The reason why missives "to the editor" are addressed to the editor is, that they may be thoroughly vetted before decision to print is taken.
Now! The media has had in its possession a copy of the lists of recipients of the Culture Ministry's scholarships. So, one would have expected that, on receiving the captioned "letter to the editor", signed "A. Alexander", the Newsday's editorial staff would have rushed to see whether there is in fact an "A Alexander" amongst those named on those lists and what university the listed "A Alexander" attended to pursue what course of study on our, the people's money, ent?
Having access to such a list, then seeing "A Alexander" writing to complain how 'ashamed, annoyed and disgruntled that Sen Wade Mark...would make the foolish remark that “only PNM supporters and friends knew about this.” ', I decided to do what the Newsday editor didn't and, guess what? "A Alexander" seems to be hiding, though attempting to come clean.
First off, the time lines "A Alexander" establishes don't add up: see here [the highlights are mine]:
I...started my tertiary education in September 2003 in the
multi-cultural, multi-ethnic University of the West Indies with limited
financial resources...
After completion of my first year of studies and during the summer vacation, I along with another colleague from the group, decided to research some of the mentioned institutions that offer scholarships or bursaries...
I was also subjected to a means test and had to be interviewed for further consideration before I received any grant. I eventually received the grant/bursary for my second year of studies and had to go through the entire process if I were to receive subsequent grants/bursaries. I applied again for the grant/bursary in my final year of studies and was successful in attaining such.
After completion of my first year of studies and during the summer vacation, I along with another colleague from the group, decided to research some of the mentioned institutions that offer scholarships or bursaries...
I was also subjected to a means test and had to be interviewed for further consideration before I received any grant. I eventually received the grant/bursary for my second year of studies and had to go through the entire process if I were to receive subsequent grants/bursaries. I applied again for the grant/bursary in my final year of studies and was successful in attaining such.
They don't add up because there are only two names that match that of "A Alexander" on the released lists, both appearing the same year ---2007--- and for courses pursued at foreign universities, not local or regional ones ---"A Alexander" handily suggests that it was at UWI, St Augustine, "A Alexander" was studying, nowhere else.
Moreover, if "A Alexander" began studies in September 2003, then, by September 2007 Ministry of Culture Financial Year, such course of study would have long been completed. Hence, it would have been impossible for "A Alexander", then, to apply for the grant
In other words, again, "A Alexander" is hiding, yet pretending to come clean!
The best I can make of it is that "A Alexander" is a PNM stooge, attempting to do what stooges do: cover crap deposited by their overlords. "A Alexander" made that plain by penning the epilogue this way:
Nowhere in the entire process was I
asked for my political affiliation or told that I would have to work
for the Government or the PNM. Why do politicians always have to bring
it down to race, politics and even religion? Is this what our society
has really come to?
Apart from the abhorrent faux pas of ending with a preposition, that amazing, parting shot opens a whole new can of worms, of which, time not now permitting, on another occasion, God willing, I shall treat...in depth.
Meantime, where parting shots are concerned, this truncated one, only, be mine:
"...And may God bless our nation!"
Interesting, I did not know about this... thanks for the update
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