Letter: Regarding 'What is in the deal for us?'
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| Published on Saturday, August 30, 2008 |
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Dear Sir:
I am writing with reference to Lloyd Noel’s published “What is in the deal for us?”
Having read many of Mr Lloyd’s articles over the years I have to say this is a man who knows his West Indian history, especially the period from the 50s to the present day and therefore the purpose of my letter perhaps is merely for additions and nothing more, or perhaps because I was born in St George’s and brought up in San Fernando although the bulk of my family lived in the Diego Martin area of Port-of-Spain.
Mr Lloyd is correct when he refers to the amount of Grenadians or people whose parents, grandparents, great grandparents and other relatives that are or were of Grenadian stock. When I lived there at times one wondered if they were any one left in Grenada. It is my belief that a long old and well established history in terms of Trinidadian nationals bond T&T and Grenada.
When Prime Minister Williams (the Doc) made his famous speech “one from ten leave zero” in the early 60s; Grenada was offered a chance to become an associated state with T&T. No one knows how serious the Doc was about achieving this but the Afro Caribbean population in Trinidad at that time were all for it and blamed Blades who was the Chief Minister of Grenada and Gairy the then Opposition Leader for their negative approach and attitude respectively. The Mighty Sparrow (Slinger Francisco), Birdie as he is well known was so annoyed with Gairy’s attitude he sang the calypso with the words “uncle what is wrong” and finished it with “Trinidad, Tobago and Grenada”.
When one comes to Grenada the great fear appears to be that the country is used as a dumping ground for T&T exports. Having political and economic union with an industrial powerhouse such as T&T the trend will no doubt continue therefore once again Mr Lloyd is correct in saying a balance would have to be made in terms of the transfer of operations of some light and high tech industries to Grenada to help balance trade and at the same time create real and lasting industrial jobs and off spins such as the supply and marketing sectors.
Grenada is not the Grenada of the 1960s; we now firmly believe that there is natural marine resources off our shores between Grenada and Trinidad and between Grenada, Trinidad and Venezuela. Trinidad which has been mining oil and gas since the 1930s has the technology including refining facilities. If the European Union can do it with fisheries we can do it with oil and gas. A union with T&T would also enable the region to process Grenada produce of spices and sell finished products to the world at large rather than exporting our raw materials cheaply and having to buy back the finished products at exorbitant prices.
What is to happen with the currency? The Central Bank of Trinidad and Tobago was established on independence and the country pulled out of the Eastern Caribbean Currency. I believe that T&T should rejoin the EC and the Headquarters of the Eastern Caribbean Currency should be transferred to what is now the Central Bank of T&T. If the Europeans could do it so could we.
Crime and terrorism is of great concern to everyone throughout the world; and the Caribbean is no exception; therefore; governments must ensure that enabling facilities are in place to meet these two challenges. A lot is dependant on education and social facilities also; jobs both short term and long term. Working and living in a healthy and clean environment is also a very important factor. Good healthcare; facilities for young mothers; a decent pension for the elderly; housing with at least the basic needs all helps to create an environment of inclusion that counteracts violence and crime.
The legal profession in Grenada and the way it operates does not help. Too many cases are being postponed and at the very last minute; too many cases seem to be dragging on for ever and ever with no end in sight; creating great stress and tension among individuals. The situation can easily result in disruption and violence in the home and among families as well as plaintiffs and defendants.
Appointments are not kept; clients are kept waiting sometimes for hours and with no account taken of other commitment/s these clients may have; surely this cannot be right. People who are after all paying for a service should be treated with more respect and dignity and I hope this new government in St George’s legislate to improve this service (though private) to include value for money and the extension of the services of the ombudsman with powers to investigate complaints from aggrieved clients and perhaps award compensation within an upper and lower limit.
In terms of crime and violence, perhaps Grenadians should compare their country to that of Tobago and stop going on about Trinidad after all; Trinidad is over ten times larger than Grenada in terms of land area and inhabitants, so what are we comparing crime figures with?
Winston Strachan
Northampton
England | | | | Reads : 262 |
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