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18 -- PORT PERRY STAR -- Tuesday, March 24, 1987 Viewpoint J & My faithin human nature, or to be more specific in some of our federal leaders, has been restored. Just when I was convinced | was on a bandwagon that was going nowhere, the wheels are finally starting to turn again .. slowly still, but at least turning. Hopefully, I have your curiosity aroused as what on earth I am talking about. Well, it's the Turks and Caicos Islands thing again. You might recall, I wrote an editorial on the subject some time ago. But for all intents and purposes, the matter didn't go too far. The former Liberal government in Ottawa ap- peared to be ignoring the whole thing. But, lo and behold, last week, I ran into Port Perry's Dean Kelly, whom I hadn't seen for a long time, and who, by the way, was the one that got me so interested in those tiny islands. in the first place. Kelly showed me a copy ot a newspaper clipping he carried with him dated March 9, 1987. A small ditty from Winnipeg off the CP wire, it indicated a delegation from the Turks and Caicos Islands will visit Canada this month to discuss a possible union between this country and the Carribean Islands. Dalton Jones of the Turks and Caicos -~. meet with government and busines leaders, although no specific date or location was indicated. ol Jones said the Trust was formed recent- ly to promote Canadian interests in the islands, now part of the British Carribean. Over a decade ago, a group representing a union, but the idea never got off the ground. Then the Trudeau government let the islanders know in no uncertain terms that it as did not want any part of them. How utter ly ab- ~ surd. But the matter is back on track again, and I hope a lot of people will encourage the present government to a least think about the whole thing. - Development Trust said the group wants to the Island's 8,000 inhabitants proposed to form ° | As a little background music. Statistics by ROXANNE REVELER continually show that Canada has an average annual travel deficit of some $2 billion. Yes, the figure is spelled with a 'B. And that's more than a hill of beans. Over 13 million Canadians ~ visit other countries each year. That's near- ly half the population. If there has even been an indication that Canada needs its own vaca- tion islands in the sun, I don't know what it is. Does it not make sense for the Turks and Caicos to become part of Canada? There would be no passports, no visa, no customs, no line-ups for immigration, medical plans would be honoured there, and best of all there would be no loss of 30 to 40 cents on the poor old Canadian dollar. Convention trade alone would more than pay for the acquisition of the islands. The United States bought the Virgin Islands for $25 million, but more than 25 million people visit there annually, so if each one of them spends only one dollar .. ture. It's paid for i in no time. And let's face it. If you had the choice of attending a conven- tion at Toronto's Royal York or a hotel on 'Turks and Caicos, and it was in the middle of the winter as most conventions are .... would there be any choice, really? Turks and Caicos have an average temperature of 85 degrees ¥, and have only 26 inches of rain a year. Add to this 160 miles of virgin sandy beaches, and you have a winn- ing combination. There is a new $8 million airport and on- ly 9,000 people on the islands, including Cana- dians who have already moved there. Only 17,000 outsiders visited the islands last year. With many sports fans following the Grapefruit League in Florida at this time of the year, wouldn't it be anice to have both the Blue Jays and Expos train in their own coun- try, not to mention the other Canadian athletes who are forced to train in other coun- tries during the winter because of weather conditions at home. (Turn to page 20) . now you're getting the pic- | The Ministry of Health has ap- proved a new sexual assault treat- ment centre at Dr. J.O. Ruddy + General Hospital in Whitby, Health Minister Murray Elston announced March 13. . The ministry will provide annual operating funds of $57,300 and a one- time capital grant of $3,500 for the centre. "We are all becoming increasing ly aware of the need to provide im- 2 N vicims of sexual assault," Mr. Elston said. 'Sexual assault centres are designed to meet that need." mediate, compassionate care to the ~The centre will establish close contacts with community agencies such as the Oshawa-Durham Rape 'Crisis Centre, the Scugog District Crisis Centre, area police depart- ments, as well as family and children's service organizations. The centre will be staffed by hospital personnel, and it will en- sure 24-hour availability of medical care. The Durham Region District Health Council strongly recom- ° mended government funding for the centre. This 1s one .of 12 new sexual TE TE 1 NE a I nt aD NI wr To The Editor: . People Against Pornography is a Durham Region concerned citizens' group We are petitioning the government for stricter laws to deal with the ever-growing problem of pornography which is infiltrating A many local communities i We are asking people to write to Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, ¢/o House of Commons, Ottawa. On- - tario (no postage necessary) and advisin him to re- introduce and x, 5, L% Fives * J EE BE AEE AEE AEE A RE A A aa etters ~ Help Stamp Out Pornography reinstate Bill C-114 to deal with por- nography. Every letter that reaches Ottawa on this concern is'represen- tative of one thousand people across the country 1) Sincerely, Susan Shetler, Mar) Kelsey, Co-founders People / nst Pornogra ouce and oodeople Aga (TREN phy. assault centres announced, as part of a comprehensive package of new and expanded health services for women, at a news conference today by Mr. Elston. The 12 centres will receive just over $300,000 in new government funding. Help by plodging Scouts (From page 17) neighbourhood and the community