Chambers set a precedent that Bas cannot ignore.

Well! Today marks a week since the long-simmering volcano erupted like a reborn Krakatoa, to catapult Kamla onto the hill which, before, I'd insisted, the time had come for her to be.

By any stretch of the rational process, seven days is more than enough time for the former Chief-in-Command to have done the honourable thing and step aside to give the newly-appointed Chieftess-in-Command all the room she needs to manoeuvre. To date, he has not. To date, therefore, she cannot.

Now! Both the ex-Chief is and attorney-at-law. So, too, are many weighing-in on the entire situation. Thus, rational beings expect that they all would be easily convinced of the urgency ---and decency--- of him taking his altogether exit, once a compelling precedent is found and presented. I believe I have found one.

On December 15th 1986, voters overwhelmingly sent then the PNM slate packing. So comprehensive was the humiliation that, in his own constituency, the leader of the PNM slate, then Prime Minister, George Michael Chambers, R.I.P., was trounced by a neophyte named Lincoln Myers. Immediately following such a defeat, George Michael Chambers, R.I.P., in his usual unassuming style, elevated his status from mere politician to statesman par excellence ---he gave up the political leadership of the PNM and resigned from political life.

There! Now that I've found and presented that precedent, what rational excuse can the former Chief-in-Command ---or his yet-adamant affiliates--- henceforth advance in his cause?

Sleeping elected and public officials.

Re: http://www.newsday.co.tt/crime_and_court/0,115077.html

The captioned Sunday Newsday article begins with this blast:

"SLEEPING in public places is a crime and on Friday a San Fernando magistrate fined eight persons found sleeping at a pavillion, market and in a cemetery. It is a crime under the Summary Offences Act and on Thursday night the San Fernando City Corporation conducted an exercise and rounded up persons sleeping in public places in the city."

My fanfare for this letter, however, says it all for me:

"Whilst at it, please round up those elected and public officials who, regularly, are seen sleeping at their posts!"

This is what we, the people, expected to see on the front page today.

You lost, okay? So, please, stop the shyte!

Re: http://www.trinidadexpress.com/index.pl/article_news?id=161587810

During the January 24, 2010, from about 4pm, I was a polling agent at the Tunapuna Hindu Primary School. Whilst functioning in that capacity, every time a person wishing to vote entered the polling station where I was stationed and showed a party card, I strenuously but politely objected to such a display, because the party card bears on its face the signature of Basdeo Panday inscribed above the words "Political Leader", which meant that the person was contravening election rule that debarred anyone coming into the polling station with such literature openly displayed. That rule, by the way, was made by an election committee that was appointed by those who lost the election, not those who won it.

The above is written to reinforce the reality that to display the party card within any polling station was taboo on election day. In any event, of the several hundreds who came onto the school compound that day only to be denied the chance to vote, nearly all had a party card in their possession. They were blanked because their names were not on the voters' lists used on the day. Those lists, by the way, were compiled by the said committee that was appointed by those who lost the election, not those who won it.

To read now of "thousands and thousands" of party cards being suddenly discovered at Rienzi Complex is a source of amusement as must as shame. Why? Because the ones who appointed the said committee at all material times had total control over the ins and outs of that property.

Accordingly, gentlemen, please stop the shyte! Your antics are pathetic...and that's a most diplomatic description, okay? You were soundly beaten, fair and square! Like I already said*, the mood of the electorate ---not just the UNC's, eh?--- is to defenestrate those blocking progress. Right now, the only thing between you and their wrath is the newly-elected Political Leader, Kamla Persad-Bissessar. If I were you, I'd hasten to perform aarti ( आरती ) to her to enhance the prospect of your being forgiven and welcomed back into the fold, as the prodigal son was, rather than continue your nonsensical display which can do naught but enhance your reputation as sore losers.

Alas! You are not I! Therefore, the best course now for each and every one of you is forthwith, if not before, to pack up and leave, lest there be fire instead of mere ire against you next time.

* What I previously said (corrected to reflect that Dr. Moonilal, not Comrade Wade, won one of the three Deputy Political Leader posts):

date: 26 January 2010 19:26
subject: CORRECTION: NATEX Election 2k10 Preliminary DMO Report: The fire next time?

Dear Honourable Elected Gentlemen and Gentlewomen who contested against and or openly decried and or campaigned against the "KamJack" candidates,

Someone has to break this bit of news to you:

In case you haven't yet gotten it, in the absence of a constitutional recall provision, the just-concluded National Executive election was, in fact, as much a referendum on your performance as parliamentary, local government or trade union representatives as it was on your guardianship of the party since you assumed the latter office.

