Firstly as youths of this Nation and secondly, as youths of the United National Congress, we the youth of the UNC are very hurt and saddened by the derogatory statements made by Mr. Jack Warner, a Deputy Political Leader of the Party concerning the youths of the UNC. Mr. Warner, a man for whom we had much liking and respect has greatly disappointed us. How could the leader of a political party with which he has freely chosen to align himself, turn out to be so cruel and heartless toward the party in general and the UNC youths in particular? 



Mr. Warner claimed in the monthly Newsletter of the Chaguanas West Constituency, Page 8 of Volume 1, Issue 11, November 2008, that he chose the UNC as it is, “the only political vehicle with a driving ambition toward meaningful change,” just a few days before he made such slanderous allegations against the youths of the UNC. Is this the type of lesson Mr.. Warner intends to teach the youth of this nation? I don’t believe the Youth of our Nation are interested in bad talking, and disloyalty! We want to love, support and care for our brothers and sisters. Teach us the kind of love and dedication that the Pandays, Mrs. Kamla Persad Bissessar and others display.
 
Furthermore, how is it possible for a man who states that he is ready for the leadership of this party to falsely say, that the youngest member of the Youth Arm is no younger than 50 years old? Is he aware of the strides the UNC has taken in relation to youth in politics? Just to inform him, Mr. Panday has appointed at least four young persons from the Youth Arm all under the age of 27 to Senate. There were even persons in the Youth Arm, under the statutory age limit of 25 whom he eagerly wanted to appoint to the Senate as a demonstration of their zeal and commitment to the fight for the betterment of this country. If my memory serves me correctly, Mr. Panday has appointed the youngest person to the Senate ever in the history of Trinidad and Tobago politics, the chairperson of the Youth Arm, just a week after she attained the statutory age. That is the reality! The UNCA is the only party that recognizes and understands the important role the youth plays in politics. Therefore, a reasonable man should see, Mr. Warner’s statements are very wrong, and most obviously were intended to create friction and division of the UNC in the eyes of the public. 



A wise man once said, “Power is not only the greatest aphrodisiac but, it is also the greatest intoxicant-even the smell of it can drive some men crazy!”

Afifah Mohammed-Senate- 22/07/2008
EQUAL OPPORTUNITES MOTION

Mr. President, Thank you for allowing me to contribute to this important motion on the implementation of the Equal Opportunity Legislation in my country. I wish to fully identify with the mover of the motion, Senator Wade Mark. I am sure you will all agree with me that decisions, on issues like distribution of resources, social justice, better jobs, pensions, and opening up equal opportunities, will influence all our lives- and our children's- for decades to come. It is in my humble view, that Trinidad and Tobago cannot make progress without the active involvement ...<< MORE >>

Afifah Mohammed – Senate – 8-7-08

Local Government

 

 

Introduction

 

Mr President,

<< MORE >>

TheYouth Arm of the United National Congress will like to congratulate MrRyan Spicer on his debut presentation in the senate last evening.

Itis our hope that his poise, confidence and sterling contribution, willtranslate into hope for many youngsters who are faced with illegalguns, drugs, sexual abuse, rape, murders and kidnappings on a dailybasis, since there is truly a need for role models in such a society.

Mr Spicer's contribution mirrors his life as a young man, living asociety, where he faces, just as many ...<< MORE >>

What could be more depressing when a mother has to accept the fact that not only her own flesh and blood is gone,but the suffering the soul and body faced before it departed this earth?

Imagine,your own lover,preying on an unhumanly vice,on that of your child.
It looks as if we are really 'Stepping Up with you Patrick.' Stepping Up in the number of of child molestations and murder.

The UNC - A Youth Arm strongly continues to condemn the actions taken by this PNM administration, in protecting the rights of children in Trinidad and Tobago.With the passing of every week ,the media continues to expose this corrupt government's endorsement  of unholy acts such as the producing of pornography in schools.What actions have taken place to stop this?

It is said,it takes a community to raise a child.But where are the social services available to children? Where is the Ministry of Social Development & Ministry of Community,Culture and Gender Affairs? Couldn't they have put programmes in place to divert the grusome molestation,rape and murder of eight (8) year old Hope?

Will justice ever be served against the accused? Imagine, 2008 (46 years after independence)and we don't even have any serious legislations to prosecute pedifiles.These persons need to be registered,monitored and most importantly HELPED,in any and every psycological manner by the government in order to protect the innocence of children.Usually, the ones commiting these gruesome acts,are persons who have been abused themselves,and the government should start performing by enforcing simple programmes,such as Proper Parental Care.But what does the Emporer say? 'I know who Mr. Big Is.' And what does he do? Continue to shelter the dilinquent performance of his Ministers like Martin Joseph from the rains of truth- the voice of the people to take a step down.

Innocent children continue to suffer on a daily basis, and with oil now at US$135.00 per barrel, 'Uncle Patos' does not want to subsidise on milk to feed the future of our nation.

Yes the family is receiving conselling,but how long will those Ministries' officer's continue to visit the traumatised family? Three months,no wait,we give it six months for the most.The trauma Hope's mother is forced to live with for the rest of her human life not even time will be able to cure it.
 
