|1990 reconciliation, monument, medals, day of remembrance |
Monday, March 17 2014
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Flashback: (From left to right) Commissioners Diana Mahabir-Wyatt, Dr Hafizool Ali Mohammed, Chairman Sir David Simmons, Sir Richard Cheltenham and Dr...
THE SIR David Simmons Report has called for the establishment of a Day of National Significance each year on July 27.
“The Commission recommends that July 27 should be commemorated as a Day of National Significance, not a holiday, but a time for reflection,” the report, tabled on Friday, recommends. “The media and religious organisations should be encouraged to reflect the significance of the day in appropriate ways.
A pamphlet of the significance of the day should be commissioned for use in all schools.”
Further, “An impressive monument should be erected near to the Red House on which the names of those who died are inscribed.”
The report also recommends that the National Flag should be in all schools and students should salute the National Flag and sing the National Anthem every Monday and on July 27 or the nearest date thereto if that day falls on a weekend. Further, for their heroic roles, the Report calls for the handing out of special medals of honour to Dr Emmanuel Hosein; Rear Admiral Richard Kelshall and the Coast Guard; Jones P Madeira; Dennis McComie and the five persons who kept Radio 610 on air during the insurrection; the hostages at the Red House and at TTT; Canon Knolly Clarke; Winston Dookeran; Emmanuel Carter; The Cadet Corps; Alloy Lequay; Dr Romesh Mootoo; Tim Lambkin; Jensen Fox; Mervyn Telfer; the Water and Sewerage Authority; the Trinidad and Tobago Electricity Commission and the Morvant/Laventille Improvement Organisation. Also, the report calls on the Jamaat al Muslimeen religious sect that attacked the capital in 1990 to apologise to the nation and recommends the start of reconciliation and arbitration proceedings in relation to the ongoing land dispute between the group and the State. “The Commission feels that the time has come for healing the hurt occasioned by the events of 1990 and for reconciliation,” the Report states. “During the course of the Commission’s preparation of this Report, Nelson Mandela died. His legacy is that the worst forms of human conflict and degradation can be peacefully resolved in a spirit of reconciliation and forgiveness.”
The Report continues, “We are of the view that the processes of Alternative Dispute Resolution may be usefully employed to settle the conflict over # 1 Mucurapo Road and the continuing non-recognition of the schools for State assistance.” It states the matter should be dealt with by three suitably qualified mediators of international repute.
“The Government and the JAM should each nominate one mediator and the chair of the panel should be nominated by the Mediation Board of Trinidad and Tobago.”