Reeling from what has thus far been a failed legislative agenda, the darkening cloud over his tenure cast by multiple probes into his campaign ties to Russia, his disastrous dismissal of FBI director James Comey and subsequent allegations that he attempted to obstruct justice, US President Donald Trump has taken aim at a foreign adversary he hopes to conquer – Cuba.

But he’s barking up the wrong tree. And his gambit is a dangerous cocktail that could undermine progress in the region. In an act of pure cynicism, Trump last week cited the need to protect the human rights of the Cuban people as he announced he would roll back the deal with Cuba, brokered – with the aid of Pope Francis – by his predecessor Barack Obama.

“I am cancelling the last administration’s completely one-sided deal with Cuba,” said Trump in Miami.

Casting the Obama administration as people who looked the other way on the Castro regime’s human rights violations, Trump said that he, as President, will “expose the crimes of the Castro regime.” “They made a deal with a government that spread violence and instability in the region and nothing they got, think about it, nothing they got, they fought for everything and we just didn’t fight hard enough, but now, those days are over,” Trump said.

“We now hold the cards. The previous administration’s easing of restrictions of travel and trade does not help the Cuban people.

They only enrich the Cuban regime.” Trump listed some of the Castro regime’s anti-United States actions, ranging back to the Cuban Missile Crisis, and added, “We will never, ever be blind to it. We know what is going on and we remember what happened.” This from the US president who has praised authoritarian leaders like Vladimir Putin, Rodrigo Duterte, and the Saudi Royal family; who has issued racist, xenophobic, Islamophobic executive orders; who conducted a brazen and gratuitous attack on the first non-white mayor of London Sadiq Khan; who has sought to circumvent the functioning of the independent judiciary; who picked a homophobic vice president and hurled misogynistic comments during his campaign and beyond; who has repeatedly attacked the free press; and who has dismissed his own people’s right to protest against him.

Though Trump pledges to no longer turn a blind eye to violations in Cuba – there are many, serious violations that no country should condone – he ignores reports of brazen efforts by Russian operatives to attack the most vital thing necessary for his own people’s human rights: its democratic process.

This has implications for the region as it undermines America’s standing. Many will conclude the latest posturing to be nothing more than the continuation of a spiteful campaign to reverse all the policies of Obama. But such fickleness undermines Trump’s own ability to make deals with leaders in the region. For if the word of one US president cannot be taken as good in the long term, who would trust any president’s word in future? As with his misguided Mexican border wall, Trump seeks to divide and isolate. He has good reason to be concerned with human rights violations in Cuba, but he has more reason to be cognizant of the fact that the isolationist approach has not worked for six decades.

Trump makes a mockery of human rights discourse by holding it up as the justification for his own selfish machinations.

He also endangers the region by ignoring the key role Cuba and its traditional ally Caricom will have to play in the situation with Venezuela which has been assessed as a threat to the stability of the hemisphere. This is an epic foreign policy blunder. What a misguided pappy show!

This is according to Minister of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries Clarence Rambharat who yesterday urged farmers and fisherfolk to secure their livestock and marine assets following the announcement by the meteorological service that Trinidad and Tobago has been placed under a tropical storm warning.

“I am pleading with farmers and fisherfolk to take this warning seriously and take the necessary precautions.

Fishermen need to secure their boats and stow gear on land and farmers need to act now to shelter or evacuate farm animals,” he said.

While it was still too early to forecast the precise severity of the weather, he said, agriculture and fishing interests face higher risks and uncertainties even in mild tropical storm systems.

“There is only so much you can do with serious weather but paying attention to the bulletins and moving quickly to secure your assets will help reduce losses for farmers and livestock producers.”

Unlike 2015, when heavily armed police physically removed him from the podium in Charlie King junction, Duke took to the stage near Avocat Junction. But he did not address the hundreds of workers.

Instead, PSA general secretary Gorgonia Auguste spoke briefly and noted she was honoured to be there.

Auguste added that together trade unions shall be a force to be reckoned. She vowed that unions shall fight for whatever is right. Trade unions celebrated 80 years of militant union representation and for the first time at Avocat Junction, union leaders addressed the crowd there followed by a second address at Charlie King Junction at Fyzabad.

