At first when the idea of producing a magazine was presented to me, the responsibility of being in charge seemed too great but during the years, I had learnt to do my duty to my people and my community when called upon. I could not let you down.
I enjoyed working with you very much and I would like to request that you make an effort to appreciate my labour. Finally, we have come together to join hands in removing poverty and to help each other in building a future for our children.
After some thought, I decided that the magazine when published would be a summary of us, our lives, our work, our plans for the future, our people in our language. The work became enjoyable.
Let us therefore not lose track of our goals but make that extra effort to work, to fight when necessary and together to build a better community for peace, prosperity, happiness and harmony amongst us all. Arti Jankie, Public Relations Officer
As I journeyed from home to home I was greeted as a precious daughter and a much-loved sister, this honour I received is one of the best things that ever happened to me and I thank you for it.
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I do not claim to know all the answers but it is possible that there is a solution for our farmers' problems. THE SOLUTION (1) Farmers and would be farmers must at the state's expense receive basic training in operations engaged or to be engaged in. (2) Agricultural lands must be made available at a maximum cost of one thousand five hundred dollars ($1500.00) per acre. If for some reason land becomes more expensive, the State must be committed to subsidize the excess. (3) People with large acreage, uncultivated or cultivated but producing poorly, should be acquired by the State and sold to farmers at one thousand five hundred dollars ($1500.00) per acre.
Agriculture is the systemic propagation of plants and animals through Human Management for the provision of food, a basic essential to life.
(4) The size of the farms must be determined by the farmer's overall ability to produce, paying close attention to the economic aspect of the operations.
However, in spite of mind boggling advances in scientific technology, available land and an overwhelming surplus in labor, one-third of the human race is grossly underfed and a further third is virtually starving.
(5) Low interest credit must be made available by the State to finance such individual farmer's complete agricultural programme to include housing.
Some people say the reason for this is existent economic systems based on maximizing profits. Others say national and international political systems and strategies are designed to control food supply and suppliers alike. I tend to agree.
(6) Repayment of such credit on basis of fixed percentage of profit. (7) Guaranteed prices for all agricultural products.
What then is responsible for farmers in a country where money is aplenty, where unemployment is aplenty, where available agricultural land is aplenty; to be at the lowest rung of the socio-economic ladder, can the reasons mentioned above be adopted? Or are there other reasons?
(8) A modern, economic and effective marketing system. (9) Electricity, access roads, health centers, schools and other essential services to be housed within reasonable distance from farming communities. FARMERS
The question is why is it that in a country like Trinidad and Tobago our share of the grossly under-fed and the virtually starving are either directly or indirectly involved in farming. Could it be true that the majority of the povertystricken are those employed in agriculture?
We must be committed to struggle and to demand that our standard of living be improved, and unless anyone has better ideas, we must see to it the above is implemented or our very existence would seem meaningless.
To find the answers, were the precise reasons why the Broomage Agricultural Co-operative Society Limited, formerly the Broomage East Indian Agricultural Credit Society, was re-organized in July of 1977.
Arjune Teeluck
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ADDICTED TO DRUGS
She made me drink more sweetened water and I felt a little better. I thought that I would lie down and the feeling will go away but as I lay down, I felt that the bed was rising into the air. I felt like a log of wood.
Movie going is one of my hobbies and very early in life, I made my decision that I will earn a living by entertaining mankind. My friends who discussed these movies used to say that actors usually used dope to perform many of their acts.
A few months later, though I had sworn never to use the stuff again, I was again influenced to try it once more. I was advised by the ‘pusher’ that the feelings I had that first time was natural for all beginners and that as I continued to smoke I would eventually enjoy it immensely. This second time I smoked, I wanted to die. Anything to kill the pain.
To my imagination, if actors looked so well and acted so naturally by using dope, then dope, in whatever form, must be something at least to try. I would have done anything in preparation for the big times when I would appear as a singer, dancer, magician or comedian.
My brother had quarreled with the family on my account and all the hard words directed at me seem to wound my beloved mother very much. I loved my dear mama, seeing her weep, grieved me. I could not fight back my brother nor could I offer any explanation. He would not let me, and so all my efforts to work and make my loving parents happy had been in vain. Not weeks of hard work but months of real sacrifice.
However, even though the boys would discuss the use of dope they say that it was dangerous and they were not touching the stuff. We talked of marijuana as dope. I thought I would get some no matter what and so I kept asking a young man in my district to get some for me. He used to walk around with the cured marijuana in small brown envelopes which he sold for fifty cents each, in those days. A cigarette was used and they would throw out the tobacco and fill in the marijuana. I finally succeeded in getting the young man to take me seriously.
The things he said hurt me, but mama too, who got very sick. I could not bear to see mama’s swollen face and I knew she was going to die. I was not prepared to face life without my mother. Without her, life would be meaningless. Therefore, I approached my ‘pusher’ friend, bought another joint, and though the feeling was the same as before I welcomed it as it blocked the physical pain and the mental anguish subsided.
I had already stolen fifty cents from my father’s pocket and I waited for this young man to come along. We walked along the road and sat down, then he took out one of his envelopes and we prepared a cigarette. It was my first experience and I was eighteen years of age.
For several weeks I smoked. I heard my sisters saying that I was behaving bad and God knew I did not deserve it. I love my family so much. Who in the world I asked myself, gave my big brother the right to leave his house and ‘rain storm’ in my home? I could have killed him. Instead, I smoked, and by the time my mother was feeling better to notice my condition and console me, I was smoking all day and night. I soon came to depend on marijuana. I loved the feeling it gave.
I pulled on the cigarette and inhaled the smoke. My tongue became heavy; my lips grew dry and stiff. I sat there for a long while feeling so terrible I wanted to cry but the effort seemed too great. I must have remained seated for over fifteen minutes. Then I stood up and the world began to spin. I did not want the young man to think of me as being immature and so I began walking towards my sister’s home some 100 yards away.
However, I had to stop. You see, I came from a big family and I was quite a pet child amongst them. I wanted them to be proud of me and so I tried to ease up on the smoking but whenever the quarrels reoccurred, I turned to marijuana for relief. I prefer to think of the times when I smoked heavily as periods of darkness, at other times, moments of fantasy. I have stopped though; I love my mother and would do anything to make her happy.
My feet were so heavy, I realized that I had been stamping. I walked up to my sister and I saw her eyes filled with tears of sympathy for me. I could have hugged her but again that would be immature and childish. I told her that I had smoked marijuana and asked her to fix a cup of sugar and water for me. I drank three cups but continued to feel the same way, she gave me a plate of dhall, rice and tomato chokha and I ate all of it.
Anonymous
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Agricultural loans sought by individual farmers are not only as a means of extending their farms and/or farming better products; it enables a farmer, for example, to make a start in building a home or providing a general upgrade to his living standard.
dollars ($1,651,394.00) was approved by the Board of Directors of the Agricultural Development Bank for this society. Members were complaining that the time in which to repay their loans was too short, a result of which the sum of $228,894.00 was deducted by the bank as a reprogramme, that is, to give members still owing a further eighteen months to repay their loans. The Society paid in shares to the Agricultural Development Bank a total of $79,910.00 to date.
He repays his debts and remains with enough to survive and to employ himself and family. In the surrounding districts of Princes Town, the need for an Agricultural Co-operative Society was great. Many have started but died due to a lack of managerial staff.
Out of the remaining sum, a further $51,800.00 was programmed for farm supplies: re – individual members’ agricultural projects. This loan is to be repaid not later than December 31, 1980.
We of the Broomage Agricultural Society, have been lucky in that the right man is amongst us in the person of Mr. Arjune Teeluck, our Manager. The Broomage ACS was reorganized on 12 July 1977. I have been there ever since. I know for a fact that all our achievements and successes live with our Manager. He has fought battle after battle and it is small wonder that the Society reflects from his personality.
