Khan: PM's face on flag a travesty
Originally printed at
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/Khan__PM_s_face__on_flag_a_travesty-167454065.htmlBy Kim Boodram
August 25, 2012
IS it just another Independence Day decoration or is it a rising sun?
The People's National Movement (PNM) has accused the People's Partnership Government of the subtle politicising of Independence Day by interfering with the red, white and black theme traditionally seen on decorations.
Following yesterday's general council meeting at Balisier House, Port of Spain, PNM chairman Franklin Khan criticised the placement of images of Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar on decorations bearing the colours of the national flag and, in some instances, on the flags themselves.
This is in violation of the Constitution as it pertains to the flag, Khan said.
He also pointed out a large, fan-like decoration atop the Wrightson Road, Port of Spain, Fire Service headquarters that bears the colours red, white and gold.
The piece is similar to the half-sun used by the United National Congress (UNC) as its party symbol, referred to as the "rising sun".
Instead of black, the decoration is punctuated with streaks of gold fanning outward.
Yesterday, several members of social media site Facebook also posted images of the decoration and questioned whether it was meant to allude to the UNC's party symbol.
"It is disgusting," Khan said yesterday, speaking at a news conference following the general council meeting.
"This is obviously a rising sun."
He added that the placement of the prime minister's face on the national flag was an attempt to "personalise" the country's golden jubilee of Independence.
"This is a travesty," he said.
The PNM will hold its own celebrations at Balisier House on Independence Day, next Friday, starting with a candlelight march from Woodford Square in Port of Spain at 8 p.m. to Balisier House.
A cultural show will follow, leading up to a re-enactment of the raising of the flag as it happened on August 31, 1962 and a midnight playing of the speech delivered then by first prime minister Dr Eric Williams.
Khan said the PNM announced this celebration in May not as an attempt to usurp the role of the Government in hosting appropriate celebrations but because the party felt the Government was faltering in its duty.
The PNM has again accused the Government of failing to recognise Williams' contribution to the country's Independence and initial development.