SURROGATE THREAT RISK FOR TRINIDAD...AN INCREASED SECURITY VULNERABILITY . By David A. M. Fraser

SURROGATE THREAT RISK FOR TRINIDAD...AN INCREASED SECURITY VULNERABILITY .

By David A. M. Fraser

Terrorism is a dangerous threat to regional security. Trinidad & Tobago and major tourist countries like Jamaica and Barbados in the former British West Indian Islands are particularly vulnerable, as they become surrogate targets.

Terrorists who cannot get to attack developed countries have aimed their bombs at softer targets. Bali and Mumbai are classic examples. For most persons, Muslims are the only terrorists.

But terrorism is now into the contracting business making it extremely more difficult to detect and interdict.

Trinidad & Tobago in recent time now plays an even more important role as described in leaked US State Department documents with regard to US energy security.

Given the activities taking place in the Middle East, we may have been moved from the back burner in the international intelligence world, to the front. This also means heightened external intelligence activity and possible interference in the political economy of Trinidad and Tobago.

I am not sure that there is a differential appreciation of the shift in policy and the treatment regime now prescribed for Trinidad and Tobago, and what this could mean for governance and political stability. As mentioned in an earlier post, the situation in the Middle East should have the United States worried from two stand points:

1. The governments replacing the former dictatorships in the Middle East are theocratic in nature. And they possess a burning desire to set up conservative Islamic or theocratic dictatorships similar to the Iran model; and

2. The revolutions across the Middle East demonstrate the capability of the terrorist organization to plan and effectively carry out acts that destabilized a significant part of the world, which now pose a serious security threat to the entire planet.

Such a situation demonstrates that without much international pressure, terrorists can quickly organize themselves in ways that makes us feel very vulnerable in the free world.

Terrorism was not so much a front burner issue in the past two and half years, rather, they have been downgraded to "enemy combatants" and such terms like that. Today, however, these new developments may surely have heads in the intelligence community rethinking the policy with regard to the war on terror.

The eventual aim of what is taking place in the Middle East is to attack Israel. The danger signals are already propping up. The newly installed Theocratic Egyptian Government did two things of note within days of overthrowing former President Mubarak:

a. They released the #2 member of Al Qaeda from Egyptian Prison; and

b. They granted permission to Iran's military to enter the Suez Canal.

These two acts signal that there is a serious problem in the Middle East, and, the get along philosophy will not work.

Trinidad and Tobago's threat elevation could be seriously heightened as a result of new Geo Political developments in the Middle East and now Africa, Nigeria in particular, which is one of the world's leading petroleum producing States. This threat comes not only from Islamic Terrorists, but also from splinter groups and governments unfriendly to western democratic and capitalist countries.

There is a secret gun factory in Venezuela, and this can pose serious problems for Trinidad and Tobago.

What is needed is a bipartisan security policy formulation and implementation approach for Trinidad and Tobago.

This approach should take the form of special oversight committees, charged with the responsibility of putting into place a new framework that will link foreign affairs and national security.

This new structure will ensure a seamless approach to intelligence gathering. This agency will have different divisions reporting to committees, which answers to an overhauled and restructured National Security Oversight Committee/Council.

The new departments or sub agencies will treat with counter intelligence operations, illegal migration, slave trading detection and interdiction, external political interference, detection and treatment of foreign spies, for which an appropriate policy is desperately needed.

This ought to be done through an intelligence sharing and clearing house system, which should be a revolving integrated law enforcement and civilian team, continuously analyzing information to inform the next steps, such as, internal security and state threats, financial terrorism, counter terrorism, and the anti narcotics trade.

This approach is necessary, as the intellectual and human resources is not reposed in any single Political Party given the small size of the country.

There is also need to develop a structure and policy framework that forms part of a continuum on the Security apparatus of the country that will remain intact throughout future changes of governments.

In the meanwhile, what are we doing about Trinidad's potentially heightened risk of being a surrogate threat?

What could this mean for life tomorrow as a Trinidad citizen? As the threat elevation rises, also would it affect the way citizens live and go about their business. Threat assessments are not only for the state, but also by extension the people and wherever they may be.

Respectfully Submitted,

David A.M. Fraser

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“WORKING TOGETHER TO BUILD SUCCESSFUL NATIONS”

David A.M. Fraser

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TODAY’S EDITORIAL as at April 7^th 2011

Topic: Dr. Gopeesingh’s decision to reduce extra-curricular school activity.

