The Agriculture, Land and Fisheries Minister was out for a day’s journey to Tabaquite, Moruga, Debe and Woodland, to see first-hand some of the hardest hit areas on Wednesday.

He also visited the Orange Grove, Felicity, Rio Claro areas on Tuesday.

Minister Clarence Rambharat spoke to affected farmers affected. He noted that the main issue was the loss of crops which were nearing the end of their productive cycle; the loss of new plants and seedlings; and a factor that little attention is paid to, the deluge of mud, rubbish and bamboo/tree parts left in the fields.

There are also farmers farming along a watercourse and farming on lands that they do not have leases for. Further, the Minister noted that farmers deal with expected rainfall as part of their practices. “We are dealing with weather where fields are deluged with water that cannot drain off quickly. There are measures in place to deal with water; but some levels of rainfall cannot be handled in low level areas.” Despite stating that the extent of the damages was a ‘discouraging’ one, Minister Rambharat stated that he knows that the farmers are ‘very resilient’.

He also encouraged all farmers to contact their Extension Officers at the Country Offices.

The Minister also shared that in light of the flood damage across the country, specific actions were taken, including: * that ADB’s Field Officers and other staff identify borrowers affected by the Tropical Storm and, as far as possible, make arrangements with these borrowers to assist them as they recover; * that the Permanent Secretary arrange to have the requisite staff set up from next Tuesday at locations close to affected farmers, to receive requests for assistance, and that these requests be considered on a priority basis having regard to existing policy and available resources; and * that immediately all Ministry staff and physical resources in all divisions be utilized to assist communities across the country, particularly farmers and fisherfolk.

Some of the farmers on hand to speak directly to the Minister were Andy Badal, Hadyn Frederick and Elvis Ramlal. Accompanying the Minister on this tour were staff of the County Offices, Regional Administration South, Regional Administration North, Forestry, Engi

Six Latin American countries and their respective embassies will participate in six days of culture, art, film and cuisine.

Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, Cuba and El Salvador are the six participating countries. The six-night event begins on June 27 and runs until July 3. All events will take place at the National Library, Hart and Abercromby Streets, Port-of-Spain.

The opening night will feature a documentary film from Argentina which focuses on the life and work of renowned 20th-century, Argentine tango musician and composer, Astor Piazzolla.

Debbie Goodman, the NALIS’s manager, corporate communications said this was the authority’s attempt at bridging the cultural divide between Latin America and TT as more Latin Americans enter the country.

A release issued by the NALIS said: “In an effort to bridge cultural divides, create a greater understanding among communities and promote multiculturalism, the National Library and Information System Authority (NALIS) will host a celebration of Latin American culture, arts, films, poetry and cuisine…This programme is intended to provide the public with an insight into the culture of our Latin American neighbours and to create a renewed interest in the learning of Spanish as our first foreign language.” Goodman said to Newsday that the event has been in planning since last year. The library then sent out invites to the various embassies, many of which responded, “and were very excited”. Some were unable to participate this year, she said, but have already indicted their willingness to participate next year. Latin Nights was initially scheduled to take place in March but did not happen due to other events the library already had on its schedule.

With the influx of Latin American nationals to TT , the library has seen an increase in requests for the teaching of Spanish as well as Latin American literature at the library. This, Goodman said, is also another reason for Latin Nights. The national library has had a series of such events, providing an intimate look into the lives of other cultures to the wider TT public. The increased requests as well as having more Latin American visitors to the library indicates its success.

An exhibition showcasing Latin American artefacts will run concurrently to Latin Nights.

Dennis Moses, Foreign and Caricom Affairs Minister; Maxie Cuffie, Public Administration and Communications Minister as well as NALIS’ executive director are expected to deliver remarks at the event’s opening night.

In the first incident, a police report said around 6 am on Tuesday, Devanand Gosine of Block Two, Palmiste parked his white Toyota Hilux in his driveway and returned two hours later only to discover his vehicle – valued at $300,000 – missing.

In the second incident, which occurred around 3.30, brothers Vinood Mistry, 53, and Chetna Mistry, 48, of Gulf View, La Romaine, were in their Toyota Hilux at Gulf View Link Road, near Teddy’s Mall when two men armed with guns approached and announced a holdup.

They robbed their victims of $1,400 in cash before throwing them out of the van and escaping in it. The van is valued at $256,000. PCs Noel and Mohess are investigating.

Connection, who defeated St Ann’s Rangers and Point Fortin Civic, are the only team with a 100-percent record this season.

The Connection- Sando match will get going from 8 pm and will be staged at the Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva.

Reigning champions Central FC were inactive for a week as their Round One Match Day Two fixture against North East Stars was abandoned due to alleged poor lighting and improper field markings at the Arima Velodrome.

They will take to the field today to meet Point Fortin Civic in the earlier match at Couva, from 6 pm.

Rangers have been on a break since their scheduled Round One Match Day Two match against Club Sando was cancelled on Tuesday due the passage of Tropical Storm Bret.

Rangers will be back on the field tomorrow when they face Police at the Larry Gomes Stadium, Arima from 4 pm.

And Round One Match Day Three action will conclude on Tuesday with a pair of matches at Couva – Defence Force versus North East Stars (6 pm) and Morvant Caledonia United versus San Juan Jabloteh (8 pm).

