Roads are designed to accommodate a projected number of axle load repetitions of a specific magnitude for a projected service life. The damage created by traffic loads is expressed in terms of a reference axle load. Projected axle loads from different vehicle configurations are converted into an equivalent number of 8,000-kg single axle loads. These equivalent single axle loads (ESALS) are the basis for determining the thickness of the road structure required to provide the desired design life and thus its cost. The effect of a single axle load on a road increases as approximately a fourth-power of axle load. For example, although a 16,000-kg single axle load is only twice as large as an 8,000-kg single axle load, it causes 17 times more loss in life of a road.

In addition to the impacts on road service life, increasing axle loads may also increase the level of maintenance required between major resurfacings. As expected, using tandem axles rather than single axles reduces the damage to the pavement.

I have suggested that Government consider a system of varied license fees based on the number of axles and axle configuration. Lower fees would be applied for the vehicles with higher number of axles, with particular advantage being applied to the usage of tandem axles.

Section 97(1) of the existing Act directs the vehicle or trailer to the nearest weighbridge for the purpose of weighing such load.

Which weighbridge of the Licensing Authority is operational? The 1994 Weigh-in-Motion Study done by Lea-Trintoplan on behalf of the Ministry of Works and Transport showed that there was a significant amount of vehicle overloading on the nation’s roadways.

The incidence of overloading was greatest on the Churchill-Roosevelt Highway, the Uriah Butler Highway, and the Eastern Main Road in Valencia. The main offenders were semi-trailers with 3 or 4 axles, while straight trucks with double wheels on the rear axle followed closely.

Hauliers of aggregates and hardware material often install a “greedy bar” in order to extend the truck’s capacity beyond the stipulated maximum gross weight. The “greedy bar” is removed whenever the truck has to be inspected by the Licensing Authority.

The Honourable Attorney General referred to the Jamaica example; let me refer to Jamaica a bit. Jamaica has given priority to the control and enforcement of vehicle overloading.

What is the extent of their overloading? (a) The number of heavy vehicles doubled over the period 1994-2006.

Just like us in T&T.

(b) The typical truck is at least 65% overweight (quite a number of units are carrying twice the legal axle loads). This causes in excess of 10 times the damage of a vehicle carrying legal axle loads and cuts in half the life of the roadway based on design loads.

Several years ago, Jamaica established a Vehicle Weight Enforcement Unit: (a) A 4-man unit established at ITA.

(b) Unit has received hands-on training on AX900 Portable Scales.

(c) Developed a Comprehensive Vehicle Weight Enforcement Manual.

(d) Procurement of the two (2) portable weigh scales.

Jamaica has proposed improved regulations:

• An increase in the sum payable as a penalty for breaches or violations of the law is also proposed.

• The person in charge of the vehicle shall ensure that another vehicle is dispatched and the excess goods be off loaded onto another vehicle in a manner not likely to cause obstruction to the traffic and the offending vehicle or trailer shall not proceed until it has satisfied the prescribed weight limit.

• “The Island Traffic Authority (ITA) may after seven (7) days, dispose of non- perishable goods stored [removed from overloaded vehicles] by means of sale or such other manner as it thinks fit. For perishable goods, the Island Traffic Authority may sell or otherwise dispose of them before the seven (7) days.” The ITA does not want to get into the storage and vending business

• Axle configuration details to be put into regulations

• No objection to varied license fees favouring increased axles, but max vehicle length of 17.3m must not be exceeded I have recommended that

(1) Permanent weight-restricted bridges be placed at the terminal gates of all ports, in order to address container truck overloading;

(2) The Licensing Authority acquires portable weigh bridges; and,

(3) vehicle weight regulations be enforced in a consistent and effective manner. This enforcement should be highly visible in order to deter and act as a warning and reminder to others.

e-mail: info@ccost.org

“What we need is better protection for our children and that can only come through better supervision of them, especially over the vacation period as so many of them are home from school,” she told Newsday yesterday.

Paul implored parents to perform the necessary checks on their children for signs of abuse and be vigilant of any changes in physical or behavioural characteristics.

She said subtle changes such as a child’s eating habits could be a hint of some distress.

Newsday also spoke to communications manager of the Children’s Authority, Cheryl Moses-William, who said the authority remains committed to ensuring the safety of children and was prepared to carry out the necessary investigations in collaboration with the Child Protection Unit in cases of child abuse or neglect. She explained that the findings from such investigations are what determine the removal of a child from the care of parents.

“Once a report of child abuse or mistreatment is brought to the authority’s attention, the investigation process is initiated to substantiate or not substantiate the allegations with a view to determining whether the child is in need of care and protection and what interventions would be appropriate in the child’s best interest,” she said.

