The minister toured the school yesterday and said a fence which had been torn down by the storm would be immediately rebuilt, because the principal had told him the school was in a high-risk area.

Garcia said he intended to treat the matter as an emergency and would contact the Education Facilities Company to deal with it as soon as he returned to his office.

He also praised the Electricity Commission (T&TEC) for doing a tremendous job in replacing a pole which had fallen during the storm and had left the school without electricity as well as internet connectivity.

He said the T&TEC crew had worked through the night to replace the pole and was still there at the time of his visit yesterday morning.

He said as soon as the T&TEC crew was finished, a crew from FLOW would begin work to restore internet service, and he had been assured the electricity supply would be restored by the end of the day.

He said a number of other schools were also affected by the storm: Todds Road RC; Brazil RC; Mundo Nuevo RC; and the San Rafael RC primary schools.

In a statement, the ministry said other schools affected were Mayo RC Primary and Rousillac Hindu Primary School, where some of the galvanised sheets on the roof were blown off.

The statement added that the Kanhai Presbyterian Primary School and St Helena’s SDMS Hindu School were cut off by flooded access roads, although the school buildings themselves were not affected. However, the minister hoped that all the flood-affected schools would be re-opened by today.

The ministry also said the Valencia South Government Primary School and Manzanilla Government Secondary School were being used as shelters for displaced families and would remain closed today.

Whether or not one has been affected directly, each person is likely to be familiar with friends, relatives and neighbours who have suffered the effects of the violence and loss, and the deep sense of anger and injustice that tends to follow.

An unfortunate fallout from the all too pervasive nature of crime in our society is that our senses appear to have become somewhat dulled and crime is essentially treated as just another topic of the day – very much like the weather report.

Nonetheless, the TT Chamber has observed that ever so often, a particularly heinous act of criminality causes us to pause for a while longer… and think.

One such incident was Father Clyde Harvey’s harrowing encounter last week Monday with bandits, who tied him up, robbed him and even threatened to kidnap him.

A well-known priest, Father Harvey has worked tirelessly in communities throughout the length and breadth of Trinidad, and his is a voice which represents the voiceless in our society. Yet ironically, it seemed as if the very community that he served, had now turned against him through his young assailants.

The incident sparked widespread outrage and both the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition publicly condemned the attack.

Some people, however, challenged the attention to the case, questioning what appeared to be greater value being placed on some lives over others. What about the many families who have lost their loved ones and have suffered untold pain, they asked? Who is clamoring for justice on their behalf? Who is condemning the criminals for the reprehensible acts against the average citizen? To a large extent, there is merit to these concerns.

Yet another perspective was that Father Harvey was singled out for special mention because of what he stands for as a religious leader and a respected public figure.

And this is where we seem to have lost our way. We are experiencing a total breakdown in respect for those in authority – from teachers to principals, police officers, religious leaders and so many others. The average citizen is now left with a deeply unsettling feeling, upon realising that even the icons and elders among us will not go unscathed by crime.

Crime does not discriminate; it is no respecter of boundaries, social status or income levels. Sadly, its crippling effects can lead to anyone of us becoming a victim and a subsequent statistic.

Having arrived at this juncture, where does that now leave us? We at the TT Chamber renew our repeated calls for the Acting Commissioner of Police to take firm and immediate action to address the spiraling crime situation in Trinidad and Tobago. It is the holder of that office, along with law enforcement in its entirety, who must be held accountable for the present abysmal state of affairs.

By the same token, while the police remain at the frontline in fighting crime, some responsibility also extends to every institution – be it government, the opposition, the judiciary, civil society and every one of us as individuals in this country. Serious work is required to stem the devastating effects of crime. Non-violence can begin with each of us and extend to our circles of influence. After all, no amount of eff ort is too great to bring about peace and positivity within our society.

Many businesses have a sophisticated code of governance, but it is ultimately about the employees – the people in the business – that make the words of a code resonate and actually mean something.

But corporate culture is an imprecise concept that’s often misused and misunderstood. Culture as a set of shared beliefs, norms and values that defines what is important and what is appropriate for individuals belonging to this group. Within organisations, culture comes down to the particular way ‘things get done’.