A total of 17 leaders from united labour movement addressed the gathering all of whom charged that workers are being under attack and the movement will continue to fight for the rights of workers. The movement comprises of the Joint Trade Union Movement (JTUM), the National Trade Union Centre (NATUC) and the Federation of Independent Trade Unions and NGOs (FITUN).

MODERN DAY SLAVERY President of the Banking, Insurance and General Workers Union (BIGWU) Vincent Cabrera accused both Government and the Opposition of failing to support the working class.

He added that many labour laws that are keeping back the working class. He also highlighted some the plights of workers in the banking industry and described working at Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) as, “The best example of modern day slavery.” He recalled that after waiting six years, the union received recognition and obtained a certificate, “yet RBC gone for judicial review.” “They are daily paying for Senior Counsel and using the High Court as a shield to protect itself against the workers. Tobago workers told them to go to hell.

The trade union leaders cannot do it alone,” Cabrera said. He charged that Republic Bank Ltd made over a billion dollars in profit but is offering, “A measly six percent to its workers.” “Exploitation did not end with Emancipation. Exploitation did not end with the end of Indentureship,” Cabrera said. Unlike previous years, when music truck accompanied workers in the march from Avocat to Fyzabad, that was not so yesterday as police claimed no permission was given.

To the police, Cabrera said they are the sons and daughters of working people and must learn to respect working people and learn join with them. However, he placed blame on senior police officers whom he said gave the instruction to ban the music trucks. The lack of music did not stop workers from dancing and singing during the march.

Petrotrin Cadet Force provided entertainment in addition to there being rhythm sections and moko jumbies all under the watchful gaze of police officers.

SANITATION WORKERS DISRESPECTED President of the Industrial General and Sanitation Workers Union Robert Benacia, in his address, told the gathering that SWMCOL and all other sanitation workers in the country have always been treated with total disrespect. This although they are classified as workers of essential service.

“We risk our health and lives performing extremely hazardous job which exposes us to the indiscriminate dumping of all manner of hazardous waste especially those that work at the dumps.” Government after government continues to pay lip service to the already exploded time bombs at the three major dumps in Trinidad and one in Tobago, Benacia said.

“For over 50 years, radioactive waste, poisons, dead and diseased animals and numerous other hazardous materials have been dumped, putting us all at risk. Government failed to make waste management a priority,” Benacia added He quoted from a 2014 report by the ILO which stated that an estimated 15,000 chemicals are in use and another 2,000 produced each year of which approximately, half causes cancer.

BUFF FOR UNION LEADERS Also speaking was Michael Prentice of the Amalgamated Workers Union who said he wasn’t there for cosmetic reasons and had some strong words for union leaders as well.

“We are not only fighting forces outside but inside also.

Once bitten, twice shy. I don’t want to be bitten twice, who vex loss. George Weekes, (Tubal Uriah ‘Buzz’) Butler and (Adrian Cola) Rienzi must be turning in their graves today to see what we are passing off for trade union leaders. We must not sit back as trade union leaders.

JTUM is in for a sale,” Prentice said. JTUM leader Ancel Roget was the master of ceremonies at Avocat Junction.

President of the Trinidad and Tobago Unified Teachers’ Association (TTUTA) Lynsley Doodhai called on Government to begin wage negotiations now for the 2014/2017 period as well as for the Education Ministry to, “sort out the mess of EFCL.” President of the Sheep and Goat Farmers Association Shiraz Khan encouraged the nation to support local farmers by consuming more local products.

The THA 2017/2018 budget, due to be delivered this morning, has been postponed to Thursday, said Chief Secretary Kelvin Charles, speaking at a press conference at the Tobago Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) headquarters at Bacolet yesterday.

Charles assured that Tobago was ready to deal with any eventualities as a result of the storm.

He said according to a Threat Analysis, the situation was not expected to exacerbate to an instant where Tobago would require assistance from Trinidad. The press conference was also attended by Acting Supervisor of the TT Meteorological Office, Gary Benjamin, THA Chief Administrator Ray Sandy and TEMA director Allan Stewart.

STORM MOVING QUICKLY Benjamin said the storm was moving fairly quickly towards the west at 25 miles per hour, which would take the centre along the east coast of Trinidad, which means Tobago would be north of the system.

“The strongest effects of this system should be between 9 pm (last night) and 3 am today and the duration of it should last until 8 am, but that is not to say we would not continue to see convective activity after this,” he said.