For a more up-to-date financial report check out our next edition. Audit for the period 1st. July 1978 to 30th June, 1979 is at present being conducted.
He has won for us two major loans. In February 1978, the Society received two hundred and forty seven thousand ($247,000.00) dollars. This was paid out to members.
I have never known any society to grow as fast as the B/ACS. Many of us gave our labor freely and willingly in the knowledge that it is to help the struggling poor amongst us whom we must face each day and to build ourselves a better community.
COMMENTS:
In June 1979, a second loan of one million, six hundred and fifty one thousand, three hundred and ninety four
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Land Preparation Prevailing Prices for the year 1980 Note: The society subsequently obtained a loan of 1.6 million dollars from the A.D. Bank. Further loans in excess of 5.4 million dollars were negotiated for individual members from state and other financial institutions.
Brush Cutting / acre Plowing / acre Rotavating / acre Banking / acre
The manager successfully presented a case for the writeoff as bad debts, the entire A.D. B. Loan (Read Report titled “State Victimization / abuse of due process). It is indeed sad to mention here that many persons who received loans from the society vehemently deny the same but instead heap criticisms on out manager in particular, however the struggle for equity and justice must continue. The manager, Mr. A. Teeluck, has pledged himself to the task ahead.
$450.00 $540.00 $360.00 $270.00
Harvesting Sugar Cane/Cost Cutting & Loading on Tractor Trailers /ton Transport to factory / ton
$30.00 $15.00
Farm Workers/ Cost of hire Half Day’s Work Whole Day’s Work Spraying of Weedicides/ per day
$075.00 $125.00 $150.00 Hassan Ali
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Young boys and girls often assist in the fields on their days off school. Picture shows two (2) young men planting cane.
Our women folk often engage themselves in the growing of crops: Picture shows Mrs. Ramdhan and her children. (At Right: Andrew Khan - Coordinator)
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yards and hardware stores he finds that his hard earned money has lost its value, so much so, that lumber is now a luxury he cannot afford. He ends up renting sites that are completely infested by termites and the very idea of earning a home is lost. Princes Town and the surrounding districts are too far off from any industrial or commercial area to attract any sort of housing developments. Not that our people can afford the exploits of the big names in housing and land developments. Spiralling cost of land, building materials and labour make the dream of a home just that – a dream. The lack of modern facilities in the surrounding districts of Princes Town is one of the major reasons why people ‘make do’ with a shack even though they could afford better. The other reason is insufficient finance.
Housing in these areas can be upgraded only by the setting up of a task force or organization with the people in mind; and look into such areas as negotiating for such amenities as roads, electricity, water, transport, health and educational institutions.
The districts bordering Princes Town lack proper roads and an adequate public transport service, no electricity and water. There is a lack of consumer shops, no postal service, health or educational institutes within ‘reasonable distance’.
To acquire all State and abandon lands which should be developed into suitable building sites. To negotiate loans for the people and to develop lands acquired by the organization. To build on a co-operative basis single family residences.
The attitude of those faced with having to build a house is often ‘I will build a better house when I get either a good crop or when I save some money’. The question of when is never answered and time drags on and the old shack becomes more and more ‘home’.
To keep the cost of material and construction at its minimum. Houses should range from 600 to 900 square feet and be manufactured from prefabricated panel form structures and components.
The hindrance is usually caused by the scanty incomes of the people who are mostly farmers. Farmers earn cash income for the first six months of each year and for the remaining six months, they attend their sugarcane fields in preparation for the next year’s harvest.
With a lease to a building site and a house costing under $30,000, people would be able to afford an annual mortgage payment not exceeding $3000.00.
This income that has to be stretched over such a long period, it is barely enough to afford the daily requirements. A better house is then impossible.
Better housing for the population means better living standards; better living standards make better citizens, better citizens produce more thus enriching the economy of a country and a happy citizen creates an environment pleasant to live in.
Then there is the unavailability of housing sites. The problem is imposed by landowners who refuse to allow their land to be used for housing. In cases where they give their consent to build, the price asked for a housing site is much too astronomical and a farmer cannot afford it.
Wilthy Noel Thomas Chairman – Housing Committee Construction Technician-Architect, Eng. Design Draughtsman
The young farmer is usually in a fit. First, to accumulate the sum by long years of saving, then on facing the lumber
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Members of Area Five at their temporary office, Cunjal Road, Princes Town.
Picture shows members of the society at land being prepared for Headquarters building.
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THE SHARES DRAMA During Jankie’s reign the membership reached 70, then Caroni Limited became a government subsidized company. Then came the idea that all Societies should merge to form a Co-operative; and in obtaining loans, the purchase of shares were automatic.
In the old days when the slave mentality was strongly embedded in the minds of the few wealthy men in Trinidad, the farmers got a break by the granting of loans from Caroni Ltd.
The 70 members rebelled. Many of them were uneducated and did not understand the technicalities involved in neither Co-operatives nor the benefits of buying shares in Societies. There were no competent men to either explain or organize such Societies and as a result the B.E.I. / A.C.S. ceased operation for five years.
It was their only means of survival. The loans were not enough to start a business or do anything fancy. It was just enough to operate the sugar plantation.
FROM FATHER TO SON
Mr. Teeluck Jankie, of Mandingo Road, one of our oldest farmers, recalls those days clearly. “About 10 men from this district would leave home at 3a.m. returning at 7p.m. from the sugar estates of Cedar Hill in Ste Madeleine, five miles away.
Mr. Ramdass Maharaj of the Ministry of Labour, Social Security and Co-operatives was of the opinion that the Society should be reorganized. He talked to Mr. Jankie. It was decided that a meeting should be held and most of the people, both young and old, should attend.
The daily wages ranged from 60 cents to $1.00 and, Mr. Jankie recalls, many of the labourers had 12 and more growing children to support. They felt exploitation but were unable to do anything about it. “It was similar to slavery,” says Mr. Jankie. Then came the light in a life filled with darkness where hope was absent and frustration led to despair.
The meeting was held on July 12, 1977 at the residence of T. Jankie and it was there that the seat of the President moved from Mr. Jankie to his son Arjune Teeluck Jankie. A BLESSING “The day Arjune was elected President is a day for all of us,” one of the villagers commented. He said that from then onwards the village had a true leader with Arjune, who worked day and night for the welfare of the farmers and feels certain that the time had come when farmers would be given their rights.
He said that in the early fifties about 25 men formed a Society called the Broomage East Indian Agricultural Credit Society. They made their first loan application in 1954. With the sum of $300.00 my first grant, I bought two animals, sulphate of ammonia and formed my sugar cane fields.
“I feel it is the beginning of a new community and think that they will go far in securing the rights and privileges of the lower class in this country,” he said.
“From then onwards I did not have to hire out my labour, I became self employed.” In those times, sugar was sold for 11 shillings a ton. The B.E.I. /A.C.S. under the presidency of Doodnath Singh met annually. The minutes were read and the committee recommended sums of money for loan to individual members.
THE TAKE OVER Closing the old accounts and reorganizing the Society proved a problem at first but the work soon became enjoyable.
The loans were repaid as the sugarcane was sold each year. In the five years that followed, the Society changed Chairman on five occasions. Finally, with the nomination of Teeluck Jankie the Chairman’s post stabilized until he was named President.
The young people were willing to work and to participate and they accepted a task dished out to them by the dynamic leader without fuss. Soon we were under the crown and the feeling of working for a better community
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in a family circle was prevalent. Life no longer seemed a dark road, there was togetherness.
