The girl’s mother said to her, “Mark and observe.” My advice to the people of TT today is no different: mark and observe.

Observe that the track of the storms leaving Africa is now south of the traditional path and should the trend continue TT can very likely experience more tropical storms during this rainy season.

Observe that despite my letter weeks before the storm warning that we were likely to be affected by heavy rainfall and as such our waterways ought to be cleared, very little was done to prepare for heavy rainfall. Mark that there is need for a comprehensive emergency warning system.

Mark and observe that administration after administration give the impression they are serious about reducing criminal activity but are yet to conclude a comprehensive DNA legislative plan with appropriate structure.

Observe how the government boasts of being able to operationalise the structures to charge citizens exorbitant sums for traffic violations but was not as efficient in putting in place structures to assist in crime reduction.

Legislation and regulations to operationalise items like tamper-proof licence plates, modern driver’s permit with data strips or bar codes, a reliable and updated vehicle registration system that allows for tracing ownership from mobile computers and car titles that allow for easy transfer of vehicles remain elusive.

Observe that the easy things that bring relief to the population are ignored while those that place burdens on citizens are embraced. Things like restoring roads after digging them up, changing to a gravity feed system for equitable water distribution, making payment for government services possible through collection centres nationwide and accepting electronic payment are all difficult to operationalise.

Taxes, fines, fees, increases in prices for State-controlled items and burdensome regulations are quickly processed and made operable.

Mark and observe that these burdens and inefficiencies cross party lines. None of the political organisations have been able to do comprehensive local government reform.

They both continued the wastage and nepotism associated with Cepep and URP.

They both failed to enact laws to assist in protecting the population from criminals like access to firearms and non-lethal self-defence items like mace, pepper spray and tasers.

They both continue to hold on to thousands of houses rather than distribute them to a needy population.

They both depend largely on ethnicity as a factor for their election to office.

Observe that it is time to cast aside the obsession with politicians who exploit our differences and unite in service to TT .

STEVE ALVAREZ via email

We are thankful the damage suffered in the wake of Tropical Storm Bret was not as bad as the kind of devastation which other countries have often endured in the wake of storms. We did not see hundreds of fatalities, and the basic infrastructure of the country remained intact.

However, to say this is not to deny the profoundly distressing flooding which unfolded in the aftermath and which affected south, central and east Trinidad.

All parties should unite to properly respond to incidents like this. When people have had homes flooded and crops destroyed and are in need of basic shelter and supplies, it is not the time to engage in foolishness.

Instead of the matter being soberly dealt with, the Parliamentarians have served us a foul stew, with nebulous allegations and counter-allegations of racism.

Make no mistake: both political parties depend on race to ensure their survival. But no party must ever seek to serve the interests of only one segment of society.

This country is a democracy and all must be allowed to have a say and to be heard in the corridors of power and beyond.

So MPs need to realize the election is long over and it is time to work to serve the people, no matter their geographic location, their party allegiance, their race, their age, their religious belief, their sexuality, their class, their educational status.

If the Parliament wants to talk about race then it should have a serious discussion about racism, how it is masked by the veneer of politics, how people suffer micro-aggressions on a daily basis, how our political systems have failed to be more proportionate and inclusive.

But until then, get on with the work. Friday was a missed opportunity for both sides to get together. It was also a chance for the Government to review its allocation of $25 million to fund flood relief in the wake of Bret. While that allocation is welcomed and while we are in difficult times, the sum appears relatively small. The Government will need to listen carefully to MPs to gauge if more funds should be allocated.

That is, assuming they stop the idle bickering. Another distraction seems on the cards in the form of a no-confidence motion in Speaker Bridgid Annisette-George, which the Opposition has a right to file by which does not seem to have much of a chance of passing if debated.

As more rainy days are upon us we hope MPs get their act together. Perhaps all should use their downtime in-between protests and walkouts and irrelevant cross-talk to engage in some quiet reflection on the role of Parliamentarians.

Ahye, fresh off her national record- breaking run in the 100m final on Saturday, blew away the field to clinch the sprint double yesterday. Ahye controlled the half-lap race from start to finish, crossing the finish line without challengers in 22.50. Her time was good enough to book her spot at the World Championships in London later this year. Coming in a distant second was Kayelle Clarke (22.97) while Semoy Hackett (23.07) followed in third. All three set World standard times.

In the men’s equivalent, it was Abilene Wildcats 1-2-3 with Jereem Richards (20.15), Kyle Greaux (20.19) and Dan-Nei Telesford (20.50) rounding out the medal positions respectively.

Reigning 100m champ Emmanuel Callender came in fifth in a time of 20.65.