Sandy said the THA has considered the potential disruption from the cyclone and has decided all schools would be closed and all non-essential Tobago House of Assembly Offices would also remain closed out of an abundance of caution.

“We are trying to ensure that any damage on the island, that it will be minimize and we will be in a position to treat with the after of this tropical cyclone that is expected to visit us over the next 12 hours,” he said. Charles advised Tobagonians to take all precautions against the storm.

“We are not sure of the damage that may ensue and we are not sure as to the speed of recovery and therefore to facilitate speedy recovery and getting things back to normal, it is advised that we take these precautions.

TEMA IS READY “TEMA and the first responder agency are ready and we are making an appeal to residents to organise themselves in such a way that they are safe,” he said. Steward said Tobago will experience flash flooding, landslides and damage to unstable structures. “There are eight emergency operations centres stocked with emergency kits and these will aid in the immediate relief of those persons who will be sheltered during the passage of this system.

“The 211 call centre will be ready to provide you with the necessary emergency mode with transferring information to us.

We ask members of the public during this period to stay tuned to radio and televisions for updates,” he said.

Emergency centers are located at Delaford, Moriah, Charlottesville, Speyside, L’Anse Fourmi, Carnbee and Mt Pleasant. In addition, there are 72 primary, secondary and alternative shelters at community centres, schools and churches.

Up to yesterday afternoon Tobago had not experienced any landslides or flash flooding, and no heavy rainfall.

McIntyre had penned an article criticising the current Venezuelan President for interfering in the democratic process by undermining the Venezuelan military, “increasing his reliance on them to control the economy, intimidating opponents and suppressing popular discontent.”

I wonder if McIntyre would be willing to tell us of the many times the Government of the US interfered in the democracy of other nations.

Would he be willing to tell us how the US Government subverted the elected government of Dr Cheddi Jagan in Guyana in the 1960s, and installed Forbes Burnham because he was more palatable to their tastes?

Is he aware that the US Government forgot its own history of Guyanese subversion and in 1992 when Jagan was again elected as president, nominated William C Doherty Jr, executive director of the American Institute for Free Labor Development, as US ambassador to Guyana?

Is he aware that Doherty was the man, courtesy of the CIA, allegedly responsible for subverting the Jagan government in the 1960s?

Would he be willing to tell us about the US modus operandi for overthrowing governments? Is it a three-pronged approach? Does it involve creating and strengthening opposition forces, violent street demonstrations, a coup d’etat?

Is this the model currently being used in Venezuela?

Does he remember that in April 2002, Chavez was briefly removed from power by a coup d’etat but was reinstalled two days later after a popular uprising?

Could he tell us whether an unelected president by the name of Pedro Carmona was installed with the courtesy of the US Government? Was he visited immediately after by the then US ambassador to Venezuela, Charles Shapiro? Did his presidency last only for one day?

It is so ironic that the country that touts itself as the bastion of democracy does so much to undermine that same process in other parts of the world.

Please allow me to tell my family and friends in the US that I would no longer be able to visit them.

LINUS F DIDIER Mt Hope up for the 2018 World Cup

“That’s ok as all is fair is love and war, especially when it comes to culture. Because it is a war meant to see who can do better,” she said, adding that her ministry fully supports this secondary school competition festival as it promotes the youths in art and culture of TT.

She went on to say that we face difficult time in world today and TT is not exempted from that.

“Being involved in culture gives us that gravitas that allows us to be resilient and helps us to overcome times when we can get depressed,” she said, noting that Sanfest helps the participating students to excel in the arts and this brings promise of greater things to come in the future. Dr Gadby Dolly made the trip to south on Saturday evening to opened the 2017 NGC’s Sanfest competition at the council on Circular Road, San Fernando. Director of Sanfest 2017, Avion Crooks said that Sanfest is celebrating its 47 years and the initial objective remains to present a forum for the many cultural groups and individual performers to showcase their talents in a safe and nurturing environment. “While competition is inherent in the human spirit, the ideal of Sanfest was to introduce a stage where southerners could perform our traditional dances, stories of our heritage, skills in recitation and various musical abilities in an entertaining and collegial environment,” she said. She noted that the council forms a financial partnership with the National Gas Company of TT in 2003, and the their involvement with the festival has grown from strength to strength. “NGC has done and continues to do, what we believe all business organisations should do – invest in the greatest resource of our country, our youth, in a tangible and sustainable way,” she said.