RE-ORGANISING The ministry’s purpose for seeking to reorganize the society stemmed from the outstanding loans from the members of the old, ‘four-year-non-operating society’. Members who had borrowed monies did not finish repayment, a result of which fresh loans could not be obtained. It was agreed at the Society’s second meeting that all balance of payments should be settled by October 1977 and that the maximum liability be $150,000.00; maximum loan to individual members being $10,000.00. It followed a letter advising Caroni to deduct payments from the sale of cane on the basis of $4.00 per ton.
THE BIG ISSUE Loans are needed in our Society not only as an incentive but also as the only means of ‘making a start’.
Dan, age 78, one of our districts oldest farmers still strong on his feet and very much a farmer even today.
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Two thirty-three year old men with growing children to support have placed their fate into the capable hands of our versatile, and legendary manager and, like so many of us, have come a long distance to the homestead.
Sawh lived in an old two-bedroom chattel left to him by his mother and shared with a brother, a nephew and his sister and her family. Thirteen people lived in the house and Sawh with his broken leg, had no help from anyone. His children were too small and his wife too ill to give much help.
Samune Mohammed, whom we all know as “Sawh” and Roderick Alfred, popularly called “Rod”, first met members of the Broomage Agricultural Co-operative Society in February at Princes Town Club.
THE HARD TIME
They both had sad stories to tell seeming frustrated and badly in need of help, they related their life circumstances to the manager.
Eddoes and yam are two crops that grow abundantly in rural areas. They grow wildly and yield even when little effort is made to assist the crops. To Sawh and his family it made sustaining possible when there was no money left for flour and other necessities.
Sawh, sole supporter of his wife Ameeda and six growing children, ages ten years to seven months, fell and broke a leg in December last year. He received one hundred and forty nine dollars ($149.00) in public assistance and one hundred dollars ($100.00) in food stamps.
The public assistance was cut and when the ‘guava season’ came this young man watched his starving, half-naked children with tears in his eyes and prayed for gainful employment.
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He said he had nothing to hide and confessed openly the many acts he committed which resulted in his notoriety. “I know that I was an outcast and so I bore my sorrows with pride even though it got so bad that on Christmas Day the best I could afford was a tin of sardines”, he said. Sawh’s children hardly received any toys, except for an occasional balloon from a relative; but the times are changing and those two words “Remove Poverty” brings joy to this young man’s heart. His close friend Rod has two children and rents a small one-bedroom apartment. He suffers a similar fate. Both men face eviction threats, Sawh from the land and Rod from his apartment. Whoever said that a man can only take “that much” and no more, did well. For, it is known to us that when pain becomes unbearable, one looses consciousness, and when mental anguish reaches its peak, one becomes mentally ill. These two men had reached as far as they could go. They needed help and God had heard their prayers: The Broomage Agricultural Co-operative Society was coming.
The reason for adopting these two men despite remarks from people that they were rogues and crooks, is obvious when one knowing the Manager recognizes his faith in people. Soon Rod and Sawh were doing odd jobs in the society and collecting regular salaries. An acre of land has been purchased and houses would soon go up. To Sawh and Rod, there will be poultry and animals for the women and children to tend to; for the two, there will be lands to plant. They plan to farm the lands, which the Co-operative acquired for them. Loans will be granted to them. They are both filled with gratitude and have given a solemn promise to the people that their love and appreciation will continue. Sharing the sentiments of other members, they say that to them the manager is the closest they have come to as a servant of God. “Our faith is in his hands, we know no fear, for the first time we know brothers, fathers, mothers, sisters, and family in togetherness sharing love, work, joys, and sorrows alike.” “Indeed we are happy.” Toolsie Maharaj Co-coordinator Area Five
Agro-Produce Price Index/ average for year 1980
Agro-produce price index/ average for year 1980.
VEGETABLES Tomato/lb Cabbage/lb Bodi/bdl Ochro/100 Spinach/bdl Patchoi/bdl Celery/bdl Chive/bdl Carillee/lb Pumpkin/lb Dasheen Bush/bdl Sweet Pepper/lb Pimentos/100
$03.00 $02.25 $01.25 $25.00 $01.00 $01.00 $01.00 $01.00 $02.25 $01.00 $01.00 $04.00 $25.00
GROUND PROVISIONS Dasheen/lb Cassava/lb Eddoes/lb Lisbon Yams/lb Sweet Potatoes/lb Wild Yams/lb
$1.25 $1.00 $0.60 $1.25 $0.75 $0.60 CITRUS
Oranges/100 Grapefruit/100 Limes/100 Lemons/100 Portugal/100
$30.00 $25.00 $20.00 $15.00 $20.00
Hassan Ali (Former secretary/treasurer)
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The Broomage Agricultural Co-operative Society Limited gained its name from a little village in which the Society first started under the name of Broomage East Indian Agricultural Credit Society. Broomage, a quarter mile in radius, is situated on the outskirts of Princes Town. The people are mostly descendants of East Indian indentured labourers and freed African slaves who chose to farm lands and hire their labour at the end of the oppression period. Seventy percent of the people are farmers and agriculturalists while the other thirty percent are either civil servants or privately employed citizens in local firms and factories. The farmers depend on sugarcane production as the mainstay of their economic activity. Some are also engaged in subsistence mixed farming as well. Crops grown in this district are ground provisions like lisbon yams, cassavas, eddoes, sweet potatoes and dasheen. Vegetable crops include cabbages, lettuce, sweet peppers, corn, carrots, bodi, and tomatoes to name a few. Cattle, pigs, goats, fowls, and ducks too are reared in an effort at diversification. These provide fresh meat and the excess is traded to provide cash income in times of crisis. This community, though it is situated, as it were, at the back step of the town is in a rundown state, enjoying precious little of oil wealth of the country.
In fact, Broomage is unaware that Trinidad is wealthy. All they know is that the garden and sugar cane fields need constant labour and attention and the animals are part of their life. Survival lies in agriculture and the people feel safe there. Broomage is one of those villages where the hard days of indentured labourship and slavery is to an extent still visible. Both young and old farmers can be seen sitting upon their bullock-drawn carts loaded with sugar cane and driving along the two and the half mile stretch to Usine, Ste. Madeleine where the canes are sold. Manual labour is used for cutting and loading of the canes which is reaped during the dry season but during the remaining six months of the wet season the people employ themselves in tending their animals and cane fields. They depend on a back pay for support during these months and usually the back pay is forth coming in December. The months, July to December is mostly known to this village as the ‘guava season’. Despite many hardships suffered by the villagers they continue to struggle and have managed to organize a Woman’s group, a Sports club and a Village Council. They keep to themselves, not trusting the politicians and priests of many promises; and have extended a hearty welcome to the newly re-organized Broomage Agricultural Co-operative Society now housed in another little village – Mandingo Road. Dipchand Lal Resident - Broomage Village
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Andrew Khan/ Coordinator - Tending his goats
Water is a problem in our district . The pipes have no water all through the year and farmers and housewives are forced to fetch water from wells and rivers. The cart is sometimes used as the women work side by side with the men in the fields and later the burdens of cooking and doing housework falls upon them. Fetching water, therefore, is a man's job.
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Status in relation to maintenance, adoption and custody of the child. According to the Infants Act, guardianship section of Trinidad and Tobago, a parent includes any person who is liable to maintain and support a child. In cases where the man and woman having had the child are separated and the custody of the child is being sought, it permits the mother or the father to approach the High Court for permission to ‘bring up’ the child.