Corporate culture relates very tangibly to a company’s brand. Take American bank Wells Fargo, which has on-going controversy following the discovery that it created millions of fraudulent savings and checking accounts on behalf of Wells Fargo clients without their consent. Low-level bank employees were under pressure to open multi ple accounts per customer to meet targets which came from the head of the retail bank division, Carrie Tolstedt, who reported directly to the bank’s CEO John Stumpf.

Following the aftermath of the scandal, the CEO stood down from his position. The downfall in the reputation of business: toxic corporate culture that can be blamed on the people at the top – their chief executive. His tolerance of fraud did not instiltrust in the bank so his departure was needed to help recti fy this as customer trust is essential to their operations.

As the business environment continues to evolve, brand, identity and image of organisations have become more important.

Where a corporate culture has failed, its public standing fails. This means that an organisation’s culture should be one of its most important assets as it is highly important to the productive capacity and the value of the brand. Culture can help to stave off reputational risks. Effective leadership results from a trustworthy system of accountability, and promoting accountability at executive board level is essential to a healthy corporate culture that features sound ethical practices. The job of a management accountant is to compile the necessary management information that can help with this accountability.This means that the top must align and embed a clear set of values that define the purpose of their business. Only then can ‘walking the talk’ have positive knock-on effect on the rest of the organisation.

Effective leadership must not lose sight of other stakeholders. Today’s businesses that ignore what its customers think and say do at their own peril in this digital age when a negative view can go viral in so many ways.

Boards should strive to ensure that they understand their culture and that it is as good as it can be. This is especially important if they are based in very different places around the world.

When thinking about corporate culture, here are a few questions to ponder

: • What sort of culture does the board want for the organisation and what sort of behaviours does it wish to encourage and discourage?

• How is the tone at the top set out and conveyed through the organisation?

• Do management practices drive people to do things that they regard as unethical?

• Do people who do not ‘walk the talk’ get promoted?

• How best can boards satisfy themselves that the information coming to them is fair, balanced and sufficient? How is diversity of thinking and challenge encouraged?

• Does the organisation have a ‘speak up’ system in place that staff believe they could use without fear of retribution? Now that’s a lot to think about and the fact there are so many questions does show that there are no absolute ‘right ways’ when it comes to assessing culture.

Attempts to manage culture may not work or can result in unintended negative circumstances. However, the management accountant, working at the heart of an organisation, can ensure these consequences do not arise.

Some 80 players coming out of the Flow Youth League and the Republic Bank Youth League have been selected by TT FA scouts for the initial start of the programme which saw the layers split into three groups for sessions at the Ato Boldon Stadium, overseen by Elite Youth Development head coach Stuart Charles Fevrier and assistant coaches Leonson Lewis and Clyde Leon.

TT FA Technical Director Muhammad Isa explained that players will work with the TT FA elite coached prior to an Under 13 Zonal Youth tournament which begins on September 4 and runs until November. There will also be an Under 14 girls tournament beginning on September 6.

“The TT FA has now commenced the elite youth development programme whereby we had scouts looking at the Flow Youth Pro League and the Republic Bank Youth League and we have selected almost 80 players from those two groups to begin training,” Isa told TT FA Media on Monday at the session in which senior team head coach Dennis Lawrence and goalkeeper coach Ross Russell were also present to observe proceedings.

Lawrence initially held talks with a cadre of TT FA coaches from the respective zones prior to the session.

The Girls Under 14 programme has also commenced and is being spearheaded by Elite Development head coach Marlon Charles with Ahkeela Mollon and Jerry Moe serving as assistant coaches.

There have been screening sessions in Point Fortin and the Eddie Hart Grounds in Tacarigua.

Sessions will also take place in Tobago.

Best was drafted by the Tridents in March and will appear in his second stint in the league after previously playing for the St.

Lucia Stars.

“Playing for Barbados is what I always wanted from the inception of the CPL,” Best said.