That, except for Dr. Moonilal, the results turned overwhelmingly against each one of you ---especially, horror of horrors, in your own constituency--- shows quite vividly how despicable your performance as such representative had become ---in the eyes of the voters who, formerly, were utterly devoted to you, for, if your performance as parliamentary, local government or trade union representative was what it was supposed to be, one of two things would have happened:

1. You would have not been humiliated in your own constituency,
2. You would have accurately read the vibes of your constituents, thus been an avid supporter of the "KamJack" team.

It's now history what took place, therefore, if, somehow, you are to retain the salutation of honour for the time being prefixing your names, you must do the honourable thing and forthwith resign from elected  parliamentary, local government or trade union office, to let fresh minds vie for the thus-created slew of positions.

Any otherwise course, I fear, shall leave the newly-elected Political Leader with a string of albatrosses neath her tresses, which, in short order, may raise the still-seething ire of the waves who rejected you to such a pitch that'd ignite a fire next time.

New Toyota recall makes me recall and wonder about Giselle's horrible crash.

Just over a year ago, in a post entitled "In all fairness to Toyota!", I defended the good name of Toyota against B Joseph's allegations that inherent defects with the Yaris's structural design had contributed to Giselle Salandy's horrible death at the Killa Pillars of the Sea Lots overpass, Port of Spain.

Now, on reading of the total Toyota recall of several models over a gas-pedal flaw that triggers uncontrollable sudden and rapid acceleration, I'm not sure whether my defence, then, of the Yaris itself was flawed, in that, what if the Yaris also has the same death-inducing, sudden-uncontrolled-acceleration problem?

The entire issue again brings into focus yet another call I'd long ago made ---that there be urgently established an official agency to review, scientifically, all deadly/disastrous automobile crashes to determine whether faulty vehicle and or road design are to blame, rather than the persons behind the wheel. Please! Don't dare tell me the Licensing Office does that, okay?

Would somebody please tell Robinson to stuff it?

Re: http://www.trinidadexpress.com/index.pl/article_news?id=161585456

Since ah small I thought everybody know dat: "ah ounce ah prevenshun betta dan a pong ah cure!"; and: "ah stitch in time save nine!"; and: "it betta to take in front dan in front take yuh behine!"

Somebody, then, better tell that Colonel Robinson from Chief Executive Officer of the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Management (ODPM) to stuff it, because like he ent know?

If he did know, he'd appreciate that since right now we don't have any disaster to contend ---sidings to Patrick and Martin--- instead of going about the place bleating how prepared ODPM is, his time and authority would be better occupied in directing his fire towards the likes of the Environment Management Authority and Town and Country Planning Division: to have them immediately enforce the copius laws governing land use and building construction and maintenance in Trinidad and Tobago.

Obeahmanning loses its potency.

Golding told reporters afterwards that Jamaica will be working closely with the Obama administration during the next few days as relief efforts are intensified. [http://www.newsday.co.tt/news/0,114346.html]

A team of Jamaican doctors, along with support staff from the (Jamaican) Ministry of Health, landed in Haiti on Saturday morning to join medical personnel from around the world in the global rescue mission in the earthquake-wrecked Caribbean country. [http://www.newsday.co.tt/news/0,114357.html]

(Jamaica's) Ronald Jackson, director general of the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM)...who visited Haiti last week, with Prime Minister Bruce Golding and a Jamaican contingent that also included Opposition Leader Portia Simpson Miller, in a show of solidarity for the Haitian people. [http://www.newsday.co.tt/news/0,114358.html]

Yet, the man in charge of Trinidad and Tobago, who boasts of being able to see everything [www.obeahmanning.com] doesn't seem able to find his way ---except to the Dominican Republic--- where helping distressed Haiti is concerned. But, hey! Portia can! And she's not a Head of Government eh?

The portents are clear: thanks to its current leadership lack of leadership, Trinidad and Tobago is now the follower rather than guide and mentor where the health, safety and succour of the rest of the Caribbean as far as the rest of the outside world is concerned.

And, why shouldn't that be the case? Don't its  leaders pseudo-leaders habitually turn outwards to deal with their own personal issues ---they fix their eyes and heart anywhere but here and bring an outside Hart to fix us good and proper---- instead of exhibiting the self-reliance and resilience they tout us us having?

With such a history, is it any wonder that now we're reading that a Caricom neighbour who has nothing, has bolted to front in lending a CARICOM hand to a devastated Haiti?