Each year from September to November, she says, the council witnesses the coming together of excited, anxious, passionate and often perspiring people, bringing the product of hours of training and rehearsal to a stage that I hope is warmly accepting and nurturing. This year Sanfest pays tribute to Calypso Rose, (Linda McArtha Monica Sandy- Lewis) by having her music form the body of work featured in our pan competition.

This year the council honours Torrence Mohammed whom is a recipient of the Medal of Merit in 1976. Mohammed has worked steadfastly in areas such as Best Village, in theatre and drama, in Carifesta. He served the community of San Fernando as a Deputy Mayor and he is a former chairman of the San Fernando Arts Council and the National Dance Association.

Crooks mentioned the Mr and Miss Sanfest which offer opportunities for overall growth and development of students in the performing arts. “Students must be concerned with building elaborate portfolios showing their involvement with activities other than academics,” Crooks said, adding that they at the council have long come to understand that holistic education builds a better world citizen and a more socially adaptive person.

Employers, she says are interested now in an employee’s understanding of fair play, competition, beauty in design, team work and passion. This , she noted is difficult to teach in the classroom but that is the foundation of the festival.

Under overcast conditions which often gave way to periods of rain, Roget told a large contingent of workers assembled at Charlie King Junction, Fyzabad for the traditional Labour Day celebrations yesterday, that Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley had to, “Step up to the plate and take full control of his government.” “He must accept the inescapable reality that things are just not right and the country is falling apart. Therefore, for the benefit of the country, a radical overhaul of government is not only necessary, indeed it is critical,” Roget said.

“The country deserves it and must accept no less, therefore today, on the occasion of the 80th Anniversary of the labour movement, we demand the immediate removal of Colm Imbert, the Minister of Finance,” he said.

Roget continued: “We demand the immediate removal of Edmund Dillon, Minister of National Security.

We demand the immediate removal of Fitzgerald Hinds, the Minister of Public Utilities. We demand the immediate removal of Shamfa Cudjoe, the Minister of Tourism for his disrespect to the people of Tobago. We demand the immediate removal of Rohan Sinanan, Minister of Works and Transport.” He said the labour movement’s mandate was to hold every government accountable and would immediately embark on a massive mobilization throughout Trinidad and Tobago beginning in Tobago on June 30.

“We will intensify this mobilization in Arima, San Fernando, Sangre Grande and Mayaro and on Friday August 4, we will be carrying this entire Labour Day here in Fyzabad to the streets of Port of Spain,” he said.

“We call on all workers, social and community groups, political organizations, NGOs, our unemployed brothers and sisters, students and especially our young people.

We call on all decent and patriotic citizens, all of us who want and deserve a different and better Trinidad and Tobago, to join us in our struggle for a completely new system of governance,” he said.

In a wide-ranging speech which covered every aspect of the national economy from crime to health care, agriculture and tourism, Roget told the members of the 23 assembled trade unions that only as a strong united force would the government heed their concerns.

“Today we say, no to IMF and World Bank Policies, no to retrenchment, no to privatization, no to wage freeze and no to dismantling of the Public Service.” “Based on Labour’s assessment, today on this platform, on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the trade union movement, we declare that the government has failed to deliver on its mandate,” Roget said.

He also had some choice words for former trade union leader and current Labour Minister Jennifer Baptiste- Primus. He said that despite numerous requests to meet the Prime Minister for over six months, she simply failed to confirm a meeting between the Prime Minister and the Joint Trade Union Movement.

“Clearly the Labour Minister and labour issues are no longer a priority for this Prime Minister. It seems to us like it’s only Stuart Young, Faris Al Rawi and Colm Imbert who have the ear of the Prime Minister,” Roget said. The rally also saw addresses from representatives of the Federation of Independent Trade Unions and NGOs (FITUN) and the National Trade Union Centre, (NATUC).

“We have to brace ourselves for it and make sure our areas and people are on standby. I would advise citizens to stock up on foodstuff and batteries, along with candles and medical kits and make sure your house is safe. If you are in an area that is prone to flooding, get to a shelter.

We have 20 shelters at this time. We are a lucky country sometimes, but we could never be too sure, so let us prepare and prepare properly,” Martinez said.

