Statistics

At breakfast this morning, my second son, who works in international development, had brought up the topic of statistics in the Caribbean, and more broadly the world. He shared how he was gathering data on coral reefs in the Caribbean, and had pointed out that the statistics he had found were either outdated or inconsistent, with the most common reference dating back to 2012 - some 14 years ago!! A good example of why this type of statistic is relevant is our own Buccoo Reef in Tobago which has died thanks to pollution and unsustainable tourism.

I have always thought that our statistics in Trinidad and Tobago (as well as the Wider Caribbean) are woefully inaccurate and out of date e.g., the statistics on the relative sizes of our populations in the Caribbean and in Trinidad and Tobago. Our latest statistics show a population of 1.37 million people but I believe that this is not accurate. Do I have statistics to back this up? No. It is just a feeling that I have had for the longest while.  

If anybody has the latest official statistics on T&T's population size, I would welcome them. I have found that some sites are in fact really best guesses based on historical data and are probably or possibly inaccurate. 

The truth is that as a region, we lack the resources to adequately invest in data collection, but data collection is critical for our leaders to make proper and relevant decisions.  

HOW MUCH DID BALISER HOUSE ACTUALLY COST?

How much did Balisier Hose actually cost and why does it matter? It matters because the PNM is a political Part with asperations  (and  a possibility) of brcoming the nrxt Government in Trinidad & Tobago. It matters because it was reported just before the start of construction that the PNM had a deficit of $4 million. Was this true? It matters because there has been no explanation as to where the money came from to build and rebuild what was an obviously multi-million dollar construction. It matters because there are rather serious accusations that the money came from bribery; these accusations have never been properly addressed other than blanket denials of the bribery allegations.

As was said at the beginning, the PNM is a political Party. A political Party does not have the luxury afforded to other indidviduals or private entitities, i.e., that a private individual (or a private company) in normal circumstances can refuse to answer  or give any explanations as to his/her/its sudden wealth. A political Party must be COMPLETLY transparent in ALL of its dealings. At the moment, the PNM is failing in this and seems to be relying on race to get it "over the top". That won't work again.

There may be very good and reasonable explanations (backed up with appropriate evidence) as to how much Balisier House actually cost and where the money came from. Untl such  explanations are forthcoming  there will be very ugly and most unfortunate suspicions that the laws of defamation prevent from being published - and that is not good enough!

MURDER

 MY COUSIN was murdered 29 years ago today, One of his best friends murdered him. I saw this "friend" about a week ago in one of the finer restaurants in Port of Spain. He was alone. Frankly, I didn't recognize him at first, I hadn't seen him since my cousin's funereal. He had grown very fat AND had become very, very ugly.  Indeed, he  was so ugly that I was reminded  of the old saying that the person who you become at the end of your life shows in your face.  Certainly, he was very ugly and looked  very unhappy.  I can't say that I was sorry.

I know that he is now very wealthy - he could probably buy me out 10 times over - but I wouldn't trade places with him for any amount of money.  Even ugly people are good looking underneath   their inherent goodness always shines through. But, he was ugly - in the true sense of the word!                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

THAT ZOSO BILL

There is a big  'brouhaha' going on, and justifiably so, as to whether or not two independent Senators had asked for Government work in exchange for their voting in favour of the ZOSO Bill. The   body of independent Senators deny this while those on the Government side insist that it is true. The problem here is that it can't be proven one way or the other. There is absolutely no physical evidence,

Probably most (if not all) supporters of the PNM will believe that the accusation is false while most UNC supporters will think otherwise. They (the UNC supporters will say that it is highly believable  while the PNM supporters will say 'bring the  (justiciable) evidence (and from the story as reported there is none). 

That is not to say that it did or didn't happen; it just means that an accusation like this can't be proven one way or the other, and calls for a police investigation takes the matter no further, while it might be good politics for the PNM to say so. While probably, the best thing for the PNM will be to effectively say "prove it", the reality is that it can't. be proven - remember that a person is not guilty unless an accusation can be proven without a shadow of a doubt. If you were at my house at midnight and nobody saw you. You lie and say that you weren't there and I say that you were - who will you believe? There will be no evidence other than my word against yours.

