Epicurean ©®™ - Services
by Maven Huggins on Saturday, April 18, 2009 at 2:38pm
I
Epicurean- Personal Stylist for Body Reality
I want to be Anne Fridahl's stylist and friend.
post her summit opening ceremonies appearance
II
Epicurean- Talent (to Time) Management
I want to be Ella Andall's agent.
Somebody tell me why the volumic prophetic and powerful voice of Ella was not slotted to sing more bars of her song, if not the whole thing? Please. I am listening.
Epicurean ©®™
{great at design; personal makeovers; interior decorating; artist formulations;
entrepreneurship development }
------------------------------
Risks to Procurement, Corruption and Mapping Anti-Corruption
by Maven Huggins on Tuesday, September 8, 2009 at 7:46am
cover pg
Proposed Paper Title
Culture, Social Capital and the Lack of Social Responsibility as Factors and Indicators of Procurement Risks in Emerging Economies: From the Perspective of Trinidad and Tobago
Author
MDHuggins, PhD
Proposal Outline:
Pillars of Concept, Paper/Foundation for Analysis Grid
Proposed Paper Outlook and Overview
Emergence and Basis of Idea/Paper/Concept
Expected Outcomes
pg1
Pillars of the Concept, Paper/Foundation for Analysis Grid
1. Despite a high level of religiosity; plural religions, regimented practice: church, mosque,
mandir attendance, society is in decline and great levels of social fabric deterioration are
evidenced
2. What and How is Culture defined; in TT, the way we dance, our music, our musical
instruments, festival and recreation are often the definitions given of culture; but it is
missed that culture is how we live. In our environments and with each other. How we treat
the streets and roadways. How we regard each other; our daily practices as we go about
our days- civility, kindness, regard, respect. Teachings, mores, education, spirituality,
language, observances and values. IN short, we can say is a society’s culture of “get mine”
or “help us”; that of “unity” or “individualism”; of “accounted costs”
or “externalities”; “ownership by citizenship” or “residency”
3. Social Capital is a framework of our relations, to self, others, communities, place,
environment, group, ethnicity, country, nation or region. It is how we look out for and help
each other. It is the belief, knowing and reliance that when I leave my home, I am assured
that the other person, neighbor, relative, resident across city, area or country, has the
same interest at heart> not to make my way unfair, unduly or difficult; it is the measure of
goodwill and vested interest we share in each other, according to the extent of our
regard…family and friends being high to acquaintances and strangers being lesser.
4. Social Responsibility is a concept that has application on all levels, from the individual, to
the family, to the block, to the community, to the area, to the city, to the region, to the
town, to the people, to the population, to the nation, to the government, to the
leadership, to the citizenry, and back again in a circle. Goodwill and Social Capital breeds
more of itself; use without reinforce and refill, depletes. It is also a concept that relates to
companies and groups, multinationals to local companies, to the places where they work,
generate and build profits and revenues and the idea of sharing and giving back
5. Social Fabric is defined as the ways in which the elements of a society are woven
together> a tight weave, a loose weave; integration or separation, respect or disregard,
exploitation or investment. The idea of “looking out” a level of altruism of persons,
companies, businesses, government, ngos, etc. Social Fabric is about when you get into a
car accident on the highway, do the passerbys, nearby residents come to swarm, rob and
oogle you, or come to render comfort and aid while services get there. Social Fabric will
have you ask what and at what level of risk are you in at any given moment of your lived
day or eventuality, no matter the location; or for any specific location, or in general, in a
country.
6. Procurement Risks are any forms of Corruption in the acquisition of products and services
for a government or a company. That would include the lack of transparency. The lack of
accountability, the lack of responsibility. Kickbacks, benefits, gifts quid pro quo, access,
etc. The risks are the chance, possibility and probability of any one, more or conglomerate
of these eventualities, at one time or over time, happening,
7. Emerging Economies are any nation state not quite in achievement of developed country
status. One may very well insist that given the recent world economic crisis, the
assessment of such status need be recalibrated and assessed, but at current time, that
level of revolution has not yet occurred, so developing country status is not about what
works for you in your country in your part of the world, but is assigned to the quality of
standard of living at US dollar rates of your population and the access to basic human
services in that life.
8. Cultural, Political, Social Fabric, Social Capital and Corruption Risks Description of Trinidad
and Tobago; “the murky depths of character, culture and morality”;
pg2
Proposed Paper Outlook and Overview
The above seven points and definitions are the pillars of this paper, seeking to build a foundation of a simple political economy approach to procurement; to identify the parts to whole and stakeholders according to behavioral patterns. It is the expectation that the outline of such behaviors will lead to identification of risks, behaviors and players, clearly enough outlined to create targeted goals in reforming procurement practices in landscapes we know and will stylized to be rich with chance and possibility for nothing but corrupt operations. With this schematic, it is expected that drivers and motivations, influences and values will delineate needs, approaches, gaps and protocols that aid the building of reform that starts at the individual and builds progressively to the state and its institutions.
A core intention of this paper is to outline and fully describe the conditions of life, society and populations in emerging economies; an outline of human nature factors that flourish in current circumstance, through and in which any procurement reform must cut through to achieve its goals.
In this paper, the author will illuminate each of the seven factors of any given society, but in particular, utilizing a perspective of life in the Tropics of the Caribbean Island Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. The seven elements will be shown how the interact, integrate and reinforce each to create a social tenor that allows or disallows a structure of behavior and institutional form and format. Thus highlighting the gaps in which corruption flourishes. Hopefully, the nature of the gaps will point the way forward as to the most appropriate piecemeal corrective approach Understanding that legislation is the highest form of enforcement, but that culture creates and directs; and legislation of good behavior has yet to work in civilized societies. There must be some internal, core motivations which this paper seeks to unearth. At best, it is an attempt to write a humanistic approach to a societal problem in emerging economies.
