Pan Trinbago president Keith Diaz expressed hope the event would promote appreciation for the national instrument and knowledge about its past. When asked about the choice of location, he said, “We realise every person passing by stops to watch…women, children, those on their way to work.” The exhibition showcased the craftsmanship of pans made here from the early 1950s to present. Previously, the country imported drums but the exhibition highlighted a new variety of patented pans specially made here which Diaz described as “our inventions, made from scratch”. He also explained there is a great difference between regular drums and the new pans which are louder, more powerful and more durable because of the difference in steel used. He gave the example that that the 27-inch drum has the volume of three pans.

He hinted of other differences but said, “We can’t reveal all the secrets. Experimentation is going on in T&T right now but there is more to come in the pan world”.

The exhibition was a journey through pan history with special established boards displaying designs by pioneers such as Anthony Williams, Ellie Mannette and Bertie Marshall straight up to present innovators like inventor of the G-Pan, Dr Brian Copeland.

Diaz said, “The history should be taught in a great and more effective way in this country.

People outside want this (steel pan) more than us.” The exhibition is hosted annually during Pan Month in August and two more events are scheduled for Friday at Harris Promenade, San Fernando and August 25 in Arima.

Relatives identified the body of the El Dorado man at the Forensic Science Centre in St James yesterday.

At about 4.30pm on Friday last, gunshots were heard at Cornelius Drive, Tunapuna.

Police arrived on the scene and found Tynsdale’s bullet riddled body at the side of the road.

His relatives, who last saw him on Friday morning, became worried when they did not hear from him and attempts to reach him on his cellular phone were futile. “It was fishy that he was not answering his phone all weekend,” said one relative who wished not to be named.

“He would usually get someone’s phone borrowed and call if he does not have money on his. So we called the owners of the car and asked them to turn on the GPS and find out where the car is.” The GPS (global positioning system) tracked the car to Tunapuna near a secondary school.

Our decision to use the social media carries with it the power to be a publisher, something that many users fail to understand or appreciate. Along with this new found publishing power we must also bear a responsibility for the propagation of the truth. We must not only restrict our own posts to the truth, but also not repost untruths posted by others.

The ease with which persons can express their views to large numbers of people in an instant is a power most of us are all too eager to embrace. Unfortunately, many of us do not see the harm and hurt we sometime inflict when we publish false and malicious statements.

Not seeing it does not mean the hurt/harm is not there. If we can avoid doing violence to the minds of unseen persons others may learn to do the same.

As teachers we are faced with the challenge of mastering this rapidly evolving technology, while at the same time having to teach our charges its responsible use. Given the propensity for us to share our personal views with others, we would be well advised to exercise restraint in terms of the postings we place on social media, mindful of the social and legal implications.

In our schools we have become accustomed to students taking to social media to deliberately hurt others via their posts. Cyber bullying is real. Children regularly take to the internet to engage in a form of verbal violence, the scale of which we have never seen before.

Hateful and vitriolic statements dominate social media posts of many teenagers, compounded with threats of physical violence.

Teachers are then required to intervene in these internet-based and initiated conflicts, the resolution of which can be arduous and time consuming. These situations transcend the boundaries of school type, becoming the new norm. The obsession people have to see images of themselves on screens leads many to post pictures on social media. In many instances these images seem to be pushing the boundaries of ethics and moral decency. This new social standard has been adopted by young people, with ‘selfies’ being their favourite pastime.

Our children are all too eager to befriend strangers on social media, blissfully unaware of the dangers of so doing. They proceed to share very personal information and images with these strangers, not realising that once that information or image is out there it cannot be retracted.

Parents would do well to truly educate and guide their children from a tender age in the ethical and responsible use of social media as well as its dangers. In fact, they must only allow children to engage social media only when they are mature enough to understand the responsibility that accompanies its use. Children should not be allowed to engage social media until they are socially, emotionally and intellectually ready.

As a society we must all take responsibility for what we communicate with others for it has consequences. We must be aware that if we are to engage the power of publishers we must be prepared to adopt their ethical standards.

Before we post anything we must ensure that it adheres to certain levels of journalistic integrity.

Social media has and continues to be a double-edged sword and if we are not careful we can become a society where untruths become the order of the day.

In such a place, self-destruction becomes an inevitable outcome.

So he broke down the top half of the house.

The action did not go down well last week with a High Court judge who has ordered a valuation of the property located in Penal in order to bring an end to the family feud. It all began when the sister Khusmawatie Harripersad, 55, filed an injunction against her brother Amardeep Singh, 49, restraining him from breaking the house which their mother Chandardaye Singh left for both of them to share. The mother died in April 2006. Harripersad and Singh left Trinidad to live in Florida.