“To have the opportunity to play for the Tridents finally; I will go out bowl fast, get wickets and bring fans to the Kensington Oval.” Captain Kieron Pollard leads the Tridents into the 2017 season with international signees Wahab Riaz of Pakistan and Kane Williamson of New Zealand.

Tridents have also retained the services of batsman Dwayne Smith, who was integral in the team’s sole championship in 2014.

“We have a good squad with a blend of talent and youth,” Best said. “Pollard is a very good leader with his experience at the top level playing around the world in various leagues. Adding guys like Wahab Riaz and Kane Willamson gives us a very good blend of youth and experience, I think we will compete and do well.” A fiery fast bowler capable of delivering at speeds over 95 mph, Best is known for his boundless energy on and off the pitch.

In his mid-thirties Best maintains an impressive dedication to fitness and bowling quickly. He has focused heavily on fitness in an effort to prolong an almost two-decade long international career.

“My pace has always been a weapon for me. I haven’t really lost any pace, I have maintained my pace for the last 17 years playing professionally by the way that I train and the desire I have for bowling and bowling quickly.” He is currently using a stint at English club side, Lashings, to prepare for this summer’s campaign and expects to join the Tridents ready and raring to go.

Agricultural areas impacted in Central include Brasso Seco, Caparo, Mamoral, Flanagin Town, Longdenville, Enterprise and Endeavour. The farmers said that no amount of preparation was enough to lessen the impact of the storm.

Many said they spent several hours securing their livestock, but all in vain.

“For the past 25 years I have been rearing livestock and this is the first time I am faced with such great losses.

This is the first time I have seen so much water in all my life,” said Fatima Baksh, 43, of Lynch Trace, Mamoral.

She said the rain started at 11.30 pm Monday and did not stop for the next five hours.

“When I looked through the window, I saw flood water had reached to the neck of my hogs. I could not stay indoors and watch my animals die…I had to do something,” Baksh said. The mother of three said she and her husband went out into the storm. “We took a chance and walked through the flood which was rising by the minute.” Baksh said while she was able to secure the hogs on higher ground, 14 piglets and dozens of chickens and ducks were swept away. “I really tried to save them, but the water kept gushing and pushing against me. I cried when I realised I could not save the poor piglets,” Baksh said. Farmer Rhiam Ramnarine, 42, of Caparo said he was helpless as two dozen chickens were carried away in the flood. “When the water reached my chest, I knew it would be in vain to save my animals. I have lost thousands of dollars from this one flood,” Ramnarine said

our closest neighbour, is suffering political traumas because of its different mode of governance. We care deeply but its brand of politics is its brand of politics. We are not going to proffer who is right and who is wrong. Venezuelans have to fight it out for themselves. I am not taking sides. All we can do is commiserate. We cannot send them troops. We cannot send them money. But we can supply as much food, water.

clothing and essential toiletries to the best of our abilities. What we cannot do is allow too many of them to flood TT . There are several more millions of Venezuelans than us. At what point do we say no more Venezuelan refugees? Three quarter of a million? One million? The leader of the Movement for Social Justice is always expressing deep sympathy for President Nicolas Maduro. Does David Abdulah care that some Venezuelan citizens are allegedly being murdered so that Maduro can hold on to power? Abdulah asks that Caricom helps Venezuela. To what end? To send our regiment to injure Venezuelans? Once whichever power controls Venezuela sticks with any energy agreement signed between Venezuela and TT , we are not expected to interfere in its politics. Perhaps Abdulah can ask the government to turn the Queen’s Park Savannah into a giant refugee camp to shelter the Maduro protesters. And how are we going to handle more refugees than we can chew?

LYNETTE JOSEPH Diego Martin

Among the 12 member team are four members of the Police Netball Youth Club, namely Janeisha Cassimy, Tiana Dillon, Tahiraj Hollingsworth and Afiya Vincent.

The national Under-21 team is coached by former TT netballer and basketballer, WPC Rhonda John-Davis, who is attached to the Homicide Bureau of Investigation.

The contingent from the TTPS paid a courtesy call on the Commissioner of Police, (Ag) Stephen Williams, at Police Administration Building, Port of Spain, yesterday.

