However, the role of the trade unions is governed by the laws of the country and in particular there is an Industrial Court to settle disputes among labour, unions and the various employers. This tends to suggest that there are formal limits on the trade unions’ interactions in the socioeconomic life of the country.

However, the Constitution allows any person or groups to seek to be part of the political discussion by seeking parliamentary representation. Hence there is nothing to prevent the labour unions from forming their own political party to seek the role they desire in the political management of the country.

The Constitution does not allow the union any special privileges in our politics. Maybe this is why Mr Panday sees constitutional reform as the absolute solution to our problems, to their threat to mash up the place.

The major problem facing us today is the diversification of our exports. The trade unions are totally out of their depth in finding a solution to this. Further, the fall in rents earned by the energy sector demands a decrease in the onshore economic activity which can mean loss of jobs, reduction in make-work projects and social services which the unions will naturally oppose — not a man must go or we go shut down the place.

The model of the economy is what it is. It cannot support the required onshore activity if the foreign exchange is not forthcoming, especially given that export diversification is not an immediate affair nor can we continue to borrow from abroad and surely not print money.

Still we see the Opposition members of Parliament calling for the distribution of land and houses by the Government so as to improve living conditions for the middle class. The intent is that if our farmers are given land there will be more produce available for local consumption and export.

Unfortunately, this simplicity has no currency in the real world of technology and global competition.

One only has to look at how Brazil was able to emerge from being unable to feed itself into one of the largest exporters of food in the world via a tripartite of government, private sector and the research and development (R&D) institutions via the formation of a national agricultural innovation system.

Starting with Etzkowitz’s Triple Helix, our pathway out of this plantation economy is a similar helix which I called the “innovation diamond” consisting of government involvement that supplies the initial funding and the leadership, the R&D institutions via centres of excellence that provide the ideas and intellectual property, which could warrant global competitiveness, and a private sector, new or the current one augmented, to build export companies.

Given the history of the present private sector it is not expected that it would take the lead in the tripartite group. Yet we hear the Government continually mouthing its aim to diversify the economy via information and communications technology (ICT), tourism financial services and marine and maritime services, with little to show except the gallant attempt by the Economic Development Advisory Board.

Economic diversification will impose a demand on government for financial resources, on the demand for foreign exchange, which in this deepening recession is indeed a burden. Yet we hear of building a port in Toco and a highway to the port to facilitate the journey to Tobago, the completion of the highway to Pt Fortin, all of which will impose demands on government spending but will contribute nothing to economic diversification.

The population is supposed to be pacified since these projects could provide short-term jobs and halt the retrenchment taking place in this recession.

The recent announcement that bpTT has started to produce gas from its Juniper facility and the prospect of gas from Venezuela raise our hopes that the energy sector may again come rushing in to the rescue. However, it is important to recognise that this does not herald the return of the good times.

The Business Guardian of July 13 published a graph of past and projected gas production, which shows that even with the expected projects, then in the development phase, with one from bppTT now in production, production cannot reach the 4.4 bcfd required to keep our gas industries fully productive. The chart shows a further steady decline after 2009.

If gas prices improve, we will still see decreasing revenues, gas shortages; there will still be a drop in foreign exchange earned by the energy sector.

The fundamental deficiency in our country is the lack of a national innovation system, though we have many poor models of its components — courses in entrepreneurship and innovation, business incubators, conferences on innovation, talk from UWI about its entrepreneurship push, and the plans of the Ministry of Planning supported by the Ministry of Trade about, you guessed it, ICT, financial services, tourism, marine and maritime services.

The energy sector may simply give us the time to get on with our diversification if we get our act together, if we get our tripar t ite to perform.

This includes the Port Authority of Trinidad and Tobago (PATT) being mandated to find a passenger ferry in the shortest possible time, Government to order a custom-built ferry, Tobago to operate ferries, and the expansion of the board of directors of PATT to include two more Tobagonians.

Rowley has also agreed to consider, after discussions with the Minister of Finance, the removal of the hotel tax which threatens hoteliers ability to survive in the present circumstances given the disruptions and consequent loss of income associated with the ferry problems.

In addition, Government is to review Caribbean Airlines Limited (CAL) booking policy for travel to and from Tobago.

This is according to the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) which noted in a release issued yesterday that the measures were put forward by the stakeholders.

