Tuesday February 9th, 2010
- Last update:14 hours 35 min ago
Hunt on huge T&T flag:
$2m spent for national pride
Published: 30 Oct 2009
Sport Minister Gary Hunt, left, Science, Technology and Tertiary Education Minister Christine Kangaloo and National Security Minister Martin Joseph at yesterday’s post-Cabinet news conference at the Diplomatic Centre, St Ann’s. Photo: Keith Matthews
What’s the cost of the national flag at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Port-of-Spain? Is it $2 million? But Sport and Youth Affairs Minister Gary Hunt, while unable to confirm the flag’s price tag, said even if it was true, it would be “nothing out of the ordinary.” The flag was unveiled by Hunt at an official ceremony on August 4. He said then the flag was intended to be seen from far away and from every direction. He said then it was also intended to remind citizens of “its noble message and we feel a deep sense of national pride.” Hunt was questioned about the flag during yesterday’s post-Cabinet news conference at the Diplomatic Centre, St Ann’s. He said it was “130 feet high and takes a considerable amount of engineering to plant a structure that high and of that weight.”
He added: “There is a lot of work that had to be done on the foundation level. I am not exactly sure if that figure ($2 million) is exactly correct but if it that is the cost it is what the flag does for the citizenry of Trinidad and Tobago as we pass there. There is no price on national pride.” Hunt said his ministry and the Government were “very proud to erect such a flag as a symbol of our country for all to see.” Asked if a flag, costing taxpayers $10 million to elicit national pride, also would not be a problem, Hunt said: “You are taking the question to another realm.” The Minister then attempted to clarify his position. “What I said is if it costs that amount ($2 million), the Government of T&T is happy and proud to create a symbol of national pride, which our flag should imbue in all citizens.”
On another issue, Hunt said Government gave all the support requested by the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board to the T&T cricket team which lost the finals in the Twenty/20 Champions League in India recently. He said the Government had been a “strong and unwavering supporter of all our national teams, including the national cricket team.” He said this year, $550,000 was spent on the T&T national cricket team to take part in the competition. He said that was supplemented by a contribution of $100,000. There have been widespread criticism of the Government for not doing enough for the team as it was sponsored by an Indian company, Venky.
$2 million for a flag? This
$2 million for a flag? This is not a symbol of our priceless national pride, it's a symbol of Government's upside-down sense of priorities, a symbol of squandermania and megalomania. Deserves a place in the Guinness Book of World Records. Next thing we'll be puting up similarly priced portraits and statues of our Dear Leader like in North Korea and like Mobutu from then Zaire. Saw what happened to Saddam Hosein's statue? The reporters should have asked who was the contractor and the supplier and what were the procurement procedures. Was the contract advertised for tender? Was it Udecott and their family? Reporters must ask some probing questions.
Only in this country a
Only in this country a Minister could justify such an expenditure by saying it lifts our spirits and that it is a sign of our national pride, what madness is this. We need better things to pride ourselves in, for example, we should pride ourselves in health care, adequate water supply, proper roads, lower crime levels to name a few. But instead we have a minister of sport telling us that we need a 2 million dollar flag to lift our spirits.
I am sure there was some
I am sure there was some backhanders given out in this project!!
Ian
www.EasyCaribbeanshop.com
If $2m is a small sum for
If $2m is a small sum for Gary's Ministry to pay for a his symbol of national pride, I wonder how much are our sporting heroes really worth to him.
The dapper, born again PNM Minister, like the others in the photo above, thinks that we are all just a bunch of idiots who he can talk down to.
And here we blaggers were debating Mr Manning's $1m travelling expenses this week.
So, the big flag in Macoya is no longer the largest flag in T&T anymore?
http://www.dsaltsman.blogspot.com/
Yesterday's Newsday quoted
Yesterday's Newsday quoted $11 million for Manning's overseas travels which comprised 31 trips, 18 of which were by private jet. Seems the Guardian had a typo error omitting either the first 1 or the second 1. Maybe the Express will have their own figures. But I'mm sure that $11 million must still leave out some interesting details. This roving Ambassador must be conducting a lot of important top secret affairs of State that he alone knows about. Soon we'll have to get him his own Airforce 1 and Airforce 2.