The Port of Spain Corporation has been identified as the base of operations for all 14 municipalities in the country.

Newsday understands that operations that are conducted across the country including relief and rescue, will be channelled through the TT Police Service, so they could be properly managed. Police officials at the press conference yesterday said all police officers have been called out and told to be on the alert.

Disaster Management Co-ordinator Keith Cook yesterday said that while there has been a reduction in instances of flooding in Port of Spain, there has been an egress plan put in place, in the event that conditions in the capital are too bad.

Hart Street has been identified as a major muster point for people to gather in this egress plan.

If the plan is activated, buses will be placed at Hart Street for people to be able to leave the capital.

People would then be taken to VMCOTT on the Beetham where they would be transferred to extended buses, and taken to various locations where further shuttle services would be provided.

Those travelling East, and those travelling South would be taken to the Eric Williams Medical Science Complex, where Maxi Taxi’s would be available to take them further South or East.

LIST OF POS SHELTERS Belmont Community Centre, 47 Jerningham Avenue, Belmont; Eastern Boys’ Primary, 57-59 George Street; Eastern Girls’ Primary 83-87 George Street; South East Girls Primary, 25 Nelson Street; Belmont Boys’ Secondary, 4 A Belmont Circular Road; St James Govt Secondary, 15 Panka Street; East Mucurapo Secondary, 1 Mucorapo Road, St James; Mucurapo West Secondary, Mucorapo Road; Cocorite Government School, 5 Lady Hochoy Circular Road; Polytechnic Sixth Form, 2 Ethel Street, St James; Queen’s Royal College; St Catherine Girls’, 143 Duke Street Port of Spain; Moulton Hall Methodist, 43 Abercromby Street; St Paul Street Multi-purpose; Bethlehem Boys’ RC, 1 A Besson Street, Port of Spain; Bethlehem Girls’ RC Primary, 1 A Besson Street; Gonzales Community Centre and St Joseph Road Community Centre.

Mairam, who was recently selected for the Trinidad and Tobago Under 19 team, wrecked the top order of Younstaz with his steady leg-spin. Together with Jahron Alfred (2/16), they restricted the batting side to only 97 runs all out in the last over of their innings.

In EYM`s reply, Richard Ali battered the bowlers throughout his unbeaten innings of 67 runs from 27 balls with seven fours and three sixes. He was aided by his opening partner Kwasi Alfred with 21 runs before he was run out. Ali then sealed the victory with two consecutive sixes in the 13th over.

The evening before, Amir Jangoo starred with bat and ball in consecutive games for the Combine All Stars ‘B’ team who defeated Central Empire by five wickets. Jangoo, known as a wicket-keeper/batsman for the Trinidad and Tobago Red Force, had bowling figures of three for 10 from his four overs and also scored 44 runs.

Central Empire won the toss and were bowled out in the 19th over for a meagre 110 runs. Their total was boosted by the innings of 28 runs from Saiba Batoosingh and an aggressive 21 off 12 balls from Dejourn Charles which included two maximums from his first two balls faced. Isaiah Rajah had bowling figures of three for 21 from his four overs.

The opening pair of Sheldon Thomas and Jangoo for the Combine All Stars later put together a partnership of 88 runs which set up the victory. Thomas scored a patient 28 runs from 32 balls and the subsequent Man of the Match Jangoo made his 44 runs from 33 balls with two fours and three sixes. After the opening pair fell, they lost another three wickets but reached their target of 111 runs in the 17th over quite comfortably.

I am here referencing the increasing frequency with which we now refer to female chair holders by the absurd and awkward Americanism chairwoman or chairperson.

The word chairman is indeed gender indifferent.

The word chairman derives from earlier customs adopted principally but not exclusively in English speaking societies. A chair was assigned to the individual who was given the responsibility for the management of the group’s collective social activities.

(Chairs were not readily available to the common man.) It must also be remembered that in former times women were not afforded equal status hence the chairman was invariably male. However, the substantive role function was to manage the meeting and sustain the orderly conduct of the group’s affairs. The word therefore relates to function and not gender.

Let us not fall victim to the collective ignorance of other societies and if we must relate the word to gender, let us do so correctly.

It should then be referred to as the lady chairman and for good measure when pluralising the word, we should properly utilise the term “chairs” of the meeting or council etc, as may be appropriate.

SAMUEL B HOWARD via e-mail