But, take hope, people! At last the obeahmanning seems to be losing its potency. Maybe that's due to the widely-held high hope of a rising sun soon dispelling the long-prevailing darkness.

Wringing hands over Haiti.

Current (Haitian earthquake) death estimates: The Red Cross says 45,000 to 50,000 people have died. The Pan American Health Organization puts the number between 50,000 and 100,000.
Bodies collected for disposal so far: 9,000. An additional 7,000 corpses were reportedly placed in a mass grave. [http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/01/16/haiti-earthquake-death-to_n_425939.html]

A U.N. humanitarian spokeswoman declared the quake the worst disaster the international organization has ever faced, since so much government and U.N. capacity in the country was demolished. In that way, Elisabeth Byrs said in Geneva, it's worse than the cataclysmic Asian tsunami of 2004: "Everything is damaged." [http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/01/15/haiti-earthquake-aid-slow_n_425576.html]

How could such agencies not have been prepared for such a monumental disaster, given that, since the 1940s for sure, mankind has had the capability to wreak even worse devastation via nuclear weaponry and, given too that, over the years, trillions of dollars have been spent on preparing such international aid organisations for precisely what went down in Haiti?


Are we then, spinning top in mud by continued funding of bodies ---no pun intended--- as the United Nations and Red Cross?

I tell you, even as the hand-wringing continues, plans have to be made to lop off many heads immediately after the mayhem now occurring in Haiti eventually is brought under control.

Please, Gary! Lower your flag!

Dear Gary Hunt,
Minister of Sport,
Government of Trinidad and Tobago.

If you hadn't spent the 2...3...4 million to plant your pole in futile hope of burying a seed that'd lead to an outburst of national pride, we'd now have had every penny to expend on a much worthier cause ---that of bringing some relief to our bewildered neighbours in Haiti in this their hour of gravest need. [http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/gary-hunt-must-go]

Therefore, the least you and your Ministry can do is to bring your flag to half-mast as a mark of respect for the many thousand souls who so tragically lost their lives in that earthquake.

Maybe by doing that, a bit of what you said you expected to explode within us consequent upon your expansive expensive erection, would then fully impregnate us with love for country.

A Tale of Three Bailouts.

Dear Editor/Head of News,

The Facts:
1. We're bailing out Haiti. [http://www.newsday.co.tt/news/0,114110.html]

2. We were openly informed that TT$6.3m is what the Haitian bailout costs. [ibid]

3. The official reason only TT$6.3m was allocated was that, given our scheme of things, that's all we could afford. [ibid]

3. Prior to Haiti, we bailed out CL Financial (CL) [http://www.newsday.co.tt/news/0,94305.html].

4. Originally, we were not informed what the CL bailout costs/will cost us. [ibid]

5. Eventually, we learnt that the CL bailout hit/will hit us to the tune of TT$5b and counting. [http://guardian.co.tt/business/business/2009/04/24/cl-financial-bailout-cost-5-billion-over-two-years]

6. We're bailing out Air Jamaica (JAL). [http://guardian.co.tt/news/business-guardian/2009/12/30/air-jamaica-racks-us12-billion-debt]

5. Thus far, we are denied knowledge of what that bailout costs. [http://guardian.co.tt/business/business/2010/01/15/pm-manning-pulls-reins-airline-speculation]

Conclusions:
1. Given our scheme of things, the TT$6.3m figure for Haiti is a mere pittance.

2. Given our scheme  Uff of things, we may deduce the figure for JAL is not a mere pittance.

3. Bailing out a dying airline that, given the overall scheme of things, cannot/will not even breakeven is more important to the current crop of T&T decision-makers than extending a helping hand to our dying neigbours.

4. The only plausible explanation is that with the Haitian bailout, nothing can be skimmed Uff off the top.

Recommendations to The T&T Powers-That-Presently-Be:
1. Exhibit towards JAL the same cold-heartedness as you have done towards Haiti in this its darkest hour: let JAL crash. No Jamaican lives would be lost as a result...not even Jamaican pride, for they have Chris Gayle Usain Bolt. Then, JAL's whatever worthwhile assets may be acquired...on the cheap.

2. Pump the undisclosed/we-'fraid-to-disclose hundreds Uff of million$ instead into bringing immediate relief to Haiti...just as Haitians did for us when Flora hit, back in 1963, even though Haiti, then, herself had been ravaged by that awesome hurricane.

3. Let the Honourable Kamla Persad-Bissessar forthwith take charge of manning things in and of Trinidad and Tobago! That way, I would have no longer have to be out there castigating you for your constant stream of inanities.

