The flagship document covering May to November 2016 reveals that inflation remained well contained, with headline inflation in September at three per cent and core inflation at 2.3 per cent.

These low levels of inflation were recorded even though fuel prices went up and there was a significant increase in the number of items in the Value-Added Tax (VAT) base in April. In addition, there is the inflationary component of the 4.4 percent depreciation of the local currency against the US dollar that occurred from January.

Admittedly, it is quite possible the latter was not allowed to be borne by the consumer as businesses may have partially taken up some of the increased costs. Additionally, the increased unemployment, a wait-andsee attitude by both consumers and businesses, would have had a dampening effect on the aggregate demand side and so resulted in a containment of the overall retail price.

This certainly also reflects the effects of job losses, fiscal constraints expressed by a fall-off in government expenditure, fall in investment expenditure, and significant drop in export earnings. These are indicative of the challenging times faced by the TT economy during the past few months.

One wonders though if the CBTT has abandoned forward guidance or is bent on moving away from the accommodative monetary policy stance which it adopted during the global financial crisis. Certainly, there are no inflationary pressures as reported by the CBTT. This provides a useful buffer if and when the US Federal Reserve decides to increase its interest rates. Then, what is the monetary stance expected to be? Is this going be a very gradual shift away from that of an accommodative stance? What about the mandate to stimulate the economy? Certainly, one can understand the caution and indeed the apparent placement of emphasis on the narrowing of TT-US differentials as having higher risks to the economy than rising interest rates will have on growth.

Although there has been a substantial fall in Government net domestic fiscal injections, the CBTT has reported an increase in excess liquidity to an average of just over $4 billion monthly, from $3.5 billion monthly over the same period in 2015. This may be more the action of the CBTT allowing liquidity levels to rise to permit participation in Government’s bond offerings.

Business credit over the first eight months of 2016 contracted by 2.8 per cent, but real estate loans to business increased by 8.6 per cent.

The CBTT reported consumer lending at 8.0 per cent in August, compared to 8.7 per cent growth eight months earlier. Motor vehicle loans recorded double-digit growth (14.3 per cent) in June. Credit card loans also grew strongly (12.8 per cent) in June.

There has been a slump in new mortgages which contracted by 19.0 per cent in June, affecting real estate mortgage lending over 2016 with real estate mortgages to consumers which account for 70 per cent of total real estate mortgage lending.

Rising mortgage interest rates in the first half of the year led to residential mortgage loans decelerating to 4.5 per cent in August from 8.0 per cent in January.

The question that arises is what is the biggest risk to the economy.

Is it the increase in American interest rates or the lack of growth in the economy? If the former, then there is the need for the CBTT to maintain the differential by itself raising the interest rates. A warning however that the latter approach could result in slowing credit formation and this could prevent a jump-start of the economy. There is need for caution all around.

A commentator on the BBC suggested that the concept of “making America great again” possibly harks back to a time when America was more homogenous, less cosmopolitan, without the mix of peoples and cultures.

I thought of what the fate of culture would be in a post-Trump world and how people from different cultures would respond. His tendency towards isolationism, implied in what he says about international trade, foreign policy and immigration, has made people of different nationalities very nervous.

However, his rhetoric and eventual actions may well cause an inward looking of the cultural kind.

“Culture is not just about painting, music, theatre, or dance. Culture is seeped into all the activities and expressions that extend below the surface and unite individuals under a common sense of self. On a continuous basis, culture gives meaning and currency to our lives.

It is … constantly evolving.” Historically, it is possible to highlight periods where social and political upheaval have led to a more inward focus on cultural identity.

The 1960s and 1970s are perhaps the most stark representations of this in modern history.

For instance, divided opinions on US policy and ideology regarding the Vietnam War collided with deep-seated racism in American society when noted African American boxer Muhammad Ali refused to fight for a country that he said treated its own black nationals as second class citizens.

In TT and the wider Caribbean, the Black Power movement of the 1970s gave voice to frustrations rooted in economic challenges worsened by racist and class-influenced policies across various sectors of society. The struggle against inequalities in the system fostered a renaissance of African cultural identity and sense of self.

In recent times, Colin Kaepernick, a major star of American football, launched his own movement against discrimination and inequality by refusing to stand for the national anthem. It is not a coincidence that he has chosen to wear his hair in a large afro style, the afro being a potent symbol of resistance in the 1960s and 70s.

