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Trinidad Guardian Reporting 1981 March 31
USED WITH PERMISSION
ONR:
Governmental action forced
on five counts
SAN FERNANDO:
ORGANIZATION for National Reconstruction (ONR) rolled into Gasparillo on Tuesday
night in another of its public meetings to sell to the people the "politics of conscience."
In the absence of Mr. Karl Hudson Phillips, political leader, who is out of the country,
Mr. Suruj Rambachan, deputy leader, was principal speaker. He said there were five
counts on which ONR had forced Governmental action, and it was possible that relief
might well come to Gasparillo, now that the bandwagon had rolled into the area.
Earlier in the day, ONR opened its San Fernando headquarters on Gordon Street,
before another appreciative crowd, demonstrating its commitment, Mr. Rambachan
said, to the idea of decentralisation of authority.
Tuesday's meeting was presided over by Mr. Leslie Balgobin and Mr. Hayes
Sampson.
Mr. Balgobin said he was genuinely concerned, and he felt that people all over the
country were equally concerned about the way in which things had degenerated. He
believed that the ONR had the capacity and the will to remedy the situation, and that
when people understood what ONR represented, what really was meant by the "politics
of conscience," they would join the crusade for the salvation of Trinidad and Tobago.
Former county councillor, Mr. Leo Thompson, said the regrettable death of little
Camie Jorsingh could easily have been avoided.
He said while a member of Victoria County Council, he had written the then Minister
of Works, the last Sir Learie Constantine, requesting the footpath from Charles Street to
the junction, a short half-mile," and although he was informed that the footpath would
be constructed, up to today we are without it, and because of that, the life of a little girl
was snuffed out.
ian
Trinidad Guardian Reporting 1981 March 31
USED WITH PERMISSION
ONR:
Governmental
action forced
on five counts
SAN FERNANDO;
ORGANISATION ,for National Reconstruction
(ONR) rolled into Gasparillo on Tuesday night,
another of its public meetings to sell to the
people the "politics of conscience."
In the absence of Mr. Karl Hudson Phillips, political
leader,who is out of the
country, Mr. Suruj Ram- Mr. Balgobin said he was
bachanu, deputy leader, was genuinely concerned, and be
principal speaker. He said felt that people all over the
there were five counts on country were equally con-
which ONR had forced cerned about the way in
Governmental action, and which things had de-
it was possible that' relief generated.-He believed that
might well come to Gas- the ONR had the capacity
parillo, now that the band- and the will to remedy the
wagon had rolled into the situation, and that when
area. people understood what
Earlier in the day, ONR ONR represented, what
opened its San Fernando really was meant by the
headquarters on Gordon. "pohtics of conscience,"
Street, before another they would join the crusade
appreciative crowd, for the salvation of Trinidad
demonstrating its commit- and Tobago.
meant, Mr: Rambachan said, Former county councillor,
to the idea of decentralisa- Mr. Leo Thompson, said the
tion of authority. regrettable death of little
Tuesday's meeting was Camille Jorsingh could
presided over by Mr. Leslie easily have been avoided.
Balgobin and Mr. Hayes He said while a member of
Sampson. Victoria County Council, he
had written the then Minis-
ter of Works, the late Sir
Learie Constantine,
requesting the footpath
from Charles Street to the
junction," a short half-
mile," and although he was
informed that the footpath
would be constructed, up
to.today we are without it,
and because of that, the life
of a little girl was snuffed
out.
As a born villager, he was
strongly commending the.
ONR to the people of Gas-
parillo and surrounding dis-
tricts.
Mr. Rambachan, lecturer
of the University of the
West Indies UWI said it was
very likely relief would come
to Gasparillo, because on
five counts ONR has been
able to get some things
done.
ONR had. rolled into
Cedros with its campaign
and within days, Rep. Cyril
Rogers, Deputy Speaker of
the House of Representa-
tives, had rushed into
ian
Trinidad Guardian Reporting 1981 March 31
USED WITH PERMISSION
Cedros with $300,000 for the
fishermen of the area.
ONR had called fok rent
control, and indicated that
the current exploitation by
landlords must stop, and, Ito
and 'behold Government
was presening. before Par-
liameit a Bill for the con-
trol of rent.
Factor three involved a
Bill to regularise the posi-
tion of squatters,- and had
come after the ONR
repeatedly declared that
people must be provided
with land to build their
homes.