Richard Wm. Thomas,
5rivers.kid.publik@gmail.com
Five Rivers,
Arouca,
Trinidad and Tobago.

Until we try we'll never know what we can do.

For more of my writings visit >>kid5rivers.com<< and >>www.pnm.org<< too!

Doh try dat, bmobile!

On January 14, 2010, at 1536 hrs, Trinidad and Tobago time, the following text message invaded my bmobile cellphone:

Please help Haiti. Text HAITI to code GIVE (4483) to donate $10.00.Bmobile sends all proceeds to Medianet & Red Cross Relief Funds. Give to save a life

It came from some number ---4483--- which logged in as BMobile.

If it's really bmobile, then I say: "Doh try dat, bmobile!"

And I say that because I want to know how much bmobile putting, since, at the end of the day, bmobile would announce with pomp and ceremony that it collected what? a million? 2 million? 3 million? without giving individual credit to the thousands who will give GIVE.

Me? I not giving bmobile a cent! Except if bmobile's gonna match what I give, Pandayesque-style ---dollar-for-dollar.

Oh God, Mr. Manning! Do something na? (Gruesome pictures, eh?)

Haiti: The gruesome reality, literally on the ground.

All I hear is the Minister of Foreign Affairs saying thank God, it only have one Trinbagonian in Haiti. She should be ashamed! Haiti is 5 hours away! We shoulda have people on the ground helping already! Oh God, Mr Manning! What you waiting for? When Tobago and north and northeast Trinidad get mash up by Flora in 1963, Haiti rush to help we. Oh God, Mr. Manning! Have a heart nah!

OMG, Manning! Haiti under real pressure! Make haste to send more help nah?

Despite its government's best spinmeistering, the truth of any country's magnanimity lies in what it actually does when calamity descends upon strangers within its borders, or upon its neighbours without.

Haiti, our Caribbean neighbour, has been reeling from the aftermath of last Tuesday's convulsion. Tangible help is urgently needed ---food, medical supplies, manpower to assist in the search-and-rescue effort and to maintain security.

Thus far, all we've heard is that Trinidad and Tobago, a country whose Gross National Income per capita exceeds TT$25,000.00, could only donate TT$4.67 per capita to help.

That, by any standard, is a most shameful figure, one which someone has already suggested to me should be flung back in our faces by the struggling Haitian community. Indeed, I concur, for the promised relief is nothing but a pittance, thus making the Manning-announced donation akin to a George Bovell III or Carlyle Blondell flinging a straw to a drowning man.

In T&T, we consume at least TT$1m per day in carbonated "sweet drinks"; TT$5.5m per day on subsidising vehicle fuel; and, TT$1m per day on unnecessary cellular phone text messaging and calls.

For the time being, then, could we not set aside some of the money we gladly expend on such superfluous luxuries to divert same, instead, to our devastated neighbours?

Richard Wm. Thomas,
Five Rivers,
Arouca,
Trinidad and Tobago.

PS: Notice I've not included Hart, who's shenanigans have costed us unbudgeted millions by way of a Commission of Inquiry.

Weep for Haiti...but save some tears for Trinidad and Tobago!

It is said ---and readily understood--- that when your neighbour's house is ablaze you must wet your own. The same commonsense rationale applies when your neighbour's house is rattled ---brace yours against vibration.

With that in mind, today I recommend that, as we weep for Haiti, we hold back some tears ---for Trinidad and Tobago--- because, were an earthquake not even as powerful as the Haitian one of a couple days ago here to hit for the same duration, all would be flattened...in one.

The authorities must immediately commence enforcing the laws and regulations governing building structural design and construction in Trinidad and Tobago and, like charity, the drive must begin at home ---with the massive public housing sector, where, for too long, shoddiness has been allowed to rule. For the life of me I cannot understand why inadequately reinforced buildings are permitted to be erected and or occupied.

This penchant to play Russian Roulette must be curtailed. And, while at it, let's also mandate that, henceforth, all buildings be insured , since, too often, property owners complain that they haven't a leg on which to stand, after some natural disaster wreaks damage and or destruction on their edifices. We have such compulsory insurance arrangements in place for cars motor vehicles, don't we? And, it's the product of enlightened governance that policies and rules beneficial to the whole be adopted and instituted where necessary, isn't it?

Aye! Our Haitian neighbours couldn't withstand the recent rattle. Let's, therefore, brace ours against any future vibration.

But, what if...?

