WS RP Sharon Roop, who is based at the Central Operations Centre at the Chaguanas Police Station as a wireless operator, said she was a practising Muslim and is being denied her constitutional right to freedom of conscience and religious beliefs.

Roop, an officer for eight years, is represented by attorneys Anand Ramlogan,SC, Jayanti Lutchmedial and Robert Abdool-Mitchell.

The lawsuit will be heard by Justice Margaret Mohammed.

In pleading with the court to grant her reliefs sought, Roop said she was advised by the TTPS’ legal officer that the Acting Commissioner of Police was unable to accede to her request to wear a hijab on duty “until there is a change in the legislation”.

In her lawsuit, Roop said three years ago she began wearing the hijab (which covers a woman’s hair) and asked her superiors to be able to wear the head wear while on duty.

She said she was advised to write to the Commissioner of Police to seek permission to wear the hijab with her uniform and provided photographs of ways in which the head wear could be worn with her uniform.

She also provided photographs of law enforcement officers in several non-Islamic countries, such as the United Kingdom and Canada, who have been given the permission to wear the hijab while on duty in uniform.

Roop said she has received no response from the office of the Commissioner.

She has also written to the Minister of National Security and the TTPS Social and Welfare Association.

Roop said when she is on duty she is prevented from truly practising her religion and following its teachings because she is not allowed to wear the hijab.

“I am forced to remove my headscarf before exiting my vehicle on the police station compound and throughout the day, I am left feeling naked, exposed and ashamed because I am forced to disobey the religious instructions which I have received,” she complained in her lawsuit.

Roop also said she was turned away from the Women’s Police Bureau of the TTPS and told she could be disciplined and prosecuted for not wearing her uniform as prescribed.

She was also told she could not wear darker coloured stockings to cover her legs while on duty and to wear the night uniform during the day was a breach of the TTPS Regulations.

“I was very disheartened and discouraged by this response as no one seemed to understand the emotional and psychological impact of being forced to disobey my religion,” she said.

“As it stands I am being forced to choose between prasticing my religion and being a member of the TTPS,” she said, adding that she cannot afford to resign her job because she is a single mother.

Roop said the situation has caused her immense mental anguish and she has had to seek counselling with the police psychologist to cope with the stress and has been subjected to bias and discrimination by certain senior officers.

Roop further said in her lawsuit she was advised by a senior officer of the Central Division that she could not be trusted in the wireless room ‘when things were getting hot’ in Enterprise, Chaguanas, and an attempt was made to have her transferred.

She said the TTPS Regulations make no allowance for items of clothing prescribed by certain religious faiths and because of this she is prevented from observing practices associated with her religious belief.

In a statement yesterday, the ministry said in addition to his words of congratulations, Minister Garcia offered the support of the Ministry in continuing a strong and dynamic relationship with the UWI.

Minister Garcia stated “It is my hope that the Ministry of Education and by extension the Government of Trinidad and Tobago, can work with the University of the West Indies to continue the development of human resource in innovative ways that aid to strengthen the Caribbean economy.”

According to the Trinidad and Tobago Metorological Office, Maria was moving west-north west at 24 kilometres per hour.

Meteorologist Anton Wiltshire said Dominica was under a hurricane warning rather than a hurricane watch while St Lucia was under a tropical storm warning.

TS Maria is expected to be passing over Dominica and Guadeloupe, but because of the size of Maria she could affect other islands north of Dominica as well as south as far as St Vincent. He said TT would not be directly affected by Maria, but there was the possibility that we could be affected with instability associated with the passage of storm.

He explained that instability in the atmosphere could generate showers and thunder showers.

No more storms have been forcecasted after Maria, at least for now, which would be a relief after several islands were devastated after the passage of Irma and Jose, especially Antigua and Barbuda, St Martin and also the Florida Keys.

Barbuda was declared 95 per cent demolished as most of the buildings were destroyed. A hurricane warning is in effect for Dominica, while a hurricane watch was upgraded for Antigua, Barbuda, St Kitts, Monsterrat, Guadeloupe, Saba, St Eustatius, St Maarten, St Martin, St Barthelmy and Anguilla.

A tropical storm warning is in effect for St Lucia while a tropical strom watch is on for Martinique, Barbados, St Vincent and the Grenadines.

Asked about the tremendous heat TT has been experiencing these past few days, Wiltshire attributed this to TS Maria.