Now I really want to
Now I really want to cry!
Yesterday's Newsday quoted $11 million for Manning's overseas travels which comprised 31 trips,
You know. Diva or not, I really do not look good with mascara running down my face and blotchy skin!
- Where did the Guardian get its figures from?
- Where did the Newsday get its figures from?
- If someone made a typo, then who?
Seems that some of us who thought the $1,000,000 as mentioned by the Guardian was 'a bit low' and queried the currency (US$ or TT$) may just have been in the right tailwind after all!
Based on the inconsistencies/errors in the past two weeks, I am wondering if the media is really working on behalf of us and not in cohoots with the government/Team Manning and serving us this 'high cholesterol, high sugar, high fat' mis/dis-information.
(Yesterday, there was 'an error' in relation to breast cancer and if the tumors are of a certain size, a vasectomy was unnecessary...)
The smarter the journalists are, the better off society is. For to a degree, people read the press to inform themselves-and the better the teacher, the better the student body. Warren Buffet
La Diva
Wait a minute - two million
Wait a minute - two million on a flag to INSPIRE national pride and less than half that - $650,000 on the team that actually BROUGHT pride to T&T - and according to another report that sum wasn't for the team but for overall expenses of the T&T Cricket Board. Talk about a skewed sense of priorities.
Every house in my
Every house in my neighbourhood has "Old Glory" prominently displayed and that is how our national pride is measured, not by some government publicity stunt intended to compete with North Korea's flagepole at propaganda villige.
I bet no lights were installed to illuminate the flag at night. Then again that may be phase II of the contract for install lights for another $2-3 million dollars.
If there are no lights to
If there are no lights to light up the national flag at nights, then the Government is breaking the law.
I wonder if the Minister would be charged for this offence or someone in his ministry wiL take the fall for this little blip?
One of the contractors say
One of the contractors say it have light?
All skyscraper type
All skyscraper type erections should be lit for safety of aircraft traffic I would think.
For my personal edification
For my personal edification please
Where did this figure of $2,000,000 come from?
And as The Prince commented, the reporters should have asked:
- Who was the contractor;
- Who was the supplier;
- What were the procurement procedures;
- Was the contract advertised for tender; (Add: and if so, where, how and for how long)
Additionally
- Can Mr Hunt/his Ministry produce receipts, checks, evidence of payments made?
- Where are the auditors in this? (I seem to recall reading something a few months ago a number of Ministries had not filled accounts for a number of years? I could be wrong...)
Reporters must (need to! have to!) ask some (more!!) probing questions.
Certain members of the government are complaining about media bias; that the media is slanting things to suit their own personal agenda.
Well, the same way we are asking the government to demonstrate where they get their figures from, I am sorry members of the media but you have to up your game. Because of the seemingly lack of ability, resources, funding to followup on stories we need you to get your punches in first time round on our behalf, because it does not look as though there are second and third opportunities. You must go in punching, but punching hard, accurately and with precision.
Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee. Muhammed Ali
Respectfully
La Diva
Yes! Facts would be useful
Yes! Facts would be useful to report. All this hearsay is becoming annoying. Thanks for pointing it out. I was beginning to wonder if I was the only one who saw the lack of information.
KnowTnT.com
WHAT IS TOTALLY
WHAT IS TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE-
Is our government’s lack of accountability to the nation? Minister Hunt does not know about the cost of the flag. Mr Hunt does not know the final costs of Tarouba Complex after massive cost overruns and he does not know the completion date. When question are asked by the opposition they go unanswered. Whether or not we like the opposition their function is to probe the government on our behalf. So if the government fails to respond it is an affront not only to the opposition but to the population at large and we should all be offended.