The idea of this paper emerged from reading an article proposing a political economic analysis and framework to procurement reform in emerging economies. But it is this author’s contention that emerging economies are not so efficiently structured as to form clear distinctions to afford a traditional or even novel political economy, By nature of emerging economies, there is more gray matter and areas than strict black and white corners. In many emerging economies, as is the case for Trinidad and Tobago, there is yet to be a clear distinction between public and private, the state and the citizens and the goods that apportion thereto. In these infant economies, the articulation of interests in public discourse have not yet come to mind; meaning, that it has not even been conceptuatlized yet, and all adhering to an overarching value, identity and hierarchy of the nation state, to even afford a discussion of varied interests and how they come together to make an integrated whole of governance. In many emerging economies, the struggle still exists to overcome their histories of oppression, colonialism, subjugation and outer control to begin to frame these issues and questions. In this author’s estimation then, preceding discussions, illumination and foundations must be excavated before. This paper and exercise is such an attempt.
pg3
Emergence/Basis for Idea/Concept/Paper
The origins for and of this work are based on:
1. A paper on spirituality and culture;
http://www.bsr.org/reports/CultureMatters_CSRSpirituality_1.pdf;
2. A paper on the Political Economy of Procurement Reform:
http://www.bsr.org/reports/CultureMatters_CSRSpirituality_1.pdf
3. The Author’s Dissertation and work to create original measurements of social capital as a
means to determine social movement theory in communities to enact social change. It is an
attempt to apply those tenets to this problem, posing that procurement reform is in fact a
social movement in ermerging economies and need be so configured!*****
4. The author’s study and training in socio-political economy of development that includes
aspects of identity, culture, ethnography, socio-political ideology, regional development
and law and institutional economic behavioral theory
Expected Outcome
The expected outcome of this paper will be an analysis grid that can be utilized, applied and altered for any country by any practitioner seeking to carefully and correctly outline the problem areas, risks and gaps to embarking on procurement reform.
----------document submitted (c) (R) 2009 mdhuggins--------------------------------------
Proposed Paper Title
Culture, Social Capital and the Lack of Social Responsibility as Factors and Indicators of Procurement Risks in Emerging Economies: From the Perspective of Trinidad and Tobago
Author
MDHuggins, PhD
Proposal Outline:
Pillars of Concept, Paper/Foundation for Analysis Grid
Proposed Paper Outlook and Overview
Emergence and Basis of Idea/Paper/Concept
Expected Outcomes
pg1
Pillars of the Concept, Paper/Foundation for Analysis Grid
1. Despite a high level of religiosity; plural religions, regimented practice: church, mosque,
mandir attendance, society is in decline and great levels of social fabric deterioration are
evidenced
2. What and How is Culture defined; in TT, the way we dance, our music, our musical
instruments, festival and recreation are often the definitions given of culture; but it is
missed that culture is how we live. In our environments and with each other. How we treat
the streets and roadways. How we regard each other; our daily practices as we go about
our days- civility, kindness, regard, respect. Teachings, mores, education, spirituality,
language, observances and values. IN short, we can say is a society’s culture of “get mine”
or “help us”; that of “unity” or “individualism”; of “accounted costs”
or “externalities”; “ownership by citizenship” or “residency”
3. Social Capital is a framework of our relations, to self, others, communities, place,
environment, group, ethnicity, country, nation or region. It is how we look out for and help
each other. It is the belief, knowing and reliance that when I leave my home, I am assured
that the other person, neighbor, relative, resident across city, area or country, has the
same interest at heart> not to make my way unfair, unduly or difficult; it is the measure of
goodwill and vested interest we share in each other, according to the extent of our
regard…family and friends being high to acquaintances and strangers being lesser.
4. Social Responsibility is a concept that has application on all levels, from the individual, to
the family, to the block, to the community, to the area, to the city, to the region, to the
town, to the people, to the population, to the nation, to the government, to the
leadership, to the citizenry, and back again in a circle. Goodwill and Social Capital breeds
more of itself; use without reinforce and refill, depletes. It is also a concept that relates to
companies and groups, multinationals to local companies, to the places where they work,
generate and build profits and revenues and the idea of sharing and giving back
5. Social Fabric is defined as the ways in which the elements of a society are woven
together> a tight weave, a loose weave; integration or separation, respect or disregard,
exploitation or investment. The idea of “looking out” a level of altruism of persons,
companies, businesses, government, ngos, etc. Social Fabric is about when you get into a
car accident on the highway, do the passerbys, nearby residents come to swarm, rob and
oogle you, or come to render comfort and aid while services get there. Social Fabric will
have you ask what and at what level of risk are you in at any given moment of your lived
day or eventuality, no matter the location; or for any specific location, or in general, in a
country.
6. Procurement Risks are any forms of Corruption in the acquisition of products and services
for a government or a company. That would include the lack of transparency. The lack of
accountability, the lack of responsibility. Kickbacks, benefits, gifts quid pro quo, access,
etc. The risks are the chance, possibility and probability of any one, more or conglomerate
of these eventualities, at one time or over time, happening,
7. Emerging Economies are any nation state not quite in achievement of developed country
status. One may very well insist that given the recent world economic crisis, the
assessment of such status need be recalibrated and assessed, but at current time, that
level of revolution has not yet occurred, so developing country status is not about what
works for you in your country in your part of the world, but is assigned to the quality of
standard of living at US dollar rates of your population and the access to basic human
services in that life.
8. Cultural, Political, Social Fabric, Social Capital and Corruption Risks Description of Trinidad
and Tobago; “the murky depths of character, culture and morality”;
pg2
Proposed Paper Outlook and Overview
The above seven points and definitions are the pillars of this paper, seeking to build a foundation of a simple political economy approach to procurement; to identify the parts to whole and stakeholders according to behavioral patterns. It is the expectation that the outline of such behaviors will lead to identification of risks, behaviors and players, clearly enough outlined to create targeted goals in reforming procurement practices in landscapes we know and will stylized to be rich with chance and possibility for nothing but corrupt operations. With this schematic, it is expected that drivers and motivations, influences and values will delineate needs, approaches, gaps and protocols that aid the building of reform that starts at the individual and builds progressively to the state and its institutions.
