THE EDITOR:
THE seemingly apparent end to the controversial naming of the Trinity Cross may not end the debate.

PM Patrick Manning has acceded to the fact that the law must be observed and he has appointed a Committee of six to produce a new and acceptable name.

This Committee must be aware of the fact that even if a new name be ascribed, the possibility is that selfsame award (the Cross) will be given to the new recipients, and this is where the actual controversy lies.

The actual design of a new award must be forthcoming and pronto.

My contribution to this design, is that a circular emblem of gold, with the insignia of Trinidad and Tobago inscribed, and three screw -- in assemblies (the Cross, the Om and the Cresent/Star) be improvised to be given as a religious choice, to all selected recipients.

The lesser the desire, the greater is the happiness, so that perfect happiness consists in the destruction or satisfaction of all the desires in the human being.

Anything that is called a National award, must involve the nation, the etymology of the word demands that.

To select a committee of six to arbitrate on this important matter is very suspicious.

The problem is the name and the design.

Please accommodate your nation.

THE EDITOR:
FACT: Jamaat Leader, Abu Bakr, through his attorney, in the courts of law of a democratic nation, which is Trinidad and Tobago, claims that during the last general elections, he made a pact with the present Prime Minister in return for certain favours.

What pact?

That in return for helping United National Congress (UNC’s) disadvantage, the multi-million dollar debt which the Jamaat owes the State, will be written off pronto, no questions asked!

This is a serious allegation ... much too serious to let it go with the wind, or to treat as trivial.

Further, I will waver everything that I own and/or possess, that if the UNC was in power and a similar allegation was made against Basdeo Panday, the media would have gone to town on him, like a lion to its prey and the authorities that be, that is, the police force, would have already initiated some kind of investigation, with a view to a kill.

Please Trinidad media, let us not be partisan here.

Already, we have only one man suffering at the the hands of the Integrity Commission when there were many others who did not file their assets, but did not undergo similar prosecution.

Is this right?

I am asking the media here to do its duty fairly and without fear and do a piece of serious investigative journalism into this matter.

It has and has had, serious implications for this country’s democracy in terms of whether the last elections were fairly conducted.

Is PM Patrick Manning always right and must he always get off the hook and treated as though he cannot do any wrong?

Always, while the UNC pays dearly for dropping a piece of paper on the ground?

I therefore call upon the four most respectable journalists attached to the various newspapers; journalists more than capable of getting the job done objectively, to please do some investigation, in the public interest, into this matter: Camini Marajh (Express), Suzanne Mills (Newsday), Gail Alexander (Guardian) and Sharmain Baboolal (TnT Mirror).

Please, I ask you to be fair in the public interest: was this claim really true and did the PNM really win the last election fairly?

THE EDITOR:
IN response to an article in your newspapers dated May 28, 2006, captioned “Government tells top cops: Take $200,000 and go quick” -- the three cops are said to be Commissioner of Police Trevor Paul, Deputy Commissioner Glen Roach and Acting Deputy Commissioner Winston Cooper.

Consequently, I fully endorse the government move to call on these senior officers to quit the Service.

The fact that they have lost the will to effectively manage the rank and file, thus putting any meaningful dent to the scourge of criminal activities as well as reckless behaviour in the Police Service.

I also support the idea that neither Glen Roach, Winston Cooper and/or Oswyn Allard should be considered for the post of Commissioner of Police when Paul retires.

The fact that these three senior officers are considered by the populace as “actors”, rather than command the respect by the rank and file to institute the desired measures to put the criminal element on the run as the late Commissioner of Burroughs had.

In contrast, I think the government should be anticipating to elevate Assistant Commissioner James Philbert and Assistant Commissioner Desmond Lambert to fill the void at the hierarchy in the Service.

Consideration should be put on Philbert as Commissioner of Police as these two officers I’ve found possess the education, charisma, competence, ability, respect, commitment and the will to restore the peace and tranquility in our country.

It is my view, the government should institute a comprehensive training programme with succession planning to correct the shortage of competent officers.

In retrospect, I welcome the change of promotion to that of a merit system, which will provide for the “right person” being promoted at the “right time”.

In conclusion, I think that the time has come for senior police officers to go out in the field periodically, to test the waters for themselves, so as to enable them to offer guidance appropriately.

I wish to advise that a manager cannot manage by remote control.

More importantly, we need a Commissioner of Police, who could effectively control the alleged “crooked cops” thereby eliminating the rise of police officers being sent to prison for criminal offences.

To date, there are approximately 26 police officers in jail -- serving prisons terms and/or awaiting termination of their cases. I hope the new Commissioner of Police could reverse this trend.

THE EDITOR:
SO Nizam Mohammed still hiding until the fire is over?

I cannot understand why experienced politicians like Nizam and Selby Wilson and some of these men don’t ask for a meeting with Kamla and the United National Congress (UNC) executive and talk some sense to them people.

I am sure these men know what the constitution of the UNC is and yet no one is getting involved to correct these misguided men.

If Nizam hoping that Panday will come riding into town on a chariot to rescue the party and give him a seat then he have a big surprise coming.

If he really want to do something then he should call a meeting when Winston Dookeran in the country and help to solve the problem.

Or, is he waiting for when Dooks leaves so he can make a guest appearance with Jack and his team of hijackers.

Come on Nizam, lend a helping hand.