This is madness, when Hannah
This is madness, when Hannah Lendor is suffering for funding, Government squandering millions
B Blessed T&T
Another misleading
Another misleading headline.
The Minister could not confirm the actual cost of the flag, yet the headline treats it as a fact.
Ignorant posters speak about lighting of the flag at night... Yes, it is lit.
You want to compare the alleged $2MM spent on the flag to the amount spend on sports teams? How much will be spent on all the sports teams, and sports camps used for developing young players, for the life of the flag? Much more than $2MM, I am sure?
Has anyone asked how much was spent on the sports camps held this year by MSYA? Since no national pride came from that, was it too much?
OUR PAPERS DISCREDIT
OUR PAPERS DISCREDIT THEMSELVES -
There was a recent headline attributed to MR Bravo, this was denied on TV. The next day a report in this paper wrote an article repeating the same inaccuracies. They are no longer the Guardians of our Democracy they have relegated themselves to be the mouthpiece of a political party, party group COP. Instead of being the fourth estate, they are now merely a lot, a lot of disinformation. This brings to mind a politician I can't remember if it was Eric referred to a newspaper as "That Jamet from St Vincent Street".
Who got the contract, or the
Who got the contract, or the sub contract, is the million dollar question? Christmas coming and Santa's bags is full of goodies.
ajfyzabadbutlertown
An internet search revealed
An internet search revealed that "The Giant Trinidad and Tobago flag, which was supplied by the Patriotic Flag Division of Fireone Fireworks for the re-opening of the Hasely Crawford Stadium and Jean Pierre Sports Complex in Mucurapo, flew proudly over the “sea of red” at the Stadium on August 12.
"Andre Abraham, Managing Director of Fireone added that his group felt privileged to be chosen by the Sport Company of Trinidad and Tobago (SPORTT) to supply the flag and flag-pole installation for the Stadium’s recent upgrade."
I guess that the Abraham
I guess that the Abraham clan made back the money that they spent putting up their own flag at the fireworks warehouse in Tunapuna. Its not strange how past Minister John Rahael's family in the middle of this . Another thing, did anyone see the minister of sports fumble when he was answering the question about the $2m? I did. Its as if he was caught with his pants down. Now please do not tell me that this was all in TT currency and not US$. I'd hate to think that we paid well over TT$12m for this symbol of national pride. After all, a $10m was being bandied around.
The smarter the journalists
The smarter the journalists are, the better off society is. For to a degree, people read the press to inform themselves-and the better the teacher, the better the student body. Warren Buffet
The same also applies to our government/Ministers.
Dare I also say it, the same also applies to us, bloggers, blaggers and readers!
(I still agree with the saying: dogs have owners; cats have staff)
La Diva
Please humour me for a
Please humour me for a second here...
I wish to go to the Netherlands, or London to pursue my M.Sc in International Relations and Diplomacy...
When I called the scholarships department at N.A.L.I.S., They told me that the deadline had already passed; September 30th 2009 deadline for classes starting in September 2010...
No rolling evaluations for me..
Never mind the fact that you never know if you've been accepted into an institution till sometime during the same year you're expected to take up studies..
So, no money for me to pursue my education...
Education that was intended to be reinvested in Trinidad and Tobago and benefit this country...
Oh well, at least it went somewhere productive...
They built a flag with it...
Does anyone have a number for the chicken company that sponsored the cricketers, because that looks like my only option now...
*sigh*
WHAT JOURNALIST YOU MEAN
WHAT JOURNALIST YOU MEAN SENSATIONALIST -
I get more information reading the blogs. You read three stories on the same situation and you get conflicting stories. There was a quote from Mr Bravo, who subsequently went on TV and denied it. I later saw another article from another writer with the same quote. It is like looking at MSNBC and FOX the amount of spin you cannot believe it is the same story. But at least they are honest enough to say that they are either supportive of The Democrats or Republicans and you know what to expect up front.