It is very easy to label a child as being illegitimate without ascribing any such stigma to the mother or the natural father. However, one should go a bit further and ask, ‘Is it the parents who are illegitimate or the child?’ A reasonable deduction shows that neither the parents nor the child is illegitimate but rather the relationship of the mother and natural father, which was illegitimate. A child is considered illegitimate if he or she was born or conceived at a time when his parents were only validly married to each other. Such a child may be legitimized if after his birth his natural parents get married to each other or if he or she is adopted according to the law and not by word of mouth. An illegitimate child has been considered “fillus mullius”, that is, the child of no man. Therefore, neither the natural father has any claims over the illegitimate child nor the child, any rights of inheritance from the natural father in such cases. There has been however, a modification of the common law, according to the Statute and the putative of the common law parents now has certain rights and obligations. Let us examine some of these ‘rights’ with respect to the father’s interest and
The Act states nothing to the effect that the minor be illegitimate or legitimate and there seems to be no reason why a narrow or restrictive meaning should be given to the term infant so as to mean only the legitimate child. A broad and liberal interpretation seem to be the intention of the draftsman for the Act and make provisions for infant contracts, infant settlements and the sale of infant estates. In custody matters, the powers of the courts are to be exercised having regard to the welfare of the infant as of paramount consideration, quite apart from the wishes of either of the parents. Under such circumstances, the custody might also be given to the putative father to secure the welfare of the child. A child’s welfare is important as can be seen by the court’s decision in the case of Clark vs. Carey. In the case of Clark vs. Carey, the father of two illegitimate children sought custody of them. From evidence given, it was found that the mother could not have cared for the children as well as the father could. The court held that the children’s welfare, if allowed to live with the mother was quite uncertain. It was clearly not in the best interests to remove the children from the putative father. As far as the custody of the child is concerned, the interest of the parents and even the rights are subjected to the child’s welfare. In another case, a child whose mother died in childbirth was given to his father’s sister for a period of six years. The father never cared for the child at this time but was later married and decided to take charge of the child’s upbringing.
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His sister refused to give him custody of the child. He sought an order for the care and custody of the child and the court regarding the circumstances, found that the child would be better cared for in the society and guidance of the father. Custody of the child was given to the father.
ADOPTING AN ILLEGITIMATE CHILD A putative father applied for custody of his child in preference to an adoption order by foster parents. The court held that it was in the interest and welfare of the child to be adopted.
Signed: B. Nicholas P.S. Copy/letter attached mentioned at (b) above: Dear Sir, With reference to your letter of the 18th May 1979 and 16th September 1979 in which you requested assistance and advice on the appointment of five rural constables to serve your Co-operative, I am to inform you that your Society should apply to the Commissioner of Police on behalf of the prospective appointees, giving details of their respective home addresses. Signed: /s/ P. Paul
A father’s consent is necessary for the adoption of a child but the adoption of a child still can be made if it is found that his consent is unreasonably withheld. In conclusion, it is found that the putative father has limited rights over his illegitimate child as compared to that of the mother or the father of a legitimate child. His interest may be given consideration only if it is in the interest and welfare of the child. ___________________________________________
The following are the names and addresses of persons who were finally appointed by the Ministry of National Security to serve our Society as Rural Constables:a. Samune Mohammed Cunjal Road Junction (with Realize Road), Princes Town P.O., Princes Town. b. Shaffrool Mohammed 2 ¾ M.M. Realize Road, Princes Town, P.O. Princes Town.
(a) “Sir, I am directed to remind your office of your letter dated 5th June 1979 re: our application for the appointment of five rural constables to serve our A.C.S. with reference to predial larceny/stray animals. In your reply to our application, you stated that the matter is receiving attention. We would be grateful if you could bring us up to date on same. (b) Reference letter on May 21, 1980: “Dear Sir, Application for the appointment of five (5) Rural Constables I wish to refer to your letter dated April 17, 1980 on the above subject and to advise that a reply was sent to the Secretary/Treasurer on this matter. A copy of the letter dated January 30, 1980, is attached for ease of reference.
c. B. G. Seecharan 1 M.M. Sahadath Road, Princes Town P.O., Princes Town. d. Latchaman Mahasingh #70 Lengua Road, Princes Town. e. Nazrool Hosein 1 ¾ M.M. Mandingo Road, Princes Town, P.O. Princes Town.
Seven Members have successfully completed courses in co-operative accounting and management sponsored by the Ministry of Labour, Social Security and Co-operatives. These courses were held at St. Stephens College, Craignish Village, Princes Town.
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To the people of Princes Town and the surrounding districts, a wooden shack covered with carat leaves is no surprise. Neither is an incompleted house with bags used to block out the wind where louvers or windows were supposed to be.
The food given to them, three and more times a day, is prepared to give appetizing taste and fill the abdomen not to build the growing body.
Boxes that brought goods and other valuables from foreign countries, the boards can be seen covering an entire partition of a house. Sometimes bamboo huts built like the old Carib and Arawak houses are seen and amongst the relics of the past, the legendary cow dung is still a popular floor covering. In fact, in most of the houses there is a small portion of ‘lepay’ plaster. The houses are unpainted, and where houses are built completely with louvers and windows and painted then to the folks in the rural districts, the owner is one of the ‘big pappies’! He is either “employed with the government or exploiting the other villagers by enslaving them in his fields”. This concept has been alive for some time now and continues to satisfy the majority, whether sour grapes or merely a joke no one has bothered to define. The fact remains that if we are not living like the Caribs and Arawaks then we surely are living like the miserable poor of East India. Is it the people? Or is it the government that treats us badly? Or is it because we are yet unable able to cope with the rigors of modern day society? Whatever the reason, one thing is certain, there is an inferiority complex existing amongst our people. Looking closely at the problem, the root cause directs to poverty and indeed, ours is one of the worst poverty-stricken areas in Trinidad. Our young men have not completed fifth grade in primary school, others have attended college but did not pass a single subject at the GCE exams. The boys are shy. There are no recreation grounds and no sporting facilities to assist them in proper growth.
Our boys have little education and many suffer from malnutrition. They attend the movies and there pick up their slangs and so pattern their lives to suit the latest picture. Like monkeys, they soak up camera tricks and screen personalities’ styles. The girls have not made it to the Common Entrance Examination, and those who did, either failed or had to drop out of secondary school. Either because there was no money or because Mom had yet another baby and of course the ‘baytee’ had to stay home. She had to help wash those ‘tons’ of diapers and assist in the house work while mom had to return to the fields though she had just given birth a couple of days before. The boys dress to kill on simple occasions and the girls have little idea of applying ‘makeup’. They cannot match their colours and many of them suffer from skin burnt out by the sun. As a result, they shock even the masqueraders by overdoing their colorful facial displays. Neither the boys nor the girls have any confidence in themselves. They live in the shadow of movie stars. They are shy, narrow minded, and afraid. They remain hidden in their shells. This then is the cream of our district, it is what they have inherited and the background from which they must produce. After long months of labouring in the fields when our tomatoes, melongene, cucumbers or cabbage are taken to market the prices we receive is so little that it provides no incentive to produce. Because of unplanned production in most cases, there is a glut and the produce has to be dumped. The people are unprepared and positively incapable of demanding a reasonable price for their products from the government. These are the people who would run back home and take with them a couple of bottles of rum, when the rum is not available, there is always that small tree at the back that makes for good smoking.
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The husband then, who may well disagree that he did in fact transfer ownership of the property to his wife cannot only lay claim to legal ownership, but the trust would be in his favour. THE SALE OF THE MATRIMONIAL HOME In the 1972 Act of Trinidad where the court directs the sale of the matrimonial home, it may, if it seems fit, instead of directing the division of the proceeds between the parties of the marriage, direct the whole or part of the proceeds for the benefit of the children. Loyalty in family circles does not come easily. Frequent in fighting, greed and the lust for power and control often leads to litigations, which in turn eats away at the family’s wealth acquired through the endurance of extreme hardships. Then there is the growing trend where a husband or wife deserts the other or of the two dies. In the case of the wife, she finds herself stranded on the streets, and in most cases, with several children to support. In the case of the husband, the children are often abandoned to the care of grand parents or relatives. In the case of the latter, they are often exploited and abused. In the case of a ‘common law’ association, the wife, according to law, inherits nothing since she was not the legal wife of the deserter or the deceased. Most frequently, this situation involves members of East Indian descent whose cultural embrace results in a standard of morality that makes them prey to a present day phenomenon, where greed holds sway. This can, and often has disastrous results. Property is often lost to con artists who prey on the nonsuspecting.