Moses-Williams said the authority’s investigations involve a rigorous, in-depth assessment of the caregiver and other relatives to determine the child’s placement.

She said, “Once the investigation is completed, if the authority is of the view that the child is in need of care and protection and must be removed from the household, in the best interest of the child, the authority firstly will seek to place the child with other relatives. The placement is done after an assessment of the person’s suitability to adequately care for the child is completed.”

“I thank God that your many gifts are being recognised in this way. Grenadians will benefit enormously from having you as their shepherd and bishop, and the work of the AEC bishops will be enhanced also as you share your gifts with your brother bishops.

“God bless you, monsignor, for working so faithfully in His vineyard.

I know that you will serve with dedication, love and commitment.

“The four words you used to describe your approach as you start your new ministry are inspiring and reflect the kind of leadership that is sorely lacking in our region and in our world today. Inter alia, you said that you will: look, listen, learn, and love — listening not only to what people will be saying to you, but to what God says to you. We could all benefit from your wisdom/discernment.

“We in our Archdiocese of PoS will forever be grateful to you for your contribution to building a better TT .

We have some way to go to achieve our goals, but we will get there as we learn from icons like you. Be assured of our continued prayers as you embark on this important phase of your ministry. May the Lord continue to journey with you as you take up your new episcopal duties.” What is the role of a bishop? It is worth reflecting on Pope Francis’ message to bishops appointed during the year prior to his meeting with them in September 2014. The Vatican website reports that the Holy Father said he saw bishops “as sentinels, able to awaken their churches… men able to cultivate and ripen God’s fields and pastors able to restore unity, sow nets and overcome division.

“Engage in respectful dialogue with the great traditions in which you are immersed, without fear of getting lost and without feeling the need to defend your borders, because the church’s identity is defined by the love of Christ which knows no boundaries.

Do not waste energy in conflict and disagreement, but rather use it to build and to love.” He said the church does not need “dull and pessimistic bishops who live independently having surrendered to the darkness of the world or the apparent defeat of good crying out in vain that the fort is under attack.

“Your vocation is not to watch over a failed mass of people, but to be guardians of the ‘Evangelii Gaudium’, as such, you cannot lack the only piece of wealth we really have to give and which the world cannot give to itself, and that is the joy and love of God.” In September 2015, he reminded bishops of the US that they need to recognise that their greatest joy as shepherds comes from being “pastors with undivided hearts and selfless devotion … The heart of our identity is to be sought in constant prayer, in preaching and in shepherding the flock entrusted to our care.” “Prayer,” he said, “nourishes the life of a pastor.” It helps him recognise his flock as “the ones whom you entrusted to me … Be pastors close to people, pastors who are neighbours and servants. Let this closeness be expressed in a special way towards your priests.

“Support them, so that they can continue to serve Christ with an undivided heart, for this alone can bring fulfilment to ministers of Christ … confront the challenges of our time … “The innocent victim of abortion, children who die of hunger or from bombings, immigrants who drown in the search for a better tomorrow, the elderly or the sick who are considered a burden, the victims of terrorism, wars, violence and drug trafficking, the environment devastated by man’s predatory relationship with nature.

It is wrong to look the other way or to remain silent” on these issues.

But to be successful, “it is important that the church … also be a humble home, a family fire which attracts men and women through the attractive light and warmth of love.” (www.

ncronline.org ) May the Lord guide our dear Monsignor Harvey as he seeks to teach, govern and sanctify the faithful in the Diocese of St George’s.

LEELA RAMDEEN chair, CCSJ

First and foremost, it’s the truth.

Secondly, with all the similar self-glorification and simultaneous accusations and counter accusations by our two ethnically-based political parties pitted against each other over the years, this truth spoken by Sabga-Aboud regarding TT and his ethnic group, whether purposely declared or sloppily slipped out under vodka, reveals that it has always been conveniently and/or fearfully stifled by the “know-it-all” big talkers in those parties.

Let’s face the facts, whether vaguely hinted or frankly declared, there was an emphasis on ethnicity, not so much putting down someone else’s, but an elevation of one’s own.

And that is precisely where the critics of Sabga-Aboud should have thought twice before condemning him, or as I was taught: “Take out that big lump from your own eye before telling someone about the tiny speck in their eye.” The reality is that most, if not all, of the critics of Sabga-Aboud belong to one of the two major political parties.