Mr. Gary Hunt, "Movie Star"
Mr. Gary Hunt, "Movie Star" - Smile for the cameras.
In response to the question asked for you to confirm the price tag of the FLAG being touted as $2M, you danced your usual jigg, and sashayed down the runway for the media. You are the Minister, and this is a huge expense and you should know the cost of this elaborate display. You know all the statistics, size, shape, foundation, engineering, etc. Mr. Hunt without a doubt you know the cost, but are simply playing your usual games. Don't get me wrong, we are patrotic citizens and honour our National Flag, as we should. I can bet the petals off my 'gardenia' that this flag was purchased from China.
To add insult to injury, this flag is in the HASLEY CRAWFORD STADIUM honouring our Olympic Gold Medalist of '76. The said man this gov't abandoned to the back alleys in China when he attended the Olympics. Patriotic citizens, on seeing the shameful display of 'national pride' this gov't took when they housed Mr. Crawford in shabby quarters, came to his rescue.
Mr. Hunt, we would like to see some good governance, and not simply 'candy for the eyes' and illusions and delusions ... We want this gov't to prove to the citizens that they have our best interest in mind when they go about spending our Treasury dry.
GARDENIA
Don't gamble away your
Don't gamble away your petals Gardenia.
For many people, its just about the image and nothing more.
While I am as patriotic as any other person on this beautiful twin island state, I don't thing that we need to mamaguy each other and hide behind words like "national pride" to cover up wasteful resources going down the drain.
Forgive me for not knowing if this lovely symbol is lit up or not because I haven't really seen it as yet. But I have seen the one at Macoya and its lit up at nights. In fact, the location of the one at Macoya allows for more people to see it as its on the way to the airport.
And to you Mr Minister, I hope that you can take the credit for sending out the message to the youths of this nation that image is everything, regardless of the cost.
Mr. EpsomSalts - On Second
Mr. EpsomSalts - On Second thought, I think I'll keep my petals.
A bit of honesty/responsibility would be nice coming from our gov't.
Gardenia
Good Lord!! You people are
Good Lord!!
You people are now complaining about the national flag of the country in which you live. Is there nothing that you Trinidad haters will not complain about?
The US government spends hundred of millions of dollars every year to keep their Washington DC looking like a paradise but when you go just a few blocks past the White House or Capital building it is like stepping into a third world country. What are your thoughts on that?
One of the most beautiful sights in Trinidad is the large flag in Macoya. I wish there was more like it.
mp1972
mp1972
You people are now complaining about the national flag of the country in which you live.
The people are not complaining about the national flag, per se. They are complaining (based on my comprehension of the English language) about the possible cost; the lack of information; misinformation; disinformation; the 'complaints' are a symptom, not the root problem. I could be wrong, but this is my view/understanding.
La Diva
The smarter the journalists are, the better off society is. For to a degree, people read the press to inform themselves-and the better the teacher, the better the student body. Warren Buffet
MP1972 - Washington DC,
MP1972 - Washington DC, along with the 50 states and territories have running water and electricity 24/7/365. Access to medical needs and housing are avaiable to all. Excellent roads, highways and other infrastructure are in place, and the police, fire and ambulance service are very responsive. With basic needs met, we can now afford to fly the flag proudly all over.
My point is that Washington
My point is that Washington DC is the capital of the US and just steps away from where billions of dollars are shelled out like candy people are eating from garbage cans and it is a national disgrace.
Do you see people calling for money to be stopped from up keep of the National symbols to go to social programs around the city?
National symbols are meant to inspire. It is meant to bring out the goodness in everyone and make nation better.
It is amazing how much these Trinidad haters go nuts over something as simple as our NATIONAL FLAG!
LET’S TAKE IT SLOWLY
LET’S TAKE IT SLOWLY -
The problem is NOT the flag but the COST of the flag. I hear Americans complain all the time about the cost of the bailout and some of the items including expenditure on National Monuments. Do I understand that once it is a National Monument the cost does not matter even if it is to say one hundred thousand or even a billion dollars?