With one ferry out of commission and another due to go on dry dock for extensive repairs, Government has instructed the PATT to broaden its search for a suitable replacement ferry, wherever vessels are available, and whether held by owners or brokers.

During the last search, OPM said, the PATT restricted its search, and selected a passenger ferry under questionable circumstances.

This selection process is now being investigated.

Rowley is quoted as saying that the search should be easier with the summer at an end. Looking for a vessel in September and October, he said, is a easier than looking in June or July when there are increases in traffic in the northern hemisphere and everyone is using their vessel.

“Now moving into fall and winter, there should be more available, but we must broaden our search. Whatever went wrong with regard to the restriction of the search ought not to form part of a new search. So we will be working overtime to get a passenger vessel here in the shortest possible time.” Once found, Government will seek to enter into a two to threeyear contract while moving to order a custom-built ferry.

Cabinet has decided to place an order for a brand new ferry that will be built to specifications. It will be State-owned and operated by the PATT. The tender is expected to go out for bids soon.

On Tobago operating the ferries, the OPM said, Rowley believes that given Tobago’s reliance on them for sustenance, the service should be operated out of Tobago and under the guidance of Tobago.

The people of Tobago, he said, have demonstrated an ability to manage their own affairs in other areas and they should be allowed to manage this facility.

“You should be looking after your welfare in these areas and of course, when we add that to the phasing in of other medium-term and long-term arrangements, we have every confidence that Tobago’s economy, in the hands of Tobagonians as part of the national effort, would progress to a better place,” he said.

Meanwhile the PATT’s board will include two more Tobagonians bringing the number of Tobagonians on the board to three.

“We believe that the Port Authority must have a larger Tobago interest on the board because Tobago relies so much more on the port than other communities,” he said.

On improvement to CAL operations, the airline will continue to make additional seating available for travel between Trinidad and Tobago.

The Cabinet, the OPM said, is to make a decision on CAL’s current booking policy.

“We are operating in a system where people can book at will and cancel at will without penalty.

This matter has come before the Cabinet. Some adjustments will have to be made.” He said there were some “98,000 cancellations which took place at CAL recently with respect to seats that were booked by people who did not travel.

Bookings force people to travel on standby.

He said he also wants to see more Tobagonians represented on the airline’s board.

One week ago, Duke announced that he would be attempting to swim from Tobago to Trinidad in an effort to highlight the plight faced by Tobagonians due to the ongoing issues on the sea bridge.

Speaking to reporters yesterday morning at the Scarborough Fishing Depot, where the swim is expected to start, Duke said everything is in place and all teams were ready.

“We are ready. This swim protest will be done with Tobago in mind and if you ask me if Tobago is ready, I would say yes Tobago is ready. Tobago is ready for the opportunity to decide its future. A simple thing like the sea bridge and the air bridge must be decided by Tobago. For 125 years and eight months, Trinidad has been deciding for us and still we have been battling problems after problems. We are saying that the time has come for Tobago to be the final decision maker on the ferry it wants, on the type of airline system operating the air bridge,” he said.

He said that during the swim, the team, will be doing some trade as well as delivering letters to both boards of Caribbean Airlines and the Port Authority.

“We would be taking down some provision, we would plant a tree when we get there and we would be bring up a wheelchair for a guy within my district, so we are actually going to do some trading in Trinidad. We also will be taking few letters to Trinidad; to Caribbean Airlines and to the Port Authority of Trinidad and Tobago requesting meetings with the Minority Council of the Tobago House of Assembly, so as to ensure that the minor people, those who are excluded from the Prime Minister’s closed door session will have a voice, this is what true democracy is all about,” he said.

The Minority Leader went further, indicating that this swim protest will benefit Tobago tremendously, as according to him, the situation requires a struggle.

“In order for something to reach the national community, it requires someone of national status. Every single struggle will define a leader or produce a leader. I believe that this struggle produced me, I am not really one to get involved in politics but Tobago has been suffering for the last 16 going on 20 years.

We are saying that the time has come when we need a voice, we need a voice in the Tobago House of Assembly to stand in defense of Tobagonians and say to the almighty Central Government, we in Tobago speak for Tobagonians. This is why there is the THA elections, this is why there is a THA act, speaking about autonomy and giving us responsibility over 33 different areas of Government and yet, we lack the opportunity to make a decision,” Duke said.

Questioned as to how he felt even amidst critics as many are doubting that he could complete this task, Duke said the idea is ‘not to prove that we are the best swimmers’.