Perhaps the best thing for the country will be to ban ALL  Members of Parliament and their families from getting any Government contracts. What do you think?

THE FALL OF THE DONKEY - Part Two

 It is clear that while Maburro  ( the misspelling is deliberate) is gone , that his policies aren't, and the the rather transparent excuse that he was a drug trafficker was just that - an excuse. This is not to say that he wasn't at least turning a blind eye to the trafficking and that he was not part of the drug dealing. But we should note that the Americans have not pursued the drug dealing and have instead turned to the real reason that the Donkey was removed, i.e., oil.

President Drumpf (again the misspelling is deliberated) has very correctly said that the Cubans, Chinese and others have been stealing Venezuela's oil for the last 20 years or so and that he is going to correct this theft and pay Venezuela and whatever he buys he will be  making sure that whatever  he pays goes into Venezuela and not into personal pockets. He is correct, of course.  For too long Venezuela has been ripped off  by rapacious politicians.

But here is where the Americans are running into trouble. They are accusing Maburro & Co. of turning     an entire nation into a massive drug cartel,  Of course we have to wait for the trial of the Donkey and his wife, but even if one-tenth of the charges that we know so far are true, the story is a dreadful one. But (and it is a big "But") Drumpf has left the entire Cabinet of Maburro in place. Nothing seems to have changed  and of the many political prisoners   arrested and  held without  cause other than being opposed to the Donkey, nobody of any consequence is being released. But the new regime has seen it fit to release two dead people together with some 75 out of more than 800 that they ere supposed to free and not counting the many others.

Apart from a change at the top, nothing has really changed - at least, not yet! There is still some hope.  So, keep  holding your breath. 

RELIGION

 There are three main religions in T&T : Hinduism Islam and Christianity.All of these are divided up  by their followers - some more than others, But the best explanation I have ever heard came from  a very good friend of mine - Cleveland Garcia -who died in May, 2022. 

He fell in love with a Moslem girl and married her in 1990 after converting to Islam. When I asked him why he had converted, he simply replied" There are many ways up the mountain but there is only one mountain top.  I love her and changing my religion affect my belief in God." He then added  "All the religions point to one Superior Being - they use different names and different  methods of worship, but at the end of the day they all come down to one thing: they all believe in one Superior Being! It made her happy that I converted - and making her happy was my sole intention: Nothing else mattered"

Garcia lived with and loved his wife for 32 years. Like most married couples they had their share of ups and downs,  but hat he never stopped loving her and she him and isn't that whal life and God are all about?

When I thought about it, I realized that he was absolutely correct!  You believe that you have to go to church (or mosque or temple) every day while I believe that  It doesn't matter. You are going up the South West  side of the mountain while I believe that the North Eastern side is the best side, But aren't we all trying to get to the top of the mountain? The same mountain?

THE FALL OF THE DONKEY - Part one

 Well, the Donkey who was in charge of Venezuela is effectively no more. That most people in Venezuela will be happy to see him go is a given. But (and it is a big "BUT") there are too many unanswered questions, the biggest of which is what happens next? Just about everybody who held some sort of position in Maburro's (the misspelling is deliberate) regime is still there ranging from the acting president Dlcy rodriguez, to the head of national security. So? What is the plan? 

I saw a report on the internet that has not been picked up by other major news outlets which has not repeated, that the CIA had suborned Maburro's security detail about 18 months ago. If true, this could make some sense as it is difficult to imagine that the President of Venezuela could be taken without a shot being fired. 

Of course there are those, who having kept quiet about the Donkey and his misdeeds for years, are now finding their voice over Drumpf's (again the misspelling is deliberate) clearly illegal act should we (i.e. T&T) be worried?

Frankly, I don'i think so. The fall of the Donkey really has no implications for us - unless, of course, there are citizens who are involved in the drug trade. But Drumpf's actions were really mote about oil than drugs. But, we shall see in due course. While our media will play it down, clearly the American media will not.

One thing is clear though: Power comes out of the mouth of a gun!

