There is an old adage that too frequently states "only in T&T," often it is as a result of something that is extraordinarily stupid. And when it emanates from Government or prominent private interests and fit into that catergory, it behooves all of us to take a second look at situations that are no longer abberations.

For example, it was recently reported in the media and not denied by Government, that we spent millions of dollars to purchase crime-fighting equipment from Israel. My concern is, why are we supporting the economy of a Country that is occupying the territory of another? This, I believe, is tantamount to repudiating UN Resolution 242 and supporting the atrocities being perpetuated by the occupiers. Only in T&T you say?

Well it gets better. In it's continuing lecture series, CLICO has invited Rudolph Guiliani the former Mayor of New York City to speak.That is ok. However, it has been alleged that a company headed by the former mayor is to be recruited by CLICO to help in the fight against crime.This is not ok.

During Guilian's tenure as Mayor of New York City the term "zero Tolerance" appeared to be a code theme for a frontal assault on blacks and other minorities. Note carefully, Amadou Diallo, a black man and a native of East Africa was shot to death by police in the doorway of his home, forty-one bullets were fired at this unarmed civilian with nineteen of them entering his body. He was not guilty of any crime, but he was shot to death and there was no apology from the Mayor as a result of what can be viewed as murder by his police force.

Here is another among a long list of brutalities and killings by police under the zero tolerance policy approach. Abner Louima another black; a Hatian Immigrant, was sodomized with the handle of a toilet plunger by a police officer. This occured in a police station. The police officer was convicted as a result of that incident. Did Guiliani apologize? Don't hold your breadth. The list goes on.Louima was not found to be guilty of any crime.

Now,that mind set may be here on our shores to do more of the same under the same guise, and with our protective services rumoured to be a haven for rogue cops,you can just imagine the carnage that will follow. It is bad enough as it is. The majority of our citizens do not look like Guiliani, so who does CLICO have in mind?,is it the Afro-Trini element that they are targeting? Answers would be forthcoming if we were sensitive to the needs of our Nation's poor who are indeed being targeted. They have no voices and no one speaks for them. They are just rubble hanging on the bubble of poverty. CLICO considers them to be unsightly and by 2020 they must be made to disappear. Guiliani will pave the way. These are my opinions, and you may take them lightly if you want to, I do not.