“She would be drawing a lot moisture into her and as she draws that moisture she is going to pull that moisture from over us and most of the islands that are south of her right now”, he said.

Before 10 am yesterday, the Met Office had registered 34.6 degrees Celsius.

I say this because we are lucky to have an outstanding regional literature festival and a prestigious literary contest that features Caribbean literature. In case you haven’t noticed, international publishers are not exactly rushing to publish Caribbean literature.

Occasionally, we hit the literary jackpot with a novel like A History of Seven Killings by Jamaican writer Marlon James, which won the Booker Prize, but all in all, it is difficult to build a canon of Caribbean literature because foreign publishers don’t want to take a chance on new, Caribbean writers.

The simple truth is that foreign publishers don’t want to take chances our our literature because they say not enough books sell in the Caribbean. The books that foreign publishers often do publish, turn out to be watered down versions of Caribbean culture to meet the needs of a foreign audience with a penchant for viewing the Caribbean as an exotic playground.

The CODE Burt Awards are particularly important because they feature Young Adult (YA) literature for readers 12 to 18. These awards provide teens with books where they can see themselves in their own setting. This literary award keep that love for literature alive in that crucial period between childhood and adulthood.

If we lose readers in the YA age group, they are often lost to the world of books forever.

Books help us to determine our place in society and indeed the world. They help us resolve the conflicts in our lives, and they provide a sense of pride in who we are. If we don’t support Caribbean literature and the CODE Burt Awards, then we risk losing our literary voice in this world.

So, today I proudly introduce you to the 2016 CODE’s Burt Award-winning books for Caribbean literature in their winning order: 1. Dreams Beyond the Shore by Tamika Gibson (Trinidad and Tobago) 2. Girlcott by Florenz Webbe Maxwell (Bermuda) 3. The Protector’s Pledge by Danielle Y C McClean (Trinidad and Tobago) Over the next three weeks I will present a book review on each one of the winning books, which are now available in book stores. I must confess that am excited about Girlcott because it is historical fiction, which is quite popular with YA readers, and because it had been submitted when I was a CODE Burt Award head judge three years ago. Even back then, I felt Girlcott should have been in the top four finalists.

Also, writers should take note that Dreams Beyond the Shore and Girlcott were unpublished manuscripts when they were submitted to the CODE Burt Awards.

They are now published by Blouse and Skirt Books based in Jamaica.

Aspiring writers should go on line and check out the CODE Burt awards. Submissions to the contest are due in October.

Winners have the satisfaction of seeing their books distributed in schools throughout the Caribbean because each book is guaranteed sales of at least 2,500 copies.

There is no way to fully explain the importance of the Burt Awards and the NGC Bocas Lit Fest. Together, they serve as our lifeline to the world of literature.

In a statement, Khan said after being hospitalised just over a week ago, the news has been fairly grim regarding Cuffie’s recovery.

“However we must not lose hope in the ability of our nation’s doctors, or Mr. Cuffie’s own resilience as he has demonstrated in his political career,” Khan added. He has also offered prayers to the minister and his family and called on the nation to do the same.

“As an elected official, Mr. Cuffie swore an oath to serve this country and his fellow man, and so in his time of struggle we should not overlook this. I therefore wish him a full, and hopefully speedy recovery, so that he may resume his life and portfolio,” Khan said.

Sources told Newsday, “The purpose of a liquidation is to recover as much as possible from an insolvent (bankrupt company.” The sources added that, “Only time will tell how much taxpayers money injected into bailing out CLF can be recovered.” On Friday, Justice Kevin Ramcharan okayed the liquidation of CLF by granting the order sought by the Government to recover the debt owed to taxpayers as part of the 2009 bailout of several of CLF’s subsidaries.

According to data from the unit, the vehicles were stolen from mainly in Central, East and West Trinidad area.

Last week Friday, officers of the unit which is based at the Arouca Police Station, arrested a man whom they described as the ‘Don” of the car stealing racket.

According to a police report, the unit recovered several vehicles last week that were reported stolen by their respective owners. This brought the total to approximately 100 vehicles which have been recovered in bushy areas and at what police have described as ‘well-outfitted garages’.

The report stated that for 2017, the type of stolen vehicles recovered consisted of B-12, B-13, B-14, B-15s, Almeras, Laurels, Tiidas, Elantras, Toyotas, Navarra Hilux, Mazdas and even a Range Rover.

According to the report, most of the vehicles were stolen from North Trinidad. The second largest was from East Trinidad in places such as Tunupuna, St Augustine and Arouca.

