AiA is the Applied Creative Arts, Outreach Unit of the Department of Creative and Festival Arts (DCFA) of The University of the West Indies (UWI), St Augustine.

Now in its 26th year, the Discovery Camp seeks to provide a facility where children can engage in a fun and educational artsbased process using art, dance, drama and music as learning and developmental tools.

The camp’s theme titled Memories gets its name from a classic calypso by the Sparrow in which the Birdie croons into memory the names, the lives, and work of important cultural icons who have passed on.

“With the passing of Narcenio “Se?or” Gomez and Sir Derek Walcott between 2016 and 2017 (among others), Arts-in- Action felt it timely to find ways of memorialising these important contributions to Caribbean cultural life and civilisation, especially for a young generation who run the risk of (perhaps) never hearing these names,” said a media release.

“We seek to engage our young campers in taking a journey and learning more about our past icons.” Memories runs for two cycles from July 10 to 29 and August 7 to 19, Monday to Friday, 9am – 3pm at the DCFA at Agostini Street in St Augustine.

For more info: 289- 4242 or email@artsinaction.org

In reply to Mark’s listed question on an emergency fund to help flood victims, Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister Stuart Young said $25 million was alocated for distribution via the Ministries of Works, Social Development, Rural Development and Local Government, and Agriculture.

Mark asked that given the severity of dislocation, could the sum be increased to $100 million.

Young replied that Cabinet has decided on $25 million, and asked if the Opposition is aware of the country’s financial state.

Saying the sum is now $35 million, he said the Opposition used to work in the hundreds of millions of dollars. Mark pressed, to ask if the sum could be reviewed.

Young replied, “The Government is always reviewing its position.

At this stage the allocation is $25 million.” In a separate question, Mark asked of the number of schools still shut due to Bret? Education Minister Anthony Garcia replied that originally 10 schools were shut but most had since reopened.

Five schools had stayed shut due to inaccessibility due to flood waters, including Warrenville TIA and Warrenville Presbyterian which shut yesterday because the Caroni River had overflowed its banks. He added that three other schools had been used as shelters, of which one (Valencia Government School) has since returned to use by pupils.

Works Minister Rohan Sinanan told Independent Senator Paul Richards of works on watercourses, namely clearing Tacarigua River, de-silting Cipero River, and river control gangs clearing debris. He is waiting for water levels to fall before decisions are made on the Oropouche Lagoon, Caroni Basin, North Oropouche River Basin and Caparo Water Basin.

Agriculture Minister Clarence Rambharat, in reply to a query by Mark, said his ministry has already received hundreds of applications for relief assistance from farmers especially in Tabaquite, Orange Grove, Penal and Woodland.

On Wednesday, Attorney General Faris Al Rawi said the DNA legislation which was passed in 2011 allows for all prisoners convicted and remanded as well as the arrestee population and all officers from the protective services, Customs, Prisons and Immigration to submit themselves for DNA testing so that the information could be placed on a DNA database.

The AG also said he expects the lab to be set up by September or even earlier and added that the legislation makes it mandatory for the DNA test to be carried out on certain individuals.

However, President of the Police Social and Welfare Association (PSWA) Inspector Michael Seales yesterday lashed back at the AG claiming that he will have a legal fight on his hands if no consultation is carried out on the matter with the PSWA and other relevant bodies.

He said Government can legislate to do anything but once you have to impact on terms and conditions, you have to have a discussion with the representative unions and it cannot be the position that the Government could legislate without consultation.

“The membership of the Association can assure that although they have nothing to hide, (it) will challenge that legislation in court. “You can legislate but you cannot abrogate the rights of an individual under the Constitution.

“So any officer will have the full protection of the law and must not be in a position that he is disenfranchised because of the law. I think the Association will recommend consultation because the membership will have to have a clearer picture why they need a DNA data base, but without consultation it is a recipe for chaos”.

He noted that whenever a request is made for DNA tests to be carried out on any officer, the executive will meet with the membership to arrive at a consensus on the matter.

Yesterday President of the Prison Officers Association Ceran Richards said that he had not yet discussed the matter with his membership but added “The same haste and energies the Attorney General is extending to gather data for their DNA data bank we want the same haste and energy applied for the protection of prison officers on and off duty, that we call for Law Enforcement Act and although the Attorney General has set up a commit to treat with it we want a committee and the Attorney General to move with the same haste and energy having these laws brought before the parliament to protect law enforcement officers in this country who are under constant attack from the criminal element”.

He said that It appears that the state is not interested in the officers’ safety and security, “so we want the same enthusiasm haste and energies applied to this particular fundamental area.

We want politicians as well to take the same DNA tests” Newsday understands that Government is in negotiation with experts from England and the United States with a view of getting the best persons to set up the DNA lab.

The DNA regulator has already been contracted and is in the process of recruiting suitably qualified persons locally to assist in the setting up of the lab.

