DEAR EDITOR: I feel offended. I have never regarded the Trinity Cross as a religious award; rather I regard it as an award based on historical fact relative to the discovery of Trinidad . History tells us that Columbus discovered Trinidad on his third voyage, that the wind had fallen and the seas had become calm and the sailors were fearful for their lives and ready to mutiny.

Being a Catholic, Columbus prayed to his God, the Blessed Trinity, and promised that if he reached land he would name it after the Blessed Trinity – three persons in one God – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. As he came in from the south he sighted three peaks of the southern range and was reminded of his promise.

If these historical facts are taught in school, no non-Christian should take offense.

Archbishop Desmond Tutu called us a rainbow people because he saw a number of races and religions living together in harmony with mutual respect and tolerance for each other's beliefs. What has happened to the rainbow?

Are its colours becoming dim or are the colours being reduced from seven to five? Must we change the name of the country as well? Does living in a country named after the Blessed Trinity offend non-Christians?

The Trinity Cross must not be touched. If it is, I will regard it as an attack against my God. However, in a spirit of compromise, why don't we have two main awards, one for Christians and one for non-Christians?

Dr Richard Clerk, Newtown

DEAR EDITOR: From the recent Synod, I understand that many people are fussing or disagreeing with the proposed plans to pay youth coordinators (please correct me if I used the wrong term) and I can understand why.

Firstly I am not disagreeing and I patiently wait to hear what the salary figure will be, but what about all those catechists who have been labouring in the vineyards for many years? How are they supposed to feel about this plan?

I know of many persons from my parish and many others who have been tirelessly trying to mould our nation's children to do their sacraments at the cost of headache, stress and spending out of their own pockets at times to get things done. The work is, of course, not easy.

We have many catechists who teach First Communion classes, Confirmation and many others who visit schools to teach Religious Knowledge. What about them? Are the youth coordinators more important or is their job being recognised as a more important job?

Someone please help me? Do any catechist support this move? Knowing that they would not be on any Church's payroll? Once again, I am not against the salary, benefits and what else in store but shouldn't there be equity?

I know of many catechists who would still continue to work without even stating that they want a penny, just better support from the parents and Church at large, but this proposed plan needs further discussion and clarification. It needs to be looked at holistically.

SS, San Fernando

DEAR EDITOR: Please allow me to congratulate Jean Bernard on her excellent “Lesson plan for carnival” in her articles “The Carnival Experience and our Children”. The “plan” is well thought out and accepts the realities of life.

I look forward to her developing a “plan” for adults, which could influence our choice of costumes and behaviour at pre-carnival fetes.

Catholics could and should make a difference in raising the moral standards of carnival. After all, we started it.

Rex Escalante, Vistabella