This government continues to fail  in,
Protecting Innocent Children,
providing professional,reliable and competent social services to our countrymen,
concentrating on issues that affect the 'average joe' - high food prices,crime and corruption!
How sad indeed!
 
All the money,all the power of the country and you can't even protect this precious gift,the lives of our children.

The Youth Arm of the United National Congress Strongly condemns the brutal killing of Eight year old Hope Arismandez. This innocent child has unfortunately joined the list of young people killed . This child's death has truely shown that this government has not put children as their main priority.

We the Youth Arm are demanding the full inactment of the Child Protection laws. Mahatma Ghandi once said that for a country to grow the children must insure of it . This goverment is embarking on a 20/20 vision. How can this be achieved without the children of today . It is time that the welfare of our children be paramount.

This government is spending money on all sort of unnecessary things . If this Government truely cares  for our nations children then  it is time to show  it  .  For  far to  long the children are being neglected and they are paying for it with their lives.

The family of this child as well as all other families affected must receive the best care that can be given to them . The Ministry of Social Development must act now .

The children are our nations gems and must be kept safe from all mean of harm for a better and more prosperuos Trinidad and Tobago .

The Youth Arm of the United National Congress strongly condemns the Ministry Of Education for the lack of security to ensure that the CXC English and Mathematics Exam Papers were kept safe .By this Hapening it confirms that the Ministry is not capable in fully ensuring that our childrens future are the main priority .
 
While we support the severest of penalties for those guilty of stealing the CXC papers and recieving stolen property , the Ministry also has to shoulder the blame . This is because it was under the watch of this administration that this leak occured.The Minister must see to it that our childrens education is the most important issue and see to it that this doesn't happen ever again.
 
If the minister cannot do this then she should do the honourable thing and resign for this has gone on for far to long. Two leaks in a matter of months is to much. The integrity of these exams must be returned and it must be done now.
 
This government is failing in all sectors of this nation and it is time for them to clean up their act. Our Children are the future and shouldn't fall victim to a failed administration

The Youth Arm of the United National Congress Alliance strongly condemns the Ministry of Education and CXC's decision, to cancel all CAPE exams. This decision was a hasty one and not in the best interest of our students, just like all other decisions this PNM government takes!

While we support the severest penalties for those guilty of stealing the CAPE papers, and of receiving stolen property, we do not believe that the entire student body writing these exams, should have to pay for the selfish act of a few.

If it is deemed necessary that the exams be cancelled in order to maintain its integrity then it is only fair that it be cancelled in the other fifteen territories writing the exams. A leak in Trinidad can also mean, a leak in any other country. Emails have their way of reaching around the world in a matter of minutes.

However, given the current situation, we should be moralistic and thwart a few cheaters against major disruptions to the lives of thousands of students. We should weigh our need to be self righteous against the need to be practical.

One could have seen that the cons would have clearly outweighed the pros in the matter of canceling the exams. Had our students been the Ministry's sole concern, they would have put our students first.

Before writing an exam, a child prepares himself psychologically. After having written that exam, the child now feels an accomplished sense of relief. Why should that innocent child be put through the psychological pressure again? Already, one student has committed suicide!

What is beyond comprehension however is almost two weeks have passed and no one has been apprehended on this matter. Yet, in no time did Mr. Calder Hart, Chairman of UDECOTT, figure out it was a journalist who busted his files on email, and he was ready to take legal action the very next day. Clearly, this shows where the government's priorities are

The latest scandal to hit Trinidad and Tobago is the leaking and rescheduling of the C A P E  A' level exams. This has led to the suicide of one young person and several students to be in a state of depression. How long must the madness go on in this country of ours. A’ level students are now faced with the dilemma of having now to wait to exhale from the stress that exams put on them.
 
The Minister of Education has a duty to ensure that these exams were safe from Barbados. The fate of our young leaders is now at the mercy of the CXC examiners. Had this Government listen to the great advice from the United National Congress on not changing from the original Cambridge A' level exams, we would not have been in this mess today. If one can remember when we had Cambridge, was there ever a breach of security in the form of leaks of the exams papers? As far as can be recalled there never was. So thanks to this caring government we are once again the laughing stock of the Caribbean. We truly are a banana republic once the PNM is in charge.
 
 Since the exams have been pushed back so to will the results be pushed back. This is not fair to them, the results should be released on the original due date. If this doesn't happen and when the University of the West Indies has begun to take in their students these children now have to wait on their results and this is not fair to them. This could also lead to children wanting to commit suicide or some thing even worse. But then again they may be called ' collateral damage'. It is time for the old saying 'Peter pay for Paul and Paul pay for all ' to stop being used against our country's youth .    

I cannot believe after seeing and hearing the Prime Minister during his post cabinet media briefing that he wasn't going to investigate UDECOTT on matters on corruption, but at the fall of a hat would go off against any corruption allegation against the UNC. Isn't this the same Prime Minister that said no corruption shall not be tolerated from his government. The prime Minister seems to have forgotten that and has now truly showed his dictatorial ways by firing ministers and silencing his critics (the media) by having them either blocked from the media conference or refuses to answer questions. Also he has his ministers to refuse to answer as well . SHAME ON YOU MR. PRIME MINISTER