Welfare should be church, family and smaller organizations. Ones small enough to see the effects of their contribution and pivot when negative unintended consequences are discovered.

Letter sent to the editor, unprinted.

I like it. I like what Minister Eli Zakour is selling - this rubber hits the road, feet on the ground, walking the factory managerial and leadership style should not only be encouraged, but also, implemented by all his ministerial peers.

Minister Eli Zakour has taken an unprecedented stance by refusing to use his entitled Priority Bus Route (PBR) pass. He argues that by experiencing the roadways and traffic as an ordinary citizen he can better understand, address and correctly steward his role.

Unfortunately, the mandate to serve us, the people, is lost on many of our elected and appointed leaders today. Many live lives very distinct from those whom their decisions directly impact. They're shielded and isolated from the consequences (and sometimes nuisances) that their policies, actions or inactions create. No reasonable person believed the former Prime Minister tightened his belt in the same way he expected us to, nor did anyone believe for a second that Colm was “vex with himself” regarding the increasing fuel costs.

But minister Zakour says that his tenure of service will be different. That he will acquaint himself with the same experience on the roadways as the average driver. And simply put I'm all for it.

Now we’ll have someone in a position to enact change experiencing the rote morning creep towards the capital. This may lead them to support Work-From-Home legislation.

Now they, too, can feel the danger of the westbound rightmost lane being abruptly halved at every stop; from Tacarigua to St Augustine. Leading them to enquire why the turning lane traffic signal isn't lengthened at pick-up and dropoff times.

Now they can join us in the defensive driving required to avoid the many potholes that riddle our nation's roads. Urging them to offer aid or help streamline the repair work that the boroughs and counties do.

Maybe, just maybe when those in positions to enact change experience the same delays, inconveniences and lackluster customer service, then we can see real positive and lasting change taking place.

So go ahead Minister, cause it sounds good to me. Keep left, except when overtaking, tune into your favourite talk show, lean back and get comfortable, ‘cause it's gonna be a long ride.

#trinidad #trini #TT

The old guard is scared of the change Bitcoinization could bring

Letter to the Editor, March 18th 2025

I write to you as a concerned citizen of Trinidad and Tobago, urging our government to urgently consider creating a strategic Bitcoin reserve. Our nation is currently grappling with rampant inflation and a lack of access to US dollars, which are essential for global transactions. This situation has left our economy vulnerable and in need of innovative solutions.

While there have been inquiries into cryptocurrency within our country, the local banks continue to block crypto transactions, including those involving stablecoins. This approach is not only restrictive but also counterproductive in the face of the rapidly evolving digital economy. To be fair, our local currency is hardly desired regionally, far less globally. Our neighbors in the Caribbean are hesitant to accept it, importers have described it as "monopoly money" in their dealings with global partners, and a number of businesses have closed due to a lack of foreign exchange.

In Trinidad and Tobago, we have the Heritage and Stabilization Fund (HSF), established in 2007. As of the end of September 2024, the HSF had a total net asset value of US$6,087.9 million. One of the main purposes of the fund is to provide a financial buffer for the country's budget in times of economic volatility or fiscal shocks. What better asset for this purpose than one that cannot be diluted, is controlled by no central party, cannot be censored, and is currently one of the fastest-growing asset classes desired by both institutions and nation-states? The creation of the HSF demonstrates our nation's foresight in addressing an uncertain future. A pivot to an asset not vulnerable to inflation, as the US Dollar is, would further enable the HSF to accomplish its intended purpose.

Creating a strategic Bitcoin reserve could provide a solution to our economic challenges. Unlike traditional currencies, Bitcoin is not subject to inflation in its supply. This scarce asset can be sovereignly owned and custodied, and does not require expensive audits or transfer fees like gold. We would join nations such as El Salvador, The Kingdom of Bhutan, and the United States of America in recognizing the value of the digital asset and employing its characteristics for the benefit of their citizens.

Embracing Bitcoin would position Trinidad and Tobago to benefit from the new digital capital future as the value from other traditional assets flow into Bitcoin. Our current administration should seek to craft the relevant policy as soon as possible. This forward-thinking approach could cement Trinidad and Tobago's place at the forefront of the new digital global landscape.

In conclusion, I urge our government to prioritize the creation of a strategic Bitcoin reserve. By doing so, we can safeguard our nation's economic stability and ensure a prosperous future for generations to come.

https://newsday.co.tt/2025/03/18/create-strategic-bitcoin-reserve/