THE EDITOR: The Prime Minister said that he has introduced CEPEP to address a historical imbalance and to provide an opportunity to make entrepreneurs of the descendants of slavery and indentured labourers. He slipped in indentured labourers to give the impression that he cares about the Indo-Trinidadians as well.

I look forward to see Manning and the PNM address the other historic imbalances that exist in the police service, prison service, fire service, army, coast guard, positions of senior public servants, WASA, TSTT, UTC, goverment OJT programmes and the allocation of government housing in a country that is supposed to belong to all of the people including the Indo-Trinidadians. Not only does Caroni lands belong to all of the people, but the assets and employment opportunities in all the state agencies as well. A country where every creed and race is supposed to find an equal place. On the second point, an entrepreneur is one who undertakes investments at some measure of financial risk. What are these CEPEP people risking? These so-called CEPEP entrepreneurs are risking nothing but their own future, their children’s and children children’s future.

I would like to remind the Prime Minister and the PNM that no matter how much money and state resources are placed in the hands of people who are held capitve by any Government, their lifestyles would never improve. Can these people go to the bank for any kind of loan in an effort to improve their lives? The PNM knows that as long as these people are kept enslaved, they would continue to depend on this Government for stipends, $10 per month government apartments and soup kitchens. They will continue to live for today only and never for tomorrow. The PNM knows that they are sure to remain in power as long as the Indo- and Afro-Trinidadians are divided. Remember the first time when the Indo- and Afro-Trinidadians united, the PNM was removed 33-3. The second time the Indo- and Afro-Trinidadians united in 1995 resulted in the PNM being removed from power again.

It is in the PNM’s interest to keep thier own people in an impoverished and enslaved state. But there is hope in Jesus. It is only the blood of Jesus that can truly change and transform the hearts, and, by extension, the mentality and lifestyle of any people. This is the kind of prayer that the PNM Pentecostal leaders should be praying, instead of marching and praying for Manning.

REX MAHADEO

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