DEAR EDITOR: I join the chorus of advocates for the retention of the “Trinity Cross” as the highest recognition to those who have contributed and/or are still contributing by way of national service or exceptional circumstances.

To the best of my knowledge and belief, the word Trinity can be traced back to the Greek word “Treis” moved through “Triad, Triune, Triunity etc all meaning threefold, three, thrice, etc.

The word and letter three has a direct relationship and historical antecedents to all creation and worldly existence from the beginning of the word and world, is not just an image but a reality of such existence and should not be changed for light and/or transient reasons or subvert our citizenship and constitution to any such fancy in the context that the greater includes the lesser and the whole includes the part.

I know all religious persuasions believe in God. God is spelt with three (a Trinity) of letters GOD. God created the world in the Trinity of Land, Sea and Air and supplemented this with the Trinity of the Sun, Moon and Stars for their various purposes.

God then created man with the Trinity of his Birth, Life and Death, and he gave us the Trinity of Breath, Sleep and Food to sustain life. Without either of this Trinity, no one can live but for a short span.

We also have the Trinity of Man, Material and Money, without which there is no progress or development. The world will stand still. He also gave man the Trinity of Knowledge, Wisdom and Understanding.

When I was a young man I worked for the United States War Department, 1941-1949. I came to the realisation in my training that no one has a monopoly on knowledge.

Opinion is not Knowledge, but we can learn from each other and assist each other. However, if we accept an opinion and act on it, it then becomes our decision and our responsibility for it.

Although I can go on and on, I simply must make mention of the Trinity of Cardinal Virtues: Faith, Hope and Charity or Love (universal to all persuasions).

Our nation/state’s Administration is constituted of the Trinity of the Executive. The Judiciary and The Legislative, with the Trinity of a Head of State, Chief Justice and Head of Government. Our Parliament is constituted of the Trinity of Leader of Government Business (elected), Leader of the Opposition (also elected) and a Nominated Senate.

Our main island has the Trinity of mountain ranges, the Northern Range, the Central Range and the Southern Range, with the peaks of The Three Sisters, another Trinity in itself.

We can therefore see that the Trinity Cross as institutionalised by the framers of our constitution is not a religious image in its meaning, mission, spirit and intent.

It is instead a true representation of creation, existence, development and progress, faith in ourselves and in God our Creator, universal creation, provided us with support, sustenance, blessed us wit knowledge, wisdom and understanding to face the challenges of our times.

I sincerely pray that Almighty God will bless us and our country and keep us safe and secure in his peace, presence and protection, bless us with cool heads, warm hearts and willing hands, remove from our country the scourge of crime, corruption and cruelty and keep us spiritually enriched, publicly useful and privately happy.
Anthony Mora, Arouca

DEAR EDITOR: The recent deaths of three Carmelite sisters have caused me to reflect on some remarkable nuns: Sr Bernadette de la Bastide OP who gave a talk on “The Healer Within” at a recent Holy Name Convent Past Pupils’ meeting; Sr Helen Gomes OP whom I consider the epitome of decorum and support; Sr Joan Charlerie O Carm (RIP) who taught me the healing power of music in many sing- a-longs; Sr Paul d’Ornellas SJC – absolutely super workshops in Toco; Sr Mary of the Cross Mentor (RIP) who had a lovely smile of encouragement for all who crossed her path; Sr Mary Jude Pereira (RIP) who told true stories of humorous incidents in Madeira in the days when I was processing disruptive behaviour in an environment where the vocabulary was “armed robbery, murder and larceny.”

Once, for her birthday, I invited Sr Regina Benjamin O Carm to have tea with me at the Hilton. My salary at the time was $50.00/day – I could barely pay for the tea.

That afternoon a chef from the Hilton sent her a cake! The Hilton had come to her!

Carol Burnett sums up my reflection “I am so glad we had the time together just to have a laugh or sing a song.”
Shireen Dewan Mc Ken, Newtown