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As we to wake to yet another Monday morning signaling the start of yet another week of financial trading and not being certain of which direction the current ongoing financial crisis will swing, we as a nation need to be mindful of the links between the economy of the United States and by extension the global economic platform and how it relates to us.

It is totally naïve to believe that the impact for us here will be minimal.  It may have shocked our financial authorities when oil prices closed last week at $78 per barrel. Although early indicators for this week show that on the New York Mercantile exchange, Light Sweet crude rose to just above $80. However a downward trend may continue whether or not the Bush Administration finds a way to stabilize the American financial crisis which would unlock the current freeze on lending by commercial US banks.

A more thorough analysis may be needed in order to assess our true position relative to the global economic meltdown.  Since the greater part of our revenue is derived from taxation on exports such as Petroleum products, Natural Gas and other energy based products, we should take steps ahead of time to soften any necessary impact resulting from reduced earnings.  While it can be said that the oil price is set on the “futures exchange”, very soon, existing contracts will be fulfilled and new ones negotiated.

Another point to ponder is the fact that our dollar is pegged to the US dollar and if there is any significant devaluation of the US currency against the Euro and other Asian Currencies then it will have a direct impact on goods we import from associated countries.  We need to be also mindful that some of our Caribbean neighbors who are dependent on tourism as a mainstay of their economy will be experiencing a lull in business and thereby will be importing less from our manufacturers which will also affect revenue from taxation.

While nothing much has been said about it, the Unit Trust’s US Money Market fund may be affected in some way or the other.

It may be argued that no single aspect of what was mentioned above can in anyway significantly affect our stability, however a combination factors will be consequential.

Our government has embarked on projects which cannot be stopped or even be tempered in any manner.  The thought of halting these will result in a zoo of “white elephants” along the Port of Spain Water Front.  But still in the pipeline are high price projects like the Rapid Rail and maybe others which I can’t remember at this time.  Now maybe a good time to review such projects, looking for alternatives which will achieve the same results of get us mostly there.   

The Rapid Rail idea is a brilliant one which can move commuters in mass amounts freeing up vehicular traffic significantly.  However given the present global situation, we need to ask ourselves if it is worth the risk which is expected to be in excess of TT$25 Billion?  How about aggressively expanding our road network instead, building major freeways from Sea Lots to Sangre Grande, San Fernando to Icacos, and removing all traffic lights along any highway? These only impede traffic flow.  The Water Taxi is easy to implement and should not be stopped. My only grouse with it is that I expected each vessel to have a larger seating capacity, much like those used on the Tobago sea bridge.

Should for any reason the Rapid Rail run into financial difficulty, we will not be able to use any aspect of it unless phases are completed and this can easily resemble the Caroni Racetrack.  A massive highway development project will have more value even if the overall project is incomplete since there will be the ability to complete phases in an easier manner.

Another aspect we can look at is to forcefully move away from the centralistic approach to administration.  Why do I have to go to Port of Spain to register a business? The same network which is used to connect the computers at the ministry of Legal Affairs can be expanded throughout the Country and thereby appropriate supervision be placed in satellite offices in each municipalities.  Too many services can only be attained in the Capital City.

Such a move will also help reduce the bottleneck heading in and out of Port of Spain and should be attempted before initiating such a massive project as the Rapid Rail.  Maybe upon completion of a highway Development/Modernization project and decentralization of administrative services, we may realize that there is not a need for a Rapid Rail. Then we can implement a toll system for highway usage so at that time we can cushion the cost impact of the advanced project which will then be the Rapid Rail.

All I am advocating at this time is that we sober up and realize that some steep corners are ahead which we need to navigate carefully.

Government need to understand that local investors may also curtail their spending being more cautious adopting a skeptic wait and see approach.  Regardless how much government ministers try to play down the projected impact, there will be a high level of timidity among locals with high investment portfolios.

Notwithstanding all that was said before, I believe that should appropriate action be taken immediately, we will be able to soften the inevitable impact.  Now is a good time to surface from the dive, take a look around and observe that the shoreline is not exactly where we expected.  There should not be any panic but total awareness of the prevailing condition and steps taken to avert any negative impact.

Now is the time to re-think.

Photos taken from ttparliament.org

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The following was extracted from this website’s guestbook. We found it to be interesting and decided to present it for our viewers.

Written by “Pearlie” Email: pointpearlie@aol.com

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYBODY!!!
People, people, people, we had a few pivotal postings and started positive dialogue to address the needs of our community, so let’s get back on the right bandwagon. How do we transition from desire to results. I think we can begin by assessing our current resources matching them to our desires then deciding what we can do to enhance, compliment or implement the policies, services and resources needed in our community. Let us cease being complainers and become people of action and results.
Volunteer – we can all squeeze out an hour a week to devote to civic duties. Seek out the webmasters for the sites serving Point Fortin or Trinidad, inform them of what you are qualified and willing to volunteer for. Quantify your skills and desires to qualify your volunteerism. Organize a group of individuals who are willing and able to participate in reading programs at local schools then present the proposal to the school principal.
Collect books and donate them to the libraries. Start a mentoring program and spend a half day a month influencing a young mind to do positive things. Be innovative – identify a need such as the one for a technologically current equipped sound auto mechanic shop in Point Fortin and match investors with the opportunity. That will create jobs, bring business to the community. Who among us have the acumen to be entrepreneurs?
I wish we would focus less on charity and embrace self-empowerment more. We must hold our leaders accountable. How – is the question. Having gifted a bottle and a ride to you at election time is not reason enough to designate someone as our representative. Understand the value of your vote. Your vote says I appoint you, I designate you, I trust you to honestly represent, protect and nurture my community thereby protecting the future of my children and ensuring our wellbeing. Your vote does not give someone the right to be selfserving, misrepresent your needs, squander your assets, pillage your forts, ignore your safety and security and then insult your intelligence by attempting to buy your vote with a bottle of rum and a ride to the polling station. To address the crisis of trust in our local government, question what our leaders are doing to rebuild our confidence and trust, and insist on answers that we can verify! Are the cornerstones of our local government still strong? If not we need to renovate!
To those of us living abroad who intend on returning to Point Fortin to live or vacation - we all organize to go home for Borough week and carnival – let’s make sure we are going home in time for election too.
Who has or can acquire a bank of computers, who has space to house the equipment, who has the knowledge to set up a learning network, who has the desire to learn? Everyone post your answers in a central location with contact information next thing you know we will have a community computer learning center. To pay for the expenses of the project run an internet café when classes are not in session or function as a business center providing photo copies, creating documents, doing graphic arts etc.