A core intention of this paper is to outline and fully describe the conditions of life, society and populations in emerging economies; an outline of human nature factors that flourish in current circumstance, through and in which any procurement reform must cut through to achieve its goals.
In this paper, the author will illuminate each of the seven factors of any given society, but in particular, utilizing a perspective of life in the Tropics of the Caribbean Island Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. The seven elements will be shown how the interact, integrate and reinforce each to create a social tenor that allows or disallows a structure of behavior and institutional form and format. Thus highlighting the gaps in which corruption flourishes. Hopefully, the nature of the gaps will point the way forward as to the most appropriate piecemeal corrective approach Understanding that legislation is the highest form of enforcement, but that culture creates and directs; and legislation of good behavior has yet to work in civilized societies. There must be some internal, core motivations which this paper seeks to unearth. At best, it is an attempt to write a humanistic approach to a societal problem in emerging economies.
The idea of this paper emerged from reading an article proposing a political economic analysis and framework to procurement reform in emerging economies. But it is this author’s contention that emerging economies are not so efficiently structured as to form clear distinctions to afford a traditional or even novel political economy, By nature of emerging economies, there is more gray matter and areas than strict black and white corners. In many emerging economies, as is the case for Trinidad and Tobago, there is yet to be a clear distinction between public and private, the state and the citizens and the goods that apportion thereto. In these infant economies, the articulation of interests in public discourse have not yet come to mind; meaning, that it has not even been conceptuatlized yet, and all adhering to an overarching value, identity and hierarchy of the nation state, to even afford a discussion of varied interests and how they come together to make an integrated whole of governance. In many emerging economies, the struggle still exists to overcome their histories of oppression, colonialism, subjugation and outer control to begin to frame these issues and questions. In this author’s estimation then, preceding discussions, illumination and foundations must be excavated before. This paper and exercise is such an attempt.
pg3
Emergence/Basis for Idea/Concept/Paper
The origins for and of this work are based on:
1. A paper on spirituality and culture;
http://www.bsr.org/reports/CultureMatters_CSRSpirituality_1.pdf;
2. A paper on the Political Economy of Procurement Reform:
http://www.bsr.org/reports/CultureMatters_CSRSpirituality_1.pdf
3. The Author’s Dissertation and work to create original measurements of social capital as a
means to determine social movement theory in communities to enact social change. It is an
attempt to apply those tenets to this problem, posing that procurement reform is in fact a
social movement in ermerging economies and need be so configured!*****
4. The author’s study and training in socio-political economy of development that includes
aspects of identity, culture, ethnography, socio-political ideology, regional development
and law and institutional economic behavioral theory
Expected Outcome
The expected outcome of this paper will be an analysis grid that can be utilized, applied and altered for any country by any practitioner seeking to carefully and correctly outline the problem areas, risks and gaps to embarking on procurement reform.
----------document submitted (c) (R) 2009 mdhuggins--------------------------------------
Multi-Disciplinary Projects, Ideas and Pursuits, written beginning in 2003
by Maven Huggins on Thursday, October 1, 2009 at 10:55am
I am posting this here because I thought i had a project of National Service written in here..but...maybe not.
IDEA 1
‘Private Vistas’~ Proposal for Series Newspaper Column –
The following proposal draft (separate document) outlines an idea for a weekly or monthly newspaper column. The text is to display interesting members of our families and the homes they have built or created. The subtext of the column is to encourage old-fashioned family values of home and hearth.
The document consists of a statement and column idea, a draft of the first column, a column outlook and a tentative line-up of the next few columns by title. Although not included here, each column will print with pictures. The proposal ends with a brief bio of the column creator, writer and photographer.
IDEA 2
GroundUP
Develop Local Participation Engendering and People’s Forum/Focus Groups for PNM
Based on my dissertation on Social Activism and Change
Billed as a mode and strategy to turnaround the social context of Trinidad and Tobago
From the development of that networking, that social capital building, other benefits will flow such as employment, training and other self-help/development opportunities through contacts.
Flow from the PNM successes of the Local elections July 14, 2003
A specific on the ground strategy of integration and lived unity in the places where people live!
Have meeting: Selby Wilson, Martin Joseph, Mannings, Ministers of Social Development, and Community Development and Gender Affairs
Write program/policy/proposal; Organize Unit; Begin Community and Individual Mobilization
IDEA 3
Read Trinidad… ~ Organize a National Book Club: reading material and works that will:
Inform Critical thinking
An appreciation for beauty and life of beauty
That indicates the multiplicity of forms of living
That engenders and informs nation building
An appreciation and deepening of individual’s and people’s humanity
An appreciation for the world beyond the US, New York, Miami and London
Foster literacy and learning
Coordinated with a talk and radio show to discuss texts, related materials, other books and film.
Related to some agency, perhaps CCA7 and other corporations to show book-related films
Develop journal inviting mass and intellectuals to send in papers, essays, poems in any format (vernacular or the language of mobility) on the materials read and their personal exegesis
Sponsored by Hazel Manning and the Ministry of Education
First on the List: Earl Lovelace’s Salt
IDEA 4
Community (Employment) Partners
Inspired by BC Interview with Christian Mouttet, VP, Chamber of Commerce (Sun. 07.20.03)
National Apprenticeship/Employment/Mentoring/Entrepreneurial Program w/Trinidad & Tobago’s Chamber of Commerce and business sector
Change business sector orientation and position
Intersecting Commerce and Community
Improve relations between workers, the masses and employers
Cross-strata development, capacity, skill and nation building
Provide greater sensitivity between economic dynamics, employee living-needs and employer
wage and benefits provisions
Stem crime and marginalization
Stratify program according to localities (community), regions (rolling assignments of same
companies in different locations and nation (government, agencies, NGO’s)
Programs will be by tiers and according to skill. Young and novice ~ apprenticeship;
Midskill, could use a hand up ~ Mentorship
Young and retrenched, terminally unemployed ~ employment
Anyone with a skill, talent, product or service creation and business idea ~ entrepreneurial
Assign in pairs to sponsor; and including grassroots input
All registered program participants will be fully identified, cataloged, photographed and fingerprinted by the Security Forces, not as enforcement but as a civic protocol of safety and protection for both sides, in the eventuality of a crime, against wrong accusation and preventing wrong persecution
IDEA 5
Clean Up and Beautify Trinbago!