DON’T BLAME GOPEESINGH FOR TRYING TO TAME THE TIGER

By David A.M. Fraser

Education in Trinidad was not about liberation. Tertiary education started off to train middle management in the private sector. The Institute of Business (IOB) was created for this purpose. The IOB was not about developing entrepreneurs and thinkers. The IOB morphed into the Arthur Lok Jack Graduate School of Business. The problem continues.

The Colonial Elementary Education System of the 1950’s and 60’s was a powerful successful model that was working well in the West Indies. Those were also the days of corporal punishment and the Teacher ruled supreme. Ironically, the Colonial education structure gave us the only entrepreneurs of note we have today. That system and syllabus of education was abolished without any worthy replacement.

Secondary education was supposed to be universal. Only, we had no teachers, nor people of the caliber to train and properly prepare children for the working world.

As a management strategy, the state took the good teachers from the Private Prestige Schools and made them Principals and Teachers at the Junior Secondary Institutions. This strategy failed. The hope was for technology transfer and methodology improvement to occur at public schools, which were already failing at the primary school level.

These newly appointed principals were not accustomed to managing or working in unruly public school environments, where the rules were very flexible, and followed procedures which recognized student rights above those of the teacher.

Delinquency is now the order of the day at these institutions, where chaos and mayhem rule supreme. The rod of correction was replaced by liberal school governance

structures, which spared the Rotan and is spoiling the children.

The United States in some jurisdictions retained and reintroduced paddling, harsh detention, and expulsion of children for unruly and disruptive behaviour. Such children are put into a database and followed up for corrective action. Dr. Gopeesingh may have his faults, but at least he is trying to tackle serious problems at the school place. CXC no longer recognizes proper English. Teachers are not mandated to be orators, and the ghetto language is encouraged. The theory is that once you can communicate, or have a general idea of what you are conveying, this is good enough.

This is an actual policy throughout the West Indies. Please note the correlation of the problems across the region, with crime and violence being supreme. Believe it or not! This is definitely one for Ripley’s.

UWI and UTT are churning out graduates that are stuck in the West Indies, and will not be able to move beyond these borders for two reasons:

1. They are not recognized graduates and;
2. They are incapable of communicating with anyone beside themselves, the unique dialect syndrome.

Unfortunately, we have people immersed in mediocrity and the emotional drug of "we special, we unique," and this is "sweet T&T". Many are blinded from the harsh reality that the world is interconnected and absolutely interdependent. No one can offer a definition to substantiate these defense preambles, which preclude any ludicrous statement they are about to make.

We import tomatoes from temperate climates and thousands of hectares go idle and wasted right here, and we complain about food inflation. Do not take this as cynical. Until there is a policy to create an education structure which encourages entrepreneurs who can design products to sell to the world, Trinidad will continue down an abyss of no return.

I cite no stronger a case than the decision of the Courts to allow a muslim to wear a hijab at a Catholic Institution (School). This victory was against the status quo, not for the right of the child to wear muslim garb at a Christian institution. The tail wagging the dog syndrome is fulfilled.

Should it have been the other way around, and Catholic's and/or other Christian students wore symbols of Christianity at a muslim institution, I wonder what would have been the reaction?

People see politics in everything in Trinidad today. The society is trapped and mired by political issues. The focus should be better education for all, not bacchanal, confusion, and mayhem. I am still amazed that we have illiterate people calling talk shows to criticize the education system and the decisions of Dr. Gopeesingh, and politicians listen to this diatribe.

The Tiger has been let out of the cage. It is now very difficult to put it back inside. However, someone has to take the tough decisions. I support Dr. Gopeesingh's efforts at improving the education system. He must restore important traditions and rules, and also improve on the old model.

The goodly Minister must also get rid of the liberal policy that now produces tomorrow’s gang leaders, and perhaps terrorists, as there is a fine line between the two activities. And, please, how I long for the reintroduction of the good old-fashioned wild cane (Rotan). (Although this is hardly likely, since it will reverse the Prime Minister) Remember folks, there is absolutely no substitute for a good cut a…s. Press on Tim.

Respectfully Submitted,

David A.M. Fraser

David A.M. Fraser - Founder: davidfraser@dafsocialmediapoll.com

Arlette L-M Jeet - Partner: arlettejeet@dafsocialmediapoll.com

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David A.M. Fraser and Arlette L-M Jeet and their DAF Social Media Poll Team

“WORKING TOGETHER TO BUILD SUCCESSFUL NATIONS”

EDITORIAL: 29TH MARCH 2011 EDITORIAL: 29TH MARCH 2011

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EDITORIAL: 29TH MARCH 2011

CLASS WAITING TO EXHALE - WILL MR. MOHAMMED SURPRISE US ALL

By David A.M. Fraser

The statement issued from the office of the Prime Minister on the matter regarding the comments of racial imbalances between Africans and Indians in the TTPS made by Chairman of the Police Service Commission Nizam Mohammed, fell short of asking for his resignation, or indicating any action to remove him from the position.