The minister does not know
The minister does not know or care whether it cost $2 million or ten million. This is what he has to say to a reporter:
[Asked if a flag, costing taxpayers $10 million to elicit national pride, also would not be a problem, Hunt said: “You are taking the question to another realm.”]
You see, you can buy national pride. Like everything else it's a commodity to be traded in the market place, and like everything else, principles, honesty, morality, integrity, conscience, law, ethics and the like, it has its price.
Patdictator....... You are
Patdictator.......
You are sorely wrong!!!!!!!!! Very wrong!!
Where did you get medical care is accessible to all???? Please tell me! You ain't know how Americans catching their tail with corrupted Med. care coporations that turn down every 1 in 3 claims for no legitimate reason!!!!By the time it goes to court, the patient is dead!!!!!!!!Small numbers make billions off the healthcare industry and that's why Obama is trying to change that to health-care for all, with strong resistance from these health-care firms.
Housing??? Well, now their are a plethora of houses available, but people can't buy because they still don't have the money!! Even during the boom, to buy a house, you had to be at least middle class to get a reasonable priced house! Here in T&T, they give away houses to those who can't afford and they still complain about that!!
Running water and electricity?? I can take you to places in the US where you would think you are in a 3rd world country!!!!
Just like every small-minded person person in T&T, you've been fooled by the glitz and glamour that the US portrays. You either make it or not to attain that glitz and glamour!!! The US is where things are possible, but you have to earn it!!
Why can't it be the same hear??? Nobody is entitled to anything other than right to earn whatever they want!
I did not factor in illegal
I did not factor in illegal aliens in the equation. I refer to legitimate workers that pay taxes. Show me a green card and Form 1040 and I will show you your benefits and entitlements.
And you think I'm not
And you think I'm not referring to legitimate workers??? Even person's with better than a green card i.e. citizenship, are experiencing the current struggles.
Get your facts straight before embarassing yourself posting garbage!!!
Trinipilot, I notice that
Trinipilot, I notice that you have a particular penchant for insulting bloggers. Please STOP IT!
mp1972......you make
mp1972......you make sense!!
Too many people I see complaining about nonsense rather then constructive crictism. Nobobdy will ever agree entirely with what any government in power does. It's impossible to please everyone. However, the media must look at constructive crictism and not immature pointing. The mentality with everything done here is that everywhere else its done is amazing and captivating, while in T&T its corruption and wasteful spending.
Instead of writing a whole article on a flag that costs $2m, why don't they pick the government up on the drainage systems in POS, or harsh laws to eliminate littering or even a bit of decentralizing of servies!! That's what I want the media to talk about! Proper issues that will move this country forward faster.
Also, the funny thing is that when the government does something right, it recieves a callous reception! Nobody wants to aknowledge and suggest improvements for the free higher education, the water taxi service, the electronic government services and many other things. It's just a continuous rant 24/7 with no ideas.
Rome wasn't built in one day!!!
Flame away guys!!!
Trinipilot Nobody wants to
Trinipilot
Nobody wants to aknowledge and suggest improvements for the free higher education, the water taxi service, the electronic government services and many other things.
Nobody? Nobody? Are you sure about that? If that is 'truly' the case, that "Nobody", today, wants to suggest improvements, why do you think that may be?
The smarter the journalists are, the better off society is. For to a degree, people read the press to inform themselves-and the better the teacher, the better the student body. Warren Buffet
Nobody is a general
Nobody is a general statement. And you know why this is so?? Because people in general are CONTENT. Evidence of this is that people complain about crime, its unsafe and everything esle, but the next day you see them jumping up in a fete or doing the same things that promote anarchy whether small or large. As long as this continues, the government can do whatever it wants without serious implications from the public. The only thing I've seen serious effort to overthrow which I commend is the smelter project!! And that was after people realized it wasn't just going to environmentally affect the simple people of La Brea, but the whole country!!! Nobody(IN GENERAL) besides this situation really comes together to pressure the government to do things that they want to see.