The mere fact that the two parties were born, bred and nurtured in internal ethnic-dominance and for generations have maintained this status (with a little window dressing of course) and are forever claiming to be better than the other, does that make them any different from Sabga-Aboud? They boast of their superiority to govern the country.

Sabga-Aboud boasts of his group’s economic superiority.

And considering the serious monetary accusations that have been levelled against both political parties, and the fish-market level they have lowered our hallowed halls of Parliament to, shouldn’t these political parties and their diehard supporters be the last to criticise anyone, especially about ethnicity? Whichever party we (citizens) support, we get insulted and put down by the other (when you insult a leader, you insult all those who support him or her) for the next four years and ten months. Then suddenly the “love for all” pretending starts, but it lasts only about two months until the election.

So Sabga-Aboud, for those of us who view TT in a realistic way, please rescind that apology, or apologise for that apology. You spoke the truth, sir.

LLOYD RAGOO Chaguanas

And that so many do so with grace and dignity in the face of so much pressure is testimony to the resilience of the human spirit.

We particularly congratulate some of the top scorers. These include 12-year old Lexi Balchan.

Lexi is a hard worker who fantasised about placing first in the country. In the end, her dreams became premonitions.

“I worked so hard over the years with my parents and all the teachers and especially God,” Lexi said in an interview with reporters after receiving the news.

But the cost of this achievement, which has placed her in her first choice of Naparima Girls High School in San Fernando, was the sacrifice of many things.

“A lot of things that I just wish I could experience again that I missed out that were once in a lifetime, but I just feel like it was worth it in the long run,” Lexi said. “I had to make sure to study every day and sacrifice things that you wanted to do like TV and playtime and all those things that you wanted to do.” No doubt Lexi’s achievement came after much support from her teachers and parents. Her father, Krishdath Balchan, gave his daughter a strong message.

“I always preach to her, you have to dream big in order to get big things,” said Balchan.

“But you can’t just dream big and expect to wake up one day and it is has happened. You have to work hard and Lexi is a very hard-working individual.” We also laud the success of all the other top scorers including second-placed Jordana Mahabir, 12, of Gandhi Memorial Vedic School. We also congratulate the top scorer from Tobago, Shenice Stanisclaus. In Tobago, only one boy – Jordan Langley – made it into the island’s top ten, which speaks volumes about the gender gap that has seen boys lagging behind.

The State must now focus on ensuring it readies all schools for the resumption of classes when the new term begins so that students can continue their journey.

Issues in relation to the Education Facilities Company Ld have been raised and should be ironed out under its new board.

While we would not want to steal the thunder of all these achievers, it is important to place this examination in perspective.

Historically, many who have passed for their first choice have gone on to do great things. And many who have not passed for their first choice have also gone on to do great things. This exam is a method designed to designate students to schools. It is not designed to determine the worth or potential of any individual.

Students should not be made to feel that their entire life hinges on this.

There is more to education.

Indeed, there is more to life than one examination.

While it is good to celebrate the achievements of those who shine, our society must also remember to venerate the ideals that will serve our students well in the long run. Those ideals include a sense of civic duty; the importance of resilience; having healthy relationships; critical thinking; and values that reflect the mystery and sanctity of life.

Education, so understood, is more than just an SEA mark.

Students and parents who may have come away disappointed would do well to remember that this examination is only the start of a much more profound journey.

The sea of dreams is vast and all who swim in it can achieve great things.

.Many practices in the business world reflect past views, and having to follow them can prevent people from exploring new approaches. Corporate policies and practices should encourage innovation and entrepreneurship. But boards don’t often place importance on qualities such as independence, intuition and non-conformism, or reward critical or imaginative thinking

Today’s leaders may have earned their spurs when expectations were different and possibilities fewer, yet they sti ll think they know best. They may claim to have a more strategic perspective, but many of them are preoccupied with internal issues. Front-line staff may be closer to customers and the market, and are often earlier adopters of new technologies than those at the top of the corporate tree.

Are your colleagues aware of their limitations? Do they experiment and question assumptins? The philosopher Sir Karl Popper warned of the enemies of the open society. Enemies of the open company are excessively concerned with order. They are slaves to particular models, reluctant to empower others.

The freedoms There are a number of essential freedoms for liberating latent potential.

Support your staff and allow them to work and collaborate in ways that allow them to be creative.

Encourage people to be open about problems, learn from mistakes and failure, and build on achievements. The computer animation studio Pixar blossomed because candour and constructive questioning were highly valued. People actively searched for solutions and better approaches.

Celebrate diversity Many boards are intolerant of variety: markets fragment, customers seek bespoke responses and new channels emerge, yet directors still try to insist on a dull uniformity.

