DEAR EDITOR: Since the visit of President and Mrs Museveni to T&T for our Emancipation celebrations, I have been waiting to learn something new from our media about the great work that this couple has been doing in Uganda in the 21 years since he was elected to the Presidency, but the silence has been deafening. It seems that our media has not done its homework and they have let a golden opportunity slip through their hands.

When the Musevenis came into democratic power after the demise of Idi Amin, HIV-AIDS in Uganda had infected almost 17% of the population and the nation was in a terrible state.

Now the percentage of Ugandans with HIV-AIDS has decreased to just over 5% and their homegrown anti-HIV programme is by far the most successful in Africa.

This was done by the Museveni government in a united effort with all the religions and NGOs using an ABC programme with the emphasis on Abstinence and Be faithful, with small “c” for condoms being reserved for the prostitutes and those involved in selling sex.

During the course of this programme the Musevenis lost one of their own children when she died of AIDS. President Museveni made sure that members of his own cabinet and government were publicly seen and heard proclaiming the “Abstinence and Be faithful” message and Mrs Janet Museveni visited every one of the secondary schools in Uganda vigorously rallying the children while they were taught the programme.

At an Abstinence Rally in Kampala in October 2006, Mrs Museveni chastised the international movement to flood the African nations with condoms and encourage young people to have sex outside of marriage. 

“As a mother, I cannot advise my child to use condoms,” she said.  At that same rally there were 17,612 young people present from 123 schools, of whom 13,564 children made a public commitment to chastity.

Mrs Museveni said there again, “Parents agree with me on this, but there were people who came here and fought our campaigns of abstinence and being faithful to one partner. They used money and shut down some people and confused others. I persisted and Ugandans are seeing the fruits.” 

Janet Museveni

We continue to battle the 30 Sexual Transmitted Diseases (HIV-AIDS being only one) in T&T and the Abstinence Programme that we have been using since 2004 is now in 113 secondary schools here.

This programme is modelled on “The Governor’s Programme on Abstinence” from Louisiana, USA, and in fact the Louisiana programme is itself modelled on the Uganda abstinence programme.

This means that we owe President and Mrs Museveni a great debt of gratitude for their vision and persistence in relentlessly combating the terrible morbidity and mortality of Sexually Transmitted Diseases, especially HIV and also HPV (Human Papilloma Virus) which is the commonest STD in the world.

Earlier in 2007 Archbishop Gilbert decided that it was time to adapt the Abstinence Programme for younger children since so many of our children are increasingly sexually active in primary schools and we needed to make our Catholic schools more Catholic.

Accordingly a Virtues and Values Programme of several subjects is at present being formulated using the modified Abstinence Programme as its basis.

This is a 10-week programme that will be taught annually to the post-SEA class in all the Catholic primary schools in T&T beginning in April 2008, in an effort to educate the children about the moral and medical dangers of being sexually active and promiscuous, and to prepare and equip them before they enter secondary school and face the peer pressure there. This programme will have a component for parents.

At one of the information sessions about this new programme recently, one of the teachers stood up and said enthusiastically, “At last, we taking back we children!”

One can only hope that eventually this programme will become a national one in all the primary schools of T&T. Unfortunately however, it will be even more difficult for us to teach this “Virtues and Values” Programme in T&T to the children at present because of the mixed values of the adults who insist that Carnival, wining and thongs are part of our national culture.

Also, condoms are distributed and officially promoted daily in T&T especially at Carnival time and this is done in spite of their scientifically known percentage failure rate. T

herefore, we must keep reminding the youth that the risk of infection with condom use is cumulative and if there is no fundamental behaviour change, becoming HIV-infected (or with any other STD) is just a matter of time.

Some time ago, a confused teenager in Point Fortin asked me about Catholics who promote and use condoms. I told her that there are two kinds of Catholics, “CCs and RCs”. CCs are Condom Catholics who use condoms and RCs are Roman Catholics and they don’t use condoms.

Accordingly, I ask your ongoing prayers for the trainers and teachers who are embarking on training in this programme this month because, as St Paul says, “With God on our side, who can be against us?”
Dr Peter Gentle

DEAR EDITOR: The Pastoral Letter entitled “Deepening the Spirit of Solidarity in the Archdiocese of Port of Spain” by His Grace the Archbishop is profound and will influence positively the growth of the Church.

However, the targets are long term, and many of us will not see its fruits. Deepening Solidarity through Eucharist and Communion will be slow and tough, but certain. The world must see the glory of Christ revealed through His Church. After two thousand years two thirds of the world does not know Christ. 

His Grace must be congratulated for his foresight in bringing this timely initiative.

Anyone who wishes to study this document closely, as I hope all Catholics would, should get both CD and printed copy...  The CD may be played over and over again and makes interesting listening, whilst the printed copy may be used for review and to highlight specific areas of interest.

Every Catholic should be encouraged to read this letter. Parish meetings to discuss it should be attended as faithfully as Sunday Mass.

Having said that, I cannot understand why my Church must always insist on being paid for information. Reminds me of companies which charge their staff for advertising T-shirts. 

Such an important letter should be printed by the thousands and distributed free of charge at all Masses. CDs and DVDs should be sold for no more than $5 each.

Many older folk do not have Internet and CD players, and still use tape recorders. There should be a choice of CD or tape. Why start such an important initiative and then stifle it by poor distribution, just for a few dollars?
Rex Escalante, Vistabella