That a mere condemnation and wrap on the knuckles was all that it was purported to represent, sent the wrong signals to the population. The statement lacked any definitive action, which leads one to wonder whether or not the government has paid this matter any serious attention.

However, styles of leadership differ greatly, and being the first female Prime Minister, Mrs. Kamla Persad Bissessar may have a different way of doing things, probably a bit more diplomatic, hoping that Messer's Mohammed does the right and Honourable thing, which is to tender his resignation and move on with life.

However, the Prime Minister is not dealing with a normal person, but one filled by the trappings of office and being self important, and a person consumed with a lot of foolish pride.

Given the multiple incidents which transpired around him in the past weeks, Mr. Mohammed should have already taken his departure, demonstrating diplomacy, tact and integrity. These are characteristics, which are par for the course being Chairman of the Police Service Commission also referred to as the PSC. Maybe, while no handbook exists, the convention and practices of history will apply, but I guess in the absence of rules governing anything, it is fine for Mr. Mohammed to change the game as it suits his fancy.

Nizam Mohammed either way is unsuitable to hold office, and should not be given the diplomatic exit, for he shall never resign, hoping against all odds of logic that he could remain the head of the Police Service Commission.

His last remarks came at a time of embattlement with social activists, members of the public, and officers of the TTPS. These incidents obviously have shaken him up to the extent that he continues the war, though not good for the country or the image of the Service Commission.

The Police Service Commission was seen as the last bastion of those institutions whereby diplomacy, integrity, and high honour represented the image and values of the organisation. None other than Nizam Mohammed has diminished the spirit and traditions of that organisation and its high stature.

Clearly, his actions demonstrate someone who cares only about continuing to occupy office, or believes being important is more beneficial to him, than the best interests of the country, to whom he serves.

A summary of the issues will show that Mr. Mohammed seems to be courting a blight, which is affecting his ability to act and function with diplomacy, and not bring the PSC and his government into odium.

My assessment is that Mr. Mohammed expects that this too will pass, and in enough time, he could continue to sit as Chairman of the Police Service Commission. But the events show a different story of irreconcilable differences between himself and those whom he leads, these are as follows:

- Mr. Mohammed's alleged battle with Police Officers over his reported refusal to follow traffic instructions and pulling rank on Junior Constables.
- Mr. Mohammed's alleged reports that he feels threatened by harmless law abiding and upstanding citizens, whereby it triggered Special Brach to question such persons for objecting to him getting Senior Counsel status at the Bar and that he be removed from the PSC as Chairman.
- Mr. Mohammed's statements to the Parliament about racial imbalance and claims about Africans in the upper echelons are more in number than East Indians in the Police Service.
- Mr. Mohammed's statements were strongly and publicly condemned by his fellow Commissioners except for one person thereby creating an open divide on the issues of racial imbalance in the Police Service.

- An apparent attempt by a particular member of the PSC to get all members of the PSC to tell the President of the country they fully support Mr. Mohammed on a private matter, which was and still remains of no concern to the Police Service Commission.

- That this attempt was done with Mr. Mohammed's permission has not been verified. However, the attempt was most likely to repose confidence in the leadership style of Mr. Mohammed, and maybe not be a cog in the wheel of him being given Senior Counsel status.

CONCLUSION:
Most people If placed in Mr. Mohammed's untenable position would have done the honourable thing and leave a long time ago, however, Mr. Mohammed's class is still waiting to exhale, will he yet surprise us all.

Respectfully Submitted,

David A.M. Fraser

David A.M. Fraser

David A.M. Fraser - Founder: davidfraser@dafsocialmediapoll.com

Arlette L-M Jeet - Partner: arlettejeet@dafsocialmediapoll.com

FAFA Ltd. : fafaltd@dafsocialmediapoll.com Facebook: David Fraser

DAF Social Media Poll blog: http://dafsocialmediapoll.blogspot.com

FRONTLINE blog: http://davidamfraser.blogspot.com/

Business Savvy blog: http://arlettejeetcheckthisoutbusinesssavvy.blogspot.com

www.dafsocialmediapoll.com

David A.M. Fraser and Arlette L-M Jeet and their DAF Social Media Poll Team

“WORKING TOGETHER TO BUILD SUCCESSFUL NATIONS”