Kevin Baldeosingh - Things that make me go Hmm

Things That Make Me Go Hmm

04 February 1999, 889 words

For most of his career, the present Police Commissioner was known as Kenny Mohammed. Not Noor Mohammed, or even N.Kenny Mohammed or even Noor Kenny Mohammed.But as soon as the UNC became the government, he "discovered" his real name and, a few weeks ago, his real birth date. Hmm.Is Noor Kenny Mohammed just a figment of his own imagination? Has anyone ever seen him in the same room with himself?
Quite frankly, I don't believe in sticking to principle unless doing so has practical effects.The trouble is, I'm always finding that principles do.For instance, the1997 World Bank Report ( titled The State in a Changing World) says, "To prosper, economies need institutional arrangements to resolve disputes among firms, citizens and governments...the separation of powers heightens confidence in the stability of rules." Hmm.So I wonder what effect the government's interference in the Police Service is going to have on Trinidad and Tobago's financial stability a few years down the line?
Especially since the same Report notes that of all institutions, "none...is more important than the judiciary.It alone has access to the coercive authority of the State to enforce judgements." Of course, that second point doesn't apply if the COP is a political pawn. Hmmm??!!
If you don't think this kind of thing affects investment, think again. One study in the same Report notes, "A survey of local entrepreneurs in 69 countries showed that many States are performing their core functions poorly: they are failing to ensure law and order, protect property, and apply rules and policies predictably.Investors do not consider such States credible and growth and investment suffer as a consequence." Hmm!So people with businesses who have illegally trespassed on the highway verge have felt the full weight of the law, but the Attorney-General swears to protect squatters on Caroni land.That deserves another Hm!
The first casualty of such politics is always truth. Kamal Persad, in the Express of July 14, writes one long article showing the "black-owned" newspapers have been attacking Indians even before they came to Trinidad in 1845.Veteran journalist George John replies in a letter to the editor, pointing out that slavery had just ended and no newspaper was black-owned in in the early 20th century and, indeed, the only non-white newspapers officially listed, though short-lived, were in fact Indian-owned.Hmm. Could Persad's article be called "an historic paranoia"?
Meanwhile, Peter Hanoomansingh writes an article in the Independent some weeks ago, quoting phrases about Indians from Wayne Brown's past columns to show that Brown is racist. Brown replies with fuller extracts of these same quotes, showing that the same phrases Hanoomansingh chose were from columns actually celebrating Trinidadian Indianess.Hmm. Peter Hanoomansingh is Gideon Hanoomansingh's brother. Is this what is meant by the term "congenital liar"?
As for Anil Mahabir, the lies, half-truths and innuendoes in his Express column have been so extensive that I have no space to deal with them.But have you noticed that the bio note at the end of his column was itself a lie? Hmmm.
So I can only quote Kamal Persad quoting Trinidad governor Lord Harris in 1846: "These notions are promulgated by a portion of the press which are...generally incorrect, frequently false in its statements of fact and endeavouring by every means in its power to forment and increase animosity of caste and colour." Hmm.Now who does that fit like a condom on a banana?
But these people are only following example.Minister John Humphrey says Prime Minister Panday had the report on the "rumoured" death threat to Ken Gordon when Panday was in Jamicia.When asked, Panday's initial response was that he knew nothing of any threat. Humphrey says the media lie. But who was the only one who lied in the preceding chain of events? Hmm?
In 1958, Louis "Papa Doc" Duvalier passed a law making it legal to shoot journalists for spreading "false news." In 1959, he removed Parliamentary immunity and dissolved the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies within a year. I don't think we'll reach quite that state in Trinidad, but it does make me go Hmmm.
It has been proven by many studies that investment in education is the key to long-term development.The UNC has appointed as Education Minister a dentist who is such a good manager that he has managed to alienate three Permanent Secretaries in less than two years. Hmm!But I'm sure the nation's children have really healthy teeth.
The UNC administration has implied by word and deed that public sector managers are trying to sabotage it. Now no government can function effectively without a cooperative civilservice. Whatever its faults, the British empire was generally admired for its professional civil service, impartial judiciary and efficient armed forces.This didn't happen by guess, but was a result of the Northcote-Treveleyan Report of 1854, whichrecommended the replacement of a system of patronage with a career civil service.Reforms in the armed forces and judiciary followed thereafter and by the end of the 19th century the values of honesty, economy and political neutrality had been formally institutionalized. Under the PNM, that inheritance was ruined by 30 years of patronage and corruption. But effective reform is possible.Studies in developing countries show that hiring by meritocracy, merit-based internal promotion and adequate remuneration create efficiency and reduce corruption. Has the government tried to deal with public sector reform in any rational and structured way, or does it think just appointing UNC hacks will bring about efficiency? Hmm?
Pastor Cuffie says he is sure Jesus would have condemned Morgan Job saying the State should not interfere in people's sex lives, including homosexuals.But does the pastor know how many times Jesus actually condemned homosexuality and fornication?The answer, according to the Bible, is: not once.Hmm.Jesus did say, though, that people who wanted to get into Heaven should give away all their earthly possessions. Hmm again. Anybodywant a fully air-conditioned building, a Laurel in excellent condition, and a lifetime supply of Afro-Sheen?