School Children/Teacher/Parent Ministry
Government to provide 3000 empty oil drums/barrels. Possibly recycled-- they will be refurbished by the young conservation corps, recruited specifically for this project
The country’s artists: Carlisle Harris, LeRoy Clarke, acknowledged and unacknowledged; will sponsor, support and work with 1 or 2 young artist-dreamers to paint at least 2 or 3 barrels, however many they wish and will complete. They will be placed all around Trinbago
Pulls artistic and all societal streams together; Institutes art and beauty in TT, according to all abilities; aesthetically improve environment, inculcate cleanliness. Encouraged, supported and placed at every school in the country, several at universities; one at every ministry office. In latter stages, the barrels can be contributed by corporations and businesses.
IDEA 6
Creation Officer, Prime Minister’s Office
To provide the creation, building and executing of ideas throughout governmental units and in the country. Execute: Clean Up and Beautify Trinbago!; Read Trinidad …; GroundUP
IDEA 7
GPS Anti-Kidnapping Systems
Use the GPS systems loaded in American luxury cars as Anti-Kidnapping/Anti-Theft devices for individuals and cars; and remote sensor systems for structures. All monitored by a national, in-country and international satellite offices, sites and centers.
A. Locate GPS luxury watches: Attain, Import and Sell them to Trinidad & Tobago’s business/corporate community. Anti-Kidnapping
Question: why don’t corporate figures get kidnapped? Why is it just business sector?
B. Set up after market GPS installation businesses. Use already standing skilled people, ie Wayne Paul to install them into cars; marketed to high end, business and corporate types
Anti-Theft
C. Set up remote security system by sensors and radars to alleviate the need for individuals to monitor and oversee companies and individuals; who themselves can be corrupted and sold to undermine the security of their tenders.
Install such systems in home and businesses
Both Options A, B and C will require monitoring systems that are failsafe against weather, electricity, or any other kind of mitigating factor in Trinidad that might render the system obsolete, ineffective or defective.
Next Steps:
Develop idea further
Approach vested individuals to sponsor and champion the idea
Talk to Uncle Leroy for inroads
Earl Clements will be another supporter to play some pivotal role in the importation aspect
Everald Snaggs, Commissioner of Police
Chin Lee, National Security Minister
Mannings, Prime Minister
Joan Yuille Williams, backer/director of PNM party and Minister
Additional Idea:
List of all Trinidadian deportees in last 10 or so years
ID, fingerprint, picture them all
Monitor them from time to time. These are your crime recruits
The GPS mandatory install system in cars:
(1) anti theft device (Crime-Security)
(2) disincentive for the overcapacity of cars on Trinidad roads (Road Use/Carrying Capacity - Works and Transport; Infrastructure)
(3) tie this installation in with exhaust standards to clean the air (Environment)
IDEA 8
InterCultural Dialogue Project
Proposed field of study: Ethnography/Historiography (Portraiture) and
Inter-Cultural Dialogue
Fields of Research: Life History Teaching and Social Change
Caribbean Personalities in Literature
Gendering Caribbean Ethnic Realities History and Culture
Subtext: Dialogue, Exchange and Collective Weaving of Truths & Realities
Draft Project Title: Prose, Poems, Ethnographies and Other Writings as
Means to Inter-Cultural Dialogue and Education in the
Trinidadian-Caribbean Context
Draft Research Focus: Identify writings: poems, prose, novels, biographies documenting
mutual experiences and realities among Indians and Africans in
Trinidad and the English-speaking Caribbean
Draft Project: Part 1. A. Literature review and synopsis of histories,
research and other documentation of integrated
histories in Trinidad/Caribbean
B. Focus on women in particular
C. Social change agents through history
Part 2. Compile ethnographies, historiographies (personal stories, life biographies or situations), and quotations (patois, dialect, Trini lingo) poems, prose, essays, articles of women with a mind and intent to engender a national story, to change the cultural dichotomy
Project Time Line: September 1, 2004 – September 30, 2006
Funding/Support: FORD Foundation
UNESCO- Trinidad; Caribbean; Rome Ministry of Culture and Tourism
Ministry of Community Development Affairs and Gender
TO DO: Proposed Plan of study or Research
Abstract of Proposed Plan of Study or Research
Annotated Bibliography
Idea 8, part 2
InterCultural Dialogue Project
Justification: This project aims to support the UN Millennium Declaration
Focus on “gender equality and empowerment of women” to demonstrate her power and victory to her and others who learn and read of her life story; and what the implication to the male counterpart is to start talking, reflecting, sharing and testifying. Their own salvation is in that conversation. IF possible, we engender parity not equity.
IDEA 9
Children & Family Based Personal, People and Community Awareness
Empowerment through Reading & Writing Project –
Addresses: Poverty, Crime, Marginalization, Disenfranchisement,
Educates, Literacy, Intercultural Knowledge and Understanding
Employment Opportunities, Corporate-Community-Family Partnership
Education-Employment-Community-Family Partnership
Personal and National Identity
Backers: Ministry of Social Development
Ministry of Social Services
Ministry of Social Services Delivery
Ministry of Education
Ministry of Culture and Tourism
Ministry of Community Development & Gender Affairs
Ministry of (Business, Finance, Corporations)
Objectives: 1. Social change, transforming the mindset of children, families, communities and the nation.
2. Writing, Reading and Literacy
3. Personal and National Identity; Nation building
4. Student Exchange and Intercultural Dialogue
5. Creation of Caribbean Folk-writing, leading to Publications
6. Children, Family and Community Empowerment and Agency
7. Engender Creativity, Personal and Local Problem Solving,
Self-Determination and Internally driven modes of Success
8. Engender personal spirituality and inner lives of reflection and quiet;
Cultivate Inter-religious support and collaboration from the bottom up
9. Building social capital, national sense of community and resourcefulness and thereby, bridging socio-economic divide
10. Engender a humanistic/humane perspective of all project parties and stakeholders
11. Building Community, Cultivating Peaceful Psychic Environments
12. Independence through Interdependence: do for self with others
Idea 9, part 2
Children & Family Based Personal, People and Community Awareness
Empowerment through Reading & Writing Project –
Project: Children write about themselves, their families, their neighbors and communities.
