DEAR EDITOR: I write on behalf of the Friends of the Homeless Committee in reply to Marion O Callaghan's criticisms of the St Vincent de Paul Society's work in helping the homeless at the Centre for the Socially Displaced Persons. This appeared in the Newsday's article headlined “Happy New Year Vagrant” of Monday, January 2, 2006.

She seems to feel that the way things are done in Dublin is the way to go but admits that 1000 people “sleep rough” in Dublin . Remember, the temperature, at times, falls very low and can cause death in Dublin .

This never happens in Port of Spain , where the temperature is never very cold. In cities like Dublin , therefore, there is the great incentive from cold weather for many more people who are homeless to rehabilitate themselves and get off the streets as opposed to Trinidad.

This shows why it was originally asked by the former head of the St Vincent de Paul to ask people to feed the homeless in the Centre for Socially Displaced Persons and not on the streets of Port of Spain .

The Centre for Socially Displaced Persons which is run by the Society of St Vincent de Paul on behalf of the State continues to help the homeless and has produced many rehabilitated homeless persons since its inauguration in 1991, when it was started by the then Prime Minister, Mr ANR Robinson.

The impression given in some of Marion O'Callighan's written statements about “tough love” and “the City Council” are incorrect. It is the Government not the St Vincent de Paul Society who is picking up certain vagrants that appear to be mentally ill and only the Government's qualified officer from the mental hospital who is present allows this to be done.

The police who are also present are there to ensure order. You have to realise that it is extremely difficult to handle mentally ill people.

Even in Dublin the mentally ill homeless people have to be restrained and taken away for treatment in the mental asylum with police present to ensure no harm is done to innocent bystanders.

Please remember these mentally ill patients have been know to seriously damage and even kill innocent people while in the streets, so the Government is acting correctly to help take in and cure these mentally ill persons in the mental hospital.

All are invited to our meetings to see and help in the good work that goes on at the Centre for Socially Displaced persons run by the St Vincent de Paul Society. One may call 624-5927/623-4926 for further information on the time and date of our meetings.

Anthony Arindell,
Secretary of the Friends of the Homeless Committee

DEAR EDITOR: In response to my Nelsonian colleague of old, Errol Cooper, may I state that I had rested my case for a change of site of the Fatima Devotions with the words: “Let the debate begin.”

Moreover, my caption included a question mark. It read: “time for change?” In short, in no way was I attempting to impose my “Personal viewpoint” on anyone. On the other hand, there is a time and a season for everything. There is also a time for change – and for intelligent debate.

Now, I can think of no one more entitle to defend the Laventille site than Errol Cooper or who is more worthy of being honoured “for his many years of dedicated service to the Laventille Devotions.”

I am also told that Fr Dwight Merrick is doing an excellent job wit the youth in Laventille. On the other hand, in responding to my statement that “there are many who would not choose to attend the devotion in Laventille today – for understandable reasons,” Cooper considers it to be as an “overreaction” on their part.

The fact, however, is that this is an inescapable fact (of perception), the reality of which has to be faced squarely and which in part explains (as he himself has admitted), “the marked decline of the ‘pilgrims' to Laventille”.

This is therefore paramount to my case! Indeed, in the Express newspaper of January 2, 2006 , it was stated that “in 2005 murders in Laventille accounted for close to 33% of the country's 386 murders,” adding significantly to the perception and reluctance.

It is therefore my forecast that if the site were changed to St Mary's College grounds (by the way, neither Fatima in Portugal nor Lourdes in France is on a hill), I do believe that we will have five to ten-fold the number of “pilgrims” attending the devotion.

One must then ask oneself not what “I” prefer but what would Our Lady of Fatima prefer, hundreds or thousands honouring her and following her “Peace Plan” of Fatima?

Indeed, as Cooper also stated, and about which I totally agree, “There is also need for promotion of the devotion in the parishes.”

Note also that because I am a stickler for protocol, I insisted in my recommendation that the Laventille Committee must still be in charge of the event, even if in another site.

In fact, as somewhat of a compromise, for example, the Laventillians and others (who choose to do so) could themselves celebrate the devotion in their church on the actual day that the 13 th of the month falls (as is celebrated in Portugal ) in addition to the Sunday country-wide celebration.

Catholic means universal and there should therefore be fair and equal opportunities for a universal involvement of all the Catholic faithful in this devotion to Our Lady of Fatima, especially in this era when more than ever in world history there is need for the intercession of the Queen of Peace and her “Peace Plan of Fatima.”

Without going into detail, I happen to know about what I am saying. It is partly in my new and last Marian book The Last help Before the End of Time. And so, let the debate continue (if allowed) – but with decorum. I, on the other hand, will have no more to say. I have said it all.

Professor Courtenay Bartholomew, Port of Spain