Happy New Year

 May I wish everybody a happy and prosperous 2016.. For some people 2025 was a hard year full of turmoil. For others, things went well and they ended the year on a high. For still others the year was a 'mixed bag' of highs an. Wherever you were in the mix I sincerely hope that things will be good for you this year,

MERRY CHRISTMAS

 Christmas is probably my favourite holiday of the year - not for religious reasons, but because it promotes goodwill like no other holiday can or does. This is not to say that other holidays don't. It's just that in my opinion Christmas does it best.

One of my best friends - he's dead now, poor fellow was a Muslim. He used to invite me every year for Eid-ul-Fitr. That I enjoyed the meal as well as the invitation went without question. But there wasn't the same 'camaraderie' (for want of a better word) amongst the other guests that I feel at Christmas time. And I will readily admit that my background might make me  a little biased, though I don't think that I am. And I should mention that I have always enjoyed the lights of Divali.

But Christmas has always been a special time for me and I just wanted to tell everybody that I honestly hope that everybody has a good and joyful Day regardless of one's own personal religious beliefs.

THE INABILITY OF THE MEDIA TO TELL US WHAT IS REALLY GOING ON

 I have complained about it before : the inability/unwillingness for the local media to report the news in any meaningful way. Take for example , the dispute between President Maburro of Venezuela and President Drumpf of the United States. (Both misspellings are deliberate.) Four days ago my Venezuelan wife played for me two separate recordings from two different radio stations in Caracas in Spanish. The sum total of their news was that a small private plane carrying four Cubans blew up over Maiquetia airport, the main airport for Caracas. (My Spanish is not that good, but she translated for me.)

I have no way of verifying whether this report is true or not, but shouldn't it have been reported in our press one way or the other? Assuming (though certainly not accepting) that the report is accurate isn't this something to be concerned  about? I mention this only because I heard the two separate reports personally. After all, how often does a private plane blow up? And carrying four Cubans?! And when Drumpf is basically at war with the Donkey?

T&T is going to get caught between the two leaders. How it will end ought to be a matter of serious concern for us --regardless of those side you are on. We need to know what is going on, not only in our own country, but in the world as well. The duty of any newspaper is to report the facts -all of them -as fairly and accurately as possible. Comment is free, but facts are sacred.

Let me put it this way: do you think that our local media are reporting all the facts accurately?

MABURRO vs. DRUMPF (Part Four)

 Tomorrow (Tuesday) marks the end of the week that President Drumpf gave the Venezuelan President to clear out. I think that I will lose my bet (with myself only) that Drumpf will not order any type of invasion to remove the Donkey. I say this because this morning a private plane from Cuba carrying 4 Cubans blew up over Maiquetia (the international airport of Caracas). There is little doubt in my mind that this private plane was blown up by an American drone strike. I mean, how often does a small private plane blow up? And carrying 4 Cubans as well? Clearly, the Yanks mean business.

I have lost my bet (with myself only). I had bet myself that Drumpf, fearing international and  South American responses, would conclude that it was too risky and not in the best interests of the united States to invade Venezuela. After all, countries don't have friends - they have interests! That approximately 80% of Venezuelans want to see the Donkey gone is also irrelevant.

Well,  we'll see what happens next. I can't say that I will be sorry to see Maburro gone. He has (with not little help from the Cubans) managed to destroy the richest country in South America and caused one third of the country's population of approximately 30 million people to migrate. Can you imagine how traumatic it must feel awful to believe that you have no real choice other than to leave your family and friends behind?

No. Much as I dislike the American President, he has my full support if he removes Maburro.

MABURRO vs DRUMPF (Part Three)

 My Venezuelan wife showed me two news reports out of South America this morning. Because my Spanish is not that good she translated both for me. 

Thr first one dealt with the arrest and imprisonment (without a trial) of a teacher who had apparently disciplined a  child who was the son of a high ranking official in Maburro's government (the misspelling is deliberate). Please note: NO TRIAL!

The second one dealt with the arrest and detention of several young people (again without trial) who had dared to be physically present in a demonstration against the  Donkey when he stole the Presidential elections in Venezuela.

My wife's point in our conversation was that despite the wrongdoings of the Donkey, the North American press as     well as the English press is absolutely silent on these wrongs.