The recent inquiry into
\the conduct of6ertain pub-
ltilr~ ewfas count four.
and lastly, but equally ii-
.portant, the pollwhich put
the ONR ahead of all other
political parties in the
current election race.
He referred to the book
written by Dr. Patrick
Solomon, former
Government Minister and
Ambassador, on his political
experiences, and said Dr.
[47I LA
Solomon, should be heartily
congratulated for the cour-
age and fortitude he had
shown in describing to the
.eole. "the man Dr, Eric
M Wi~ams truly is."
Mr, Rambachan said Dr.
Solomon had shown in his
book, that Dr. Williams was
not interested in the de-
velopment of Trinidad and
Tobago, but rather in
"getting even" with those
who dismissed him from the
Caribbean Commission..
Mr. Rambachan was criti-
cal of the establishment of
the Special Fund by Govern-
ment, because he said
after money, had passed
from the Consolidated Fund
to the Special Fund, Parlia-
ment had no authority to
demand accountability.
The Special Fund now
stood at $8,142,000,000
which was totally under the
control of Dr. Williams.
Every single recent
economics authority has.
shown that Trinidad and
Tobago was the "fourth
riches country in the West-
ern Hemisphere, behind only
the JUnited States, Canada
and Venezuela,: yet people
were. suffering deprivations
of the simplest necessities
of life"
Also the Government
Ministers "4smply enjoyed
life, and went aroundthe
country as if the plight of
the people did not matter
to them.
He asked "what Govern-
ment of conscience would
permit a contracting com-
pany with S2 capital the
right to build a bridge
costing $40 million? What
Government really
concerned about remaining
in power would treat the
teachers of the country
with such impunity?
"What- Government real-
ly concerned about winning
the next general elections
could really and seriously re-
main so totally insensi-
tive to the demands of the
population in so many fields
of human endeavour?" -
Mr. Rambachan told the
gathering there was only
one alternative, and that
was the total and unreserv-
ed removal of the PNM and
its replacement by the
ONR.
Trinidad Guardian Reporting 1981 March 31
USED WITH PERMISSION
As a born villager, he was strongly commending the ONR to the people of Gasparillo
and surrounding districts.
Mr. Rambachan, lecturer of the University of the West Indies (UWI), said it was very
likely relief would come to Gasparillo, because on five counts ONR has been able to get
some things done.
ONR had rolled into Cedros with its campaign, and within days, Rep. Cyril Rogers,
Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, had rushed into Cedros with $300,000
for the fishermen of the area.
ONR had called for rent control, and indicated that the current exploitation by
landlords must stop, and, lo and behold, Government was presenting before Parliament
a Bill for the control of rent.
Factor three involved a Bill to regularise the position of squatters, and had come
after the ONR repeatedly declared that people must be provided with land to build their
homes.
The recent inquiry into the conduct of certain public utilities was count four, and
lastly, but equally important, the poll which put the ONR ahead of all other political
parties in the current election race.
He referred to the book written by Dr. Patrick Solomon, former Government
Minister and Ambassador, on his political experiences, and said Dr. Solomon should be
heartily congratulated for the courage and fortitude he had shown in describing to the
people "the man Dr. Eric Williams truly is."
Mr. Rambachan said Dr. Solomon had shown in his book, that Dr. Williams was not
interested in the development of Trinidad and Tobago, but rather in "getting even" with
those who dismissed him from the Caribbean Commission.
Mr. Rambachan was critical of the establishment of the Special Fund by
Government, because he said, after money, had passed from the Consolidated Fund to
the Special Fund, Parliament had no authority to demand accountability.
The Special Fund now stood at $8,142,000,000 which was totally under the control
of Dr. Williams.
Trinidad Guardian Reporting 1981 March 31
USED WITH PERMISSION
Every single recent economics authority has shown that Trinidad and Tobago was
the "fourth richest country in the Western Hemisphere, behind only the United States,
Canada and Venezuela, yet people were suffering deprivations of the simplest
necessities of life."
Also the Government Ministers "simply enjoyed life, and went around the country
as if the plight of the People did not matter to them."
He asked "what Government of conscience would permit a contracting company
with $2 capital the right to build a bridge costing $40 -million? What Government really
concerned about remaining in power would treat the teachers of the country with such
impunity?
"What Government really concerned about winning the next general elections could
really and seriously remain so totally insensitive to the demands of the population in so
many fields of human endeavour?"
Mr. Rambachan told the gathering there was only one alternative, and that was the
total and unreserved removal of the PNM and its replacement by the ONR.
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