R.G. Bunsee, Legal Advisor
___________________________________________
From Page 17 The society makes up for a lack of respect and a total break down of healthy family life. Why then are the good psychiatrists wondering about the cause of the many suicides in these districts? There can be only one cause – the root cause POVERTY. If one were to travel for a week in the foot steps of a poverty stricken man, he who is unprepared would emerge with a changed personality or become mentally deranged. One should not underestimate the perils of poverty. It can be cruel and harsh and fighting for survival day after day, is no easy battle. Ariti Jankie
FIGHTING FOR THE FAMILY HOME If a husband transfers the ownership of their home to his wife, his wife then becomes the legal owner. However, even this legal dimension, which in essence seem so simplistic, is subjected to criticism as often times there is evidence (Whether fabricated or not) that the spouse did not, out of his own accord, wished to transfer the reference property.
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CONGRATULATIONS TO BOTH GEWAN BHALBALDAR SEECHARAN AND ARJUNE TEELUCK WHO RECENTLY COMPLETED TRAINING COURSES IN SMALL AND LARGE LIVE-STOCK FARMING AT CARIRI.
That feeling was great; I did finish college at last. Have to find employment, have to find it fast Too poor to further yet, my then academic stance Will turn to my own, I thought, ‘tis my one and only chance. At some Hindu school, considered I will teach Daughter of prominent ‘Sadhus’, ‘tis surely within reach Innocent then I was, of how the system worked Thus, a great awakening amidst the darkness, yet lurked. Qualified yes; studying, mostly on my own To pay my way; worked my fingers to the bone The fifth of twelve siblings, poverty I surely knew I did earn my keep, time to collect my due. Thus, I did contact a member, of this great Hindu clan That had built many a school, all over this lan’ To assist me he assured, he would do all that he could But I yet did not know, something that I should. Back and forth from Port of Spain, and all over the place To one Godfather after another, I did represent my case Runaround and double-talk, I received more than any man’s share The more and more I pleaded the less they seemed to care Then, myself I did ask, a dozen and a dozen times yet more Whether I should engage in some bribes, their attention to now lure However, always my pride, stood ever resilient before me Such action would surely destroy, but my very spirituality. “Hindi, young woman; can you, speak and read and write” With one excuse after another, bombarded day and night “Do not call us, we will call you”, was the prevailing attitude A system, of all virtue, seemingly recklessly nude.
Why I was treated this way, the bitter truth I did come to know I was simply reaping the consequence for a family stance long ago You see you cannot be a sardine and yet make enemies with the shark Like dogs you must serve the master, and know just when to bark The virtuous right to be independent thinkers, was our family’s heritage We would not sacrifice our principle, to this maxim we did come of age My father was an unwavering activist, for interreligious unity Thus, he did undermine the system’s, ‘divide and rule’ propriety. Of our village Hindus, my father, was undisputed Spiritual Leader Who once did approach this ‘Sabha’ to be an affiliate group member A prominent practicing Moslem; then, was our village group’s president When informed of this my father, was treated like a treacherous dissident. You all will have to expel him, said a leader of the clan We are not blind to what is happening in India and Pakistan As Hindus, we are obligated to stand together as one So get your act together, or outcasts forever become. Pa and his followers decided to take a principled stand Have to challenge this norm, can’t bury our heads in the sand For races are many but there is only one humanity And morality is but one; in spite, of creedal multiplicity. Must continue to obey conscience, ‘tis yet the highest law And face whatever the consequence, even as those that went before Right thinking alone can procure true and lasting happiness Love of all can alone make for true peace and joy, and bliss.
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(My father Mr. Teeluck Jankie Persad was a formidable and non-compromising activist for interreligious unity. Mr. Ram John Ali, who was the principal of our village Islamic T.I.A. primary school and president of the Realize/Mandingo ‘Jamaat’ was appointed by my father to the post of president of our only village Hindu organized body. When a delegation visited the reference Hindu National Organization seeking membership, it was decided that our group must first expel Mr. Ram John Ali as a criterion for association. My father resisted, saying that whatever the consequence, he would not sacrifice his relationship with Mr. Ali to satisfy the prejudicial stand of the ‘Sabha’... So now you know why I was treated this way’. Mr. Ram John Ali regularly held ‘Ramayan Satsangs’ at his home and Pa, ‘Quoranic Readings’. Pa also had Christian bible classes and Sunday Morning Services conducted at his home. Our home may be likened to a village community centre and all villagers refer to my father and mother as Pa and Ma to this day. Pa regularly attended the village mosque, and particularly on the twenty-seventh night of the holy month of ‘Ramadan’. There he was called upon to speak and to sing and explain verses from the Hindu religious texts.
A Short Story... Long, long ago there lived a wicked king who had a noble son. The prince was dearly loved by all who knew him. There was also a beggar in that city who visited the palace every day early in the morning. The wicked king was very angry at the beggar’s daily visit and vowed that he would put an end to it. One day the young prince, while hunting in the woods, lost himself. He was not found for two days. Meanwhile, back at the palace the wicked king had ordered the cook to make a bread in special preparation for the beggar. When the beggar arrived at the palace next morning he was given the bread which he took and placed in his bag. He went on his way. The beggar travelled through the forest dreaming of beautiful things and enjoyed the surrounding natural creations.
The vast majority of Moslems and Christians would attend ‘Ramayan’ and other ‘Yagnas’ at Pa’s home and would participate fully in these and such other functions. Mr. Ram John Ali was called upon to speak at all Hindu funeral services and religious functions. Pa was required to do like wise at all Moslem functions. Whenever these two leaders spoke, they were always able to point to a universal philosophical oneness inherent within the teachings of all world religions. Pa was noted for his popular saying, “When we see people bragging about race and creedal supremacy, claiming a kind of monopoly on God, they may be likened to little children clinging to their daddy’s trousers saying, “My Daddy, My Daddy”. On the other hand, Mr. Ram John Ali was noted for his popular saying, “My first name is Ram, so first and foremost I am a Hindu: My second name is John, so I am equally a Christian: And that my final name is Ali, means that I am no less a Moslem”. At Pa’s funeral service, Mr. Ram John Ali broke down in tears as he recited the Vedic mantra. “Twa maywa maata, chapita twamaywam. Twa maywa bhandu, chasakha twamaywa. Twa maywa vidya, dravilangh twamaywa. Twamaywa sarvam mamadevadeywam”. On that occasion, he described Pa as a father, a teacher, a leader but more importantly, as a closest and dearest friend).
He encountered the young prince who was tired, hungry and lost for two days. The prince was very hungry and asked the beggar if he could give him something to eat. The warmhearted beggar took out the bread he had been given at the palace and gave it to the prince. The prince and the beggar talked while the beggar showed the prince the way back to the palace. When the prince reached home he told his father, the king, how generous and kind the old beggar was. He related his meeting and told the king that the beggar gave him his only meal of a bread to eat. “What”, said the king in despair, “Did you eat that bread? O dear God”, he cried as the prince fell to the ground dead. The bread had been poisoned.
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Noel Wilthy Thomas.