Re: http://www.trinidadexpress.com/index.pl/article_news?id=161580321

The woman told officers that the man did some, ’spiritual work’ for her and she was simply attempting to pay him that afternoon.

The ’obeahman’ was later released. No charges were laid.

But, what if the man was a true-true obeahman? Wouldn't he have "commanded" his client to tell the police that everything was above board?

In any event, isn't it against the law for anyone to engage in the business of obeahmanning? ( NB: The expression "obeahmanning" is ©, okay?)

Leadership is not for prophets.

Anna: When you came back from London, you said the doctors told you that if you and a lion fighting, feel sorry for the lion. ...do you think that, as a successful lion fighter, you will be credible in 2010?
Basdeo: Apparently, I forgot to ask my doctors about lionesses [hearty laugh].

...Basdeo Panday, in response to one of the many questions Anna Ramdass put to him for purpose of her January 10th 2010 Sunday Express story. [http://www.trinidadexpress.com/index.pl/article_news?id=161580353]

Basdeo Panday is is known as the Silver Fox. He's thus known because nimbly ever he treads when in an around dangerous ground.

And, why shouldn't he? For the slightest faux pas exposes even the craftiest fox in a way he'd not prefer.

With this faux pas, this fox has finally exposed his truest colours ---that of a prophet!

No one needs to be reminded that a prophet's role is not to lead, rather to foretell events so that true leaders may know how to prepare themselves.

Leadership is for lohchos?

"I have said Mr Maharaj works hard. There is room for people like that in the politics. But not at the leadership."

...Basdeo Panday, in response to one of the many questions Anna Ramdass put to him for purpose of her January 10th 2010 Sunday Express story. [http://www.trinidadexpress.com/index.pl/article_news?id=161580353]

So! What dat mean? Dat leadership of the UNC is solely for lohchos?

Ah! Chuts man! No wonder dey doh want Kamla to get it?

Rent-setting capacity rent asunder?

Re: http://guardian.co.tt/news/politics/2010/01/10/minister-aims-legal-guns-landlords

So what does the host of Minister Peter Taylor and his PNM fellows intend? To deny good citizens what the State wishes and, apparently, has arrogated solely to itself?

Year after year, the administration of which he's a key part has been raising taxes. Taxes are the State's main source of revenue. Doesn't the contemplated rent-setting restriction rent asunder the landlord's capacity to do what the State regularly does?

Furthermore, isn't what Taylor wishes now to tailor a tacit admission that the Manning-led administration's housing programme is ashambles?

Prostituting principles.

Having previously written on the topic [it's also posted at: http://kid5rivers.blogspot.com/2010/01/ay-theres-rub-but-it-can-be-easily.html], I now wish to expand a bit on what I'd said of the enigmatic Local School Board (LSB) system.

The problem of the Local School Board goes beyond the existence of centralization in the administrative decision-making in the system ---even this centralized decision-making machinery could be effective, given the relative smallness of the geographical spread of country--- for the existing LSB system is merely a cut and paste hybrid of the original colonial blueprint, whose design and engineering were conceptualized to further an imperialist agenda.

However, the rub with that agenda was that it was based on extreme exploitation, discrimination, domination and suppression of the masses, thus was characterised by a narrow strategic apex that is reliant upon an integrated bureaucratic machine which seeks authority by decree from on high.

The system was designed, run and maintained by the British mercantile class which had accumulated tremendous competence in this ---enough to make a success, for a considerable number of years, of a global empire.

When the Empire disintegrated after World War Two and independence was bestowed upon us, the cadre of expatriate technocrats ---who were responsible for it's functioning and maintenance in the colonies--- quickly left, in droves, leaving a vacuum that defies the natural laws, as, more than fifty years later, it is yet to be competently filled.

That's why, throughout the public sector, though the second decade of the 21st millennium has arrived, we are still limping along. Hence, in the teaching service, the bureaucracy is so disjointed, sluggish and inefficient, that successive political administrations gravitate toward special-purpose state companies (SPSC) to execute their plans.

Furthermore, because this lethargic bureaucracy exists at all levels, the very creation of LSBs, PTAs, NPTAs and SPSCs to assist in the direction and management of schools is rendered severely hamstrung by the dearth of competencies in both the appointing and appointed officials, most of whom are unable to conceptualize and structure the work that needs to be done. Invariably, such paralysis proves to be a fatal defect.

This fatal deficiency is accentuated by the kinds of individuals who are usually appointed to the LSB by the political directorate. As a rule, government ministers are so freaked out by the public sector juggernaut that most of such appointees are there simply to macco ---interpret that in an unhealthy, Gestapo-type construct--- with absolutely nothing to offer in furtherance of the real work at hand.

