If National Security Minister Jack Warner was brief in Monday's statements on the robbery of former National Security Minister Martin Joseph, it may be unlikely Warner's Government will be able to as brief on certain issues concerning Warner himself.
Joseph, who left T&T?a day after the robbery, returns tomorrow. The robbery may have attracted a mixture of feedback-some seeking to make mileage on the PP's crime management, others tossing it back as the previous administration's fault.
But apart from the implications of Joseph's situation on his re-cord as Security Minister, Warner's own latest issue concerning a Swiss sport court ruling about an alleged secret bank account presents a quandary for Warner's boss since her National Security Minister (of one month) and National Security Council colleague (of four months) now has (another) cloud overhead other than the local crime problem.
Not only has coalition partner COP taken issue with it, the Opposition PNM, which has lodged queries on it also, will pronounce further tomorrow at Balisier House. PNM?general secretary Ashton Forde said PNM's focus will be on national issues including Warner and his boss who appointed him.
Warner shared this week's spotlight with the dead, as well as longstanding parliamentarians. In one place, former MP Kelvin Ramnath, who had graced the Parliament debate floor with vigorous delivery for 36 years, made his last "appearance" Wednesday when his former boss and mentor, Basdeo Panday, played devil's advocate on his behalf at his funeral.
In another place, at the Parliament in Port-of-Spain-where Ramnath was also remembered that day-very much among the living was the oldest living ex-parliamentarian, Dame Louise Horne, who stole the show at Wednesday's launch of a Parliament publication. Horne was embraced by Parliament staff and several former presiding officers, though an equal number of Parliament "newbies" and veterans didn't recognise her.
Horne, once devoted to representing voiceless sectors, may have something to teach political compatriots about the responsibility which resides with public office. Indeed, questions, tensions and assorted sentiments continue to dog the Woodbrook/St James traffic plan from PP-controlled Works Ministry and PNM-controlled Port-of-Spain Corporation.
Ironically, the plan-which arose under Warner's tenure in Works and intended to relieve vehicular congestion-has opened the PP to criticism of not caring about citizens, an accusation which the PP once utilised in its PNM attacks. The ministry and corporation's combined technical and planning expertise and knowledge of Woodbrook/St James, however prioritised flow of vehicular traffic-particularly privately-owned vehicles uninvolved in public transport-over the needs of hu-man traffic and business in an area that boasts a mixed foundation of both.
Citizens' needs in terms of movement, access to public transport and dangers they would be exposed to as a result of the traffic shifts were clearly not thought out, but rather allowed to filter down after the public was confronted with the plan. In the surprising ad hoc ap-proach, while traffic is flowing in some quarters (at very speedy MPH in some), congestion has shifted from the main arteries where it was previously located, to intersections and cross streets. Tragarete Road and Ariapita Avenue have also been converted to "highways" on which drivers, emboldened by extra lanes, are overtaking and speeding. The situation has validated suspicions that planning for the capital leaves much to be desired.
As political strategy for up-coming local government polls (whether or not intended on PP's part) it has succeeded in diminishing the political stocks of the PNM-controlled corporation and of Mayor Louis Lee Sing, initial mouthpiece for the plan who, following a flood complaints, has reverted to calling it a "trial."
It's also caused PNM conflict since Lee Sing's party colleague, Marlene McDonald, has heeded constituents' calls to battle the plan and PNM MP?Colm Imbert and other PNMites complained to Lee Sing about the effect in their areas. PP Minister Emman-uel George meanwhile appeared as "saviour" of sorts when he indicated doors were not closed to reversion to two-way traffic and some reconsideration of the plan could occur.
Imbert said yesterday, "I?spoke to Louis at length and told him, based on my own driving experiences in Woodbrook/St James, at the very least Tragarete Road and Western Main Road should revert back to two-way traffic since the one-way system is causing ex-cessive inconvenience to people living or working in those areas, plus severely affecting businesses. He was quite receptive."
Meanwhile, PNM MP Patrick Manning, whose parliamentary leave ended Tuesday, is "progressing nicely," says spokesman Wendy Lewis, adding, "I have no word on when he'll return." A constituency spokesman expects when Parliament re-sumes in September, Manning may be back "a while" after that.