In court documents filed in the San Fernando High Court, Harripersad said there was a small wooden structure on the land and whilst she and her brother lived abroad, she allowed a cousin and his mother to live on the property.

A concrete structure was then built after the wooden house burned down in April and the cousin and his mother continued living there.

The house is located at Lalbeharry Trace, Penal, and according to Harripersad’s injunction, filed by attorney Ravi Mungalsingh, she received a telephone call in early July, while in the United States, from a relative in Trinidad, that her brother was demolishing the top part of the house.

Harripersad she immediately made arrangements to return to Trinidad.

She said upon her arrival, she visited the property on July 24 and saw Singh had broken the top portion of the house.

There were construction materials in the yard. She said there was a confrontation and a heated argument ensued.

She then took legal action against her brother and Mungalsingh wrote to Singh about his alleged trespass to property.

He was ordered to cease all work on the property.

The injunction hearing came up before Justice Devindra Rampersad in the San Fernando High Court last week Thursday. Attorney Jeevan Andrew Rampersad represented Singh who consented to resolve the matter amicably.

By consent between Singh and Harripersad, Rampersad ordered a valuation be done on the property and that Singh be given the first option to buy his sister’s half.

The order, however, stated that if Singh fails to buy Harripersad’s share within 30 days after the valuation, his sister should be given the option to buy his share.

The judge ordered Singh to pay Harripersad compensation for trespass only to the upstairs of the house.

In a statement, BPTT reported Juniper has started production on schedule and within budget.

BPTT is a subsidiary of energy multinational company (British Petroleum-BP). Juniper is BP’s first sub-sea field development in Trinidad and is located 80 km off the south-east coast in water approximately 110 metres deep.

The platform produces gas from the Corallita and Lantana fields.

In a subsequent statement, Energy Minister Franklin Khan said the project represents an investment of approximately US$ 2 billion by BPTT.

He said Juniper will have a gas production capacity of 590 million standard cubic feet per day (mscfd). Khan said Juniper’s gas production will augment BPTTs gas production and the company’s gas production was boosted in April with the start of the Trinidad Onshore Compression Project (TROC).

The TROC has provided incremental gas volumes of approximately 100 mscfd.

Khan said the Juniper and TROC projects are examples of BPTT’s commitment to improving the domestic gas production. He said both projects will assist in alleviating the current gas shortfall.

He said the ministry is also working closely with BPTT with respect to the timely development of the Angelin gas field. This field is estimated to come on stream in late 2019 with an estimated gas production capacity of 600 million standard cubic feet per day.

Khan also said there are ongoing discussions with the company on development plans for recently announced gas discoveries in BPTT’s offshore, Macadamia and Savannah field. The gas reserves are estimated at two trillion cubic feet. Khan said to monetise these and other resources, BPTT will invest approximately US$5 billion over the next five years. Khan was confident BPTT would build on the Juniper success and about similar successful developments in the near future. BP’s chief executive (upstream business) Bernard Looney said Juniper is a major milestone in BP’s over 50 years of investment in TT.BPTT’s regional president Norman Christie said Juniper, “further demonstrates our commitment to helping improve production capacity for TT.” Juniper was BPTT’s 14th offshore platform in Trinidad and its sixth to be constructed at the fabrication yard in La Brea.

“Drivers have to cool themselves on the road,” said one relative.

“There are other drivers on the road so you have to take precautions.

Even if you get in an accident, stop and sort it out.” Other relatives begged the driver to consider relatives are searching for closure. Reports are that at about 2.45 am on Saturday, Simeon, a 37-year-old PTSC bus driver of Malabar, was driving his motorcycle with 39-year-old Anton, an ambulance driver of Arouca as the pillion rider. They were heading in a westerly direction on the Eastern Main Road near Red Hill, D’abadie when a car hit the motorcycle.

The brothers were thrown several feet into the air, hit the side of the road and died instantly. The driver of the car fled the scene.

Relatives described the relationship between the brothers as “very close.” Simeon, a father of two, and Anton, a father of six, did everything together, they said.

“Wherever you see one, you would see the other and they were very nice, family-oriented men.” They said Simeon was an avid motorcycle rider who would frequently ride with local clubs.

“He used to ride since I was a little girl,” a relative said. “I remember seeing him with a dirt bike when I was younger, and he would ride everywhere with it.”

Randy Ramkissoon died on the spot after he was stabbed in the chest, back and abdominal area by his attacker.

According to a police report, at about 11.30 pm, Ramkissoon was in the living room of the family home watching television when he heard a knocking at the front door and someone calling his name.

When Ramkissoon opened the door a man with a knife ambushed him and began stabbing him investigators said. Speaking to Newsday at the family’s home yesterday, Ramkissoon’s fatherin- law Anthony Alleyne, who lives a short distance away, said he was awakened by the screams of Ramkissoon’s wife Crystal who called out to him saying her husband was killed.