Trinipilot
Trinipilot
Nobody is a general statement.
Not with me it isn't. (^_~)
Because people in general are CONTENT
Are they really? Or is there more an air of... We are helpless; We can't do anything about it? Who else 'we go put'?
I have said it before, the above is an attitude that HAS to change, if people want to see things improve! How exactly that change will come about, I do not know, I do not have all the answers.
As long as this continues, the government can do whatever it wants without serious implications from the public.
Absolutely. Which is another reason why I use the phrase "dogs have owners; cats have staff". We need to start acting like we are cats! The government et al is 'our staff'. A cat will show and make its displeasure known, and it does not involve claws and scratching.
Nobody(IN GENERAL) besides this situation [the smelter] really comes together to pressure the government to do things that they want to see.
This comes back to the general feeling of helplessness and bring about the change that says "Hey, you know what. We do not have to take this anymore!" All of this ought to be possible relatively peacefully.
La Diva
The smarter the journalists are, the better off society is. For to a degree, people read the press to inform themselves-and the better the teacher, the better the student body. Warren Buffet
What about the government's
What about the government's response to the request for $800,000 to save the young girl's life via a liver operation at John Hopkins Hospital in the USA? A measley $60,000TT. News reports said that's all the Health Minister could find! Flag more important than a life PNM?
Gary Hunt is owner of the
Gary Hunt is owner of the clothing company Radical Designs - They also has the contract to make camoflage uniforms for the Trinidad Army.No wonder Gary Hunt is so reluctant to reveal who was the contractor that created this flag and by what criteria was this price tag jutified. Because if he did there would definitely be evidence of a conflict of interest. Amazing now one holds these guys accountable for their spending.
MartyMar
MartyMar
No wonder Gary Hunt is so reluctant to reveal who was the contractor
Whilst I may empathise with your post, I have to ask the question:
- Did any of the reports ask that specific question of Minister Hunt namely, who was the contractor?
As mentioned by another person above, I too am getting fedup with receiving the incomplete picture either on the part of the Minister/government official or the lack of probing questions on the part of reporters (or certainly, no evidence/commentary to indicate that they did ask the questions and no answers/information was forthcoming).
I did not 'beat my books' to succumb to this. Just as I will question Minister Brown re the discrepencies re the cost of the helicopters (to which, there is still no answer that I have seen), I have to question the reporters in what they are doing/not doing because there is too much incomplete/misinformation being put out there. In case you have missed it, please note the quote below my name.
Respectfully
La Diva
The smarter the journalists are, the better off society is. For to a degree, people read the press to inform themselves-and the better the teacher, the better the student body. Warren Buffet
Since the Minister has been
Since the Minister has been reluctant to answer questions posed to him on this matter it would be up to the Parliamentary Opposition to take a cue and raise the issue in those august Chambers. Whilst he may have the leeway to duck the questions from the media, he has to answer in Parliament, although this may take sometime. Come on Bas and others, here is an opportunity for you to do something worthwhile.
And please
And please
it would be up to the Parliamentary Opposition to take a cue and raise the issue in those august Chambers.
Ask probing, multiple questions, not just "How much did the flag cost", else the answer may be tailored to the material itself, and not include the 'infrastructure' as indicated by Minister Hunt, the shipping costs, of where ever the flag was made to reach T&T, in the event it was not made here in T&T. Please also request a breakdown of the total cost. So, not lumping together.
You know the old joke about the plumber's bill? $110. When queried by the customer, the plumber says... $10 for the part, $100 for the knowhow...
