THE EDITOR:
PLEASE refer to your Sunday Mirror of December 25, 2005, Page 25 under the heading “WUKO membership for TTKA”.

As the President of The Trinidad & Tobago Karate Union (TTKU), the National Governing Body (NGB) for the sport of Karate, member of the Continental Governing Body (The Pan American Karate Federation) and the World Governing Body (The World Karate Federation), member of the TTOC and officially recognised by the Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs as the NGB for Karate, I would feel that I am qualified to comment on your article.

The name WUKO was changed to WKF, the World Karate Federation many, many years ago and is comprised of five continental controlling bodies, one of which is the Pan American Karate Federation (PKF) responsible for Karate in our continent.

WKF is a member of the IOC and the PKF is responsible for all IOC matters in this continent, such as the Pan Am Games and the CAC Games, apart from their own Pan Am Karate Championships and our regional Central American & Caribbean Karate Championship.

Karate is not yet an Olympic sport, but is represented as such at all the lesser games.

As the official National Body for Karate, TTKU has been represented at all of these games and for 2005 our Brendon Strong won silver in the male open fighting category in Buenos Aeries, Argentina at this years’ senior championships.

We shall be taking part in the CAC Games in Colombia in 2006, and the Pan Am Games in Brazil in 2007.

TTKU has an elected executive committee responsible for all of its operations and systems.

FCB Sports Foundation accepts our nominees for Sportsman and Sportswoman of the year and for 2005 we have already submitted our nominees.

Over the years, we were represented at the WITCO Sports Foundation awards, prior to the FCB Awards.

All Karate clubs in TnT, practising any style of Karate, can join TTKU and represent TnT at any of these games.

We are aware and have been bombarded by certain overseas clubs operated by TnT Citizens who think that their overseas clubs should be allowed to represent TnT.

Some of these persons may even be soliciting money in foreign lands claiming to represent TnT.

Some have resorted to “Ghosts club” applications to joining TTKU. Only nationals, residing abroad temporarily, can join TTKU and participate in these games, provided that they qualify.

They may join member clubs and participate locally.

All activities of the PKF and the WKF are available to all members of TTKU through TTKU only.

Our operations are very similar to FIFA’s.

I hope that the foregoing explains the operational systems for Karate in TnT and the World.

I remain available for further information on Karate.

THE EDITOR:
IT is really amazing how these people at University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT) think we the workers and teachers of the John S. Donaldson Technical Institute (JSDTI) and the San Fernando Technical Institute (SFTI) are complete fools.

But, on the contrary, when the mess hits the fan, a lot of people in the government will be in a very embarassing situation.

I have been working as a teacher for over 18 years, and I received on December 8, a correspondence addressed to my principal, but copied to me, informing my principal of vacancies at UTT in various disciplines.

And guess what?

We were to apply by December 20 for a particular job that no one knows about its benefits, salary or conditions.

Now, I wonder what will happen if I don’t apply for any job at UTT, since I have a permanent pensionable position?

Will they remove me from SFTI, give me severance, or will I be locked out of SFTI, as a senior member of UTT said in a meeting?

We’ll just have to wait and see.

But remember the fiasco with the Regional Health Authority (RHA)?

It’s sure to have a replay in this latest political blunder.

It looks like UTT figures could bully teachers at these institutes into submitting, or rather frustrating them into a change of career.

Well, while that may be so for the weaker ones, let them be warned that the fight they’re in for will be pale in comparison to what the RHA got.

That’s not all.

The ad looks like it was written to suit a high-ranking member of SFTI.

The Head of the Institute must have an Engineering Degree.

And to make matters worse, they have eliminated the Business Department.

Strange that this has happened, because it probably eliminated the most qualified person for the post.

In fact, in a recent staff meeting when a co-worker from the Business Department inquired of her future, she was told to pack her bags, because UTT has no place for the Business courses.

The Business Department offers Executive Secretary, Computers, Accounting Technician, Business Management and Supervisory Management, to name a few.

I have been teaching for more than 18 years and now I don’t have a job.

Well, the last time I checked Trinidad was a democratic country, and thank God for that.

To add to our frustration, this high-ranking member of UTT claims to be a close friend of the Minister of Science, Technology and Tertiary Education, and has been boasting that he is the “Chinese Chopper”.

He also claims to be the man who will hire and fire.

He further went on in a staff meeting, to say that all he has to do is call security and lock the gates, once UTT takes over.

Well, let’s just say that all of these threats are well documented for our lawyers to handle.

When a person’s rights have been affected, isn’t there supposed to be a special two-thirds majority to be passed in Parliament?

I have a diploma and have been teaching the technician and craft courses since 1987, and suddenly, I have been told by my Principal that I need at least a degree to now teach this exact course.

When UTT went to Parliament, I hoped they got their special majority.

I remember the days when SFTI was known for football, or leaders in cricket.

Now, it’s like a ghost town, because the powers that be don’t know if to run NEC courses, COSTAATT courses or UTT courses.

And all extra curricula courses have been stopped.

In the meanime, the students are the guinea pigs.

The only reprieve came a couple of years ago, when the then Minister, Colm Imbert, re-introduced the NEC diploma.

The courses were over-subscribed.

The school came alive and the corridors were filled with students.

But later, some bright person decided to move in another direction for the umpteenth time.

A note for Prime Minister Patrick Manning, remember this thing started with the NAR.

And every single government after that messed with technical education lost power.

Maybe by chance, maybe by destiny.

Only one way to really find out.

But one thing is sure, “Education is a political football.”

THE EDITOR:
IT is with utmost interest, I read in the newspapers a story which featured the marriage of Sir Elton John, 58, and his partner, David, 43.

My first reaction to such a news story was:

“Wow, go guys, go guys, go!”

A photograph also accompanied the story.

What is interesting about this wedding is that it took place in the same registry office where Prince Charles and Camilla Parker-bowles got married.

It also added that Sir Elton and his “bride” got married on the same day gay marriages became legal in the UK.

Quite an interesting story!

In the photograph, the couple look so happy and full of life.

It was a lifetime dream come true for both partners to reach such a milestone, where they will enjoy the same civil rights as heterosexual unions (?)

The question still remains, is same-sex unions just as legal as heterosexual unions?

Well, Elton and David, no doubt have made a personal commitment.

Who is to say what they are doing is illegal?

Who is to criticise their decision?

Anyway guys, all the best wishes coming from a Trini who supports you all, all the way.

I am hoping this union will bear fruit.

Local guy men and lesbian women reading the newspaper article will probably hope that one day, such laws will come to our shores.

Who is to say?

When two mature adults give their consent, both male and male, female and female, or male and female, no law or institution should dictate the pace that such unions should not be allowed.

The world is now a more liberal and fast changing society.

Yes, society may dictate what is the “norm”, but who is to say what “normal” means?

To Elton and David, my best wishes go out to you both.

May God bless your union, and may you both live to see many years together.

A Trini who wants to see change in our society!