It was a disappointing weekend for former World 400m hurdles champion Jehue Gordon who finished out of the medals in his pet event yesterday. Gordon ran slower than he did in the preliminaries, stopping the clock at 52.48 to place fifth.

Dominican Republic’s Juander Santos took the win in a fast 49.26 to qualify for the World Championships later this year. Puerto Rico’s Eric Alejandro (49.90) and Kern Alexis of Memphis Pioneers (50.52) were second and third respectively.

In the women’s shot put, Toco TAFAC’s Portious Warren threw to the gold with a 15.42m heave.

In second place was club-mate Cherisse Murray (14.43m) while Falcons’ Chelsea James (14.00m) was third.

Fans at the stadium got the opportunity to see the man whose name stands on the facility, Hasely Crawford, in a 10m race with NAAA president Ephraim Serrette. Warming up profusely for the race at age 66, Crawford showed he still knows his way around the track against his 59 year old opponent. And while there may have been a false start, fans with their cellphones out were happy to capture the fun moment.

In a telephone interview with the Newsday yesterday afternoon, Padarath rehashed the parliamentary events on Friday night which culminated in an Opposition walk-out.

During his contribution on the debate of a matter of urgent public importance, Padarath accused Rowley of having “a disdain for the people in south Trinidad because they believe that they are UNC (United National Congress) people.” Asked yesterday whether he was convinced he did the right thing on Friday, Padarath said “Most definitely.

Because above everything else, my duty is for the public interest. And the 14,000 people who voted for me, voted for me to provide a voice for them whether it is inside the parliament or outside the parliament.

I was not wrong in those circumstances for standing up and fighting for the people of south Trinidad and the people of my constituency.” Newsday asked Padarath whether he did in fact call Rowley a racist as was previously reported.

Padarath said he did so in response to the Prime Minister’s own echoing of Leader of Government Business Camille Robinson-Regis’ accusation that he (Padarath) was a racist.

“I asked how could you call me a racist when you may be one of the biggest racists of all?” Asked whether he regreted referring to Rowley as a racist, Padarath said “That really is beside the point. The point really is what happened in Parliament on Friday night and I would like to stick to that.” Padarath said the government’s response to Tropical Storm Bret was not the only reason for him believing the PNM thought less of the people of south.

“We have had several protests happening in south Trinidad with respect to not only UNC held constituencies but even some of theirs. When you look at the water crisis that we have been having over the past few months and then the minister comes and says that there is no water crisis and half of south is without water.” Padarath went on to list “stalled projects” including the highway to Point Fortin and repairs to several schools throughout the southern region for which parents and students have been clamouring. “But that has always been the PNM. That is not any secret.” On the UNC’s intention to file a motion of no confidence in the Speaker of the House for her alleged failure to rule on the UNC’s point of order on Friday, Padarath said their grievances will be aired in the Parliament. Whether the motion is debated at the next sitting on Wednesday depends on the parliamentary agenda.

Princes Town Member of Parliament, Barry Padarath

It is a month of patience and reward; a month of sympathy with one’s fellow men.

It is a month where a believer’s faith is increased. God decorates the Heaven during this month.

The month has three parts.

The first brings God’s mercy.

The second brings His forgiveness.

The third brings emancipation from Hell.

During Ramadan there is one night known as “Lailatul Qadr” or a night for great blessings and spiritual value.

The Quran was revealed on this night. Angels and the spirit descend by God’s permission. The month ends today with the celebration of Eid. May we all have a blessed Eid ul-Fitr. May Allah guide us, have mercy on us, protect us, give us His grace and forgive us.

AHAMAD KHAYYAM Curepe

This may have something to do with the fact that I spent the weekend before the last at the Special Olympics Regional Games in Belfast.

For these athletes, winning a gold medal or a silver or bronze means exactly the same as it does to a world famous able-bodied athlete who wins a medal in other athletic competitions. But what makes it really difficult is trying to describe the emotions of both onlooker and participant at the Special Olympics without seeming to be somehow talking down to those who are involved in these games or appearing sentimental.

For the athletes the aura and the glow are exactly that of any other individual who stands on a podium and hears his or achievement broadcast, while a medal is placed around the neck. And the pride of onlookers is as intense.

But why should I have to explain why I, or any parent or sibling, might bask in the glory of family achievements? Perhaps this need to explain has something to do with the fact that we have been seasoned to feel that only academic or corporate success matters and that only those who seem to come close to our image of an ideal are truly memorable.

Often media personalities or stars come to signify that ideal.

Achievement is often measured in today’s society by the amount of media coverage that an individual gains, for whatever reason. People who work in the media, in particular television personalities, are instantly recognisable and become icons. In a sense they are placed on pedestals and their faces hover above us, not least because television is a magical box that frames the image and makes it both invade our reality and at the same time cuts us off from that reality.