The members of the unit who retrieved the vehicles from garages and from abandoned tracks and dirt roads were: Inspector Robert Joseph, Cpl Joel Sifontes, PCs Valmiki Lalsingh, Joel Keer, Leon Paul and WPC Rhonda Reyes.

The report further noted that 40 percent of the stolen vehicles were repainted, chassis numbers defaced and the vehicles equipped with false registration plates. The report said investigations by the unit have led police to the conclusion that the purpose for which the vehicles were stolen as for the commission of a crime such as murders and robberies.

Approximately 75 persons have been arrested since January and are currently facing charges in the court.

According to the report, it appeared that car thieves were staking out vehicles at malls and major shopping districts. It also said many of the vehicles were stolen at gunpoint.

The gist is that his emotional and mental distress is exaggerated by the way in which his family reacts to him now that he is overwhelmed with the symptoms of depression.

According to him, “they don’t care, they too wicked. They feel cussing and threatening me every day will help me, but they don’t understand they making things worse. I stay lock up in my room to keep away from them and they getting vex because I in my room.

They telling people I lazy and don’t want to work. They don’t know how bad I want to get out the house and go to work. They don’t know how deep this depression thing is. They make me feel like nothing, like a nobody.” Depression is quite common which is why the World Health Organisation (WHO) launched the Depression: Let’s Talk campaign.

Estimates are that there are over 300 million people worldwide with depression. Therefore, it is highly probable that every one of us will have some sort of interaction with someone coping with depression, but unfortunately there is still a lack of awareness, clarity, and know-how when it comes to interacting with a family member living with the condition.

There is so much that those who have experienced the symptoms of depression will want others to know. But for the most part it is about understanding the nature of the challenges, and being aware of the ways in which other people’s interactions with them could be perceived and received.

Mental health stigma and discrimination continue to be permeated throughout society –even by those who are themselves living with its challenges. But, negative criticism, comments and behaviours whether intentional or not, hurt even more when it comes from family members or loved ones.

Interacting with a family member who is coping with the symptoms of depression can be physically and mentally exhausting, and it is quite OK to feel frustrated and angry about the situation. But at the same time, it is worth remembering that there is a person behind the behaviours who is undergoing a personal battle to keep themselves well.

Many people coping with depression want others to know that when they are in the clutches of an episode they lose interest in things that they would normally enjoy, such as reading or interacting with social media. They also want others to know that their energy levels and concentration can be so depleted that most things become a chore, and that causes them to struggle to carry out some of the most mundane day-to-day activities such as getting out of the bed; having a shower; preparing a meal; tidying up their surroundings, or going for a walk.

They would want others to know that depression is not a choice and their lack of engagement in conversation or activities is not because they are being rude, stand-offish, snobbish or lazy. It is just that they may not have the mental, physical or emotional strength to do what others will view as being easy, and that they are probably just using up their last energy reserves trying to make sense of their lived experiences and find ways to move forward. Those with depression want others to know that they too experience their own fair share of frustrations, anger and helplessness at the situation, but it is not a case of them just “snapping out of it”, because if they could they would. They would want others to know that it is counter-productive to project and impose one’s own expectations and interpretations on to others, especially when those expectations are being placed on someone who is going through their own emotional struggles. The last thing they will need when they are in what is often described as a black hole, is to feel burdened, or to feel that they are being a burden. Nor do they want to be unduly chastised, berated or punished, because that can then cause them to withdraw and isolate even further, which will hinder recovery.

It is apparent that most families want to do what is best for their loved one, and set out to do what they consider to be beneficial in assisting their well-being. Unfortunately, in some instances the lack of knowledge, awareness and understanding can have the opposite effect. What helps people managing their depression is for the interactions with their families to be done with compassion, empathy, respect and love.

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

“I didn’t like mathematics in the past and never really put my mind to it when I was in school.

But this workshop has been very interesting. Our tutor used practical examples to teach us the subject and made it really simple to understand.

I hope to be an electrical engineer in the future and I know, for sure, that I have to pass math to achieve this goal,” said 16-year old Joel Rambally.

Cleavon Walcott, 17, wants to enter the fire service and he knows that math is one of the keys to realising his dream. “I am looking forward to getting into the service and to be a fireman. I know that passing mathematics will help me along that path. The techniques I learnt during the workshop were easy to follow and I am confident that I will do well when I sit the examinations next year. I am really happy that I decided to attend this course,” said Walcott.