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Women undoubtedly play a very important part in molding and educating their children who later become the leaders of our nation. In appraising women, an East Indian scholar paid tribute to his mother by saying: “Oh Mother, my fate is in your hands. You are largely responsible for who I am today and for my success”. In consequence, mothers are treated with abundant love and respect. Our community has produced its share of model mothers. In this our first edition of THE FOUNDATIONS, we pay tribute to the three sisters who have kept alive a faith, a culture and have promulgated a sense of togetherness, love and joy in our district. Their names have not been mentioned by the younger generation in the immediate surroundings of Mandingo and Sahadath roads; to us they are ‘Big Ma, Lil Ma, and Tanty’. We refer to Indradaye Ghool, Ramdaye Bennet and Gangadaye Sookoo of Sahadath Road. They have no difficulty in tracing their ancestry to the renowned city of Uttar Pradesh, India, where their grandfather, Chatturji, came as a young man bounded for the sugar cane fields of Trinidad. In paying tribute to the three mothers, we peruse the roots of their ancestral tree which, when revealed, produces a fantastic article involving as many as 80 families in less than 150 years.
Grandfather Chatturji was a good man. He served his five years indentureship and, though he had sufficient money to return to his native land, he remained in Trinidad. After the period of his indentureship he married Sati who also came as a bonded servant. He built a house, bought a small piece of land and settled to farm his own crops. He was the first villager to donate lands for public use. He had three children Ramlal, Ramnath and Phoolbassiah. “Grandfather Ramlal is nearer and dearer to our hearts”, the sisters agreed. They remembered him well. He is remembered as an old man with completely grey hair who would tell them of his youthful days. The days when he used to drive his donkey cart. In those days, coal was an important product and many tales were told in the camps while folks were waiting for the logs to burn in such a way as to yield maximum coal. There were also dasheen and eddoes, tannia, yam and cassava, which grandfather Ramlal used to take into the donkey cart and travel all the way to San Fernando market for sale. He started on his journey at 4:00pm and arrived in San Fernando at daybreak travelling throughout the night without stopping. He married Sanicharrie and had four children. Rajmatee, Bhaggiah, Lochan and Bhagrattie. He was a poor man and kept his faith in Hinduism; he taught his children religion and culture and brought them up well. Soon they were of
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marriageable age and “Nana” had to seek ‘good boys’ for his lovely daughters.
daughters, “carry your brother-in-law with you and bring up some green corn to roast”.
It might seem difficult to arrange marriages in those days as many of the young East Indians were under bond, so to speak; but in fact there were many of them who on completion of their indentureship, idled away their time on the streets. They were easy targets for the cinema ‘culture’ and ‘liming’, which were appealing to such youths. Tailing them into settling down when things were hard was a real problem.
Bunsee heard the brother-in-law speech and knew its implications; he heard it well but soon the next morning he hurried away and could not be found for months, although Nana looked everywhere.
CHOOSING A HUSBAND FOR MY DAUGHTER During the course of his work grandfather Ramlal had often encountered certain young men from India, free and idle; but getting them to come along to the countryside and settle, proved difficult. They had to be coaxed. Anyway, granddad had chosen a young man for Rajmatee, his name was Bunsee. He had made the match; the problem was to make it work. Bunsee was not prepared to settle. In fact, he still cherished dreams of returning home to India, but granddad had other plans for him and he was the more intelligent and cunning. None-the- less, Bunsee had little funds to pay his way back to the Mother country. Bunsee had completed his indentureship. He spent his time doing odd jobs and liming on the streets. Things were hard in those days and daily paid jobs were scarce. Most of the labour was extracted from daily paid employees. Bunsee spent many days hungry and soon the clothes he wore were torn; and money to buy new clothes was hard to come by. Food was expensive. Ramlal Nana invited young Bunsee, 15 years old at the time, to come home with him one Friday morning. He told Bunsee to come along for a ride and to see the countryside, also there were lots of odd jobs in the corn and ground provision fields. Bunsee accepted. At first, he spent a weekend, the second time he spent a couple more days and soon afterwards, he was constantly dropping in and spending weeks. Then the talk in a very technical way was put to him. Says Ramlal Nana to Toya and Bhabi his two younger
Then, one fateful day Bunsee came back of his own accord. Life in Trinidad was proving too difficult and the young man was frustrated and lonely. He needed the strength of a good meal and longed for the cheerfulness of the Ramlal family. On evenings, they would sit round the fire and tell stories of great East Indian heroes. Soon Bunsee and Rajmatee were married. With the two younger girls, things were easier. Nana had learnt from his experience with Bunsee and soon recruited two choice gentlemen and his other two daughters were also married. To Rajmatee and Bunsee six children were born. Bhaggia or Toya married Banwari. Bhabi and Bhagrattie married Jankie and six children were born. THE BUNSEE CONNECTION Seecharan Bunsee, popularly known as ‘Daddy’ for his fatherly qualities, inherited the nobility of a rich ancestry from his father Bunsee of Bangalore, India. He was the eldest child and remained the head of the family until his death. He had six children, two of whom are resident families in our area. Indardaye, the second child, object of our present salute, married Ghool Choti, and son of Boodoo and Basanti who both travelled in the same ship from India. Ghool and Indardaye ‘Big Ma’ had eight children. Ramdaye married Bennet, the brother of Ghool and had eight children. Sookdeo Bunsee, the fourth child died a long time ago but many of us can still remember him as quite, a gentle and loving man. He married Ramdassie and had eight children. Harry Bunsee had nine children and Gangadaye ‘Tanty’ married Seecharan Sookoo ‘Upsin’ and they have seven children.
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Phoolbassish and Ramdhani No children
CHATTURJI AND SATI Ramlal, Ramdath and Phoolbassiah
Bhaggiah and Toya Buchun, Balack, Sumty, Ramnath and Kulia
Ramlal and Surujadaye Rajmatee, Bhaggiah, Bhagrattie and Lochan Rajmatee and Bunsee Seecharan, Indardaye, Ramdaye, Sookdeo, Harry and Gangadaye Seecharan and Ramwatee Pariah and Ramkumarie (second wife) Jassodra – Visham, Jai, Anjani and Roshani. Indradaye and Ghool Choti Lalchan, Sugrim, Prem, Mohan, Rattanlal, Radica and Seenath Ramdaye and Bennet Dulin, Radha, Lallie, Balliram, Sham, Kawal, Seeta and Sewa Harry and Dhurpat Mina, Ghainda, Chan, Lako, Dhano, Hanuman, Shama, Jassodra and Ashram Gangadaye and Seecharan Chester, Sumair, Dewa, Gewan, Ani, Sandra and Indra. Ramnath and Parbati Roochand, Nanan, Mana, Bhagwantia and Taitarie
Seeratan,
Kissoon,
Nanan and Sumintra Pollwah, Jagdaye, Rookwa, Mahadeo (Barkya ) and Sahadeo (Choatkya) Mana and Anjanni No children Seerattan and Dolly Babydol, Madho, Ramdaye, Drupatee, Doodnath Kissoon and Bhagwanti Sylvie, Dutsy, Basmatee, Lilley, Ragbir, Suggie, Kamla, Kumarie, Shanti and Daye
Bhabi or Bhagrattie and Jankie Persad Teeluck Charitar, Jotis, Ragoobar, Ramdoolarie Subhag and Sobey Eighteen children Teeluck Jankie married Phool, Daughter of an Indian missionary Ganesh, of Moruga; Bhim, Carmin, Lalita, Arjune (the Manager), Machandrie, Rajmatee, Ramkumarie, Teekaram, Seeragie, Rookmini, Strohan and Vashti. Ramcharitar had no children and died at an early age. Jotis had one daughter Rampairie but died young; his daughter was adopted by Teeluck Jankie. She married Deonarine Ramdhan and has six children. Ragoobar Jankie is very much alive and even today is still the favorite amongst yet another generation. He married Naseeran and has four children, Kenny, Dandy, Cherry and Debbie. Nanan and Dolly Ten Children Lochna and Savitri Sankar, Bal and Koie of Cumuto Road It is found that great grandfather CHATTURJI, after whom the legendary Chattoo pond was named, is responsible for most of the families in the Mandingo and Sahadath Road area. It goes to Cumuto and Area Five. Apart from Baba Chatturji, there has been Sahadath responsible for the oldest seeds amongst our residents. Chatturji came from Uttar Pradesh, India and relatives of his are still alive. Though he has died and gone a long time, we love him and cherish his memories. To show our love and appreciation to the great man we communicate with the Three Mothers. They have had hard lives but things are much better. We wish them from our hearts long life, prosperity and happiness. We also thank them for their generosity in entertaining on farewell occasions, and for reminding us of our heritage. May all their wishes come true. Jai Hind, teen devi.