The corporation said it understands the difficult time the farming community is experiencing given the aftermath of Tropical Storm Bret. The Corporation therefore is waiving its market fees for a period of one week which will take effect from next Monday until Sunday July 2. No fees will be charged to farmers and other users of the following facilities; Northern Wholesale Market, Macoya; Southern Wholesale Market, Debe; Orange Valley Wholesale Fish Market; Port of Spain Wholesale Fish Market and; Valencia Farmers Retail Facility Market Namdevco in its release said that through its mandate which is to create, facilitate and maintain an environment conducive to the efficient marketing of agricultural produce and food products through the provision of marketing services and the stimulation of business investment in the agro-industrial sector of Trinidad and Tobago, takes this opportunity given the current challenges that are being faced by our farmers to reinforce our commitment to provide services that develop the agricultural sector

From day one, with The Road Show organised by Victor Crosby in tribute to his brother Earl, to the finale comprising the Steelband and Traditional Mas Street parade funded by the Ministry of Community Development, Culture and The Arts with input from the National Carnival Bands Association, the festival played to appreciative audiences throughout the week.

The revamped programme which saw the return of Pan Explosion and Jazz Beat to the Carl “Beaver Henderson” production of We Kaiso, and additional free events, attracted a greater public awareness and participation, said a media release. Film night drew one of the largest audiences, ever. We- Connect which was geared toward schoolchildren was a moving, motivational event, and the big band sound of Errol Ince and the Music Makers won rave reviews.

The CIC congratulates the 2017 honoree, Woo Ling’s Supermarket, a third generation business serving the people of St James for over 70 years. It also extends its gratitude to Joan Yuille-Williams and acknowledges the assistance from the Office of the Prime Minister and the Ministry of Social Development and Family Services (NGO Unit), the release said.

Contributions also came from MHTL, Nestle, Rent A Amp/Standby Power, Carib, Caribbean Bottlers, Angostura, National Carnival Commission, National Lotteries Control Board, The Diabetes Association, Kenneth Atwell Creations, Flo Essence, Marlene Goddard, Murchsion Brown, WACK 90.1FM and i95.5FM, and St James Police Station, among others.

The CIC thanks all entertainers, artisans, suppliers, media, committee members and especially those who attended the events for keeping WeBeat alive for yet another year.

This year’s production was in tribute to the late Earl Crosby, founder and first president of the CIC.

Most everything that happens here that is important enough to attract public attention or outrage is immediately framed within a political and therefore ethnic paradigm.

Personally, this tendency has become so sickening that I begin to wonder at times whether we are wasting our time financing the education of our people.

As soon as something atrocious or out of the ordinary happens here, the first question we hear is: “What kinda people involved?” The answer to that question provides the vindication to indulge in the bigotry of racial profiling and irrational cultural generalisations.

So, as is expected in these types of issues, we have begun to believe the ethnic caricatures we conjure are the truth. Professionals at the highest echelons of their professions exhibit the same bigotry which is generously distributed across our entire cultural spectrum.

This perverse ethnic and cultural conditioning begin to manifest itself in pre-adolescence in this country. If you think I’m wrong, I invite you to listen to any radio talk show.

We falsely proclaim that we are a rainbow people. That is only a veneer. Many foreigners who have lived here for significant lengths of time have remarked that we are just about the most racist society that they have encountered.

Negative racial profiling has been cited as a definite cause of individual indiscipline among minority groups in schools in the US. Racial stereotyping surprisingly often enough emanates — at times innocently — from teachers, whether of the same or different race.

The psychological burden imposed upon the child is pretty weighty considering that his/her home situation might be stressful as well. This type of “stress” frequently leads to alienation and delinquent behaviour.

The shift from delinquency to deviance to criminality is almost natural. The further grouping of “like-minded” individuals into gangs is not too far-fetched.

It is long past the time that we explore this issue scientifically in our environment so as to preemptively curtail the excessive social pathology that plagues the country.

A proactive approach such as this might find greater success in the medium to long term.

Surely, our “reaction” to rising criminality thus far has been a failure. There is a need to explore the education system to eradicate “system-related” issues that foster negative ethnic and cultural conditioning as a vital means of tackling existing escalating social pathology and criminality.

STEVE SMITH via email

Speaking to the media following Jack’s two-hour presentation, Charles said he was indeed pleased with the presentation.

“Ecstatic, actually as you recognise, this is the first budget under my watch and I am very, very pleased with the areas of focus,” he said.

The Chief Secretary noted that things must be done differently, as it is not business as usual.

“I think that Tobagonians recognise that there are things to be done and in fact the theme of the budget which is ‘Unleashing the creative and productive capacity of our people’, as you would, I am sure on sober reflection, will understand is what is needed.

Everyone in Tobago recognises that this is the time for change, everyone recognises that we must do things differently, we are now calling the people to action and we would be leading the charge in ensuring that the requisite mindset as well as the kinds of activities to complement that mindset are effective,” he said.

Questioned on the issue of Sandals and its proposed construction in Tobago, Charles said negotiations are at a delicate stage.

“Have patience my dear friend, have patience, Rome was not built in a day.

As I did promise, once we begin to get information that we feel can be disseminated to the population, we will do so. As you know, we have begun our negotiations and negotiations are at a delicate stage but don’t worry, you shall be advised appropriately.” He said the people of Tobago will be involved in the process soon.

