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THE EDITOR: I have studied the letter by Dr Hollis “Chalkdust” Liverpool (Newsday, March 11) addressed to Social Development and Family Services Minister Donna Cox in which he insinuated that calypsonians be placed as a priority group, above doctors and nurses, whenever the list of covid19 vaccine recipients is developed, with extempo singers being placed at the top of this group of entertainers.
The tenor of his letter brought to mind the words of Dr Eric Williams, late Prime Minister, in his Independence Day address on August 31, 1962, when he explained the meaning of democracy. He stated that democracy means recognition of the rights of others, the responsibility of the government to its citizens and the protection of citizens from the exercise of arbitrary power and the violation of human freedoms and individual rights.
These powerful words echoed in my mind as “Chalkie” made his case. He reiterated the various grants and advances awarded to calypsonians to compensate for loss of income and to ease the struggles they encounter as a consequence of growing old and infirm.
I have no problem with these grants. However, I was taken aback by the examples he provided from the wider Caribbean, where he claimed that in Antigua and Barbuda calypso and sport icons can receive diplomatic passports, be provided free medical care and granted monthly salaries, along with a host of exemptions. Was Liverpool implying that the TT Government should introduce such a caste system where select groups of sports people and entertainers could be accorded special privileges funded by the lesser taxpaying mortals?
I would like to remind Liverpool that as a PhD holder his words carry much weight and should not be taken lightly. He has a responsibility to lead, not mislead the minister and the population. Did he consider the thousands who toil in the field from dawn to dusk in order to bring food to our tables? What about the brave doctors, nurses and other health workers who risk their lives to counter the coronavirus pandemic? The taxi drivers, public servants and media personnel whose attention to duty ensures that systems do not fall apart? And what about the thousands of seniors with diabetes or high blood pressure who live with the knowledge that covid19 infection would be a death sentence?
Chalkie is justifying his priority list using the criterion of calypsonians’ contribution to the GNP and their generation of foreign exchange. However, the Government has indicated that its main criterion is the protection of the most vulnerable, hence health workers will be vaccinated first, followed by elderly people with comorbidities. This does not suggest a selfish agenda. Indeed, the PM and the Health Minister have declined the first vaccines in favour of more pressing claims.
I expect that the Minister of Social Development and Family Services would reject this selfish proposal and she can look at the response of the late Williams to Chalkie many years ago, citing a beast of burden, which I am too polite to mention here.

DAVID SUBRAN

via e-mail
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