“By any means necessary, we will hold fast to that. The idea is not to prove that we are the best swimmer out and make the Guinness book of World Records but the idea is to ensure that Tobago is placed on the national agenda and if nothing is done within short order, short measure what will happen is that we may be forced to swim and go back to trading using fisher boats and canoes, this is the reality.

It would be means that are unorthodox, means that are not the best means but means none the less the represents the struggle of every Tobagonian who is contented with the air and the sea bridge. The numbers you will have to be here to see,” the Minority Leader said.

Additionally, on Friday the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard issued a media release warning Duke of the risk associated with such a swim, while at the same time, indicating that they are unable to dedicate any resource or give any assurance for a voluntary expedition at this time.

Our national bird. We celebrate independence, Republic Day, holidays.

Do we know, understand, care what it all means? In the US if you are caught with one feather of their national bird, you can be jailed and fined heavily. Have we no pride at all in ourselves, our country, in what we are supposed to stand for? Years ago, the Pointea- Pierre Wildfowl Trust, together with other NGOs, spearheaded a drive to have our national bird made a protected species. We succeeded.

We appealed then, as we appeal now, for help for the Forestry/Wildlife Division for more licensed and properly armed game wardens to patrol and protect our valuable wetlands, forests and their species.

There are just 11 men, if so many now, to patrol and protect all of TT .

Are we joking? Let us stop this abomination now. Let us take more pride in ourselves. Stop the killing of our scarlet ibis. Stop the killing of our national bird.

MOLLY R GASKIN
president P-a-P Wildfowl Trust

Hosein told an audience on Wednesday in Georgetown gathered for a lecture organised by the Guyana Oil & Gas Association, that between 1999 and 2016, Trinidad earned approximately US$90 billion in oil and gas revenues, but most of it, he explained, were poorly spent. A senior economist at the University of the West Indies, St Augustine Campus, Hosein said that of the US$90 billion collected in oil revenue, only US$5 billion exist in the country’s Heritage and Stabilization Fund whilw US$8 billion is part of the stock of international reserves.

Of the US$77 left, Hosein said that it was his view that it was poorly spent.

However, he said that the “intercept of economic activity” changed in Trinidad and Tobago, but the growth of economic activity remained the same.

Hosein said, “The Trinidad and Tobago economy today in 2017 has not grown since 2007.

In fact, we had negative economic growth of 0.51 percent from 2007 to the present.

“Trinidad and Tobago is certainly an economy at the brink of a lengthy period of structural adjustment.” Hosein went on to explain to the audience that a country’s comparative advantage evolves over time and results in changes in the weaknesses and strengths of certain sectors in the economy.

And if an economy becomes stronger in the areas it can produce well, he said, it is a healthy sign for growth. However, the economist said that if in so doing, the economy is exposed to a greater amount of vulnerability from external shocks, this must be closely monitored.

Hosein warned the Guyanese audience which include economists, multilateral stakeholders and oil and gas and technocrats who attended, that intense focus on oil and gas and the related sectors of the Trinidadian economy, inadvertently resulted in neglect to other sectors.

And Trinidad and Tobago became cognisant of it, he added, but only when the price for oil and gas had tumbled on the world market.

He said that Trinidad and Tobago faces what he described as ‘Dutch disease’, which is the relationship between the increase in the economic development of a specific sector such as oil and gas, and, the accompanying decline in other sectors of its economy.

The Guyanese authorities, he said, should not make the same mistakes as others.

Oil production in Guyana is expected to begin by mid-2020.

Khan’s death was disclosed by his son Kevin, on social media in which he stated, “With a heavy heart I want to say that this morning my father passed away.

Rest in eternal peace daddy.” Khan paired off with his sister, Ruby Khan-Gupta and became a popular singing duo which became known as ‘The Dream Team of Nazimool and Ruby.’ They sang romantic Bollywood songs and produced several DVDs of gazals and bhajans.

Khan-Gupta was very emotional yesterday when she spoke to Newsday about her elder brother whom she said, ‘roped’ her into singing during their childhood days. Khan-Gupta is currently on a singing tour in the United States will end her performances there to return home later today. “I am still trying to come to terms with the passing of my brother,” she said.

