Opposition leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar, on Monday, cited a report by Moody’s Investor Services dated June 30 which stated, “Further pending reductions could materialise during the rest of the year as the government plans to cut three billion dollars from public salaries this year.” However the Ministry of Finance, in a media release yesterday, said Moody’s had “misconstrued” the absence of a requirement of a back pay allocation of $3 billion in fiscal 2018 to being a “cut” in “public salaries”.

And referring to the statement as quoted by Persad-Bissessar, the ministry said, “This statement by Moody’s has quite naturally caused some concern, but it is clearly a misunderstanding of the facts.

“The Minister of Finance wishes to make it absolutely clear that the Government has no plan to cut public servant’s salaries or public salaries by $3 billion.

The reality is that the Government is no longer faced with the $5 billion plus back pay bill for public officers which it was confronted with in September 2015, since most of this back pay was paid in 2016 and the first half of 2017,” the Ministry stated.

“Accordingly, in the next fiscal year, the Government will not be saddled with this huge liability. Moody’s clearly misconstrued the reference to the absence of a requirement for an allocation of $3 billion in back pay in fiscal 2018 and strangely characterized this reduction in back pay liability as a “cut” in “public salaries.

However, it is not a cut in salaries but rather a natural reduction in the requirement for back pay.” However, in a telephone interview yesterday Indarsingh, who is the Opposition party’s shadow labour minister, said government workers were being sent home at an unprecedented rate as moves were being made to reduce the public section wage bill.

“There is no hope as it relates to the creation of employment and that is why I am saying they are systematically dismantling the public service.”

The MP was just about to be sworn into office as a minister but assumed she had the right to bring anyone she wanted to President’s House. Because she was going to be made a minister, the security personnel did not feel it was within their power to question the incoming minister.

This is a norm in our small society, where position or influence endows one with “powers that (they) don’t have.” No little security person dares question the actions of the minister-to-be, not even where the security of the President and Prime Minister is involved.

That, unfortunately, is the culture of our little slice of paradise, which basically accounts for the failure of the authorities to deal with the multitude of misdeeds of the leaders of the country.

The action of the Prime Minister may sound the clarion call for change of this reprehensible, demeaning behaviour, if such action can be sustained.

Heads must roll when such behaviour is engaged in for people to realise that they cannot continue to disregard security or protocol because they hold high office.

KARAN MAHABIRSINGH Carapichaima

Meteorologist at the Meteorological Office in Piarco Akil Nancoo said Tobago was feeling the effects more than Trinidad.

“We anticipate that the conditions would continue overnight and even tomorrow (today) with showers and thundershowers, but that would be more ITCZ (Inter Tropical Convergence Zone) related,” he said.

Nancoo said they have not received any reports of flooding, however, South Quay in Port-of-Spain was flooded for a while as heavy rains drenched the city with afternoon showers, adding there were reports of thunder by several people.

He said sea conditions were slight to normal, but in the areas experiencing showers and thunder showers, the water may become choppy at times especially out at sea in the Gulf of Paria.

The team arrived in TT on Tuesday and will return to Canada next week Tuesday. The team will play in a number of matches, including fixtures against the national Under-15 and Under-17 outfits. There will also be a reception, sightseeing and opportunities to meet locals to learn about the country’s culture. They will also meet international cricket star Brian Lara.

Over the past 10 years, Cricket Across the Pond has allowed about 125 young players from the GTA to travel and play in countries such as England, Sri Lanka and now TT.

All-rounder Hasan Khan, 20, is excited to be in TT. “I am honoured, you know. Going from Canada to the West Indies, where cricket is played internationally, it means a lot to me,” Khan said.

Eighteen-year-old all-rounder Saif Rizwan, says he is looking forward to his first game in Trinidad. “I couldn’t believe it first,” Rizman said. “When I told my dad, he was like, ‘Is this a prank or something?’ And everyone, my cousins and my friends in high school, are all very excited,” he said. At 15, bowling all-rounder Adrian Hackett is the youngest to make the 2017 team. “I am from the Caribbean and I have never been able to travel to the Caribbean to play cricket. So it’s a nice opportunity to go,” he said.

While Khan, Rizwan and Hackett are from Mississauga, the other nine players on the team – Jagrit Dewan, Jediah Navaratne, Nabil Farooqui, Nikhil Patel, Moazam Qureshi, Abdullah Khokhar, Matthew Seepersaud, Mamik Luthra and Wasiq Zia – represent Whitby, Milton, Markham, Brampton and Toronto.

While their skill in cricket helped them make the team, community involvement was another large part of the selection process.

Vinod Sharma will serve as the team’s manager and coordinator, while Tim Stone is the coach.

