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Peace and quiet



When you hear the words 'perfect' or 'the best' it makes you feel like a million dollars. Human nature is weird, a simple compliment can turn a whole story into a week of joy! And, yes, I am speaking about the Sunday night popcorn! Apparently, tonight was exceptional. I hope the rest of the week translates into 'perfect'.

The horrible news of the deaths of two cyclists over the weekend came as a real shock. We both know a number of people who cycle for good weekend sport and to hear of Joe Brown being killed in an accident was truly heart-rending. When we heard of the accident we started to think of all the people we know who cycle and just hoped it might be somebody we did not know. Is this how it works, you hope that it's not someone you know, what about all the people who actually know the person? Truly a sad day! RIP Joe and Joanna!
The issue of cycling and motorists is one that every country I am sure goes through. Is it that the main roads are for vehicles or for mixed use? Do motorists actually accept that at times, like weekends, there will be other users, like cyclists, on the highways? I have no idea what actually happened and therefore cannot lay blame. In 2014 we initiated the cycle lanes on the QPS but I don't think that it was respected in any real sense. Drivers just do what they want. How many times have you stood at a zebra crossing and no one stops to allow you to pass? As much as we are reasonable people with our driving, for instance letting people merge, we do not respect pedestrians or cyclists.

There is a brewing issue of the compensation of a newly appointed CEO of one of the new companies coming out of the now-defunct Petrotrin. What exactly is the problem? The CEO is being paid a salary of approximately $34K US per month. Is this an acceptable compensatory package in the energy industry? What do other executives work for? Is it better to hire someone who actually knows what they are doing or to put some party hack in the position and a couple years after you find that the taxpayer has lost a couple billions of dollars? Here on the Rock, we have a warped way of understanding compensation. A Permanent Secretary in a Ministry works for $28K per month. This person is however responsible for billions of dollars in expenditure. A Cabinet Minister is paid $45K per month. A carpenter in Petrotrin is paid $75K per month, with overtime! The Transport Commissioner in the Licensing Office is paid $13K per month. This is crazy, we have no idea what we are doing and yet still we want to hold people to account, stop corruption, and get a level of productivity that will never be achieved with a disproportionate compensation package.
The Prime Minister of Singapore is paid USD 1.7 million per annum. I wonder why?

We headed south to Chickland on Saturday to the Ajoupa annual festival weekend. Again, our artists on show. The talent and creativity of our people being displayed in a setting so natural. Peace and quiet, no musical performances, no DJ, no Ministry involved. It is amazing what a country visit does for the soul. Walk with your picnic basket and relax. Bunty and Rory thank you very much, we look forward to Chickland every year!

And so the Rock continues on a path close to self-destruction! Politicians just not coming straight with the plebs, corruption upon corruption, public housing issues, Petrotrin questions like Caroni Ltd. questions, hotel in Tobago or not, scanners on the PATT inoperable, guns and drugs, murders, a very troubled country!

People of the Rock, what can I say, a good batch of popcorn works, let not your heart be troubled!

Good night and good luck!



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