All the above and what before was said, places the proactive principal in a Catch-22 position, as follows:

The school administrator who wishes to be proactive and to embark upon a journey of change and organizational transformation, then, inevitably, would experience excessive friction in relating to the disjointed/inefficient/absent bureaucratic supports.

Given the politicized environment in TNT ---and, the absolute power constitutionally due to the party gaining a majority of seats in a general elections--- to achieve some measure of sustained success in such a venture, such an administrator must have the necessary political connections and receive the sanction of the government of the day. Why? Because all such runs-in with the bureaucracy would be ultimately be adjudicated upon by political appointees at the strategic apex of the system.

School administrators, then, must have this cover if they want to get the job done. The alternative would be for them to master the art of brown-nosing, sacrificing political independence at the altar of expediency in the quest for a more noble and selfless objective.

Exit the proactive principal. Enter the prostitute proxy.

Here endeth.

Ay! There's the rub! But it can be easily scrubbed.

Re: http://www.trinidadexpress.com/index.pl/article_news?id=161579124

The last sentence of the sixth paragraph of the captioned Trinidad Express article goes like this:

"...However, with no one to monitor the afternon (sic) shift at 2 p.m., several of the pupils were unwilling to board the bus, saying that if they did, they would look like 'good children' and they did not want to look that way..."

Said article focuses on how day one progressed, regarding the implementation of the publicly-funded bus shuttle for students of the El Dorado East and West Secondary Schools.

The excerpt highlights what I view as the most significant part of the Express story and, of it,  the last three clauses I've further highlighted in yellow ---"yellow", to signal that, on encountering those clauses, we must hit the brakes and carefully consider the grave import they harbour if we continue reading while ignoring the grave societal consequences, indeed, such import portends.

People who know my authorship understand that my proclivity is to wield my pen with deadly intent, advocating against lackadaisical and malicious public policy and behaviour. It's true that I'm a foundation and lifetime member of the UNC and twice contested at general election level as a candidate for that party, but partisan interest has never inspired me, or clouded my judgement, whenever sticking it to the current administration during the past eight years. Thing is, the PNM, not the UNC, has invariably been on the receiving end by twist of fate, as the PNM, not the UNC, has been manning the store since December 24th 2001.

Thus, again, against the PNM I turn, to lambaste it for the many failures of official policy and behaviour education, of which the whole unwholesome El Do Blue vs Brown recent story represents the unholiest examples.

Wikipedia summates that:

The saying ("It takes a village to raise a child!")...originated from the Nigerian Igbo culture and proverb "Ora na azu nwa", which means "It takes the community/village to raise a child!"


The Igbos also name their children "Nwa ora", which means: "Child of the community".


(The saying) has been in existence in Africa for centuries. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/It_Takes_a_Village]

Because the truism is of African origin does not preclude the universality of its meaning...or application ---adults, everywhere, are the product of the life-lessons their different environments administered to them on the trail to adulthood, none moreso, as any student of psychology would advise, than those absorbed during the pre-adolescent years of their existence, when lasting impressions are imprinted by an infant's mimicking of constantly-present mentors.

The human learning process is a straightforward one; and, as with all courses of frankness, unyielding in its adherence to the action-and-inevitable-reaction IT rule of "GIGO" (Garbage In, Garbage Out). Thus, if our adults of whatever age are messed-up, then whoever had the job of nurturing them in their childhood botched it.

Bluntly speaking then, the El Do students less concerned with the nicety of publicly-provided, from-the-schoolgate transport than the "negative" impact such nicety would have on their rudeboy/rudegal public image, are merely symptomatic of the deeper malaise of the village abandoning its sacred duty, or, worse yet, the village deliberately ---or, unwittingly--- inculcating in such children the Garbage that the rudeboy/rudegal style is the preferred option.

The latter argument seems the more plausible of the two. The "village", you see, is the euphemism for "authority figure". When the village signals that criminals and criminal behaviour are adorable not detestable, then, what else besides what those bus-wary El Do students have expressed are we expect?

The record shows that the capo di tutti Trinidad and Tobago capi, P@rick Manning, immediately post his 2001 installation as Prime Minister, summoned and entertained ---in full public glare and at full public expense--- the roughest of the rough of Trinidad and Tobago, ostensibly to foster peace amongst them. There followed, in quick succession, a number of meetings between him and them, resulting in insistent allegations that, at his directive and supervised by his then blue-eyed baby, Joan Yuille-Williams, the gates to The Treasury were flung open to gush forth handsome largesse for them.