According to a statement issued by the ANSA McAl Group of Companies (ANSA McAL) yesterday, “this was done with a live simulation exercise at the ACL compound” located at ANSA McAL Industrial Park, Tumpuna Road, South Guanapo.

“The exercise was based on several scenarios such as activating a fire alarm, evacuating the building, as well as an overall response assessment to the emergency fire call.” The emergency response exercise was led by Denis Jones of the Arima Fire Station while ANSA McAL Group HSE manager Nixon Gangoo facilitated the drill alongside Andrus Retoo, HSSE and facilities manager, ANSA Polymer Limited and Leon Ajodha HSSE manager, ANSA Coatings Limited.

“The exercise was a resounding success as it highlighted the effectiveness of the internal emergency response teams as well as build on relationships with the Fire Service, the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Management and the Arima Disaster Management Unit,” ANSA McAl said.

The ministry in a statement on Wednesday scotched recent claims by FFOS.

The ministry said while its minister Maxie Cuffie was grateful for FFOS’ interest in the issue, there are established procedures for any individual or group desirous of obtaining information from the Ministry or any Government agency.

FFOS corporate secretary Gary Aboud was directed to the FOIA’s website from where a form could be downloaded and a request submitted.

“This process gives power to anyone, regardless of their status or station to legitimately access information.” The ministry said it is committed to transparency and accountability and Cuffie is assuring Aboud that once a request is made using the proper channels, the FFOS will be entertained.” The statement provided some facts on the Government’s property rental.

The monthly rental bill is about $45.3 million VAT exclusive.

Rents of $3.2 million (VAT exclusive) per month have been saved by vacating unoccupied properties, with 20 leases given up on unoccupied buildings to date.

“One Alexandra Place which cost the Government over $50 million in rent between the period December 2012 and July 2016, now fully occupied under the same terms that had been previously negotiated.” The Government has given up Estate Trace, Barataria where $47.7 million (VAT exclusive) was spent from 2012 to 2016, without ever occupying.

“Additional rentals will be vacated with the newly opened Government Plaza which is expected to house over 4,000 public servants when fully occupied .”

This we have to believe as to do otherwise is to practically roll over and die.

I cannot fathom that among us are human beings with the capacity to sit down and plot the horrendous acts of violence against women and children particularly, as are being perpetrated now almost daily. But there are and they seem to appear as phantoms, leaving indescribable grief in their wake.

There is no logical reasoning to justify this behaviour. It cannot be explained that it is as a result of the drug trade, or poverty or the economic hardships facing us at this time. What is the emotional frame that could trigger such thoughts and lead to the cold, heartless and cruel act of slitting the throat of another as though this person was a fowl in the back yard? I challenge our esteemed psychologists to come up with a plausible explanation as indeed such is desperately needed, otherwise we are forced to conclude that the evil of a medieval past still exists in sweet TT .

Already we live in constant fear of our homes being invaded by masked or unmasked men, breaking down our doors and demanding our valuables; snatching and grabbing all they can find and driving away with our hard-earned belongings.

We now have the added fear of being cruelly dismembered and or beheaded in the process, even though you may be old, infirmed or merely a child. The chilling fear that these thoughts conjure have become intrinsic to our daily existence. We simply are not safe anymore, not even in our homes.

Indeed, TT is experiencing its darkest hour. The recent attack on Fr Clyde Harvey, the cruel and senseless murders of Hafeeza Mohammed and Vedesh Subar clearly spell out the abject nature of what life has become in our country.

The sacred boundaries and the unspoken respect for the spiritual were defied, leaving no doubt that we no longer operate with a moral code or conscious.

Certainly there is no stopping the criminal element now; the fences have been cleared and no one is exempt from the scourge.

Hence my belief that a new day is coming soon, as there is no further to go in this dark and ruthless pit. We have hit rock bottom. The only way forward is up and as a society we have to take this bull by the horns and face the reality head on.

We must begin to instill hope where there is fear and replace the negative outlook with a positive resolve to join forces and push back against the criminal element.

We have many examples of the power of the masses and the victories that can be gained from a collective show of force against the enemy. A new dawn is near, but we have to create the sunrise by our response to this seemingly overwhelming darkness.

GARVIN COLE Tobago

The decision was taken after Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley requested his colleagues at the Caricom Heads of Government meeting which ended yesterday in St George’s, Grenada, to include the issues facing Venezuela on the agenda.

