Conversations with a President: A lens beyond the veil of moral and spiritual values Paperback – Large Print, May 31, 2024

The worthiest political icons, Prime Ministers, Presidents, statesmen and Legal luminaries, played their last hands, at a time of constitutional metamorphosis in Trinidad & Tobago. President Arthur Robinson, Mr. Justice Noor Hassanali, Sir Ellis Clarke, Patrick Manning, Basdeo Panday, Lloyd Best, and Carl Hudson Phillips, all rallied to the call of a nation in crisis.The period 1999 to 2003 presented the last platform for these distinguished individuals to lend their wealth of knowledge, accumulated through years of commitment to their respective causes and contribution to society. The advice and warnings given by these intellects were vital in every sense of the word; evident in the things they said publicly, in addition to the things they did in the execution of their duties.This book is an expose, which presents some information that was not aired before in the public domain. The content emerged through discussions at various collaborative sessions convened mutually with President Robinson and others. The intention of the narrative is certainly not to casts judgement. I have made my best efforts to present information to readers, for them to draw their own conclusions.Seldom was the public made aware of the decision-making process that was undertaken; or the people involved in the discussions. A great deal of what is now considered to be history, was based on newspaper reports, press releases and speculation- but not through eyewitness accounts, as presented in these memoirs. This book brings awareness to all those individuals who contributed to our nation's well-being, even at the risk of being ridiculed in the process. The content reflects the great attribute of our diversity as a nation; It highlights the scholarly contribution by our leaders, even at times of disagreement and contention. I have been enlightened to believe that agreement does not always result in the best answer or solution. Part of this history may lead us to conclude that one person's opinion can, at times, arrive at a more beneficial solution than that of a consortium.The author also examined times of disappointment and regret, that may have been the result of mistakes that were made. The book reinforces that the pride of our small nation was evident, as together we engaged in building a democratic nation that benefitted from our wide cultural and ethnic diversity.These memoirs provide an opportunity for readers to examine the actions of those who occupied the corridors of power; and for us to use that knowledge to guide our thoughts and actions, which will inevitably determine our future. Further, we will see the value and power of every citizen to lend their voices, to influence decisions made in the highest offices in our land; while not resorting to any civil unrest or disobedience. In many countries like the United States, we see a clear separation of church and state. However, in our truly blessed nation, we see a different ideology, when there is a natural convergence of religion, and culture in matters of state.It is with humility and confidence that I believe the information contained in these memoirs, will incite healthy debate and deliberation; as we view in hindsight, occurrences of our recent past, that have challenged the thinking of our statesmen. In some ways, it may further define who we are as a developing nation. We will revisit parts of our journey from colonialism to independence, converging on a challenging pathway that explores new politics. This vision was realized by the commitment and determination of active politicians who tested the waters, who extended their opinions far beyond their usual safe zones or domains or comfort. It was their courage that broke the barriers that restricted our development as a nation. Their efforts have become our gains, and through their sacrifices have emerged our thoughts and aspirations. Read more