These writings will be compiled according to schools, communities, etc.
Children will have intercultural pen pals in the project
Pen pals will lead to student-school exchanges, maybe even student-family exchanges within Trinidad, focusing on the Indo/Afro Trinidadian population predominantly, but all other groups as part of the school population as well.
Writings are to focus on family, individual and child experiences, development, spirituality, practices, views of the country.
Project is children directed, managed and operated, once organized by Felcor International, Inc.
Project is to be tied into Corporate and Business Sector: children of families who participate and write, according to certain accomplishments, levels, publications and contributions will receive points from their family’s employers. Therein is an incentive and tie-in for the parents and families to encourage educational behavior and adult involvement in children’s lives. The writing points earned maybe converted either into employment, training or apprenticeship opportunities, money bonuses or company stock that the family earns. In one project you are addressing employment, literacy, skill and capacity building, family life and corporate perception and partnership in the country.
Goal: Project participation by every school in Trinidad, from primary to university level
Justification: 1. “From an academic standpoint, there are many solid reasons to incorporate the study of folklore into any literacy curriculum. Probably the most important reason is that by allowing students to study their own communities, families and cultures they bring an automatic level of expertise to the educational enterprise that is not possible in other more traditional situations. This is particularly important for students who have had much academic success or who belong to a marginalized group.”
http://www.osi.hu/esp/rei/downloads/multicultural_telling_stories.pdf
2. Samuel Lochan’s Challenges to education leaders
T&T Review, April 5, 2004
“What is the leadership issue we have to face? It seems to my mind to be leadership in ideas. What is required is leadership in persuading people that education is first of all self-nderstanding and self-acceptance. Given our specific penchant for seeking affirmation from the outside, for us, the first act of empowerment is to accept where we are as a valid place to be and to interpret the world from where we stand.
“This lack of “situatedness” is not just a limitation of knowledge, but as CLF James said in “Beyond the Boundary”, it represents a limitation on spirit and imagination.”
“A search in their own yards would bring the children into a different relationship with their immediate surroundings and provide an emotional impetus for further learning.”
“…the development of social power and insight.”
More Notes and Quotes:
“Any examination and evaluation of a people’s culture must result in increased confidence amongst the people.”
– Pearl Eintou Springer
“Carnival: Identity, Ethnicity and Spirituality”, Chapter 2
Ian Isidore Smart and Kimani S. K. Nehusi (Eds.) Ah Come Back Home
Port of Spain: Original World Press (2000)
IDEA 10
ComUnity Galleria: Poetry, Performance and Continuity
A Roving Camp throughout Trinidad and Tobago
Held at venues throughout the islands every month or so
Focused for general and youth populations: meaning youths will always feature prominently
Dual focus of the program: teach history lived and engender continuity of knowledge base between generations and individuals; for instance, so many adults lived the Grenada story; the country is so young that many adults are still living who lived our country, national and Caribbean history. This is a resource untapped and necessary to capitalize
Each program will have a half hour or more segment of a person telling of their lived experience in some important or pivotal point of our collective history
Financially supported by:
Ministry of Culture: media, sound system, scholarships
Venues that donate their space
IDEA 11
Cultural Industry Economist
Ministries of Culture, Tourism & Trade
Develop a cultural industry of Trinidad and Tobago focusing on the expansion and deepening of income generation, returns, revenues, profits and benefits from the export, exchange and promotion of Trinidad and Tobago’s cultural arts, artifacts and performances.
Position would be that of Creator, Researcher and Executive Director
Travel abroad to other countries; collect information, best practices and thoughts; develop programs and projects here in land; implement; train employees and other cultural workers; promote culture abroad
IDEA 12
TV Talk Show
Bread Boy Entertainment
Own/Rent a full house set
Living Room type setting with dining area
Full of Caribbean Art
Focus on whole Caribbean: Spanish, French, English and Dutch
All Topics: Politics, Economics, Living, Religion/Spirituality, Education, The Arts, Etc
IDEA 13
National Rally -Day of Fasting, Reconciliation, Peace and Harmony
Queens Park Savannah
* One Day, Thirty six hours from 6pm an evening to 6am the next morning
* Day of fasting, praying and national rally for every able body in Trinidad
* No Work, no exchange of money, no business, no transaction (cook day before)
* Walk only (* Should we shut down Trinidad for three days*)
* Only Acts of Alms, Giving, Kindness
* Communities & Villages organize to transport together.