Commissioner Williams noted it was heartening and encouraging when young people achieve tremendous success in their lives, and declared it a significant accomplishment to make the national Under-21 netball team. He told the young women they should aspire to stay on the team and to continue to improve themselves along the way.

In expressing support for the players and the coaches, Commissioner Williams presented them with letters of appreciation and a token of financial support for their upcoming trip. Members of the team leave for Botswana on June 27.

If so, what is the offence? When the highways were designed and built (I refer specifically to the north-south highways), informative signs were placed at the entrance to the ramps restricting access to specific types of slow moving vehicles, including mopeds, cycles, pedestrians, etc. Somehow, persons always found it necessary to remove these specifically (always seeming to ignore the other signs). During my ten years with the Ministry of Works and Transport, Traffic Management Branch, I replaced these restrictedaccess signs along the north-south highways twice.

In fact, I cannot recall seeing them even now. I have said all of that to say this: there is no specific regulation concerning this in the Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic Act Chapters 48:50 or 48:01; however, it is my opinion that in accordance with 48:50 Section 64. (1) to (3) and (8), and (9), and Section 66, it is an offence to ignore the restrictedaccess sign, and the penalty for a first offence is $2,000.

The Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic Act Chapter 48:50 states: “64. (1) (a) The Licensing Authority may cause or permit traffic signs to be placed, erected or otherwise marked on or near any road, and may authorise any traffic signs so placed, erected or otherwise marked … (3) Every traffic sign erected, placed, marked or retained on or near any road shall, unless the contrary is proved, be deemed — (a) to have been lawfully so erected, placed, marked or retained; and (b) to be of the prescribed type and substantially of the prescribed size and colour, where the size, colour and type of the same have been prescribed, and in other cases to be of a character authorised by the Licensing Authority under this section. … “(8) In any case where a constable is for the time being engaged in the regulation of traffic in a road, or where any traffic sign, being a sign for regulating the movement of traffic or indicating the route to be followed by traffic, has been lawfully placed, erected, marked or retained on or near any road, then in any such case any person driving or propelling any vehicle or any person riding or driving any animal—(a) who neglects or refuses to stop the vehicle or animal or to make the vehicle or animal proceed in or keep to a particular line of traffic when directed or signalled to do so by the constable in the execution of his duty; or (b) who fails to conform to the indication given by the traffic sign, is guilty of an offence “(9) Any person who—(a) unlawfully places, erects, marks or retains, or causes to be placed, erected, marked or retained, any traffic sign on or near any road; or (b) removes, defaces, damages, alters or obscures, or in any way interferes with, any traffic sign lawfully placed, erected, marked or retained on or near any road, is liable to a fine of five hundred dollars or to imprisonment for three months.

“66. Where a police constable in uniform is engaged in the regulation of traffic in a road or where a traffic sign, being a sign of the prescribed size, colour and type or of another character authorised by the Licensing Authority under section 64 or where a notice of the Commissioner of Police under section 68 has been lawfully placed on or near a road, a person driving or propelling a vehicle who—(a) neglects or refuses to stop the vehicle or to make it proceed in or keep to, a particular line of traffic when directed to do so by the police constable in the execution of his duty; or (b) fails to comply with the indication given by the sign or the notice, is liable on summary conviction for a first offence to a fine of two thousand dollars and on any subsequent conviction to a fine of four thousand dollars and imprisonment for twelve months.” Clearly, it is important that these designs should have ultimately be placed within Ch. 48:50, but were never done, and so emphasis had to be place on retaining the traffic signs in place.

It therefore seems that Ch. 48:50 Section 64 places the burden on the “Licensing Authority” to place the sign and then the burden is on the driver to prove that the sign was not “duly authorised”. I would not expect every traffic control regulation to be in Ch. 48:50 but it may be in a traffic regulation that is Gazetted.

There should be a gazette that designated the highway under Ch.

48:01. and that may have listed the restrictions on access.

If I am wrong, then nothing prevents a bicyclist or pedestrian from using the north-south highway.

