By Raffique Shah
Sunday, May 10th 2009
“There is one trait in the character of a leader that above all things, really counts-being straight. No amount of ability, knowledge or cunning can ever make up for not being straight. Once those under him find out that a commander is absolutely straight in all his dealings with them, and free himself from the slightest trait of self-interest they will love him trust him, work for him, follow him-and should the occasion arise, die for him”
—Basilisk Talks on Leadership, extracted from the “little red book” of Sandhurst, Serve to Lead.
Continue reading Father, forgive them not…
TRINIDADIANS would swear that the world is gripped by “blight”, a toxic mix of negative forces or “spirit lashes” that have us reeling every-which-way. Those who believe in the biblical end-times would counter that God is angry with man, hence the confluence of wars, pestilence, human misery and harsh economic times. Whatever the reasons for the seemingly intractable problems that have engulfed the world, I choose to adopt calypsonian Blakie’s refrain, “Ah never see t’ing so yet!”
BY the time this column appears in print the Summit will be almost over. The 34 heads of governments will have had their say, hopefully in a civil manner. Hugo Chavez has indicated he would insist on the US trade blockade of Cuba be addressed in the document. Canada, too, is not happy with it, albeit for other reasons. What I found distasteful about the media pre-Summit hype was the focus on Chavez and US President Barack Obama at the expense of other leaders.
If the pastor’s daughter plans a career as an exotic dancer or a “dutty winer”, I applaud the 15 year-old. How many children at that age would make career decisions? Most are looking at their school curriculum, trying to determine what subjects suit them; what they would want to succeed in order to move on to A-Levels (now CAPE). They may even be thinking university education or skills training, but few would have carved career paths that would take them through life.