* Only full car pools allowed on the road and entering Port of Spain
* Rename the Savannah as a memory of the event
* Have artists create statues, paintings, and other depictions for every school and religious place, and purchased by businesses and other organizations around the country to remind the populace of the intention from that day…to create an ethic, a revised way of living
* Record the Event
* Broadcast it live on all channels: TTT, TV6 and Gayelle; and other places in the Region
* Make sure to have a full ethnic depiction on the program
* Everyone bring something inspirational to share, should you get to the mike
FORMAL PROGRAM
Calypsonians
Singing Sandra’s “One Day of Prayer”
House of Stars Indian Guy…praying
Indian Artists
Musicians
Inspirational Performers
Ella Andall
Poets
Melise D. Huggins “Carnival Philosophy “
Prayers and Supplications
Catholic, Baptist, Orisha, Atheist, Hindu, Muslim, New Age, Anyone
Mass Action
Silent Meditation
Yoga
Chanting
Readings and Inspiring Presentations (by proxy)
Fidel Castro
Mandela
Suu Ang Yang Yi
Rumi
Frantz Fanon
George Lamming
Kahlil Gibran, The Prophet
Launchings
1. Mass Mobilization Movement:
a. ComMUnity Galleria in major regions/areas
b. Literary, Debate, Choral, Drama, Performances Educational Initiative
c. Adult Literacy/Numeracy Donor Program (Each One Teach One)
d. National Book Club
IDEA 14
Steel Pan- Calypso- Mas Band Masquerade
Combine two bands: from opposite sides, so to speak: Desperadoes and Silver Stars
1. Amplify sound of steel pan band; as in loudness of DJ trucks
2. Create a color choice/scheme or palette for presentation/costumes
3. Have a theme that people can create their own costumes
A. Queen of Beauty: black/white; people of color; white
4. Music to Heal and Regale, not to get on wild and misbehave
IDEA 15
Monthly Calypso/Kaiso Tents
TUCO
IDEA 16
Video Game of Trinidad Carnival; Folklore Characters
IDEA 17
Creole Monologues: Afro and Indo: Male and Female; Sacred and Profane
Presentations of Trinidadian and Caribbean Creole culture through performances, the arts, music, across ethnicities, groups, religions, the sacred and the profane
Its mission is to:
Integrate the idea of various, myriad, numerous ‘cultures’ into one
To redefine and integrate the use of the word/title “Creole”
To stop and reverse the hegemony of Afro-Caribbean culture in Trinidad & the Caribbean
To integrate and pronounce the interplay between spirituality and carnal life-artistic forms
IDEA 18
Adviser to Government Ministries
Identification of needful legislation
-- Land Use (Angostura in Tobago)
-- Resource Use
-- Resource Ownership Limits
IDEA 19
Small Whole Foods Organic Farm
Fruit, Vegetables, Fish Ponds, Frogs, Rabbits, Sheep, Goats, Cattle;
Value Added Product Processing
Marketed to Restaurants, Hotels, Resorts, Government Caterers
State experiment of organic food production, niche marketing, health, income generation, reinvestment in agriculture (21st century style)
IDEA 20
Researcher, Adviser, Consultant to Joint Select Committees
Indp. Senators Prof. Ramesh Deosoran, Mary King, & Parvatee Anmolshingh-Mahabir
Conduct research and reading; prepare and advise position papers, function as all round consultant on policy, practice, legislation and representation for the Joint Select Committees
Pg 5, Guardian, Monday April 5, 2004
IDEA 21
University Practicum (Work/Study) Program
Create, organize, coordinate and implement a university-public-private sector collaboration for university students to spend six months to a year on work sites during their tenure at UWI.
* Provide practical work experience
IDEA 22
Consultants Group - Expansion Initiatives
(1) Source people (human capital) to serve in various capacities
(2) Liaising organization between regions (IE--African Union and Caribbean Diaspora
(3) AU Diasporan Investment Fund---a technical working group to map that out
(4) An organic farm as a research/test market facility
IDEA 23
Proposal for Newspaper Column: Insider/Outsider
A serial column that writes of/from the personal and professional observations, opinions and suggestions regarding Trinidad and Tobago as well as the wider Caribbean historical to current context; on all matters, from economics, race/ethnicity, to music, Western hegemony and popular culture; the whole spectrum of our existence here in this place; and how we position, respond, react and act in the space juxtaposing realities, situations, as well as national and regional objectives.
The premise of Insider/Outsider is based on the personal history of the author who has lived thirty-two years outside Trinidad with a very palpable Trinidadian-ness, loyalty, identity and idealism which has been felt, respected and mirrored by others. A central piece to the perspective offered in the column is the author being female and how that particularly identity will infuse subjects that are traditionally, here, the domain of maleness…such as the national goal of Vision 2020, for instance. The author returns to Trinidad in 2004 with a PhD, holding a sense of responsibility, belongingness and rootedness to “give back” some of what she was imbued with from her Trinidadian father, family, culture, and how she perceived it and the rude awakening that evolves. The writer gives perspectives from the shattering of the veneer of Trinidad being a place of resistance, revolutionary thought, characters and independence; giving it a history to live to and from.
Trinidad is a highly complex, paradoxical and amazing place that somehow is not always captured by people, and less so by those who have grown up and been educated here in the country. The systemic inculcation through reinforcing means of education, being part of the system of family, friends, influences, society and culture inures from a clear view of what is and what is not and how it is. The author, by having an allegiance to this place, its people and culture has a sympathetic outlook in that it is not influenced by issues of foreignness, human alienation or racial/ethnic contempt that is often the case when cross-cultural observations of ‘new’ subjects are taking place. In this case, because the author is Trinidadian born and love, the view of society, culture, behaviors and populations are shorn of all lens that are usually applied by the “other”
Despite being a Trinidad national, the author is in fact of another cultural context, growing up in America that has itself inculcated a different way of being, in both individuality and femaleness that will undergird the writing. By having education and training outside of Trinidad, there is no “accustom-ness” to the way things are passed off here in Trinidad as normal. In that case, the author is an outsider. By her nationality, however, she is an insider and recognized as such until she opens her mouth in oftentimes opposition. While the author has grown up in America, in a lot of ways she is much unaligned to the American mindset, values and culture. She has in fact grown up and been known as a radical of socio-economic-political thought and has lived a marginal and marked life as a Black African female. Yet, she has grown up privileged, with great access to the vagaries of her parents’ accomplishments and her travels and educational attainment. So the author too is complex, writing about a complex place. In a book entitled Ant’s Bites that documents her experiences, observations and interactions since her return to Trinidad, there is the provision of subjects to document in the column, Insider/Outsider
IDEA 24
CEPEP Re-Contracting with TT$1M fund line to:
Build a center/contracting service compound: Human Capital Builders
Holding classrooms, conference rooms, offices, support staff; Computer & sewing rooms,
w/ kitchen and builders shed, Leather making and art studio
a. Train workers beyond their 2- 4 hour day assignments, in the fields listed above
b. Include classes in reading, writing, basic math, ethics, business protocol, documentation, reporting, budget, planning and strategizing with trips to different business sites, industries and sectors
c. Training/enrollment Program will be for six months; then another six months of assignment and intense monitoring and support from Human Capital Builders
d. Organize private sector involvement for workers to be assigned to do cleanup either for companies and NGOs, their grounds or the block(s) the company is operating from
e. This structure, therefore, really builds human capital and prepares workers for
real employment, gives them the opportunity to be assigned to a company in which they have ambition; starting out at the bottom, cleaning and grounds maintenance, then move up through the ranks
f. The private sector aspect of the program will be monitored to see that it is running, the employees have not been disbanded for spurious reasons; and that they are making progress with reasonable expectations, training, exposure and opportunities to propel forward.