Nazimool, she said, had been ailing from a stroke, but she had been praying that he will one day walk again and share the stage with her. She said that her brother had dialysis on Friday and got a seizure shortly after. He was admitted to the San Fernando General hospital where he died at about 5 am. Nazimool is from Chaguanas. Radio and television personality Rafi Mohammed, said yesterday that the brother and sister team ruled the East Indian local singing stage in the 80s and 90s, performing songs that were extremely popular from Bolywood Hindi films. The evergreen immortal hits songs as ‘Chaudavi Ka Chand’, ‘Baharo Pool’, ‘Oh Mere Mehabooba’ and ‘Chahoonga Mai Tujhe’, were popularised by ‘Nazimool and Ruby-Gupta’.

Trinidad and Tobago coach Dennis Lawrence will lead a training session at the Ato Boldon Stadium today. He is expected to have his full contingent of players by tomorrow.

The Honduran team is expected here on Wednesday.

Defender Carlyle Mitchell is among the overseas-based players selected by Lawrence for the fixture and he is anticipating a sold-out venue on Friday.

“It’s not often we get to take such a big game outside of Port of Spain. I think the last time we played in Couva was against Panama couple years ago and then we had the warm up against Barbados.

But this match is very big one as it’s a World Cup qualifier with both teams needed points to stay alive,” Mitchell said after his arrival on Saturday.

“I expect to see the Stadium rammed to capacity and a sea of red because we need that extra support. When we played in Honduras it was a sea of blue from two hours before kick off and their fans lined the streets hours before the game. It is something that players take note of when we are in the bus heading to the match. This time we are at home and we need to make it count,” Mitchell said.

“I think that with the right approach and putting in the hard work and staying focused this week is what will make the difference on Friday. Honduras are coming to win because they always feel they have an edge over us but we need to show them that as a football country and as a team we are not a walk over,” said the India-based player.

“At the moment my form is good. I’m really happy to be back in the mix because I missed the last couple games with injury.

I know Dennis (Lawrence) has been focusing heavily on getting the team to a level that will make us competitive but now we need to demonstrate that on the field by taking chances, avoiding soft goals and putting points on the board,” he ended.

The TTW is offering 12-week acting classes for children, teens and new actors and a tenweek course in How to Read and Write Poetry.

Participants will learn about improvisation, playback theatre, musical theatre, stage combat and stagecraft (lighting, scene and costume design).

Throughout the course, students and instructors will work together to construct and produce a presentation which will be performed at the end of term showcase. The students are encouraged to be actively involved with all aspects of the production, including costume/ set design and creation, script writing, direction and performance.

Facilitators include Afi Ford-Hopson, who has been teaching and facilitating social and theatre- based programmes for the past 12 years and playwright, poet and fiction writer Dr Raymond Ramcharitar.

The Children’s Theatre Workshop will run from September 9 to November 25 on Saturdays between 10 am and 1 pm. The workshop is open to children seven to 12 years. The Teen Theatre Workshop will run for the same period as the children’s, also on Saturdays from 1.30 pm to 4.30 pm. It is open to 13 to 17-years-olds. The New Actors Workshop runs from September 5 to November 21 on Tuesdays from 5.30 pm to 8.30 pm for 18 years and up.

The ten-week poetry programme runs from September 6 to November 15 on Wednesdays from 5.30 pm to 7.30 pm. The course will lead students to answer the questions: What is poetry? What is good poetry? How does a reader tell good from bad? And how does one begin to write poetry? This will be the final arts workshops put on by the TT W at its current location at corner of Jerningham Avenue and Norfolk Streets, Belmont. Fund-raising efforts are continuing for the move to the new premises in Woodbrook.

For more info: trinidadtheatre@ gmail.com and Facebook

Sent in at Sabina Park, the visitors stormed to 208 for six off their 20 overs with New Zealander McCullum top-scoring with 91 off 62 balls and Colin Munro striking 42 from 24 deliveries.

Seamers Rovman Powell (2-38) and Krishmar Santokie (2-49) claimed a brace of wickets each.

In reply, captain Kumar Sangakkara stroked 53 – his second straight half-century – but Tallawahs came up short at 172 for seven off their 20 overs. Lendl Simmons chipped in with 32, Powell got 30 while seamer Javon Searles claimed three for 27.

With just one game left, TKR top the standings on 16 points and can now focus on the playoffs as they now guaranteed to finish in the top position, regardless of the results in the remaining games.

