Dear Editor,
As a Jamaican who considers Trinidad and Tobago his second home, I was disappointed beyond description when I read an article in the Trinidad Guardian, published on December 4, 2013, titled 'Out of Place' where National Security Minister Gary Griffith "knocked his colleague, Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Dookeran, for making promises on travel between T&T and Jamaica with that country's foreign minister, A J Nicholson, without first consulting him". Well excuse me!
Minister Dookeran is a senior and seasoned Cabinet member and had the blessing of his prime minister, for whom I have the utmost respect. She is a model prime minister and, despite the cabals around her, she genuinely has her country's interest at heart. I cannot say the same about the Jamaican prime minister who is on travelling the world.
Minister Griffith has spent much of the past three years in the shadows as the prime minister's national security advisor and, perhaps, is a little hungry for attention and sound bites. And, clearly, it is working. If only Minister Griffith were this stride on Trinidad's ever-increasing homicide rate. The Trini public is waiting on Minister Griffith to outline a clear plan to reduce the number of murders committed in the republic. He should stop deflecting attention by talking about deportation and shopping mall.
Minister Griffith has spent much of the past three years in the shadows as the prime minister's national security advisor and, perhaps, is a little hungry for attention and sound bites. And, clearly, it is working. If only Minister Griffith were this stride on Trinidad's ever-increasing homicide rate. The Trini public is waiting on Minister Griffith to outline a clear plan to reduce the number of murders committed in the republic. He should stop deflecting attention by talking about deportation and shopping mall.
Minister Griffith said: "These people (referring to illegal immigrants) have not only put a strain on the public's purse, but also on the country's health and housing sectors. Where is the evidence Minister Griffith? He also stated, on at least two occasions, that there were some 30,000 illegal immigrants in T&T, including Jamaicans, St Lucians, Grenadians, those from other Caribbean islands, and from South Africa. So what about the illegal Chinese, Indians and South Americans living and working illegally in T&T? Is Mr Griffith afraid to upset China, India, Colombia, and Venezuela?
My position is, every Caricom country should reserve the right to refuse any Caricom or foreign national, but Mr Griffith's tone has been repugnant, unacceptable and anti Caribbean integration. Contrary to popular belief, Jamaicans love they 'doubles' and 'buss up shut' and Trinis love they patties and jerk chicken. Admittedly, Minister Griffith is new to the Cabinet and perhaps is alien to the concept to collective responsibility. I can only hope Minister Dookeran provides some public relations, diplomacy and collective responsibility advice.
Andrew King
abking020@gmail.com
'Out of place'
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As a Jamaican who considers Trinidad and Tobago his second home, I was disappointed beyond description when I read an article in the Trinidad Guardian, published on December 4, 2013, titled 'Out of Place' where National Security Minister Gary Griffith "knocked his colleague, Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Dookeran, for making promises on travel between T&T and Jamaica with that country's foreign minister, A J Nicholson, without first consulting him". Well excuse me!
Minister Dookeran is a senior and seasoned Cabinet member and had the blessing of his prime minister, for whom I have the utmost respect. She is a model prime minister and, despite the cabals around her, she genuinely has her country's interest at heart. I cannot say the same about the Jamaican prime minister who is on travelling the world.
Minister Griffith has spent much of the past three years in the shadows as the prime minister's national security advisor and, perhaps, is a little hungry for attention and sound bites. And, clearly, it is working. If only Minister Griffith were this stride on Trinidad's ever-increasing homicide rate. The Trini public is waiting on Minister Griffith to outline a clear plan to reduce the number of murders committed in the republic. He should stop deflecting attention by talking about deportation and shopping mall.
Minister Griffith has spent much of the past three years in the shadows as the prime minister's national security advisor and, perhaps, is a little hungry for attention and sound bites. And, clearly, it is working. If only Minister Griffith were this stride on Trinidad's ever-increasing homicide rate. The Trini public is waiting on Minister Griffith to outline a clear plan to reduce the number of murders committed in the republic. He should stop deflecting attention by talking about deportation and shopping mall.
Minister Griffith said: "These people (referring to illegal immigrants) have not only put a strain on the public's purse, but also on the country's health and housing sectors. Where is the evidence Minister Griffith? He also stated, on at least two occasions, that there were some 30,000 illegal immigrants in T&T, including Jamaicans, St Lucians, Grenadians, those from other Caribbean islands, and from South Africa. So what about the illegal Chinese, Indians and South Americans living and working illegally in T&T? Is Mr Griffith afraid to upset China, India, Colombia, and Venezuela?
My position is, every Caricom country should reserve the right to refuse any Caricom or foreign national, but Mr Griffith's tone has been repugnant, unacceptable and anti Caribbean integration. Contrary to popular belief, Jamaicans love they 'doubles' and 'buss up shut' and Trinis love they patties and jerk chicken. Admittedly, Minister Griffith is new to the Cabinet and perhaps is alien to the concept to collective responsibility. I can only hope Minister Dookeran provides some public relations, diplomacy and collective responsibility advice.
Andrew King
abking020@gmail.com
'Out of place'
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