Obviously, American President Drumpf is aware of what Maburro -with the active help of the Cubans - i is doing. He has hung his hat on the drug issue (which Maburro is also guilty of) and will probably invade Venezuela. The vase majority of Venezuelans will be only too happy when that occurs

By the way, I challenge the Donkey to sue me in Trinidad  for defamation. I can prove that he is a crook and that every thing that I have said is true. There is no way that I would be stupid enough to submit myself to the whims and fancies of the Donkey's corrupt regime.

MABURRO vs, DRUMPF (Part Two)

 It is now crystal clear that President Drumpf wants to get rid of President Maburro (the misspelling of of both names is deliberate) and will order the invasion of Venezuela very soon, Drumpf is probably being advised not to do this, that there is a large probability that regime change - no matter haw awful Maburro's regime is - and it is awful - there could be unintended consequences, such as an even worse regime gaining power.

You have to remember that countries don't have friends - they only have interests. Drumpf is going to have to explain sooner or later why he felt that it was in his country's interest to remove Maburro. Frankly, the drug argument  is not a very good reason. And a majority of migrants will not return so that argument too will not work. I am acutely aware that no right thinking person can or even should support the Donkey. But  attention has to be paid to the consequences of his removal by external force from another country.

We would then be saying in essence that if the American President - whoever he or she might be - he/she would have the right to interfere with the will of the people of whatever country that may have annoyed the particular President.

Here in T&T we're going to have to be very careful. Our problem is that Rowley's PNM openly sided with Maburro and supported the Donkey even when it was not in our interests to do so. Kamla, in contrast, has openly supported the Americans  where it might not have been terribly wise to do so. That there will be consequences for Drumpf's coming invasion of Venezuela is clear. What these consequences will be for us  is not so clear. 

 

                                              SHUBH DIVALI

There are by my (very wild) guess at least a billion Hindus in the world. Whether or not this guess is accurate does not take away from the fact that Hinduism is one of the most important religions of the world. Indeed, here in T&T its importance is recognized by a public holiday. In T&T Hindus account for about 45 percent of the population and the fact that its importance was not recognized in the "good" old colonial days, did and does not (and should not) diminish its importance.

My understanding of Divali is that it represents the triumph of light over darkness and that it is traditionally held on one of the darkest nights of the year. Whether or not my understanding is correct, the fact is that it is right and proper for all of us to pay respect to and honour this great religion on one of its  most important days  of the year. Happy Divali to all.

Shubh Divali.

ARE THE BANKS REALLY A LAW UNTO THEMSELVES?

 it doesn't feel like a big thing, but gradually - ever so gradually - the banks in this country are collectively  making life more difficult for all of us. What am I talking about? let me give you a very smn small example:

My balance has gone completely "wonky". It is now extremely difficult, and almost close to impossible, to do ordinary things like get out of a chair. Standing up for even a moment is almost impossible. When my balance first started going "off" I went to my doctor who told me that nothing short of an operation on my brain could stop the problem - and there was no guarantee that it would solve it, Unsurprisingly, I turned i t down  down preferring to live with the problem than having somebody operate on my brain. I  am a lawyer. for crying out loud!  What could I do to make MY life better? I thought that perhaps the answer lay in giving somebody that I trusted implicitly a general power of attorney, so that my attorney could handle everything for ne while I was still alive. So said, so done. I gave my wife my power of attorney and arranged for her to be able to sign all of my accounts - both  business and personal. So you can imagine my great surprise when I was told that I had to go in person to collect my  new debit card, 

Why? 

Apparently, the bank feels that they are protecting me, despite the fact that the power of attorney which I gave to my wife is registered and is valid. According to the bank they don't feel that they have to follow or accept the law, Basically, they are saying that the law is whatever they say that it is..

 So the next time that a lawyer advises you to give someone a power of attorney be aware that there are those who feel that they don't have to accept it. And this applies to everything else as well, the law is whatever the banks say that it is - and they are free to change it at any time..

Perhaps I should add a little post script - the bank in question was RBC Royal Bank and the head of tits legal department was too busy to speak to me. (The manager of the branch (Maraval) was very nice but she could do nothing 

And this advice goes for everything else else as  well.