They signify an idea of perfection and of achievement.

The Special Olympics competitions seek something different.

They recognise that everyone needs to feel a sense of achievement and we all need acknowledgement.

The rules and regulations of the Special Olympic Games are very specific. These rules govern the divisions and the times. An athlete who qualifies to take part in a particular division may not exceed 15 percent in performance.

This means that sometimes athletes are disqualified. For example, the wind may carry a javelin further than previously thrown.

Or an athlete may suddenly begin to concentrate more than she did before and run or walk faster than her qualifying time. This regulation may seem odd to many, but there is obviously a reason.

There is a principle here and it is because of this principle that people like Thomas, who has cerebral palsy, can take part at his own pace, in a group of his particular speed limitations. He can then aspire to win. We watched Thomas run down the field in the 200-metre race, accompanied by his helper and recognised that this was an achievement of the highest order.

The cheers that broke out when he reached the finishing line were recognition of his extraordinary grit and determination to achieve.

The spectators in the crowd were exultant.

For most of us in the day-to-day routine of what I choose to call our “mainstream” world, competition means being better than someone else.

Often this leads to devious ways of making those against whom we compete, fail. Or perhaps we network so that those with whom we associate can help us get to our goals.

But not so in the Special Olympics.

While everyone wants to win, everyone also wants everyone else to win. This may sound odd. But there is as much joy among athletes who do not come first when they see another achieve that gold as there is in winning itself. This is a difficult thing to get one’s head around.

Maybe it means taking the blinkers off and recognising that the true achievement is not about that moment of glory, but in the fact that somehow a hurdle has been passed. A limit circumvented.

An obstacle removed.

Lines are drawn in mainstream life that dictate success as something measurable. Yes, there is an element of this in the Special Olympics, but by putting in place several lines or avenues and creating different systems of evaluation, virtually everyone can achieve.

Success and achievement become interchangeable. We have succeeded because we have achieved recognition. But there are little stories that get lost, as the philosopher ?douard Gli ssant has noted, and it is these little stories that together create a true history.

The South West Regional Health Authority (SWRHA) was ordered to pay damages to the parents Shaheeda and Guy Massiah.

The quantum of the payment are for damages and cost in relation to negligence of the San Fernando General Hospital.

The lawsuit cited the SWRHA as the defendant and stated that on July, 22, 2005, the mother Shaheeda went into labour while at the hospital and due to the negligence of the doctors and nursing staff, her son Evan Massiah was born with Cerebral Palsy. At the delivery the umbilical cord was tightly wound around his neck and he suffered Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy secondary to cord compression.

The child was moved to England for treatment where the parents claimed that his condition improved.

However, the parents claimed while visiting Trinidad, their son contracted a respiratory tract illness and was taken to the San Fernando General Hospital for treatment.

Three-year-old Evans died on March 27,2009. The parents in the lawsuit stated that due to the negligence of the doctors, nurses and staff their son died. They contended that the hospital lacked the proper standard of care and service which led to the child’s death.

Evans died on March 27, 2009.

Attorney Shastri VC Parsad instructed by Keshma Sankar, represented the parents.

Attorneys Winston Seenath instructed by Alyson Cudjoe represented the SWRHA.

In the lawsuit, the parents also contended that the hospital failed to carry out continuous fetal monitoring of the well being of the foetus during labour.

The parents also contended that the hospital failed to induce labour in order to decrease the risk of infection in view of the prolonged rupture of membranes.

In addition Shaheeda and Guy contended that the hospital failed to monitor on a regular basis the fetal heartbeat during labour as well failure to carry out electronic fetal heart rate monitoring knowing the 36- year-old mother was a high risk patient. This was also cited as particulars of negligence in the lawsuit. When the deceased child was re-admitted to the hospital, based on the defence case, the SWRHA did not pay due regard to the fact that he had Cerebral Palsy.

The SWRHA, the parents said failed to analyse the signs and symptoms of the child’s condition and failed to make the correct diagnosis

“We often advise people if you are concerned about your safety, you may want to vacate and go to a safer area, but invariably people do not do that. What people do is that they stay in their homes and wait to see the extent of flooding.” Williams encouraged citizens to take a more proactive approach to ensuring their personal safety by leaving their homes and seeking shelter elsewhere until flooding subsides.

He said that emergency response services usually only respond to affected areas once flood water has drained which could take hours before persons left behind in these areas receive assistance.

“The response agencies usually wait until the water recedes before we come to these affected areas to assess the damage, so it’s only when those flood waters have receded we tend to get a sense of the level of impact.” He added that while heavy showers were expected to occur during the weekend into today, no flash flooding has been reported so far but urged persons who may have been affected by recent flooding to learn from past experiences and secure their homes before major flooding occurs.