where they live. For example, dona- tions may 'help provide an item of group equipment for the boys, or the opportunity to attend summer camp. Fifteen percent of the monies rais- ed is received by the Provincial Council and used to help support and promote outdoor scouting and leader training. Other projects to receive funding through the provin- cial council are: Native Peoples Project which assists in the exten- sion of scouting programs and ideals to native communities in the far north, Daymar Adventure Centre and Canoe Base that provides for continued development of facilities and programs for this scout camp near Englehart Ontario. Blue Springs' Training Reserve which "continues, , improvement ;., and WGHgets sexval assault treatment centre and Pretty-Boy Floyd and Dillinger. We listened to their exploits over Reflections of a golden age by Mabel M. McCabe Shield The Children We have all become used to the technological progress that has "brought us the television, radio, telephone and many other instant gadgets. these new wonders. | do not like the scenes | see on the news or hear on the radio. At least when there was a time lapse, we had the chance to get all the facts at one time. We were not listening to the sordid details day after day. It is only when the media becomes tired of the one story and goes on to another that we are relieved. Then | the new episode generally is worse than the first. We rarely if ever, hear what the outcome is, that is buried on a back page somewhere. While I'm airing my discontent | might as well state that | hate to start one story and find if is continued somewhere on a page deep inside the paper. If space is there, why put only the 1 I've been wondering of late, whether we are better off for having | Fk San ol FAD beginning of a story on the page. They could list the headlines and state where the main story is by page number. | become so frustrated j leafing back and forth to finish a news item. I'm sure many others ] do too. of the victims involved and a little restraint is called for. | thank Ged that they did not have the television during the Se- | i cond World War. The thought is so horrible, that it sends chills down | my spine. Think about it. To have had the pictures of the battles and © casualties shown would have devastated all the people in this na- 4 tion. It was bad enough to see them weeks or months after. Even | then, all the sorrow and horror arose in us as we watched* - Sure, we must be ready to adapt to new and exciting things, but § must our senses be jack-hammered. Let's put some reason and care | _ into the things that flash across the screens in our homes and on the radios. We are a people who seem to be waiting for a vicarious thrill at the expense of others' feelings according to the method that is used at the present-time. Yes, we had crimes and deadly ones in my youth. There was the gangster era of the late twenties and early thirties. You have all heard of Al Capone and his co-horts. Then there was Lucky Luciano the radio, but it was not so graphic as television. We generally heard the whole story by the time it was on the news. | can remember one really gruesome case that happened i - soméwhere in the States, when | was about ten years old. My folks tried to keep it from our ears, but we listened behind the door. A child had been kidnapped, and even though her father paid the ransom, only her severed head was returned to him. Thrown from a passing car. My sister and | had many sleepless nights and more nightmares 4 because of this case. | mention it only to make the point that many youngsters now-a- ] days must be going through the same trauma. The difference is that 1 these children are right on the scene and it is not a far away place. We must take care of the mental health of our kids now and not ] wait until they are disturbed. They are our freedom and our passports ; to.the future, so watch them and love them, for they are the way we © As far as television is concerned, | do not think it is nécessary 1 to belabour the details of a particular brutal murder or robbery. Show- 4a ing the scene over and over again must be very hard on the families : -- ag ay AY will reach tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow. ¥ development of facilities and pro- grams for this leader training reserve near Acton; Outreach Training which provides travel sub- sidies' for leaders and trainers travelling long distances to courses: Workshops, such as water safety and invitational events for selected trainers; and Campmaster Training Courses for selected scouters to upgrade their camping and Scout- crafter skills to better serve the needs of their local areas. The remaining 15 percent is shared by the national council. The continued success of the Trees for Canada project makes it possible for Scouts Canada to sponsor communi- ty development projects in emerg- ing Third World nations through co- 'operation with the Canadian Inter- national Development Agency and the" World Scout Bureau which monitors all projects for the World MLL race Canada, ick off campaign Some of the projects currently | underway under this program in- clude fish farming in Indonesia, J fruit production in Jamaica, self- © reliance skills training in Kenya, alternative energy development in § Egypt, a woodworking trade school | in Rwanda and training for the han- | dicapped in Togo. Since Trees for Canada was | started, over 30 million seedlings | | have been planted. Last year, 98 § district groups in Ontario took part § raising funds for local, provincial © and international use. The success © | rate for the program saw 75 percent | | of the seedlings survive, accéiinting © | for thousands of acres of waste land © being reclaimed thereby creating § wildlife sanctuaries. How can the public become in-_ volved in this worthwhile project? © d Quite easily. When a scout knocks © on your door...pledge a tree for : XTX] * Lh AA "E taht MN) « KAS MN ! Lo . . ?