The allegations seem with merit, as, all at once, men and women of society's periphery seemed transformed to the nouveau riche: witness how, in the deep squalor of Eastmoorings and other PNM-created ghettos, creature comforts galore giddily gallery and Johnny Walker Blue brushes brews much sterner but local in origin.

Thing is, the more the cash was let loose in exchange for nothing, the worse the crime situation ---especially the murder rate--- became.

But, lest the hewers of stone and drawers of water presume my wrath is turned against them, let me quickly interject that, perhaps the greatest negative influence upon the impressionable youth population has been the private and public lifestyle and conduct of those holding high public office, since public officials tend to forget that, as public officials, their every move is open to scrutiny and comment, despite their best efforts at concealment.

In Trinidad and Tobago, across the board, public highmen and highladies have been as disdainful of the rule of law as the worst of the common criminal. Witness, for instance, how scantily they follow the rules when spending of the people's money is involved. Why, even the Minster of Housing just recently was forced to confess that, for years, her Ministry has been doling out of the public purse in a most arbitrary manner. Furthermore, despite her self-encomium of finally fixing the problem, fact is, reading between the lines, what she really said was that since she became Minister --- more than two years ago--- only friends and family of the PNM have been getting her Ministry's contracts.

Of the hewers of stone and drawers of water, there's a small segment of the population that still regards the current administration with love, so would rush to defend Dick-Forde by harking to some crap the UNC did when it was in power. I won't respond to them when they do. Instead, I'll leave them to wallow in their own imminent misery, as, soon enough, they themselves shall have no recourse other than the Valley Road...or, the Rowley one. But, I digress.

Such aversion by our leaders to following prescribed proper principles has inevitably impressed the impressionable that it's okay to do wrong...once you're not caught.

That's why wrongdoers go to the extreme to avoid prosecution:

• with the hardened and callous criminal, the extreme might mean threatening violence against or killing a vital prosecution witness ---that lesson our young have learnt well from the village: remember the incident where one student got a brick to the head because he ratted on his errant schoolmates? The brick was accompanied by the dire warning that "informers does dead eh".[http://www.newsday.co.tt/crime_and_court/0,111102.html]

• with the consummate crooked civil official, that might mean "forgetting to do your homework" of gazetting a legal notice of a some inquiry or the other.

So when the secondary school student brags that riding public transport lessens his bravado, that's not mere testosterone barking, rather, well-reasoned thought, thought that was ingrained by years of assimilating how their village elders operated.

In the Shakespearean expression ---"Ay! There's the rub!"--- the means to assuage the problem then to teach our young uns right dressage is to be found. For, lest diligently and differently the today's village scrubs the brains of its youth, when they become adults they'll not be anything worthwhile. The solution, then, is to locate the rub, then scrub it good and proper, as we say, in our neck of the woods.

In this instance, concerted and coercive political will must come to the fore, as it's to politicians this village, by tradition, has endowed all power to get the village moving in this whatever direction or that. That means lip service must now be flipped behind us and shoulders put to the wheels by legislating in order to shape our culture in a way that promotes rational not antisocial behaviour.

Simply put, the village lacks discipline! Without discipline, everything may be ventured, but nothing ever gained. Instill proper discipline and, presto, all will be manageable.

Ay! There goes a rub! See how easy it was for it to be scrubbed?

Now! As I understand it, El Dorado East Secondary School (El Do Blue) is one of the few schools designated as "Magnet Schools". Quoting directly from the 2007 Budget Speech, we learn that:

"...under the Secondary Education Modernisation Programme there is a magnet school programme, now piloted at 16 secondary schools. This programme allows students to pursue special concentration in areas such as Business; Visual and Performing Arts; Science; Information Technology; Physical Education; and Languages.


Such training will meet their particular talents and better equip them for the world of work and afford them technological empowerment which is critical in the fast paced, changing global economy.


Given the benefits to be derived through the magnet school programme, it is envisaged that more schools will introduce this programme. The additional specialised teaching resources and specialised equipment which would be required will be made available by the Government..." [See: page 21 ofhttp://www.ttparliament.org/hansards/hh20061004.pdf]

The mouth ex which the above verbosity exuded was no other than that of the one in whom most de jure and all de facto powers reside, the Prime Minister.

Yet, despite El Do Blue being magnetized for Physical Education, the proper curriculum, adequate physical infrastructure and other support facilities for successful execution of such mission is still to be provided...by the government; and, of what has been provided, the contractors who did the job fully to be paid.

