Years ago when MP Colm Imbert authorised the removal of the decorative "Dragon" wind vane from atop the Red House and replace it with a sculpture of a defecating dove, I prayed for T&T to have a more sophisticated government.

Over the years, successive governments sank deeper into superstitious foolishness and we saw the spiritual adviser, the mobilising of CEPEP and URP in Woodford Square for political support, and the DJ competition to stop crime. However, the ultimate folly has been the budget rally. This decision defies all logic and serves no useful purpose in respect of the budget.

Our political culture is hopelessly stuck in a primitive mode that brings itself down to the excesses of the masses, when Government should be leading the people to more reasoned thinking, based on research.

Instead of the United National Congress supporters allowing themselves to be taken for granted, they should be posing critical questions to their representatives:

• Why were so many misfits appointed to State boards?

• Why are the roads to Matelot, Mundo Nuevo, Cedros and Tableland in such horrible condition?

• Can we afford the luxury of a special-purpose children's hospital when sick people languish in Pt Fortin and in Chaguanas?

• Why are Crown Trace and John Street, Montrose, taking more than three years to complete?

• Why has there been no independent evaluation of CEPEP, URP, MUST, HYPE and the rest?

• Why was a well-performing minister, in the person of Verna St Rose Greaves, removed?

• Where are the surveillance cameras and speed cameras required to bring order to the country?

• How could the Ministry of Education allow its name to be attached to a useless TV-based character development ploy?

• How can so many violent crimes occur next-door to police stations?

• Were new police uniforms the highest priority for our crime fighters?

If the power brokers behind the Partnership throne are reluctant to question these decisions, I must call on the party faithful to ponder on these issues as they wave their flags at the budget rally.

David Subran

Chaguanas