Dear Editor:
In an informative article "Young drinkers turn to Puncheon" by Darryl Heeralal in the Express on Wednesday August 6th 2008, the brand manager of Forres Park Puncheon rum, Christopher Noel, says he is "very happy with the increase in sales so far." Mr. Heeralal reported that "The Forres Park brand, produced by Fernandes Distillers, rum drinker's choice for the best puncheon, has upped sales six and a half per cent, every year for the past three."
GOPIO Trinidad and Tobago is extremely concerned about Mr. Noel's comments: should anyone be happy about the increased sales of alcoholic beverages? Is Mr. Noel or his company, Fernandes Distillers, also happy about the increase in health, social, and lifestyle problems directly attributed to alcoholic consumption?
Alcohol affects each member of the family – from the unborn child to the alcoholic's spouse. Its far-reaching effects result in not only physical problems for the alcoholics, but also may result in physical and psychological problems for other members of the family. Studies of domestic violence frequently document high rates of alcohol and other drug (AOD) involvement, and AOD use is known to impair judgment, reduce inhibition, and increase aggression. Alcoholism and child abuse, including incest, seem connected also.
Excessive drinking can cause a variety of health problems. Almost every system in the body can be negatively affected by alcohol and even moderate drinking can affect your health. The body has more than 100 circadian rhythms that are unique and influence various aspects of body functions, including heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature, hormone levels, pain threshold and even the ability to fight disease. Drinking alcohol can have negative consequences on these biological rhythms.
Alcohol-induced liver disease is a major cause of illness and death. Brain damage is a common and potentially severe consequence of long-term, heavy alcohol consumption. Even mild-to-moderate drinking can adversely affect cognitive functioning. Young people who binge drink could be risking serious damage to their brains now and increasing memory loss later in adulthood. Scientists and researchers continue to find a link between even moderate alcohol drinking and an increased risk of certain cancers, especially breast cancer and liver cancer. The more you drink, the greater the risk of developing cancer.
GOPIO Trinidad and Tobago condemns the glorification of Rum Culture in our nation. Rum and alcoholic beverages are glorified and celebrated - in song and dance; in social and community events; in sporting events with 'beer' girls and famous sporting personalities; and in media and billboard promotions with scantily-clad women and men in exotic locales with the ubiquitous alcoholic beverages at their sides.
GOPIO Trinidad and Tobago condemns advertisements that target the young and vulnerable segments of the population. Alcohol advertisements overwhelmingly connect consumption of alcohol with attributes particularly important to youth, such as friendship, prestige, sex appeal and fun. Experimental and survey studies suggest a link between recall of alcohol advertisements and increased alcohol use in both underage and adult populations. Longitudinal studies bear out the relationship between television, music video and advertisement exposure and subsequent onset of or increase in drinking.
Every citizen in our nation should assist in dealing with the alcoholism problem. For its part, GOPIO Trinidad & Tobago intends to raise the consciousness, sensitize and increase awareness, especially amongst the youth; and provide solutions that can be implemented throughout Trinidad and Tobago. As a first step, GOPIO Trinidad and Tobago included alcoholism as one of the major topics at our Indian Arrival Day Seminar on May 10th, 2008; we are following up that with a nationwide essay competition open to anyone under 25 years old. The topic is "Alcoholism in Trinidad & Tobago – Causes, Effects, and Solutions." Amongst the prizes awarded are Desktop and Laptop computers; in addition, four runner-up prizes will be awarded. Entries should be mailed on, or before, August 31st, 2008, to: GOPIO Trinidad & Tobago, PO BOX 2286, Chaguanas. For More information: 687-7529, 662-7159, GOPIOtt@gmail.com, or the address above.
Deosaran Bisnath, President, GOPIO Trinidad & Tobago.
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Dear Editor:
Over the last several months, the local press has carried material blaming the Westminster Constitution for the ills of Guyana. One such letter which comes to my memory is Mr. Clarence Ellis’s “The Westminster model is holding us back”.
This regular incantation against Westminster is meaningless, and is merely the beating of ghosts as Guyana does not have a Westminster Constitution any more than the USA has one.
Before Independence, Guyana and the other Caribbean territories did have Westminster Constitutions; after Independence, the Westminster Constitution of Guyana was subverted and radically changed. It is thus a misnomer to call the Guyana Constitution “Westminster.”
The Guyana Constitution is not “Westminster” because:
(i) Westminster does not have Executive Presidents and Vice-Presidents, with sometimes as many as five Vice-Presidents,
(ii) Westminster does not have Proportional Representation electoral system, with the entire country being one constituency.
(iii) Westminster does not have a Chief Justice and a Chancellor at the same time, and the queer things which have happened in Guyana with this anti-Westminster system.
(iv) Westminster does not give the party political leader the power of choosing members of Parliament after elections, nor does it give the party leader the power of expelling an elected member from Parliament. This kind of gaucherie is unknown in Westminster.
(v) Westminster does not have the elaborate, contradictory, wasteful and mostly unworkable Local Government system the Constitution of Guyana has.
The failure of the Guyana Constitution is not due to its being “Westminster.” The failures of the Guyana Constitution have been the result of LFSB’s subversion of the original Westminster.
The best way of making a Guyana Constitution which is democratic, people-oriented, eliminating corruption and development-oriented is to devolve power to the counties. In formulating a new Constitution, the Swiss Constitution with its pluralist philosophy could be an indispensable source of reference. The power and influence of the Central Government would be curtailed to great national advantage.
Mithra Bhushan.
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