Lagan and Rajandaye Bolliah, Boodhani
Arti Jankie
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ONENESS Neither black nor yellow nor brown nor white Not Hindu or Brahmin, Rabbi, Sunni or Shiite God has neither colour nor creed nor sect nor race. Divinity transcends domestic boundaries, isms – space.
MY SPIRIT AND ME
Within the limitation – human dimension Divinity manifests amongst every people – nation To supremise one manifestation over the other Is to engage an utterly foolish – evil – baseless bother For one who yet yearns to know the self Let that one avoid such baseless pelf For to behold the Oneness is all that be Is to realize ones own divinity
If I am Sick Can endure the pain; If I am to die Courage to face death: Pray not for me. Tumultuous pains Rages on within Stay well away from me Let me be In torture my body twitches Tearing my muscles apart Squeezing out the blood My being trembles.
As one who wears this human form and face Every colour, creed and race I embrace Though Indian and Hindu I verily am I worship Yehweh – Isus – Allah, JA JA All and Kaam. Arjune Teeluck
Still my spirit within me Calm, unmoved, undaunted. I fear not, I grieve not Standing together always My spirit and me.
A HARD BARGAIN Bissoondaye Beharry, 16yrs Area 5. Broomage ACS
A NEW START R.N.D. Jagessar, Assistant Manager/Chairman, Housing Committee, Broomage ACS
The problem we face Is confronted in every Trace Roads overgrown and bad Walking, our only transport, its hard In our hearts, we feel so sad.
I often wished for another start A life’s new beginning To blot out the mistakes To make successes out of failures
Unemployment we face In every creed and race Underemployment is spoiling our heritage No electricity, no water, no toilets and poor food Puts us all in a bad, bad mood.
It may not take a New Year To make a new start But maybe a great desire To Live a little better
North, South, East and West Denied equity, chance to be our best Housing is poor and life is hard Oh gosh, living in the country is so bad.
To be more ambitious and constructive To hold no grudge: to forgive To add my share of sunshine To the world in which I live
As farmers we are always behind time Working in the dirt and covered with grime The work is hard, the conditions are bad Someone please help us ‘here’ in Trinidad.
I never give in to despair With a thought that I’m through For there’s always tomorrow And a chance to start a new.
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THE LIGHT OF LAKSHMI
THE GOLDEN RULE
Divali came and went next day But the presence of Shri Lakshmi did stay For I had prepared long and hard And she came I felt so glad
(The golden rule must be mutual cooperation, seeing that we will never all think alike, and shall always see truth in fragments and from different angles of vision – M. K. Gandhi)
She had brought me peace and prosperity Given me labour and security I see her beauty reflecting from my heart While tears of joy from my heart do start. I sing her praises throughout the day Songs so melodious, sweet and gay I feel so much inspiration To dedicate my life to her in devotion.
BUDDHISM “Hurt not others in ways that you yourself would find hurtful” (Udana Varga 6 : 23) CONFUCIANISM “Surely it is the maxim of loving kindness: Do not unto others that which you would not have them do unto you” ( Analects 15 : 23)
A CHILD’S FRUSTRATION Mornings I am feeling sick’ She says, ‘It’s a trick’ I have the cold’ She says, ‘Do as you’re told’ I don’t want to go to school’ She says, ‘Don’t be such a fool’
CHRISTIANITY “ Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do unto you, do even so to them; for this is the law and the prophets. (Matthew 7 : 20) ISLAM “No one of you is a believer until ye desire for each in humanity that which ye desire for thine-self.” (Sunnah)
Afternoons I want a dollar She wants me to be a scholar. I want sweets She gives me food to eat. I want to stay home and play, She says, ‘You can’t, not today’ I want to go, to catch fishes with uncle, She says, ‘You have your books to tackle.’
SANATAN DHARMA “This is the sum of duty, do naught unto others which would cause pain if done to you” (Mahabharata 5 : 1517) TAOISM “Regard your neighbor’s gain as your own gain and your neighbor’s loss as your own loss” (T’ai Shang Han P’ien.)
Evenings I want to stay up and watch T.V. Switch it off’, she says, ‘I’m sleepy’ I want to go out and play gangsters Shut up’, she says, ‘Listen to your elders’
JUDAISM “What is hateful to you; do not to your fellowman. That is the entire law; all the rest is commentary” (Talmud, Shobbat 31 a.)
Mummy I’m hungry, I want some food’. You’ve just eaten’ she says, ‘Don’t be rude! I want to play then, with my toys, No she won’t allow me any such joys.
Quotations submitted by Teeluck Jankie
Mummy ... Mummy... don’t you love me’ I cannot sleep , don’t you see At last she switches on the T.V. She took me in her arms and cuddles me!
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was formed and Wilthy Noel Thomas elected as Manager. LUMBER AND HARDWARE To assist the members in getting quality goods at the lowest possible cost a lumber, hardware and transport section was formed in June 1979. Geewan B. Seecharan is Manager. EDUCATION Soon after the Society was re-organized and was termed Co-operative, the executive committee, in an effort to provide farmers with insecticides and various farm supplies opened a sales office. The sale of farm supplies went on for a period at the residence of Teeluck Jankie and was then housed at Balata Patch, Cunjal Road.
Books, American International Encyclopedia purchased in 1978 gave birth to the library. Since the hundreds of books have been added. There are plans for a Nursery School to be built in the near future. Frankie Khan acts in the capacity of Education Officer. HOUSES FOR THE POOR Broomage A.C.S. aims to provide members with decent homes and employment throughout the year. Lands have been acquired and houses built to accommodate several needy farmers. The pattern of applications and payments follow a similar pattern as the National Housing Authority of Trinidad and Tobago.
TRACTOR Also bearing the farmer in mind a tractor was purchased from Landry and Company and the farmers cry of ‘when will I get my land plough’ ceased. The tractor pool committee, operates independently with share holders who report at Board meetings about their activities.
Finally, the Society has committed itself to remove poverty and to establish equality and a higher standard of living in this community.
CITRUS In June 1979, just as the rainy season began citrus plants were bought from Centeno and other private firms at Aranguez. All members were provided with Citrus plants. The Society sought education in the budding and grafting of such plants and a team of young farmers attended a course at the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine. HOUSING COMMITTEE In May 1978, it became obvious that members were having problems in the designing and drafting of plans for houses in the areas. A Housing Committee
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CO-ORDINATOR GENERAL In July 1979, I was promoted as Co-ordinator General, assistant secretary and was admitted to the Board of Directors as a member. I was honored with the post of Loans supervisor. Deputy Co-ordinator General, Hazrath Jaleel Khan is also secretary and a member of the Board of directors.