La Diva
The smarter the journalists are, the better off society is. For to a degree, people read the press to inform themselves-and the better the teacher, the better the student body. Warren Buffet
OPPOSITION CONTRIBUTION
OPPOSITION CONTRIBUTION UNHERALDED NEGATIVES SENSATIONALIZED -
The contribution of the opposition in trying to get answers for John Public goes unheralded. Despite all the ole talk from COP if you are not in parliament you do not have this weapon in your arsenal. The Government with its built in majority has used every trick in the book to frustrate the opposition.
1) Expelling the Leader.
2) Denying Members Speaking Day,
3) Refusal to or answer question on the order paper.
4) Inordinately long delays in answering questions on the order paper.
5) Sending Members to the Privileges Committee
6) Using Standing Orders to disrupt presentations.
7) Using Standing Orders to block Motions.
8) Divide and conquer the opposition.
It is only with the assistance of an outraged Independent Bench has the Opposition been able to bring the Government to any semblance of accountability.
First of all it appears that
First of all it appears that the cost not only included the flag but the structure on which the flag is place. It's amazing the level of criticism leveled for erecting a symbol of national pride.
Define "national pride"
Define "national pride" please
It's amazing the level of criticism leveled for erecting a symbol of national pride.
One of the definitions on dictionary.com:
pleasure or satisfaction taken in something done by or belonging to oneself or believed to reflect credit upon oneself:
Rivers, I do not 'worship' or take pride in a piece of cloth/pieces of cloth sewn together... not when all of our other BASIC infrastructure is falling down around us. Quite frankly, it reeks of and smells of "Let them eat cake!" or in our case, let them look at the flag and maybe they won't see the other things/services falling down around our ears.
Is it remotely possible, that in a meeting someone said "Let's flag the stadium" as in, let's note the stadium is in need of repairs, and someone else took it literally, that a FLAG had to be installed?
La Diva
The smarter the journalists are, the better off society is. For to a degree, people read the press to inform themselves-and the better the teacher, the better the student body. Warren Buffet
It makes me so sad reading
It makes me so sad reading the comments of you haters.
In my travels I have met people from places where running the wait time to see a doctor was days if at all. (Rural Ghana).
I have met people where they lived in a two bedroom house along with seven people. (Hungary and Albania).
I have met people where they ate mud pies for breakfast. (Haiti).
Despite all of there past experiances they speak of pride in their country.
We are arguing over the placement and erection of OUR NATIONAL FLAG IN OUR OWN COUNTRY!!!!
mp1972
mp1972
You talk about Rural Ghana; Hungary and Albania; Haiti
However, you are comparing Julie mango with 'peas and rice'. All the countries you cited above, to my knowledge (and I could be wrong) have not:
a) had the amount of money flowing through their coffers like we have/had, per head count
b) the years of 'peace', both politically or socially or based on religions that we have had
To compare us to them is a travesity of an enormous magnitude. To compare us to any other country, is a travesity of an even greater magnitude. Because there are people in the US eating out of garbage cans, does not mean to say that we must have that here in T&T too! It is not a case of 'monkey see, monkey do'... or is it?! That the African tribal leaders may have 10 wives, it does not mean that Prime Minister Manning or President Richards should have 10 wives too!
I have met many a Ghanian myself and, I could be wrong, but their national pride is something that appears to have been inculcated in them from birth. It did not materialise because of a 'large, well placed, overpriced (and overhere) flag'!!!
This (if the cost is correct) is an issue that is greater than the placement/location of the flag. It is a question of priorities - people are lying about in the corridors of the hospitals; basic sanitation is missing in areas; infrastructure; crime... do I need to go on? If Trinbago was at 110% efficiency, hey, perhaps even I would want a flag that size, location, magnitude AND have the pole diamond encrusted to, therefore no need for additional lighting. But, we are not even at 100%... and in many instances, Cuba is in a better position than we are, yet, it has not had the amount of money flowing through its coffers like we have/had!
La Diva
The smarter the journalists are, the better off society is. For to a degree, people read the press to inform themselves-and the better the teacher, the better the student body. Warren Buffet