Recent legal opinion concurs that Ch.48:50 Sec 64 would require the sign to be there to charge the driver with “Breach of Traffic Sign”. If there is a regulation then, even in the absence of a sign the driver can be charged with “Breach of the regulation”.

So why has this not been addressed in the Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic (Amendment) Bill, 2017, in order to reduce having to constantly replace the highway restricted access sign?

e-mail: info@ccost.org

Bars, banks, casinos, schools, hotels, airports, hospitals, parking lots and public transportation areas, restaurants, military and national security operations and convenience stores are among the key candidates where CCTV systems are installed.

The common question for business managers is how cost effective are these installations? Put another way, can they offer business-critical solutions that recoup their cost? The short answer is yes.

Aimetis Corporation is a global leader in intelligent video management software with a client list that is the world’s Who’s Who of security management. Aimetis is one of the technology partners that TSTT works with in building state-of-the-art CCTV solutions for local organisations. Anthony Hackett, the director of Sales, North America was in Trinidad earlier this year participating in bmobile’s Technology Expo and discussed how Aimetis’ technology helps companies make cost effective decisions when implementing CCTV solutions and achieve a return on investment (ROI) in the process.

Aimetis offers intelligent video analysis tools that help companies quickly identify CCTV footage relevant to incidents being investigated and virtually eliminates the need for having human operators looking at live video streams trying to spot evolving incidents. “It is not only impossible but also unproductive to have an employee sit and watch video surveillance whole day” said Hackett.

He showed that every company can obtain impactful results by moving away from ‘dumb’ CCTV systems, to building smart CCTV deployments that add value to their business.

Hackett indicated that the key to improving a CCTV’s ROI is when clients used intelligent video management and analytics, with algorithms built into their CCTV deployments, so the CCTV investment could deliver real results that help these companies increase their productivity and profitability and meet their business targets.

Video analytics and intelligent video Hackett explained that video motion detection is not video analytics. “Analytics uses algorithms built into clients’ CCTV deployments to process the video, analyse it and resolve complex issues in real time.” As an example, an intelligent CCTV system scanning for intrusions in an area will distinguish the difference between shadows and other objects that appear to move because a light source is moving, and the movement of real people and vehicles.

This eliminates false alarms by triggering an alarm to the security operator only when a scenario crosses a threshold or when a person enters a restricted area, such as a person approaching a perimeter fence or a person going on to a train track.

In another example, to protect parking lots from thieves, analytics can be used to detect a specific behaviour that someone is doing, such as loitering for 30 to 60 seconds in a particular area of the parking lot.

The algorithms make the CCTV system intelligent enough to detect when these ‘risk’ behaviours are being done and then send an alert to security personnel, directing them to the area where the infringement was detected.

‘People counting’ and ‘queue management’ are two other ways video analytics and intelligent video can be used to gather business intelligence to improve on business deliverables and impact ROI. Using a public library, hospital and a fast food company as examples, Hackett showed how these clients were able to use intelligent CCTV data to better understand how many people visited an organisation and at what times of the day and month. Managers were then able to adjust staffing, catering and other resource needs to better serve their customers.

Facial and license plate recognition, as well as tracking and following a person, were three other interesting case studies discussed; both as tools used to improve security methods and fight crime by state and private companies; and as systems businesses can use to improve on traditional employee time and attendance systems, by including visual verification of who signed in and when.

Other methods to improve CCTV ROI In addition to increasing the effectiveness of the security personnel, other ways that a business can lower its total cost of ownership or improve on its CCTV ROI, were by lowering the upfront cost of deployment, as well as the recurring cost to manage and update the CCTV system.

It is therefore critical that a business builds high efficiency, scalability and availability into its CCTV system; implements proper IT management; and uses a very simple licensing model.

To achieve the first two, Hackett discussed measures such as using a video management system design that is energy efficient and requires less servers and computers; bandwidth efficient cameras or cameras which provide the optimal bandwidth frame rates for the purpose required, since a higher resolution camera isn’t always needed; low cost alert systems such as black monitors and texts, emails and live video sent to security operators’ smartphones; and reducing administrative time by automating processes, updates, camera firmware settings and passwords.