“Flood happens every year so this a fairly routine occurrence, what people should be doing is learning from their past experiences, but what people tend to do is wait and see and only after the flooding has come they choose to act.”

He said CARICOM is the most uncommmon common market.

Dr Ramdeen made the comments while delivering remarks at the opening of a Caribbean Market Mission organised by JAMPRO, the Jamaican trade and investment promotion agency, at the Hilton Trinidad and Conference Centre, St Ann’s. He added that in theory CARICOM was supposed to include free movement of people but this has been repeatedly delayed and today he is not sure whether the community is still discussing free movement.

Dr Ramdeen compared CARICOM to the European Union (EU) and said there is no reason why the regional body cannot advance in the same way as the EU has done.

He said the JAMPRO mission is targeting three countries: Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago and The Bahamas, but he said that exporters sending goods into The Bahamas had to pay duties because while The Bahamas is part of CARICOM it is not part of the Common Market regime. He said such issues needed to be sorted out. Regarding the JAMPRO mission, he said the TTMA welcomed competition because Trinidad and Tobago was a consumer society and needed goods to come into this market.

He said the TTMA did not fear competition although the border agencies needed to do their duties. Dr Ramdeen said there was no reason that this country was importing some $5 billion a year in food including a lot of goods from outside the region while some of those products could be sourced from within the Caribbean.

However, he said he was an optimist and saw himself as a CARICOM person. He said the TTMA continued to work with the Government to develop trade and needed Jamaica in order for this country to be a healthy and strong economy and CARICOM to be a healthy and strong economy.

Also speaking at the event was the Jamaican High Commissioner to Trinidad and Tobago, David Prendergast who lamented that in 2015 Jamaica exported just over US$12 million worth of goods to Trinidad and Tobago and had a “substantial trade deficit of over US$400 million,” a situation the JAMPRO trade mission to this country was hoping to improve. The mission comprises 18 Jamaican firms but only eleven have chosen to visit this country because they see the most promise in this market. He said that, “Over the past five decades, Jamaica and the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago have maintained strong bilateral relations as CARICOM sister nations.

The trade links between our two countries have remained extensive, and its continued promotion is important if small economies such as ours are to sustain an upward trajectory towards achieving our long term development goals, realising economic growth and ensuring job creation.” Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Trade and Industry, Frances Seignoret, said the visit showed the determination of both countries to collaborate on trade and investment matters within CARICOM and said last year’s visit to Jamaica by Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley and a high powered delegation underscored the importance of co-operation between the two islands, adding that both prime ministers acknowedged the need for improvement in trade relations including the obstructions to free trade and the free movement of goods and services.

He said the prime ministers of Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago agreed to work toward a better and stable environment for businesses to thrive, to increase investment flows and to develop mechanisms for closer trade co-operation and the resolution of trade issues. She said the local Trade Ministry was working with its CARICOM partners to advance trade relations in accordance with the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas, observing that this involves working with the region’s Common External Tariff within the Revised Treaty to protect and provide a foundation for growth and development for the region’s manufacturing capacity.

Seignoret mentioned the Single Electronic Window (SEW ), an information technology portal which allows all trade related processes to be completed online with one document which is submitted to all the approving agencies with approvals promised within a day or two.

She said that the SEW improves operational efficiency and increases the speed of trade and business transactions.

She said the ministry is also working on an E-Commerce Policy which would set up a framework for the online trade in products and services locally, regionally and internationally.

She said when this is implemented it would lead to the creation of a new and enhanced environment and ensures that business owners, traders and consumers will have the necessary confidence and resources to use the internet to expand into regional and global markets and enhance their revenue.

In his Eid-Ul-Fitr message to the country, the President said the Holy period of Ramadan helps build and sustain cohesion, cooperation and holistic neighbourly living between and among families and communities through the daily Iftar celebrations at Masjids around the country.

He said it must be a nostalgic moment for the Islamic community as it reflects on the many relationships forged and bonds strengthened with friends and family.

The President said Islam reminds all citizens of their duty and responsibility to serve one another, especially those less fortunate and to do so graciously, without fanfare and with compassion.

He added that this was especially important because of the passage of Tropical Storm Bret, which has left widespread damage across the country with many families in need. He said citizens are called upon to come together, help each other and rebuild, through a philosophy of genuine community.

“Today, many of our citizens are faced with great financial loss, unemployment, emotional hardship, displacement and a sense of hopelessness,” he said, adding that, “It is not easy, for there are many quietly suffering in the trenches of our society. We must therefore, draw guidance, sustenance and hope from the teachings of Islam and Almighty Allah the Beneficent.”