Single solutions are imposed. No wonder so many creative ideas originate outside of the workplace. Differences of opinion can be healthy and spark innovation.

Avoid rigidity and bureaucracy Well-networked organisations can support co-creation and grow organically.

Collaboration can speed up adaptation and spur innovation. The chemist and novelist CP Snow warned of a divide between science and the humanities with the emergence of two distinct cultures. But perhaps another division emerging is that between those who think in a logical way and prefer order, and those who are tolerant of uncertainty.

The latter favour variety and look for links, patterns and relationships. Throughout history breakthroughs have been caused by outsiders who challenged orthodoxy. Boards should look beyond the usual suspects. Allowing creativity can unleash energy and stimulate imagination.

Nurture entrepreneurial fl air so that you can develop and commercialise creative ideas at prices pitched so that enough people will buy to generate a profit. To have a dream can be inspiring, but a relevant and affordable offering can provide an income. In business, both thinking and doing are required. We need aspiration and achievement.

Review corporate policies and practices.

Business leaders should consider where creativity and entrepreneurship are most needed. What should they be applied to and why? What is their value to customers? The requirements for effective corporate leadership and successful entrepreneurship are converging. In some contexts, they may soon overlap and be almost indistinguishable.

Professor Colin Coulson-Thomas FCCA has advised directors and boards in over 40 countries.

This statement is far from the truth and it proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that the current administration is incapable of reducing the rising crime rate.

It is extremely weak and reckless because it emboldens criminals.

It would have been better for Baptiste-Primus to say the Government is doing everything in its power to ensure that crimes of passion are reduced by imposing stricter punishment on those who commit such brutal acts.

Crimes of passion in TT are on the rise and there is no justification whatsoever for these despicable crimes. It does not matter how hard the culprits try to defend their actions and justify their behaviour.

The rate of moral decadence in our society is frightening and if we do not come together as a nation to stop this, then we are headed for destruction.

One of the main reasons why the acts are on the rise is because the law is very lenient on crimes of passion and unless we make the laws stricter these crimes will continue escalating.

Most are engaging in these acts because no serious action is being taken against them. The media highlight the cases and no one bothers to follow up to ensure the criminal is brought to justice, hence some tend to think there are no consequences.

Urgent measures should be put in place to curb the worrying trend of partners injuring and killing each other over petty issues that would have otherwise been solved peacefully.

Intense public education should be carried out on how to handle relationship pressures so as to prevent people taking extreme measures over minor issues and knowing when to walk away instead of holding on.

Religious leaders also need to take up the challenge and intensify teachings on moral values as we cannot continue along this path of moral decay.

SIMON WRIGHT Chaguanas

Attorneys for the woman have written the Solicitor General and the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Social Development indicating their intention to sue for negligence and violation of the child’s constitutional rights. The child and his mother are represented by Anand Ramlogan SC, Ganesh Saroop, Alvin Pariagsingh and Jayanti Lutchmedial.

The attorneys’ pre-action protocol letter was sent yesterday.

According to the letter, the child, while at the home was the victim of constant sexual harassment and abuse by both staff and residents who would force him to perform sexual favours.

According to the letter, he was placed at the St Michael’s Home for Boys by a Siparia magistrate in 2012 when he was nine. While there, the mother said, he developed abnormal obesity and speech disorders.

Two years later he was diagnosed by Dr Jacqueline Sharpe with, “Prader-Willi Syndrome”, and that his weight and speech challenges were as a result of this genetic condition.

“Our instructions are that from day one, (the child) was subjected to intense bullying and abuse from the other residents and staff of the Home. We are instructed that both staff and students of the Home would often humiliate him for being obese and speaking ‘funny’,” the lawyers said in the letter. Initially arrangements were put in place for the child to receive speech therapy and other medical treatment on the advice of Dr Sharpe.

“This situation changed drastically in or around the latter part of 2014 when the management of the Home was changed. The change in management of the Home resulted in a cessation of medical treatment and associated therapy. As a result, (the child) has now developed significant behavioural issues which are difficult to manage,” the attorneys said.

The child’s mother made several attempts to intervene and he was referred for medical treatment. According to the ten page letter, it was further reported that officials at the home were unwilling to say much except to confirm that the child’s physical and sexual abuse was “horrific,” and an official request was made to send the child to the St Ann’s Hospital to undergo psychiatric evaluation.

This was done in October, 2016, as a ‘temporary’ measure. The lawyers have indicated that they will be seeking to ask the court to refer the matter to the Director of Public Prosecution as they claim there is a cover up by state institutions which have abandoned their duty of care by the ‘shameful and disgraceful attacks’ on the child.