Chairman of the conference, Grenada Prime Minister Dr Keith Mitchell was mandated to write to the parties in Venezuela making the offer. In a statement on the matter issued yesterday following a closeddoor session, the Heads reaffirmed Caricom’s “guiding principles of the adherence to the rule of law, respect for human rights and democracy, as well as for the fundamental principles of non-intervention and non-interference in the internal affairs of states.” The Heads continue to call for “all parties to commit to engage in renewed dialogue and negotiations leading to a comprehensive political agreement with established time tables, concrete actions and guarantees to ensure its implementation for the well-being of the nation.” Yesterday, Rowley also asked the conference to clarify whether Caricom was disengaged from “the troubling issues surrounding West Indies cricket.” He recommended “that we again empanel a committee on cricket and re-engage that issue and pursue it, in spite of the frustration, to bring some kind of resolution.

I do not think that it is helpful for us to concede that we no longer have an interest.” As a former member of the committee, he said, “I would like to make myself available and to encourage my colleague from Grenada to come back to the committee, so that we can have a team of members to stay engaged on the matter of West Indies cricket.” Outside of the meeting, Rowley met with met with representatives of the US State Department for talks on issues of mutual interest which included trade and security.

On security, the US acknowledged that it was capable of providing increased support to Trinidad and Tobago and pledged to do more. Rowley noted the need for a strengthened partnership, specifically in the areas of training, equipment and information sharing.

Yesterday, Rowley also toured the Sandals LaSource Grenada.

Sandals is expected to open a similar resort in Tobago.

One such example is the recent demolition of “The Hut,” Port of Spain, which was an officially listed national heritage building, previously occupied jointly by the Girl Guides and Caribs Rugby Club. No one will admit to having given instructions nor having paid for doing this, but Jennifer Johnson, who is president of the Girl Guides Association, is quoted in the newspapers as having said, “The fact of the matter is that the place was totally destroyed and you had to begin to clear up the mess and that is what happened this morning.” In reality, “the fact of the matter” is quite the opposite. The fact of the matter is that only the roof, windows and the contents of the building were destroyed by a fire in March — the solid, thick stone walls were not “destroyed” in any sense whatsoever.

The fact of the matter is that the structure was in much better condition when it was maliciously demolished earlier this month, than when Caribs Rugby Club entered into an agreement with the girl guides to re-roof and refurbish it in the early 1980s.

The fact of the matter is that the Zoological Society wanted the property for its own use and the Girl Guides Association, but not Caribs, was willing to give it to them. Be that as it may, enough is surely enough when people in authority who are expected to protect, promote and sustain our “special treasures” (be it wild animals, young girls, plants, trees, flowers, or historical buildings) openly flaunt the law.

That this cowardly act was committed early one morning, before action could be taken to prevent it, speaks volumes about these “exemplars.” Johnson is quoted as saying that she was not involved in the demolition “directly,” though supporting it, so she is not responsible. No one is accountable. Is it any wonder that so many of our young people are lost and resort to killing without thought or remorse when people who should be guarding our national heritage are actively engaged in destroying it?

BRIAN STOLLMEYER St James, PoS

Ag Snr Supt Basdeo Ramdhanie, of the Traffic and Highway Branch, who made the announcement at Wednesday’s police press briefing at police headquarters, Port-of-Spain said there has been a 25 per cent and 30 per cent decrease respectively.

Ramdhanie said 19 of those killed were drivers, 18 were pedestrians, three were motorcyclists, two were pedicyclists, and seven passengers. He said the police considers one fatal accident to be too much.

“When compared to the corresponding period 2016, we had 61 fatal road traffic accidents and 70 deaths. Ramdhanie said.

“I would like to implore motorists to observe the traffic laws and to take all the precautions to ensure their safety, the safety of their passengers and other road users especially during the rainy season.” He said drivers should ensure their vehicles are in good working condition and should pay particular attention to their brake systems.

“I would encourage and implore that people adhere to the speed limits. It is 80 kilometers (per hour) on the highways for private vehicles and 65 for goods vehicles. Try to be safe, try to comply with the laws and together we should be able to make the roadway safer and reduce the number of fatalities and injuries to our people.” Ramdhanie called on drivers to be alert for pedestrians in areas where lighting on the roadways are poor, and to limit doing anything while driving which may cause a distraction.

He said pedestrians account for 37 per cent of road deaths for the year.

During speed exercises with the use of the speed guns from May to December last year, 11,294 tickets were issued for speeding and in 2017, 10,160 tickets have been issued.

Traffic Branch police also issued 7,284 tickets for varying traffic offences and performed 16,070 patrols.

“As of July 3, 2017, the Traffic and Highway Patrol Branch has conducted more than 5,831 tests for breath alcohol readings and 1,128 people were found to be above the accepted level of 35 micrograms, of that amount, 355 persons were charged.” When asked about drivers warning other drivers on the opposite side of the highways during road exercises Ramdhanie said, “If all citizens can sensitise the public in terms of what is happening with the speed exercises and they can do it with the other areas in crime, it will be nice. It will have less crime in the country. All citizens should obey the traffic laws and there will be no problem.”