“I did not hear anything until Crystal called out to us,” an emotional Alleyne said.

“I rushed to the house to see Randy covered in blood. He was already dead.” He said Crystal was crying hysterically.

“She was also asleep with the children and awoke after hearing noises from the living room. But by that time the killer was gone.

He killed a father knowing that his children were sleeping in another room. That hurts the most.” He said they did not want the children to see the image of their father covered in blood so they only allowed them to leave the bedroom after the body was removed. “We did not want them to remember their father in that way, it would be too much for them.” Ramkissoon was a self employed mechanic. Alleyne said he was not aware of any threats made on his son-in-law’s life. “This is very strange. But, from what I gather, he may have known his killer. But I am thankful that the children and their mother’s lives were spared.

But what is really sad is that these children will now grow up without a father. We have lost it as a people. There is no more value on human life.” Ramkissoon was described as a family man who was hardworking. “His dream was to purchase land for his children. He loved his children so much. They are still very young to understand what happened, but we explained to them that their daddy is gone,” Alleyne said.

Funeral arrangements are still being made. Members of the Homicide Region Three are investigating.

Gorkin appeared before acting Chief Magistrate Maria Busby Earle- Caddle charged with manslaughter arising out of the death of his son.

His attorney Samuel Pete Thomas requested that his client be granted bail as he was the bread-winner of his family and was struggling to come to terms with his son’s death. He said Gorkin’s experience has been made even more traumatic since his arrest last Tuesday.

“Your worship while my client may have had matters before the court in the past, these matters have been resolved and all but two were ruled in his favour.

“He is employed with the Port-of Spain City Corporation.

“He is still in a state of grief and shock and I am making this bail application so that he has the opportunity to catch himself.” However Prosecutor Inspector Dillon objected to the bail application and suggested that if granted, Gorkin may use the opportunity to interfere with witnesses.

Several of his relatives who were in the public gallery expressed their discontent prompting Earle-Caddle to intervene.

“Listen if you all don’t know how to behave in this court, well then I suggest you don’t stay here for the remainder of the proceedings,” she said. In response to Dillon’s objections, Thomas argued the offence was bailable and said the claims of potential witness interference were baseless.

Earle-Caddle granted Gorkin bail in the sum of $75,000 and he is expected to reappear in court on September 11.

Alleyne, whose appointment becomes effective on September 11, 2017, formerly served as President and CEO of Sagicor General Insurance Incorporated.

In a statement about Alleyne’s appointment, the ANSA McAl Group of Companies; parent company of TATIL, said Brydens’ new GM “brings with him over 30 years of underwriting, claims management, risk management and reinsurance experience.” “He is well-informed on global conditions and respected by brokers, insurers and reinsurers worldwide.

Prior to that he worked his way up the ranks of United Insurance Company Limited, where he held the position of Chief Operating Officer until 2013. A past President of the Insurance Association of the Caribbean (IAC), Mr Alleyne has delivered papers at several regional/international forums including The National Hurricane Conference in the USA,” ANSA McAL stated.

Chief Executive Officer of ANSA McAl, Barbados, Nicholas Mouttet, also commented on Alleyne’s appointment.

“The insurance industry is more competitive now than we have ever experienced and I am delighted to welcome David on board.

We will certainly benefit from his extensive knowledge which will allow us to focus on our growth strategy,” Mouttet said.

Newsday secured a copy of the suspension which was served on the SRP last week Tuesday by Acting Police Commissioner Stephen Williams.

The letter stated: “In the circumstances, you are hereby notified that with immediate effect you are to cease performing duty as a Special Reserve Police officer pending the determination of the investigation.

You are required to return all items of kit and accoutrements issued to you in the execution of your duties including of your Special Reserve Police Identification Card to the officer delivering this notice to you.” On Friday, president of the Police Social Welfare Association Inspector Michael Seales wrote to Williams asking him to reconsider his decision to suspend the SRP, who has two years service.

In his letter, Inspector Seales noted that: “Our member, in her dire situation which has caused her irreputable damage, has approached the Association with a letter she received from your office, stopping her from being called out to duty.

This letter in our opinion when read in its entirety, falls short of alluding to possible dismissal for the already embarrassed and regretful officer.” The letter also stated that the suspension without pay has left the SRP in financial constraints. The Association is viewing the suspension letter as a roundabout way of informing the SRP that she has been constructively dismissed from the TTPS. “For any decision to have this officer dismissed from the service at this time is a fate that could prove to be detrimental to her financially and quite possibly, mentally.” The letter continued “The Association is humbly beseeching your good office to kindly reconsider the position in regard to the harsh punishment meted out to the officer, and consider the impact this decision would have on the said officer.” The Association is also calling for a speedy determination of the investigation.