When Esther Le Gendre was installed as Minister of Education, the El Do Blue villagers were elated. And, why not? After all, she had just been elected as the Parliamentary Representative for the constituency of Tunapuna ---in the heart of which the school is situated--- and, as is commonly known, a representative who holds a Cabinet post also holds to the tradition of ensuring that, at least, the benefits to be derived via that post are allocated to his constituency, ent?

But, the harsh reality is, since she was given the Education portfolio, whatever positive has been done, whether by way of what's required or what has been accomplished, has come not by dint of her proaction, rather by the continued unstinting effort of the former acting Principal and a few staff members and parents, all of whom, for years, have been digging deep into their personal resources to purchase goods and services needed to set their educational village right.

When the system collapses, not a scapegoat, rather, those who engineer the system must offer up their necks to be axed ---as seems to have occurred at El Do Blue.

How, then, may Minister Esther not take the blame for the negative news emanating from both El Do schools, seeing that, since her elevation, she has not lifted a single finger to make good on what her boss promised of the only Magnet School in her voting district...except if the buck does not really stop with the one who, ultimately, has charge of it?

Ay! There goes another rub! See how easy it was for it to be scrubbed?

Which turns the conversation to the issue of Local School Boards (LSB). Again, quoting directly from an official publication, we learn that:

Local school boards have been identified as one of the facets through which greater autonomy of schools can be achieved. They are bodies of no more than ten persons who are to support the administration of the school.[http://www.moe.gov.tt/about_faq_lsb.html]

All good and proper, except that only lip service has been paid as practically all decision-making, to this day, remains the jealous grip of the Ministry's Head Office and the Teaching Service Commission. Thus, decisions regarding staff matters take forever to be made, regardless of the gravity of the issue.

The solution is to implement the long-announced decision to let the LSB take charge. If to do that it'd require a nod from the Prime Minister, so be it, let him just do it!

Ay! There goes another rub! See how easy it was for it to be scrubbed?

As if that's not bad enough, the composition of the LSB itself fosters its failure:

Local school boards are composed as follows:

• The principal
• A member of the school staff
• A member of the recognized teachers’ union
• Two members of the majority parent-teacher association (PTA) of the school
• A representative of the past pupils’ association (if there is one)
• Three persons from within the community in which the school is based, nominated by the Minister of Education as he deems necessary
• A member of the student body

Thing is, the above structure presumes that a secondary school, such as the El Do ones, has a student population exclusively from the school's immediate geographic location and that staff members have children or children of friends and family attending such schools, when the reality is that it does not. Because of that misconception, where LSBs do exist, the members are clueless, thus occupy themselves with vacuous matters or, at best, see themselves, as too many do, just there for the ride and not to help steer the boat.

It's easier to shift the composition of the LSB than those of the school student or staff populations, therefore, the better option would be to structure the school board as follows:

• The principal
• Four (4) members of the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) of the school, one of whom must be a member of the school staff, with only the parent-members being eligible to be Chairman
• A representative of the past pupils’ association (all schools must have one)
• A member of the student body
• The Facilities Manager of the school ---non-voting
• The Head of Security at the school ---non-voting

The decreased size of the LSB would increase its efficiency and, the inclusion of the Facilities Manager and Head of Security as non-voting members, provides for timely input from those two vital sectors whenever decisions need to be made.

Ay! There goes another rub! See how easy it was for it to be scrubbed?

But, merely to tweak the composition of the LSB is not sufficient, given the magnitude of the existing problems. As already identified, delayed provision of needed goods and services has been a perennial stymie. Again, the reason is that, regarding decisions of day-to-day matters at the front, virtually all power lies concentrated in the hands of public officers based in the Ministry of Education's Port-of-Spain Head Office and, sometimes, in the hands of officers who, in the rank of things, are junior to the general commanding the troops on the firing line.

Invariably, therefore, the Principal who yearns to use initiative, though officially in charge of the school, doesn't have much wriggling room...except if he/she is as strong-willed and determined as Morgan Freeman showed how the real-life Joe Clark was ---in the movie classic, "Lean on Me". [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lean_on_Me_(film)] And, in such paucity of wriggling space, most of them simply resort to gazing into space ---twiddling their thumbs in abject hopelessness as they bide their time till their first pension check arrives.

Ay! There goes another rub! See how easy it was for it to be scrubbed? So, since it's so easy, I'll leave the rest of the scrubbing for others to do.