Dear Editor,
As the blue lights flash and police hangout of the windows of their vehicles motioning to drivers to pull aside, so that our public officials can pass, one may ask what is that all about? What is their track record? Are they proud of their achievements?
If you were to ever re-enter Trinidad & Tobago, you will note that unlike entering a developed country, we still have to fill out a long form with almost the same answers that is in our passport. The immigration offices scan our passport confirms what is on the form and stamps our passport. Why can we not join the rest of the developed world and electronically process passengers entering our country? That unnecessary combination of paperwork and electronic processing is common in getting a driver’s licence, clearing goods at customs, company’s registration transactions and almost everything associated with government.
In 2022 when the world is fast becoming paperless, we cannot get to the next level of basic electronic processing of data.
In this very environmentally sensitive world, can someone explain why combination public bins with one sector for trash and other sections for recycling are not encouraged. Why are citizens not given or asked to purchase bins for trash and bins for recycling and have separate days for trash collection and another for recycled stuff? Why are our financial twin towers so dirty when a little power washing could change the way they look?
Our streets are dirty, our public places lack appropriate numbers of trash collection bins. There are overgrown bushes along most of our streets and highways. In fact, Trinidad and to a much lesser extent Tobago are untidy places. Simply restoring our roadway after utility repair seems to be an impossible task. Do our proud parliamentarians feel a sense of pride as they drive along streets with utility poles leaning in every direction, overburdened with cables of assorted sizes and now further worsened by cut up cables in almost every town and village?
Leaking pipes are common. Potholes are almost everywhere. Bandits kill and steal with almost total impunity. Many of our youth have turned to gangs for social interaction and murders are commonplace. Larger organized gangs engage in land grabbing and illegal quarrying. Accessing government services for many involves paying a public official for an expeditious outcome.
What is increasingly worrying is that many who are presenting themselves as agents of change have either been in government at some level or public service and their history clearly indicates that they were okay with the inept level of management that passes for good governance. Many are today talking about their period of service seeking praise while the Beetham dump continues to be a haven for many young people to rummage through trash for generations.
If we are to ever arrive at rebuilding Trinidad & Tobago into a better country for all, we must start by having the courage to elect good managers.
God Bless Our Nation.
Steve Alvarez