Start an investment club. Educate the community on the dangers that lurk within or the ones coming - a smelter, and the lng processor. Break it down. Fitzroy Harewood or Dr. Seunarine tell us in layman’s terms. What is big business in the Caribbean? Let us host their call centers! We have the banks here in Point one on every corner so we can start becoming the financial capital of Trinidad and Tobago. Encourage medical specialist to practice in our Borough. I have herad the saying before – build it and they will come Who thinking cottage industry in a world of technology? Boy we better wake-up!!!! If we don’t organize and act all these great ideas we have will just be added to the compost heap.
Regarding the Mervyn Caton debacle – where is our voice, the few who are crying out are being drowned by institutional giants. United our millions of voices cannot be ignored. We have to be seen, heard and believed! WRONG IS WRONG and will NOT BE TOLERATED.
I am compelled to address the nonsense being posted by the idle – let us stop feeding it and it will not grow! Is there a way for the webmaster to delete those disgusting postings?
What is happening on the world stage? What is happening with the world economies? Where do we rank? Point people are competitive – we don’t want last place. The thinkers are the ones to motivate and stimulate the others.
- LET US ENJOY AND BE THANKFUL FOR OUR BLESSINGS

Greetings from a cold place — a cold New York:
Feature by: Dr. Arnott Seunarine There is a quiet revolution taking place in Trinidad. People are beginning to call in and let the police and the public know enough is enough. It goes without saying that without the people we will never be able to take back our communities. We bear witness to this citizen power in Marabella where the residents of Longdenville helped Joanne S escaped her abductors. We read where the community in Flannigan Town came out and helped to locate Rebekiah S. We also observed where the community responded to an “Amber Alert” to help find baby Jeremiah. We also observed how the Principals Association volunteered three schools so that interviews can be conducted ( T/G 12/2/07). However, people are saying and asking, unless we clean up the police who would protect them from the criminal element. Hence, it was great news to read that the rogue cops as was reported in the T/E 12/4/07, MUST STAND TRIAL. They must pay the price of the pied piper. These rogue cops must be eliminated if we are to regain the trust of the general public. As for the one who attempted to bribe the officer in the check out room,he, too, should pay a hefty price i.e, his job, a fine and a heavy prison term.

Baby Jeremiah with Mom & Dad after being recovered Photo courtesy Newsday Newspaper.

I hope that lessons would have been learnt from unfortunate incident involving the “snatching away” of baby Jeremiah from the Mt Hope Hospital earlier this week.

 Apart from the fact that security at the institution was found to be inadequate, we must applaud the media for the persistent manner in which they made public appeals for the nation to be on the lookout for the missing baby boy.  Their efforts was made to bear fruit when the police received calls informing them about a suspicious activity which led to the discovery of baby Jeremiah.

 I have seen it before on many American Network News Channels where public announcements were made with relevant information pertaining to the crimes which would sensitize the public as to who is the person of interest.  Not just that he was wearing a blue shirt with black jeans and Rasta hairstyle; characteristics which can change in five minutes. 

 In this recent case, they asked the public to lookout for any person with a newborn child who was not recently pregnant.  The appeal was repeated frequently on most television and radio stations until baby Jeremiah was found.

 While we commend the participating media stations for their effort, we implore that this indulgence in solving crime does not end with baby Jeremiah but is continued for other ills which we are currently facing.

 Let us use baby Jeremiah’s case as a lesson learnt. One that was successful because of the sincere efforts generated and not just for sensational reporting as is the case by most media entities.

 The police service can work along with the media houses to bring about a higher level of practical public awareness which will not interfere with the subsequent judicial process.  We have seen this approach utilized in the USA and Europe where the public is allowed to know the person(s) of interest by name even before a charge is laid.  This may even allow others with information relevant to the investigation to come forward.

 In closing we wish to thank those who alerted the police service leading to the solving of this case.   

Once again we at Point Alive has to defend our integrity against less informed persons who for some reason seem to be having their facts misconstrued.

A few years ago there was in incident involving residents of Point Fortin where photographs being somewhat indecent, were circulated throughout the community. Once again, a similar occurrence is present and Point Alive would like to be distanced from the circulation of any such material.

This website, neither our parent company, Jamar Technology Services (JTS), has never and will never be responsible for assisting in any derogatory act to anyone especially our residents.

Just to state the facts, our office is located at 4 Adventure Road in Point Fortin, next to Belgroves Funeral Home. JTS provide Information Technology Services, however; WE ARE NOT A CYBER CAFÉ.

Without saying much more – Point Alive denounces any establishment which aids or abets the distribution of any such material simply for the purpose of “hustling a quick dollar” —- Nuff said.