The systematic decimation of the livelihood and culture of First Peoples during the early period of American settlement is now well documented. The struggle of these communities to reclaim their dignity and sense of self is still an important part of the narrative of the United States today. They still face isolation and severe social challenges ranging from alcoholism to incest and a high rate of suicide amongst their young people.

It is equally complicated for the Hispanic community. As the Washington Post noted, “Trump launched his campaign by accusing Mexico of sending rapists and criminals across the US border. He attacked the Mexican-born wife of vanquished opponent Jeb Bush and the Mexican heritage of a federal judge. He posted a photo of himself eating a taco bowl on Cinco de Mayo, a move meant to curry favour with Hispanics that backfired.

More recently, he attacked the physical appearance of a Venezuelan- born beauty queen.” In her own political statement, Jennifer Lopez capitalised on her fame and welcomed Hillary Clinton on her performance stage during the election campaign.

In a strange way, Mr Trump may turn out to be an unlikely catalyst for cultural regeneration, not just in the United States but in communities across the world where cultural identity is threatened. Political and social upheaval often provide the backdrop for a rise in consciousness.

Given the results of the US election, the realities in our own region, Europe and elsewhere, I predict that another cultural renaissance is coming. A storm will come with it though; we need to be ready.

Dara Healy is a performance artist and founder of the NGO, the Indigenous Creative Arts Network – ICAN

The minister was speaking to members of the media, yesterday, at the Port-of-Spain General Hospital, Maternity Ward, as the new monitor was demonstrated with the assistance of mother-to-be, Nikki Moore, who said she felt comforted just hearing her baby’s heart beat. The monitors would be used to confirm or exclude foetal distress in relation to uterine contractions, continuous monitoring in cases of augmentation or induction of labour, assessment of foetal well-being and ascertaining any changes in wither the mother or the foetus’s condition which may require emergency intervention.

The monitor was also capable of monitoring triplets with its three-channel ultrasound tracing capability and coincidence detection between all heart rate channels.

Deyalsingh said for 2016 they have managed to keep the maternal and infant mortality rates down to the absolute minimum. “II want to continue that drive until we join the developed countries in their maternal and infant mortality rates. With these machines and the ongoing education and thrust, we will get there by 2020 or before.

For this year we have had no more than three or four maternal deaths and that is where we need to be,” he said.

He added that the monitors would be introduced to the other RHAs in due time.

He again urged expectant mothers to take care of themselves. “We can do everything and have the best systems, procedures, policies and doctors, but we need the personal responsibility of our mothers to take care of themselves.

The neonatal unit at the SFGH was shut down after five babies contracted a bacterial infection, all of which occurred at the same time.

Parkinson said according to microbiological protocols, they had to take emergency measures to shut down the unit and then investigate. After the investigation it was found that the infection was not caused by one bug, but by different strains. However, he said there was not an outbreak.

“They will open up the unit again once these babies are cleared of infection. We had a similar problem in PoSGH as well not too long ago, and we had the cooperation of SFGH and Mt Hope (Women’s Hospital), now the shoe is on the other foot and we are helping them,” Parkinson said. He said the shut down meant that they did not want to take any new babies who may be at risk of getting the infection.

“So, all at-risk mothers are sent to Mt Hope Women’s Hospital and when they deliver their babies they can come straight to our neonatal unit (at PoSGH), or babies who are born there or who require ICU, they stabilise them first and then they transport them to us. The object is to try and cut down admissions to those units to reduce the spread of infection,” Parkinson explained.

“We are not throwing away this young individual’s career because the country has invested millions of dollars via GATE (Government Assistance for Tuition Expenses) and training to bring an intern up to the level that he or she is.

“I can tell you, once she presents certain evidence to the CEO (chief executive officer) and the permanent secretary that she is fit to resume duties, she is free to reapply for her position in six months. That’s the type of justice we want to have,” the minister said.

The boy was brought from the holding bay cells of the San Fernando Magistrates’ Court and into the courtroom before Senior Magistate Nanette Forde-John, who read the charge to him. The charge alleged that on that day inside the bar, located at Cipero Road, he murdered Mohandass Ramsumir, 62. In the courtroom, the boy stood next to his mother, the magistrate having informed the court police prosecutor that members of the public should leave the courtroom because she was sitting in her capacity as a juvenile. She then proceeded to tell the boy that the charge was laid indictably and that he was not called on to plead. The murder charge against the boy arose from a robbery incident at about 4.30 pm at the bar in which two men entered and robbed patrons. Ramsumir, of Balisier Avenue, Pleasantville, was shot.