Tallawahs, meanwhile, continue third on 10 points, just one behind second placed St Kitts and Nevis Patriots but four clear of the fourth placed Guyana Amazon Warriors.

TKR had a less than impressive start when Sunil Narine perished off the first ball of the innings, mis-hitting a low Santokie full toss to mid-off.

However, McCullum took charge of the innings, belting five fours and six sixes as he provided the energy for two successive half-century stands.

He put on 92 for the second wicket with Munro who struck two fours and three sixes in a 24- ball cameo, before added a further 63 for the third with Bravo who counted a four and three sixes in 13-ball thriller. With a century in sight, McCullum holed out in the penultimate over off seamer Kesrick Williams.

Tallawahs had a similarly poor start when Glenn Phillips was stumped down the leg-side in the first over without scoring with two runs on the board but the left-handed Sangakkara then revived the innings, posting 85 for the second wicket with Simmons who smashed a four and three sixes off 19 deliveries.

He struck six fours and two sixes but was one of three wickets which fell for 29 runs, however, to leave Tallawahs on 116 for four in the 13th over.

Powell and Mahmudullah (six) added 33 for the fifth but the

Living with or caring for a child, spouse, parent or grandparent in the grips of dementia can be incredibly challenging. Situations can vary from the gut-wrenching sadness that happens when the person you love dearly can no longer remember your name or who you are, to the taking care of their personal hygiene when they have toilet accidents, or having to stop yourself from being annoyed with them when they display out-of-character temper tantrums.

Dementia is caused by disease, damage and deterioration of the brain, and it does not discriminate – it can affect anyone regardless of social class, race, academic achievements or age. Also, everyone’s experience of living with dementia is unique, not only because there are various forms of the disease, and it is possible for a person to have more than one type, but also because there is no one way in which it progresses.

It is estimated that just over 60 per cent of all cases of dementia are Alzheimer’s, making it the most common form of the disease.

This is followed by vascular dementia (previously called poststroke dementia) because this occurs from blockages or damage to blood vessels causing strokes or bleeding in the brain.

It is also suggested that other health conditions such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes and heart disease can increase the risk of getting vascular dementia, and that some types of dementia are exacerbated by alcohol My friend’s mother in the early stages was clumsy – she would stumble, or things would fall out of her hands, and the family would tease her and wondered if she was secretly drinking.

From time to time she was having problems recalling names and recognising places, but the family got concerned when they noticed that she was also developing erratic eating habits and losing weight.

According to the Alzheimer’s Association, difficulty remembering recent conversations, names or events; apathy and depression is often an early clinical symptom of the disease.

Later symptoms include impaired communication, poor judgment, disorientation, confusion, behaviour changes and difficulty speaking, swallowing and walking.

In addition to which, 40 per cent of people with Alzheimer’s also have significant depression.

There is also some indication that changes in taste buds and smell, and loss of knowledge of flavours contributes to them having a desire for heavier flavours or sugary foods. Which is probably why on the odd occasions when my friend’s mum wanted to eat, she would ask for ice-cream, cake or biscuits.

The association also notes that in vascular dementia the symptoms are slightly different.

Impaired judgment or the ability to make decisions, difficulties in planning or organising, are some of the most likely initial symptoms, as opposed to the memory loss that is often associated with the initial symptoms of Alzheimer’s.

One of the common myths is that dementia is a geriatric disease. But young onset dementia, also known as working age dementia, can occur between the ages of 30 to 65, and usually presents with problems in walking, movement, co-ordination or balance.

Receiving a diagnosis of dementia is life-altering both for the patient and the family. It is known to create feelings of guilt, anger, and frustration on both sides.

The patient is suddenly faced with the realities of their diminishing independence, and the family struggles to care for someone they love with progressive behavioural and cognitive impairments.

My friend’s family relationships broke down because they could not agree on whether or not their mum should be institutionalised. Arguments ran deep and tempers flared mainly because they were all very distressed and worn down by their mum’s illness and the reality of her ultimate demise. In the midst of her mother’s illness my friend was diagnosed with clinical depression which some family members used as a weapon against her.

We know that the challenges of dementia run deep and wide, and for those who are having to care for loved ones I hope that others reach out to you with empathy and understanding.

Dr Yansie Rolston FRSA is a UK-based disability and mental health specialist advisor.

She is a social strategist and trainer who works internationally at various levels of government, business and civil society.

Contact her at yr@ efficacyeva.com