g. The Human Capital Builders Center & Site is also accessible to enrollees:
if some want to embark on entrepreneurial activities, such as sewing, furniture making, arts & crafts, the facility is open to their use and they will give back
5-10% of their profits to
h. Human Capital Builders for a Community Investment Fund
i. Once the test site is up and running, we will build another site in Central, a third in South, or according to regional site and effectiveness; and replicate the program to possible transform CEPEP and other wealth transfer programs to be more long-term focussed
i. Will construct a board: Ralph Henry, Henry Sealy, Trevor Farrell,
Marjorie Baptiste, Larry Howai, Claudius Dacon, Aboud
Human Capital Builders
Grassroots Education and Training for the Whole Person
IDEA 25
BOY’S COUNTRY Holistic Boarding School
GIRL’S COUNTRY Holistic Boarding School
The idea is to generate another thinking, mindset, national cultural element and do it with a new generation. Accomplished by taking children, these empty slates out of the environments, contexts and influences hat have created the nation and children’s development at this time: schools, curriculums, teachers, unmonitored peers, activities and streets, and compromised homes and communities
This is an attempt to create an environment of love, ability, aptitude, interaction, resourcefulness that is then leashed out into the country, what gives, what results; and if we keep doing it can we create a whole cadre of nationals: those doing, living and sharing with responsibility
Schools:
* Located in the South or South-Central; perhaps in the wasteland communities where oil field and oil industries are located; large spaces required. \
* A totally different curriculum: Practical; Community; Country and Land Driven; Full of activity: playing pan; and having interest groups according to every class and age group;
Using the Waldorf system of learning
* Have a farm for each school: every class a crop or livestock;
* Build self-sufficiency: every Saturday they clean their school; every break they rejuvenate, refurbish the school grounds and buildings; and make their uniforms
* Have girl/boy preschool centers
* Have people come, spend, work, teach, play and live a week with the children: parents, relatives, international personalities, Activists, Duprey, Clarke, Lovelace, PM, Ministers, etc.
Grounds:
* These schools are to be sanctuaries: sand, flower, plant, water and meditation gardens; prayer rooms and centers; with churches, mosques and mandirs and ashrams; play grounds, pools,
video rooms; art studios; sports complex: swimming, basketball, soccer, tennis, track, etc.
* There are to be numerous places for families to gather on visiting day, Sundays; and have family suites that families may use the place as a retreat, vacation center.
Dorms:
Kitchen; living room, library & computer rooms, music, reading, prayer on every floor of the dorm; Bathrooms in every suite or two rooms share one bath that children are to clean nightly
Students:
* Take students from preschool and this is the school they will go to until they leave school.
Discuss whether school ends at 16, 18 or 23; perhaps the idea is to have the graduates turn around and be teachers, leaders, houseparents, counselors (or too insular?)
* Make national plea to have children from all socio-economic and class sector to attend. Make it possible that families who have concerns can take up a post at the school to monitor their children, either as teachers, coaches, houseparents, assistants, but that they will be screened for aptitude and monitored for success. It is important that the school mirror ethnic diversity of national scene.
* These students will interact with other national schoolchildren at events, rallies, etc.
Funder/Backer:
CLICO and Lawrence Duprey with other big corporations
IDEA 26
Private Sector Incentive and Rewards Programs
For Anybody; determine what it is they want:
Children: games; sneakers; clothing; computers; electronics; books
Adults: home stuff; electronics; assistance; school books
Young People: tickets to concerts; opportunities; clothing
Set up programs across country; that for what ever they want, they have to do things like:
Clean up several blocks of their community, village or nearby city;
Do a good deed for a neighbor, someone in need: tutoring; grocery shopping for the elderly
Set up and monitor garbage cans in their community
Set up some enterprise: delivering papers to the community, elderly; walking a group of children to school; starting some activity for children in their locale; reading, math, science or organic clubs
And for these activities, the rewards: what ever they want based on a policy driven and a structured and graduated value system in terms of dollars then converted to things; never release money(?)
Structure:
* Led by Lawrence Duprey:
* Private sector will organize into some structure, organization or a philanthropic foundation
Once structure is set to run, media ads will run in schools, TV, radio,
* Have a fair, even to gather sign-ups; Ah! Require family, community organization or self-help group signups
The immediate gratification of rewards for activities may be the pull into a way of life: giving, sharing, community and activism that keep people involved to see other benefits, returns and blessings; therein being the incentive.
IDEA 27
Port of Spain Architecture Refurbishment
Buy up all the old traditional buildings: lower Richmond St; Abercromby St. and refurbish them to their old glories; amend them for modern uses; like if parking lots are located aside; then leave them, but build a level above to create a garden or patio area; to beautify the city as well
IDEA 28
Minister & Ministry of National Development
A Ministry that focuses on the development, transformation, change and paradigm shifts of the nation, its people, communities, infrastructure, technology, approach and format.
In essence, it is the overarching, vision creating arm of the government, which would then instruct individual Ministries of their mandate in the context of the Master Plan so to speak. So the Vision 2020 idea would have originated in such a Ministry.
The Ministry of National Development would implement and lead many of the projects I have written above: educational thrusts like the Children’s Writing /Literacy/Community Project; it would oversee the national community and integration program like the intercultural dialogue among women. The Ministry of National Development would lead Constitutional Reform.
In the context of a parliamentary Caribbean colonial legacy style government such as is Trinidad & Tobago, the Ministry of National Development would be (1) apartisan, apolitical party and (2) it would advance efforts to transform party politics, election processes, voting processes, issues of representation, to bring about the entity of governance into the 21st century.