He was rushed to the San Fernando General Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Sgt Vishal Parasram of the Ste Madeline Police Station, laid the charge after a file was submitted to the office of the Director of Public Prosecution.

After consultation with the court police prosecutor,Forde-John told attorney Alvin Pariagsingh who represented the teen, that there was no material at the time to disclose to the defence.

The magistrate remanded the boy to the St Michael’s Home for Boys and ordered that he reappear on November 25.

Prakash Jawahir, 27, was on trial before Justice Hayden St Clair-Douglas, charged with the murder of Steven Thomas, of Mulchan Street, on Easter Sunday April 12, 2009, at Manzanilla Main Road, near the 11-1/4 mile mark.

Although indicted for murder, the jury which deliberated on Thursday returned just after 6 pm with a verdict for the lesser count of manslaughter.

According to the prosecution’s case, Jawahir chopped Thomas four times with a cutlass, almost severing one of his arms on the Manzanilla Main Road, just after 7 pm that night.

Jawahir was intoxicated at the time of the event, and witnesses described his state on the night as “his head was real bad.” Jawahir, who was defended by attorneys Michelle Solomon and Trevor Clarke, never disputed that he chopped Thomas, telling police at the time that he did so to help out his cousin who was being beaten by Thomas before the chopping incident took place.

He had also admitted to having threatened to planass Thomas with a cutlass. According to Jawahir’s defence, he saw his cousin being beaten by Thomas with a four-foot long “junk” of wood which led to the relative receiving wounds to his head, blood in the anterior chamber of his eye and a fracture to his eye socket. One of Thomas’ friends was also involved in the beating incident.

It was at this point Jawahir intervened and chopped Thomas.

Jawahir will be sentenced by Justice St Clair-Douglas on November 29.

The prosecution was represented by attorney Stacy Lalloo Chong.

The businessman is said to also own a business in Central Trinidad.

According to reports, six police officers were involved in the robbery committed at 3 am yesterday.

Reports further stated that the officers were dressed in full tactical gear and used two marked police vehicles to carry out the robbery.

Investigators were told that three officers entered the premises claiming that they had a warrant to search.

They were later joined by three others during which time, reports stated, the money was removed from the businessman’s house. Unconfirmed reports said, so far, the vehicles were traced to the Port-of- Spain Division.

Investigations are continuing.

On Wednesday last, Balgobin’s body was found in an open field not too far from her Enterprise home. She was stark naked and in a foetal position.

Her head was bashed in. The tiger-patterned leggings and blouse she was wearing, at the time, was found next to her body. Balgobin’s casket will remain closed during the funeral service because of the condition of her face. “The face mash up bad so we can’t open the box. A framed picture will be on top of the box instead.” According to police reports, at about 5 am, Balgobin, a grandmother of one, was walking through a track near Walcott Street, close to African Grounds, Enterprise when she was approached by a man she knew. Reports are that he attempted to rob her and a fight ensued during which time she was struck several times in the head. Her funeral service will be conducted under Hindu rites and will be followed by cremation at the Waterloo Cremation site.

Also being laid to rest today is Larry Sieunarine, a father of two who was shot and killed in his bed on Thursday morning.

In reflecting upon recent challenges regarding drug supplies in the country, Labour Minister Jennifer Baptiste- Primus asked the Nipdec representatives present about the value of expired drugs over the last five years.

“For six years we have approximately $63 million,” Austin said. Baptiste- Primus observed this was no small sum of money and asked Austin to explain how such a situation could have arisen.

Austin indicated that several factors were responsible for this. One factor, according to Austin, was that Nipdec did not have access to the inventories of the Regional Health Authorities (RHAs).

She also identified brand loyalty was another factor and added, “without a nationwide health information system where we can see the inventory levels at the institution levels, we are actually in the dark.” Austin also said there have also been situations where drug shortages are not the result of the drugs in question not being available but where the drug is being stored, it is not being distributed equitably.

JSC chairman, Independent Senator Hugh Russell Ian Roach, expressed concern to Nipdec general manager David Benjamin that the company did not seem to be aware of the prices of drugs on the intenational market before it issued tenders for the purchase of drugs.

After explaining the tender process Nipdec uses, Benjamin said, “We are looking at opportunities of getting drugs directly from PAHO (Pan American Health Organisation).” He said the rationale for this was that PAHO purchases drugs in bulk and Nipdec could buy them at a lower cost.