“Consultations in the main will revolve around issues relative to the environment and so on and therefore, as soon as the application for CEC (Certificate of Environmental Clearance) and so on, the Environmental commission will set up those conversations and we would expect Tobagonians to participate fully.” … And with an inefficient sea and air bridge, Charles is hopeful that the situation will be fixed shortly.

“The solutions are imminent and if I were a betting man I would bet you but, I am not a betting man but these things will be attended to.

As a matter of fact, as was indicated in the budget presentation, I have been in close communication both with the Minister as well as the Chairman of the board, so I am aware of the actions that have been taken and at this stage all that we are really doing is dotting the I’s and crossing the T’s. Two vessels will be here and arrive in time for the busy season, that assurance I give you,” he said.

The Commission, in a press release, thanked its customers for their continued patience and understanding as they make every effort to have all customers back on a regular supply. TTEC said that in North Trinidad areas in Paramin, Mackay Hill, Belmont, Upper Belmont Valley Road as well as about 25 individual customers, have been attended to yesterday.

In South, seven areas are still without an electricity supply, two pockets in Moruga and five in the Penal area, in addition to some individual customers. The Eastern area continues to encounter a number of challenges due to floodwaters having not yet receded to a level where the utility’s crews can go in and effect repairs to fallen or damaged poles and electrical wires. In addition to the floodwater, fallen trees are also posing a danger.

T&TEC work crews yesterday continued repair work in Central Trinidad. The Commission said that areas still without power are in Sangre Grande, Tamana, Talparo, Mundo Nuevo, Coalmine, Blanchisseuse, Cumuto, Foster Road, Sou Sou Lands and Salybia.

Tobago’s electrical supplies were not affected by the storm, the Commission said.

He was especially concerned that the new bill ditches provisions in an existing 1999 Act that mandates sanctions against prosecutors caught abusing the system such as by offering improper inducements to defendants.

Sturge said that on one hand prosecutors seek to lift up such persons to ask juries to believe their word, yet will not themselves enter plea-deals with them due to fears of facing penalties under the 1999 Act, noting that four past Directors of Public Prosecutions (DPPs) had stayed far from using the Act.

Sturge said that just as such accused persons had snitched on their former partners in crime, so too were they likely to also turn on the prosecutors with whom they had struck a plea-deal. “You are dealing with the scum of the earth who will turn around and bite you.” Sturge cited the British case of the “Guildford Four” and the American case of the “Central Park Joggers” to show that prosecutors have knowingly pursued false prosecutions against persons later proven to be innocent.

He cited a local case, “Barry Brown and Others”, where it was later proven that the police and prosecutor had knowingly set up suspects, but without consequence when unearthed. “You know what happened to them? Nothing. That’s a lie. They got promoted.” He said one officer got promoted to be one rung away from being a Commissioner of Police, and could still fill that spot one day. Sturge feared that the current bill eviscerates the existing Judges Rules that has safeguards against involuntary statements being taken from suspects for court evidence. Sturge also warned of the plight of accused persons being defended by “green” lawyers from the Legal Aid scheme, who could easily be intimidated by the police when visiting his client in a police station.

“If the police just opens his mouth too hard, he (lawyer) would run out of the station.” Sturge urged that a fresh provision to mandate that an experienced lawyer be given to a suspect on a murder charge.

Operations and Relief Officer Captain (Ret’d) Neville Wint said these items, whether destroyed or damaged, would assist officers in assessing the kind of help the household needed.

“Those who have lost items, please do not discard these items. These items are critical for evidence of loss so that the ministries that are doing the relief, and giving of grants, can verify that you have suffered a loss.

Once it has been identified and confirmed, the necessary steps will be taken by the relevant agencies to assist those impacted…” Wint said during a news conference, yesterday, held by the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Management (ODPM), at the National Security Ministry, Temple Court, Abercromby Street, Port-of- Spain.

And while the riverine alert has been lifted, the ODPM is still asking the persons living in these areas to be alert and monitor the level of the water. Wint said the regional corporations were leading the damage assessment and relief operations at this time led by Local Government and Social Development and Family Services.

He reported that utility services were mostly up and running with the Telecommunications Services of Trinidad and Tobago (TSTT) having just two per cent of service still down, the Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA) was at five per cent and the TT Electricity Commission (TTEC) was at ten per cent.

He said corporations have been having problems with distribution due to the high water levels in some areas. As the water was now receding, it was now allowing the first responder agencies to reach persons who were marooned.

He said the TT Defence Force Battalion has been mobilised with Zodiac weather boats issued by the ODPM to take first responders where necessary and take relief items in areas affected. They have issued sandbags and tarpaulins to the municipal corporations to supplement their stocks and food cards have also been issued by Ministry of Social Development Captain Dave Williams, deputy chief executive officer of the ODPM, noted that TT was not under any threat of any tropical weather system. “There is a social media that is purporting that we are to be impacted by two tropical systems. At this point in time we are not under any tropical storm, watch or warning. The systems that are out there are typical to this time of the year