In an address to the Kiwanis Club of Port of Spain West at a recent dinner which marked the Installation of Kiwanian Michael Knight as President for 2001-2002, and as well the club's 25th anniversary as a member of Kiwanis International, feature speaker, The Honourable George W. Payne, Member of Parliament for St Andrew in the Barbados House of Representatives, a former Cabinet Minister and former Lieutenant Governor of Kiwanis International, take on this country's current political impasse was different to any I have heard thus far.
The political topic came up as K George spoke of the need for true Kiwanians to recognise "that as the lifeblood of the region, tourism plays an integral part in how we live and in our achievements." "In our interaction with Kiwanis Clubs throughout the world and people from countries around the globe, it is incumbent on us to promote the region as a zone of peace and tranquility. This region has had a long, proud, established democracy, a unique history of political and social stability and steady economic growth. And you should not be distracted by the present political impasse in the country. This is part of the political maturity of Trinidad and Tobago and in terms of your constitutional system that maturity places you about 25-50 years ahead of all other countries in the region."
" I would therefore make the ironic prediction that future historians will applaud the key note being played by Messrs Panday, Maharaj, Manning and Robinson in this refreshing, wholesome and intellectual exercise. As a matter of fact this contribution to the debate dwarfs that of Eric Williams in the postcolonial era."
During the installation ceremony, K Esme Forde, the first woman to be elevated to the top position of Lieut. Governor Humming Bird Division 28, presented the President's pin to K Michael, while past president Andrew Hackshaw handed over the gavel and gong, all symbols of the new president's elevation to this top position for the new term. In his acceptance of the presidency, K Michael expressed "some measure of uneasiness, both about the future of our nations and also the fortunes and fates of our organisation - this includes our clubs and our Division" at this time of world and local turmoil, also at a time fraught with economic stringency.
"A very close look at our Constitution, will show that we exist because of situations which affect the underprivileged, the disadvantaged, the handicapped, the disabled, the children of the world, and it is in these times that we are really called to be leaders in our communities." As the new president spoke of a clear and unambiguous vision for his club, he gave proposals for putting the club's "talk seeds" into action in the coming year: "By ensuring that out CPR (Life Saving) Programme of instructions at six Primary Schools will begin in this school term. Let us ressurect our Club Bulletin at an early date. Then what about our Kiwanis Centre to be erected on lands given to us by the City on Fitz Blackman Drive? Let us drive home the project to fruition this year. It has been in the pipeline far too long."
The club selected former Comptroller of Accounts, Kenneth Henry as the first Kiwanian Of The Year.