The man was charged with of grievous sexual assault, indecent assault and attempted incest. His daughter, was a Form Four pupil at the time of the attacks. The first offence occurred in 2008, when the girl was 15. Attorneys Sabrina Dougdeen-Jaglal and Sarah De Silva prosecuted. They said the teenager was in the living room of the family home in East Trinidad watching television when her father sexually assaulted her.

The court heard that the incident occurred minutes after he came home from work. At the time, her three sisters were asleep in their bedrooms.

The acts of grievous sexual assault were committed in August 2008.

The court heard that the teenager was in her bedroom when her father entered the room and sexually assaulted her on a bed.

In the months of October and September 2009, the teenager was also home alone and in her bedroom when her father indecently assaulted her on a bed.

During these times, her sisters were asleep in their bedrooms.

During the trial, the victim who is now 24, was brought as a witness but refused to speak.

Her statements to police along with other evidential documents were read to the jury and Justice David during the trial. The victim’s mother, who lives elsewhere, also testified during the trial.

In passing sentence yesterday, Justice Harris said the court must send a message to other potential offenders.

But he took into consideration certain mitigating factors when considering the sentence. Justice David said the accused had no previous convictions or pending court matters. On two charges of grievous sexual assault, the man was sentenced to 16 years’ in prison per charge. On the charges of indecent assault, he was sentenced to five years per charge. On the charge of attempted incest, he was jailed for 20 years. The sentences were ordered to run concurrently thus the accused will serve 20 years in prison.

It’s difficult to implement change in the education system of TT and the region because the decision makers are beneficiaries of the present system.

They blame the individual for their inability to progress in the current system. Teachers are also blamed for students’ poor performance. The system is doing what it is designed to do — create a ruling elite and a majority servile class.

The ruling class thinks there is nothing wrong with the system but that there are lazy people who cause trouble to the society.

When I used to mark the Caribbean Secondary Examination Certificate I tried to convince some higher-ups that the examinations needed reform but was unsuccessful. Since that is the examining body for the region it is integral to educational reform. Teachers teach students to pass the test and the test is designed to discriminate.

A plan must be developed and implemented to change TT’s education system. It cannot just be superficial like teacher training and remedial classes for students.

The system must aim at developing students’ abilities.

The present system aims to select the better students which is inherent discrimination. I contend it is an unjust system. No justice, no peace.

BRIAN PLUMMER via email

Cuffie made the announcement on Wednesday while responding to questions from reporters at the National Library and Information Service’s (NALIS) Public Service day in Port of Spain.

He said Government intends boost recruitment and address unemployment by making it possible for people to be directly recruited by various ministries rather than through the Public Service Commission.

“What we have is that we have reduced the time for recruitment – and I announced it in Parliament last week – public servants can now be recruited through ministries rather than the Service Commission which was the central department for the recruitment of public servants. So now ministries can recruit under the ambit of the service commission. So that makes it far easier for us to get additional public servants.” Cuffie added that the use of information and communications technology (ICT) in the public service and the use of additional ICT for communication and partnerships had been approved by the Cabinet.

The Mininster said he was optimistic that this initiative would go a long way in enhancing the performance of the public service.

“The technology and that is ICTs, are being used more and more to perform the public service function and we have gotten an increase in the number of ICT resources available to the public service.

Last week Cabinet approved the government’s plan to treat with the public service that will see more ministries being interconnected so that public servants in one ministry can better connect to public servants in another ministry, and once that plan is implemented, you will see a far greater performance of the public service through ICTs.”

The noisy protestors said they decided to take this action to call attention to poor working conditions they have been enduring while at the same time, complaint after complaint has fallen on deaf ears. They are demanding to be provided with basic cooking utensils, saying that often times they have to bring potspoon and other utensils from home, or buy new ones, to be used in the kitchen.

According to the protesting workers, some of them began bringing to work their own utensils and appliances from home over the past two weeks in order to prepare meals for patients.

Asked why they had to do this, the protestors said that the hospital’s equipment was so rundown as to be rendered unusable.

An official from the Public Service Association (PSA) who is affiliated with the hospital staff said that in addition to being poorly equipped, kitchen staff are unable to prepare hot meals for patients due to a damaged boiler. “It’s really sad what we are seeing here in the year 2017, because this isn’t the first time we’ve made calls for better equipment.

“For weeks now the workers have been bringing their own tools and utensils to work to prepare meals. Something as simple as kitchen knives and ladles they have to source for themselves.” Protesting workers added that because of their dedication and desire not to see patients stave, they have worked for so long in these conditions while hoping their complaints would be attended to.

The PSA representative said the entire hospital has been beset by a lack of equipment. The kitchen workers yesterday vowed to continue their protest until something is done. Hospital sources later told Newsday that following the early-morning protest, officials from the North West Regional Health Authority (NWRHA) including Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Sheldon Cyrus met with the kitchen staff and branch representatives of the PSA.

The aim of the discussion, Newsday was told, was to decide on temporary provisions for staff and options for improving working conditions. Attempts to contact CEO Cyrus via his cellular phone for a comment yesterday were unsuccessful.

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.

Police say the cards are used for “ skimming” which is the fraudulent withdrawal of money from people’s accounts.

The Canadian was arrested shortly after he arrived at the Piarco International Airport from Sri Lanka. Upon searching him, police found the fraudulent cards. He was subsequently charged by PC Legendre of the Fraud Squad for trafficking counterfeit cards, which is contrary to the Electronic Transfer of Funds Act.

PC Legendre was assisted by Insp Dipchand who is also of the Fraud Squad. At least nine foreigners have been held as part of the global syndicate in card skimming so far for the year.