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| Wheelchairs not for road | ||
THE EDITOR: This morning (Jan 3, 2007) I saw a legless person in a wheelchair wheeling past UWI’s northern gates. The person had to roll in the street, against the oncoming traffic, rolling over humps as if the wheelchair was a car. This is dangerous and it looked tiring. Apart from having to exert the energy required to roll the wheelchair, the person has to pay attention to the oncoming cars to make sure the wheelchair does not get hit by a hurried motorist (of which there are many these days). I glanced at the sidewalk, wondering why the person was not on it. Apart from it not having a slope/ramp, it was too narrow to fit a wheelchair. People in wheelchairs should not have to be operating their chairs in the road in the midst of traffic in order to get from point A to point B. This is unsafe and inconvenient and is not indicative of developed nation status. Most of Trinidad and Tobago is currently not designed to accommodate people who are unable to move as “regular” pedestrians would. This includes old people and blind people. Some of our pavements are so high that even I, as a young “walking person” with long legs, have had to jump a few inches or leap over a small drain to get up on a sidewalk. How are people in wheelchairs supposed to get up there? Many pavements also have gaping holes and loose or haphazardly-placed manhole covers. This is hazardous for any pedestrian, but especially for the blind, the old and those in wheelchairs. Fixing roads is not only about filling potholes and painting lines. Will the relevant authorities please look into fixing sidewalks, widening them where possible and creating more ramps. |
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| Thanks for supporting anti-smelter struggle |
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DEAR EDITOR: The members of the Cedros Peninsula United group wish to thank one and all for the tremendous support given to the residents of the Southwestern peninsula in their anti-smelter struggle. Special thanks to Professors Julian Kenny and John Spence for their depth of research and unwavering commitment to the cause. They complemented the work of Fr Moses and together they firmed up the intellectual and scientific bases of the struggle. We say thanks to the members of other religious organisations who joined with the Catholic faithful and provided sustained and effective “prayer pressure”, an important component which, we believe, contributed greatly towards a favourable resolution of the vexed issue. The struggle became a national issue due largely to the great number of citizens – professionals, students and very ordinary folk, who willingly gave of their time, expertise and goodwill to support the resolute and embattled residents of the Southwestern peninsula. It would not be possible, in such a short article as this, to thank everyone individually, yet we would like to express our gratitude to the various unions, organisations and community groups and their leaders who journeyed with the residents of Chatham and its environs showing solidarity and offering assistance to the anti-smelter combatants. Thanks for lending your voices, your advice and your support to a small community which merely sought to be consulted and to have a voice in any decision-making process which would impact upon its way of life, its environment and its future. How admirably you embodied the spirit of Proverbs 31:8-9. “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; ensure justice for those who are perishing. Yes, speak up for the poor and helpless, and see that they get justice.” We thank you! |
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| Let God's will be done | ||
DEAR EDITOR: Are we dictating to God? God wants us to depend on him; we need him in our daily lives. Let us show him our love and always give thanks and praise. It appears as if several of us dictate to our heavenly Father our desires, telling him what to do instead of letting his will be done. God is in charge; he is the judge. Please let us learn to have faith in God. He guides and directs. He makes the decisions, performing miracles on us all. Sometimes disappointments are blessings in disguise so let us not be dismayed or angry because he saves us from danger and better will come our way. We must abide by the Ten Commandments of God and continue to trust and pray for the crime situation that plagues society. We pray for the less fortunate, sick, and that God will bless the Government that it may make the right decisions for the betterment and safety of the people. May we continue to have the courage and strength to help each other, loving one’s neighbour as oneself rather than going to church all dressed up, and when Holy Mass has ended we pass our brother and sister without acknowledging one another. “O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together.” Psalm 34:3 |
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FROM THE EDITORS | |
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