The Integrity Commission, for instance, would be handled and monitored by the Ministry of National Development. All the programs and projects that could be corrupted in an atmosphere of charged politicking, would be handled by this Ministry. Manned, hopefully of Trinidadian & Tobagonians who have lived, worked and excelled abroad; and have the benefit of a foreign context and enlightened exposure; moving away from Banana Republic systems and approaches.
March 6, 2007
Data Collection, Data Bank Creation
IDEA 29
21st Century Trinidad & Tobago Data and Statistic
Idea for Unemployed, UnderEmployed, Youth and New Immigrants, Retired, Housewives, etc.
To walk country from bottom up
Stocked with materials they need, plus comfort items, with strategically placed support vehicles
Starting from South border, East to West
Canvass every household, every shack, name and address everyone encountered
Collect data on school leaving, reading and writing test-(citizen file card for signature)
Collect data on household, location, voting, children, family, relations, work, employment
Collect data on health, funerals, births, medical challenges, needs, household incomes, household remittances from foreign, charity or local contributors
The strategy vehicle will collect the days material from each person.
There will be interim overnight camps, food, refreshment, clean facilities provided, until the job is done, until the whole country is completed, with police guard and protection for needed areas.
Moving further central and north, there will be canvassers for business: what kind of business, doing what, money borrowed, money owed, needs, business card registration, identification numbers, number of employees, indication if not registered
There will be specific canvassers, possibly, for institutions, teachers for schools, doctors for hospitals, to get information on how running, how effective, medical and administrative challenges and problems
Canvassers to identify the number of recreational sites in square miles, per what population, community centers, for which communities, at what state, with what amenities, what needs
Identify community leaders, civic citizens,
Identify homeless in the country, throughout the country; Identify mentally ill and disabled from neighbors and family in each location, to identify community regional needs. Identify left alone senior citizens in need of help
Different colored cards and pads for different subject material collecting: medical, educational, economic
This project will be an ongoing institution that implement every year. Every year volunteers or workers know they can do this job of Data Canvasser. There will then be a Cadre of Analysts who take the information, analyze, combine and create statistic. It is possible to make money from the sale of such data, from anyone, for use to pay staff and operate and provide services
This data can correct EBC voter information
This data can supplant and renew CSO Citizen information bank
This outfit can follow and reincorporate the CSO data set, to know what to collect, what new data is needed for current times,
IDEA 30
June 2008
Venezuela’s Anti-Gang Music Schools
HTTP://WWW.NYTIMES.COM/REUTERS/ARTS/ENTERTAINMENT-VENEZUELA.HTML
Rich Nations Copy Venezuela's Anti - Gang Music Schools
CARACAS (Reuters) - Venezuela's youth orchestras and choirs have helped thousands of children resist thug life in some of South America's most violent slums, and now wealthy countries are lining up to emulate the system. Last year, the Los Angeles Philharmonic named Venezuelan conductor and the classical music world's brightest star Gustavo Dudamel, 27, as its next director, shining a spotlight on the remarkable network of music schools in which he was trained. About 300,000 Venezuelan children, many from deprived city barrios, others from distant Amazon towns, now choose violins and trombones over guns and drugs, proving Mozart and Berlioz can be as fresh as rap beats even to 21st century youths. "This is seen as the cutting edge project of classical music," Dudamel said. "To give children a future mixed with the sensitivity that music offers is unique." Dudamel, who grew up in a provincial city and started playing the violin at 10, joined the music school system a few years later to learn to conduct and at 18 he was already the national youth orchestra's music director. Governments from Los Angeles to Scotland may not much like President Hugo Chavez's brand of Cuba-inspired socialism but they will soon try to replicate Venezuela's achievements on their own streets. The music center in the Carapita neighborhood of Caracas is a prime example of the Venezuelan program at work in a city where each week dozens die in gunfights between rival gangs. The music classes are taught in a crowded community center amid a maze of narrow alleys and precariously built red block houses. About 200 children gather for four hours of music and choral practice six days a week in what Venezuelans simply call "The System." "The orchestra is my family, nothing has ever grabbed me like this before," said Francisco Henriques, 14, practicing trombone on the roof of his hillside home, accompanied by his cat, Trumpet. "Music is everything I have ever wished for." As well as instilling discipline and self-esteem, the orchestras insist the children and teenagers attend regular school, and teachers say the system markedly reduces truancy in slums with some of the highest murder rates in the world. "We are giving the children goals," said Carapita director Reinaldo Justo. "We don't know if they will be great musicians or not, but what is important is that we are saving them from dead time, which in places like this can be hugely damaging."
WHITE GLOVES
This idea of battling delinquency with a generation of highly cultured musicians has a growing number of adherents in countries more used to treating classical music as the reserve of a well-to-do elite. Britain pledged on Friday to give poor children instruments and teach classical music in a group environment in a scheme that is inspired by Venezuela, led by world-renowned cellist Julian Lloyd Webber and backed by $600,000 in state financing. Scotland last year began a similar pilot project and Los Angeles plans its first such youth orchestra for October. It wasn't always this way. When economist and musician Jose Antonio Abreu began the system in 1975 he was met with skepticism from the establishment, wary of his preference for group-teaching over traditional one-on-one classes. "In the beginning it was somewhat criticized because it broke with traditional music-teaching schemes. It wasn't taken very seriously, said Eduardo Mendez, who organizes the music centers from offices in a tall, battered concrete building. But the system expanded from just one school to 181 today, extending from violent corners of Caracas to a chilly Andean villages and a river-port at the edge of the Amazon jungle. There are now orchestras being formed in Venezuela's almost lawless prisons and a choir made up of mute children who wear white gloves to sing in sign language. The government's yearly budget for the music program is $35 million, excluding the cost of thousands of instruments imported from China and Europe every year and given to the musicians. The System is still growing. Chavez, whose government widely promotes state-financed sports and cultural achievements, is launching a major new music project to be led by the orchestra foundation and hopes to involve a million children within five years.
Reuters/Nielsen
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