APPOINTMENT OF CO-ORDINATORS Harold Seemungal – Coordinator General I heard of the Broomage Agricultural Co-operative Society and, being of a disposition favourable to meeting people and working for a better community, I felt curious at least to the point at which I attended one of their meetings and there and then joined the Society. Not only was I impressed by the large membership and the programme outlined but I recognized the integrity and forcefulness of the general manager. I soon formed the opinion that if anyone was in a position to lead the people of the rural areas out of their slum and poverty-stricken conditions, this man could well fit the qualifications. I made up my mind to be a part of the mission and on February 2nd, 1979 I attended a school meeting and was appointed co-ordinator soon afterwards.
DUTIES OF A CO-ORDINATOR
Mr. Mankard Hosein, Toolsie Bhagwat Maharaj, Andrew Khan, Rupert Khan, Ramnarine Rampersad, Sonnyboy Sookhan, Shaniff Mahabood, Dhanasr Ramdath, Seekumar Lallman and Prakesh L. Narine. The membership of the Broomage ACS have grown so rapidly that it became necessary to open several branches and outlets to supply members with farm supplies and citrus plants. Area Four is managed by Harrikissoon Singh Area Five is managed by Toolsie Bhagwat Maharaj. Area Seven is managed by Ramnarine Rampersad. Our members have proposed that we approach Texaco to install Tanks at positions to supply farmers with diesel oil. The diesel oil should be subsidized by government for the benefit of the farmers. CITRUS PLANTS The administration division has undertaken to purchase citrus plants from the government and other agencies for the benefit of farmers. These plants are to be sold at moderate prices.
To recruit new members.
SCOPES
To supervise loan applications. To supervise the sales and purchases of farm supplies and chemicals.
The Society plans to build their Headquarters at Mandingo Road; a Nursery School at St. Croix Road, at Area Four Barrackpore, and to build a community centre at the central location.
To represent the Broomage A.C.S. in various areas which lay claim to new members.
TASK AHEAD
And to attend Board meetings and other allied duties as directed from time to time by the Board of Directors and Management.
That all sections of Broomage ACS will continue to work together to make life easier for all farmers and members of the community, with this type of cooperation no task is impossible.
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From left to Right: Hosien, Manilal, Maharaj & Seemungal (Area Five)
From left to Right: Hazrat Khan, Harold Seemungal, Andrew Khan & Tazan Mohammed (Area Four)
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The role of the Extension Office in Agriculture is best described in the WHITE PAPER ON AGRICULTURE 1979, which states: (1) The officer is committed to national development, more particularly agricultural development and to the community. (2) Innovativeness, particularly in development of plans and programmes at the farm level, and in community oriented activities; (3) Leadership, given in this role is an important agent of change in the farming community. As an Extension Officer of the district, I sincerely congratulate the officers and members of the Broomage ACS for the production of this their first magazine. Best wishes for continued and further success in the service of the farmers, in the years that lie ahead.
The Ministry of Agriculture has employed officers to conduct extension work aimed at improving the quality of life of the farmers and their families. Since agriculture is a living science, there are always changes to modern scientific methods and techniques. These changes are geared towards greater production and profit.
OUR PRAYER The Broomage ACS from a collection by Rabindranath Tagore selected the following prayer. This we call ‘Our Prayer’, which is said in togetherness at the end of our meetings.
The agricultural extension officer is responsible for conducting extension work by teaching the farmers of the nation. As result of which the Extension Office has become a direct link between the farmers and the Agricultural Research Station at Centeno. While it is the duty of the Extension Officer to be in contact with as many farmers as possible, it is also important for the farmers to keep close contact with the officers of the district; so that teaching-learning techniques can be organized among them long before problems arise.
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Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high Where knowledge is free, Where the world has not been broken up into fragments, by narrow domestic walls. Where words come from the depths of truth Where tireless striving stretches its arms towards perfection Where the clear stream of reason has not lost its way, into the dreary deserts, sands of dead habits Where the mind is led forward by thee, into ever widening thoughts and actions Into that heaven of freedom, My Father Let my country awake.
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Despite the many hardships brought down by poverty in the rural districts, we have managed to acquire sons of quality who have struggled all the way of our muddy lagoons to become prominent citizens. It is not often that we can brag about such courageous men but would it not be a shame to be caught by modesty and deny the rights of recognition to the brilliant sons of our district. Rattanlal Chool Bunsee is the fifth child of Indardaye and Ghool Choti of Sahadath Road, Princes Town. His parents were poor and paying for schooling from secondary to university was indeed costly. Rattanlal has managed to ‘come through’ with the help of friends and relatives, without whose moral and financial support, things would have been much more difficult. He has now realized his dream of completing law school and is now a practicing barrister.
He is grateful to the people and thinks that he can repay them all to some extent by offering his services to whoever may need it. They can see him at the Society’s Headquarters or drop in at his office, downstairs Rookmin’s Shopping Centre, Princes Town or at No. 8 Irvin Street, San Fernando or still see him on evenings at his home. He is the legal advisor to our Society and forms very much a part of our motto and desire of ‘Removing Poverty’. We congratulate him on his success and wish him all the best with his private practice. We thank him for standing at by us and advising our poor and mostly uneducated farmers of this society. May God bless his efforts with every success.
Arti Jankie.
TOO LITTLE! Knowing I can’t have it all my way: Too little to embrace real faith and hope,
Too little to see the good in others, To appreciate people for whom they are; Too little to share in the struggle, Rather stand aloft and afar: To praise – encourage acts of virtue, Thought and word and deed: Rather belittle or ill-speak another, Or sow some evil seed!
And so with tempering adversity cope: Too little to rise above sloth, envy, lie anger, hate, lust and greed: To be too little to love and to feel others love, Is to be much TOO LITTLE indeed. Nasaf Mohammed
Too little to bring people together, Charitable to the cause and call: Too little to assemble and so provide, For the common good of us all: Too little to say please, thanks, I’m sorry; Or to make amends when wrong: Too little to provide hope for the fallen, Or to nurture there will to be strong. Too little to be happy in this day, - 34 -
Cattle farming in our area are done on a small scale except in the case of Zainool Mohammed of Cunjal Raod, Mohammed has dozens of cattle and recently he purchased a bull from Brazil. The cow in picture gives seven gallons of milk. The animals are well tended, having access to a large acreage of grazing lands equipped with a large reservoir of water.
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I, on behalf of the Broomage Agricultural Co-operative Society wish to thank Mr. and Mrs. Teeluck Jankie, whom we all refer to as Pa and Ma for their generosity in donating a part of their home to us, free of charge. We have not only found accommodation but also love, understanding and guidance from this wonderful couple and we pray that God shall reward them well for it is not possible for us to ever repay them. Harold Seemungal Coordinator General
Allimuddeen Hosein of Sahadath Road, Princes Town recently returned home from India. He left three (3) years ago to pursue studies in Islam. Now that he is back, he has taken the task of tutoring the children of the district on the topics which he learnt. He will also be pursuing training in furniture making. He is the son of Zarat and Halima Hosein; the ninth child of fifteen children. Zarat is one of our districts farmers. The Broomage ACS wishes to extend a hearty welcome to Allimuddeen and to wish him success in the Maqtab classes he is at present conducting. May Allah bless him with a full and rewarding life.
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In conclusion, I wish to thank members of this entire community For the togetherness we share, as was exemplified during the production of this magazine. In recent times however, we are beginning to see A kind of fragmentation in this little village of ours. Some evil force seems to be at work undermining the great unity that has so far set us aside from petty divisions’ whether of class, religion, political affiliation or ideology. We must always remember the love and camaraderie, the great honour and respect that our two foremost legendary leaders had for all in this village. May the example of these two great souls, Mr. Ramjohn Ali and Mr. Teeluck Jankie, live on for all times.
Thanks, and may us all be always be deserving of providence’s richest blessings.
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