DEAR EDITOR: Recently, I read online in one of our nation’s dailies of a trend towards a falling birthrate in Trinidad and Tobago and the negative impact, if left unchecked, that this could have on our National Insurance Scheme in 30 years time.

What Trinidad and Tobago may be showing signs of now was the experience of Western Europe 30 years ago. Presently, Western Europe is now suffering the impact of a population crisis with a soon to be negative birthrate.

For example, the average family in Italy  (2000) was 1.2 children. Said differently, many Italian couples are only having one child. What this means is that in 30 years the population will not be able to replace itself naturally.

The socio-economic and socio-political consequences for this are huge. From a socioeconomic point of view, a declining youthful population undermines the State's ability to provide for its ageing population with adequate health care and pensions because it is the youthful population that contribute though taxes etc, etc to pension programmes. From a socio-political point of view, it is self-inflicted genocide for Catholics given current migration patterns.

As a priest I would often joke with Catholic parents asking them when next they would be bringing a child for baptism. Five out of ten times the answer was, “Father, one is enough”. Clearly, based on the Western European experience, “One is not enough”.

One, or even two children, may not be enough for future sustainability of a population. The biblical or faith injunction to, “Go forth and multiply” is not for crazy Catholics.

It is biblical wisdom that reminds all readers today that we have the gift of and the responsibility for future generations! When yuh neighbour house on fire wet yours! We must learn from the mistakes of Western Europe.
Fr Matthew d’Hereaux, Roma, Italy

DEAR EDITOR: Thanks for the report on Fr Lai Fook’s jubilee. It would be a sin of omission not to bring to your reader’s attention Fr Lai Fook’s contribution to the T&T Mathematics Olympiad. 

Fr Lai Fook has been involved in the training of students for the International Mathematics Olympiad competition for very many years. This competition requires mathematical problem solving skills of the highest level.

Fr Lai Fook probably spends more time in training the TTMO students than any of the other instructors. His dedication is truly exemplary in this purely voluntary effort. He drives to and from the UWI, St Augustine campus, and spends several hours with the students on Saturday afternoons. 

His love of geometry is evident to all his past and present students, and I have never met anyone with his grasp of classical geometry. Our nation owes a lot to Fr Lai Fook not only as a priest, but in developing a culture of mathematics and in training the minds of its young people.
Charles de Matas,
Department of Mathematics and Computer Science,
The University of the West Indies, St Augustine.

THE EDITOR: Our country celebrated Emancipation Day on August 1. On that day I attended the seventh annual family day at the La Horquetta RC Church of the Resurrection.

The day began with Holy Mass, followed by the blessing of the stalls, and a very delicious lunch.

It was a pleasant surprise when Dennis Hall, better known as “Sprangalang”, appeared on stage as our guest speaker. He delivered an informative account of all the events leading up to the emancipation of slaves. He explained the impact of slavery on all our lives.

I would like to thank the organisers for selecting him and also the two parish priests who officiated at the Holy Mass. May God continue to bless them in the discharge of their duties.
Theresa Mc Millan, Park Ave, Mt Hope

Anytime anywhere,
God gives us a breath of fresh air.
Anytime you are lonely for a while,
God's blessing and cheer will make you smile.
Anytime you feel you're in despair,
God will calm you with love and prayer.
 
Anytime you are tired and down,
God's holy peace upon you will make you strong.
Anytime you need extra care and love,
You will receive from Heavenly God Above.
Anytime you obey God's call to assist,
God will bless you with eternal happiness.
 
Sue Jerome-Scott - St. Mary's, Mucurapo.