“We were on the boat from Tobago and we started thinking about what Trinis like and we came up with the idea of making alcoholic candy like hard candy, cocktail jells, truffles and fudge because many people like alcohol and sweets,” said James in an interview with Newsday.

The company came into existence in January 2017 and offers a variety of alcoholic signature products which includes boozemellows — which has the consistency of marshmallows in flavored vodkas and any juicy liqueurs like mango liqueur, berry vodka and apple vodka. They also offer tequila sunrise cocktail jells, strawberry swirl vodka cocktail jells and white rum cocktail jells. Their fudge and truffles comes in: Bailey’s flavored, coconut rum, cappuccino liqueur, coffee, Hennessy and caramel flavored.

“Any cocktail you can order at a bar, we can make it in a cocktail jell. We make all our candy by hand in Cascade. It takes us approximately two hours to create any selection of candy. In the kitchen, it was similar to doing labs, having to keep record of what worked and what didn’t work and continuously trying again till we got the desired taste and consistency,” said Clarke.

Their first event was Oneness The Party which was held in Queen’s Hall carpark on February 19 by St Ann’s RC Church.

“We did the welcome treats for all the patrons. We had Bailey’s chocolate truffles and Kahlua coffee liqueur filled chocolate truffles, tequila sunrise cocktail jells and strawberry swirl vodka cocktail jells which the patrons loved,” said James. They have also been to UpMarket, as they continue to build their clientele.

What is the meaning behind the name Dulcis? “Dulcis is Latin for ‘sweet’ we wanted the name in another language because it has an elegant sound to it. It’s all about branding and we want our candy to leave an impression of high quality on customers, as we infuse the best liqueur and rum into our candies,” said James.

Clarke attended Bishop’s High School Tobago she then went to Trinidad to pursue her bachelors of applied science in process engineering and went on to do her masters in the same field. However, she would be moving back to Tobago soon. While James attended St Joseph Convent Port of Spain and then went on to study communication studies with a minor in international relations at the University of the West Indies. James is a Communications Officer and is also focused on building the brand DCC.

Asked how they plan to move forward with DCC as Clarke would be moving back home to Tobago Clarke said, “We both know how to create the candy, so in the instance of receiving large orders we would decide if I would come Trinidad or Kadija would come to Tobago where we can work together to create the products.”

Financially, these two young women solely support their entrepreneurial venture by allocating portions of their salary into DCC. “We would like to primarily continue making welcome treats for events but we would like alcoholic brands to join with us, so that people would taste their alcohol in a new form like a cocktail jell or boozemellow because Trinis like free things and new things,” said James.

“We also plan on introducing sugarless candy for our health conscious customers and alcohol infused berry chocolates. Any type of candy can also be made non-alcoholic once requested by a client,” added Clarke.

Asked by what advice they would give to young entrepreneurs, Clarke responded, “If you think you have a good idea stick with it. You are going to have setbacks and challenges but push yourself through, learn from it and move forward.”

Dulcis Candy Company can be contacted via:

Instagram: @dcandycompany

Facebook: Dulcis Candy Company

Email: dulcistt@gmail.com

Defending individual champion Kumar added a 73 to his overnight 76 to now lead by two strokes from Gustavo Betances of the Dominican Republic in the 18 and Under boys category. Liam Bryden’s 79 added to Kumar’s 73 left them behind Puerto Rico in the team standings, which added two 75’s yesterday. Yeji Lee shot 79 for a total of 162 to lead Haylie Turnquest of the Bahamas on 163 in the 15 and Under girls.

Zico Correia shot 76 which was tied for the best score in the boys 13 and Under division, and is now in third place on 158. Justin Hastings of the Cayman Islands and Rangel Gustavo are tied for the lead on 154.

Puerto Rico’s Valeria Pacheco leads the way in the girls 18 and Under with scores of 79 and 77.

Serena Mackenzie of TT is now in fifth place after a disappointing 92 yesterday. The TT 15 and Under boys Dravid Bhim (199) and Lorenzo Kent (205) are 16th and 18th respectively, while Puerto Rico’s Andres Aranguren leads with a score of 150 after two rounds.

In the 13 and Under girls, Chloe Ajodha is the leading Trinbagonian in 13th place with scores of 112 and 110. The TT team is sponsored by the Sport Company of TT , Republic Bank, the R&A, Caribbean Bottlers, Boost Subway, Hadco, Stephen Ames Foundation, Bryden Pi, Signwave Caribbean Limited, Very Exciting Things and the TT Police Service. Round three will be played today.