The Annual BPTT Young Adult Math Experience offers young men and women a second chance to study mathematics, a taxing subject for many, in a relaxed and fun environment. Now in its seventh year, the initiative started off with students from the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) It covered training at five locations this year, Port of Spain, Diego Martin, Mayaro, YTC (Arouca) and Tobago. The workshops are facilitated by training agency, Cross and Associates, with tutor Nicole Lord overseeing the YTC session.

This year marks the second edition of the annual math experience at the YTC, with Acting Assistant Superintendant of Prisons, Avellina Augustine-Kanhai, lauding BPTT for giving the youths a second opportunity to revive their interest in the subject.

“It is always a pleasure to see learning taking place, especially among youths. Within the service, we have a programme of education and skills training and we ensure that everyone is afforded the opportunity to learn and improve themselves. We thank BPTT wholeheartedly for enhancing our learning activity and providing these young men with this chance to move forward in life. I also want to thank all the coordinators of the programme, parents and the facilitators, for partnering with us to make a real difference in the lives of these young men. Thank you all for your labour of love,” said Augustine- Kanhai. Joel Primus, Community Sustainability and Stakeholder relations Advisor, BPTT, told the graduates that while some people tend to have a negative view of YTC youths, their participation in the workshop demonstrated that something positive and heartening was taking place at the institution.

“Your graduation this morning shows that you have already embarked on a new life for yourselves which will usher great hope for your future. Irrespective of what happened in your past, it is important to look ahead and plan for the future. Use this math experience as a building block for your new life,” Primus urged the young graduates.

He gave the assurance that BPTT would continue to support the math experience at the YTC “and will support this initiative in other ways to help in your development for life”.

Also addressing the graduates was Andrew Cross, Principal/Consultant, Cross and Associates, who told them that their graduation celebrated the end of a programme and heralded the celebration of a new beginning. “Mathematics is a vehicle for positive change in your life. Whenever you make mistakes, you need to correct them. That is the objective of math and this opportunity should serve to change your life for the better,” Cross advised the graduates.

One report of acts of intimidation and assault is bad enough, but three such reports in the space of one week demand action. The law enforcement authorities, the Media Association of Trinidad and Tobago and the Police Complaints Authority must conduct expeditious probes into the reports of three media workers from various media houses, including Newsday, being subject to assault, having damage done to their property, and, in one case, being threatened with death.

That these incidents appear to have taken place in broad daylight and with some degree of involvement by persons said to be tied to law enforcement is troubling. They threaten to undermine Trinidad and Tobago’s standing in the world when it comes to press freedom.

Our global ranking in the World Press Freedom Index rose to 34 in 2017, but this masked an actual drop in our global score. Should authorities be unable to come to grips with the disturbing rash of incidents this week, we could well be in store for a severe loss of confidence.

The Government, Opposition and Independent parliamentarians must all roundly condemn any act of violence or intimidation directed at the media.

Our leaders have a responsibility to set the example for all others to follow.

The facts in relation to these incidents remain nebulous.

We accuse no particular company or entity of wrong-doing until the facts are properly established.

But assault, threat of death and destruction of property are in no way justifiable.

Worse, are the reports suggesting abuse of police power in the hours after the incidents. It is essential that the Police Service, in particular, address this matter given the damage to its reputation which it has sustained due to two recent matters: the day of “Total Policing” and high-profile political claims of prosecutorial victimisation.

This issue is, however, not only one involving the media – which enjoys the Constitutional right to freedom of the press.

The reports also raise the prospect of an affront to the freedoms all citizens enjoy, including the right of the individual to life, liberty and security of the person and the enjoyment of property, as well as freedom of movement.

In a modern democracy, if questions involving the public interest are raised, all have a right to engage in a discourse on these matters and to get the facts.

The principle of fairness dictates that all sides have a chance to tell their story. While the source of the attacks will be a matter for the agencies to establish we warn that no individual should be driven to respond to legitimate inquiry by the use of violence and intimidation. It is no good shooting the messenger and leaving the real issues unresolved. The truth will out.

None of this is to say the media is not itself accountable and does not have to abide by rules as well. But attacks on the media are separate and apart from the standard of journalism.

In fact, these attacks heighten the need for the media to have the freedom it has in the first place.

Let all be warned that the media will not be cowed from pursuing matters that are in the public interest. In fact, actions of intimidation only serve to increase attention on the issues which were being examined in the first place.