14, 2005)

If these quotes are both from firm supporters (and they are), one then has to paraphrase Lloyd Best: “When the politics calls him to center-stage, Dookeran will have no time to rehearse.”

Hence, the imperative of much PR activity, and strenuous image-building, in lieu of rehearsal!

Everyone (almost) visits the United States -- even Iraqis, Frenchmen, parachutes, local Senators.

No problem at all.

But Dookeran leaves all the Afro-Trinidadians and Tobgaonians here, from whom he may certainly wish to invite votes, to do what in the US?

First, “… to meet New York State Republicans Senator John Sampson and Congressman Gregory Meeks, who are both Afro-American …”

Second, “… to address students at the Medgar Evers College in Brooklyn, which has a predominantly Afro-American student body”.

This is the “Dookeran Safari”.

To balance my commentary, I must indicate that during a previous Panday administration, George Carville (a Democrat and election consultant) worked for the UNC.

He is not favourably mentioned in the Stephanopoulos book on the Clinton Presidency.

With extreme concern, I note Dookeran’s announcement that he will meet with Rudolph Giuliani (presumably to keep warm the TT$15 million anti-crime plan of Giuliani and Partners offered to the UNC, an the nation).

I am concerned because if you contract Giuliani, you get John Kerik in the package: a man offered as the prime candidate for Head of Homeland Security by President Bush, and withdrawn in embarrassment.

Prudence requires that I add no more about him.

And has Dookeran heard that Mexico City a few years ago contracted Giuliani to conduct a similar plan?

It was a failure.

Upon a reading of the public sources, I express full support for the Government’s decision to engage Professor Stephan Mastrofski and his group (at TT$5.7 million).

I understand that Dookeran is a visiting fellow at the Weatherhead Centre for International Affairs at Harvard University.

But isn’t Roodal Moonilal a Ph.D qualified in Holland?

And Carolyn Seepersad-Bachan a Senior Lecturer at the UWI?

Of course, older folk reflect upon the political longevity of Dr. Rudranath Capildeo.

THE EDITOR:
THE Trinidad and Tobago Postal Corporation’s (TTPost) General Manager Operations -- Franklin Ali -- has given the assurance that systems have been put in place to help the people of Trinidad and Tobago get their Christmas mail on time.

Ali explained that one of TTPost’s officers, Sukhdeo Ramnath, was assigned to Miami International Airport and his role is to ensure that mail bound for the Caribbean moves in a timely manner.

In the past, this timely movement of mail to the Caribbean has been seriously hampered and Caribbean administrations often receive Christmas mail late in January, thereby causing many customer complaints.

He went on to further explain that the Caribbean Postal Union, with some financial assistance from the US Postal Service, has organised a mail transportation plan exercise for 2005, which will see individual airport monitors being stationed at San Juan, New York, Jamaica and Miami.

The corporation is pleased to announce that Ramnath was trained in 2004 and will now lead the mail transportation exercise in Miami during the period December 8 - December 21, 2005.

THE EDITOR:
WHY is it that every time I mail a greeting card to Trinidad it is never delivered?

Year after year, I spend a lot of time choosing the right card for a friend, a relative or someone who’s ill, just to show that despite the distance apart, they are never far from my heart.

But year after year, these items never reach the intended recipients.

Apparently, mail in brown envelopes fare much better.

Mail theft is nothing new to Trinidad and Tobago.

Indeed, one has to take a chance and say a prayer for every letter or card sent.

It seems, however, that this disgusting activity has been on the increase recently and I have noted several writers complaining of the issue in your newspaper.

Despite this, it appears that TTPost is uninterested in the problem.

Maybe, nobody is interested.

Its just another indication of a society that is becoming increasingly dishonest.

Sorry, Mom, sorry, aunty Jean, you will not be getting Christmas cards in the mail this year ... but Merry Christmas anyway.

THE EDITOR:
THE Public Services Association (PSA) of Trinidad and Tobago recognised with great respect and concern International Day for the Disabled persons, a differently-abled group of individuals who continue to struggle and strive for societal acceptance and individual recognition.

“Disabled people want what we all want; the chance to get educated, find rewarding jobs, lead worthwhile lives, and be valued members of their community and in the world at large.”

So wrote James Woffensony, the President of the World Bank, and Amartga Seu, the 1998 Noble Prize winner for Economics in an article, for the International Day of Disabled persons in 2004.

Such desires “need not be idle dreams”, they insisted.

However, when we examine the global environment, and despite several local/international legislations, people with disabilities are grossly discriminated against by the majority of employees, who still seek to stalk after the attraction of physical appearance rather than organisational loyalty and dedication.

The PSA is most proud to reveal a most pleasant commentary in this auspicious day of the disabled by highlighting the fact that we stood by our word by employing one of the differently-abled person in our society, by the name of Keith Thomas, who continue to promote and develop our organisation by exceeding all of our expectations with his expert skills of an average individual.

In addition, the PSA is extremely proud that we are the only Trade Union in Trinidad and Tobago and the Caribbean to reproduce our documents in Braille for our visually-impaired members of the Association.

We can attest to the fact that these specially-abled persons are not only dedicated employees to an organisation, but they are the ones that are most focused and directed to the jobs at hand.

Our Keith has become one of our most valued employees.

Thank you Keith Thomas, you made the PSA proud.

We would like to also take this opportnity to wish our differently-abled members of the PSA continued health, strength and prosperity in all their endeavours, and we know that they are always in guiding hands of their holy angels.