Dear Editor,

What would real hope in Trinidad and Tobago look like?

It starts with the people admitting that it does not make good sense to vote for someone simply because they look like you or belong to a sector of society with which you can identify. It starts with a conviction to do whatever one can to make his or her country a better place for one’s family. It starts with voting differently from one’s traditional norm.

Communities, through appropriate legislation and regulations, will begin to have confidence in the law and the police. That would immediately lead to a major reduction in criminal activity, as the people know almost every criminal, every place where the guns are hidden, and who killed whom, but they dare not say anything, as they do not know who to trust.

A new Government with competent personnel would put in place regulations, like identity protection, for those who point out criminals; expedited justice; and protection for those who dare to report criminal activity.

Hope would come from seeing major investment in sports, with modern sporting facilities in communities, supported by appropriately sponsored competitions and the provision of appropriate gear to allow our young people to have a viable alternative to criminal activities. Investing in our young people would see them having access to easy credit for homeownership; lucrative employment opportunities, through investment in tourism, as tour guides and park rangers, and support services, like camping gear suppliers; and access to financing to set up modern, sanitary food and beverage stalls at tourism sites.

Hope for our young people would see them having permanent jobs through structured long-term agricultural investments in cocoa and coffee; citrus; exotic fruits, like avocados and dragon fruit; coconuts; and our internationally acclaimed variety of peppers. Those completing tertiary education would find employment in a modern health-care system.

Housing, with an environmentally sensitive approach to land development on the hills, will bring an end to the devastating effects of illegal squatting and the approval for development at higher elevations to a selected few.

Hope would look like cleaner communities and improved beach and river facilities, with proper changing rooms and toilets. It would see modern access to the Gasparee caves, the bird sanctuary, the many caves and gorges of the northern range, eco-friendly tours of the Nariva swamp, and the implementation of steps to stop beach erosion.

Hope would mean easy access to government services for driver’s permits and vehicular registration and transfer. It would see State-issued vehicular licence plates, payment of all government services online, and modernisation of the public service.

Hope is exciting, energising, and the only way for us to be one of the best places on Earth to raise a family. So much is possible if only we dare to hope and change the way we vote.

Steve Alvarez

Trinidad and Tobago

bilcoa@hotmail.com