The assurance was given at yesterday’s hearing of the constitutional claim filed by Annesa Maharaj and Ashminee Joseph who say they have been occupying the lands at Pine Avenue for more than 30 years.

Justice Frank Seepersad at an emergency sitting in the San Fernando High Court on Sunday, granted the two an interim conservatory order which prevented the demolition of their property at Pine Avenue.

At yesterday’s hearing, attorneys for the Attorney General indicated that they were not contesting the conservatory order and also gave the undertaking that no steps would be taken to interfere with the squatters’ property.

The matter has been adjourned to July 25.

Maharaj and Joseph are represented by attorneys Gerald Ramdeen, Wayne Sturge, Kent Samlal, Sean Sobers and Arianna Khan. They are claiming their rights to enjoyment of property and protection by law were infringed as they contend the State Suits Limitation Ordinance protects them from attempts by the State to repossess State lands once they have been living on the property for 30 years.

They also contended that they have expressed intention to possess the lands as their own, as prescribed for in the Ordinance.

Attorneys Terrance Bharath and Tamara Toolsie represent the AG.

Celebrate the love of water and all things natural on Sunday when Hikers Inc undertakes its Marianne River Adventure. The trek begins at the Spring bridge in Blanchisseuse, over a land trail to the visually stunning Avocat Falls, where hikers will sojourn for a bit.

Hikers will then walk, wade and swim down the Marianne River to the terrific Three Pools to sojourn for some more time, before ending where they began at the historic Spring bridge.

Rate: moderately challenging –a river trekD uration: 5 to 6 hours return Meeting point: Uncle Sam’s, Maracas Bay Time: 7.30 am Secured parking/ washroom facilities (by trail head) Caution: This hike involves being in water for a significant period of time. People with a morbid fear of deep water (panicking with even a life jacket on) are advised that this hike is not suitable for them.

Phobias must be gradually overcome.

Life jackets are mandatory and will be provided Please note that hikers showing up unannounced on the day will not be accommodated.

For more info: hikersinc@ gmail.com

So you may be asking, what is meant by ventilation? Ventilation is the process of supplying fresh air (usually outdoor air) to or removing air from a space for the purpose of controlling air contaminant levels, humidity, or temperature. Ventilation means that some form of air exchange occurs within a given timeframe.

Ventilation is important in enclosed areas such as offices and homes because it prevents pollutants from negatively affecting the health of occupants and removes unwanted smells and other indoor air contaminants and controls the amount of moisture in an area. Controlling moisture is particularly important because excess moisture may lead to mold growth.

Mold growth is of extreme concern because it can have negative health effects in susceptible persons such as the elderly and children. Symptoms may be minor but longterm exposure to mold can cause major health problems. Some of the symptoms of mold exposure may include nose, throat and eye irritation, headaches, fever, respiratory tract irritation and asthma. There are a few ways that ventilation can be provided to your home or office area.

These include: • Allowing air to enter naturally through windows, doors or ventilation blocks. In the event of a bush fire or when odours or dust are present outdoors, windows and doors should be immediately closed.

• Installing exhaust fans at various spots throughout your home or office area to allow air to be pushed in or out. Examples of these are usually found over stoves (range hoods) or in bathrooms.

• Introducing filtered outdoor air into your airconditioning unit. In buildings that utilise a centralized air-conditioning system, this can be accomplished by ducting the outdoor air directly into the unit. Speak to your air-conditioning contractor to ensure that this is being done.

In buildings that use split air-conditioning units, ventilation is more difficult as such units are not designed to accommodate outdoor air introduction. Persons should consider naturally ventilating such air-conditioning spaces for short periods of time if feasible. It is important to note, that in order for air-conditioning systems to be effective in cooling areas and providing adequate ventilation, they should be maintained on a regular basis to avoid blockages and to prevent pollutants from being trapped in your home or office.

Indoor air quality testing can also be done to determine whether the ventilation system in your building is working effectively in providing adequate air exchanges as well as removing unwanted chemicals and pollutants. Indoor air sampling also can aid in the monitoring of various parameters which are indicative of indoor air quality and ventilation problems, and serve to identify the root cause of indoor air quality ailments.

It is important to note, for those of us working for example, in laboratories and office buildings that the Occupational Safety and Health Act of Trinidad and Tobago, Amended 2006 states that employers are required to provide adequate ventilation. This does not only mean that a space should be air-conditioned to provide cooling but also means that some form of air exchange should occur through the introduction of outdoor air.

Be informed as to how poor ventilation affects you and your loved ones and how to improve the quality of the air that you breathe through ventilation.

CARIRI has positioned itself as a premier technology Institute based on service quality. Quality is a hallmark of the services provided to clients in Trinidad and Tobago, the Caribbean and extra regional markets. As part of its commitment to providing the highest quality services, CARIRI has established several quality management systems that work together to maintain the Institute’s overall high quality standards such as ISO 9001:2008 and ISO 17025:2005. Along with our other quality certifications, CARIRI is also STOW certified.

CARIRI also has a multi-disciplinary team with extensive experience and a wide range of skills to meet the needs of the client. The team is headed by an Environmental Specialist who is supported by a cadre of professional and technical staff that are Council-Certified Environmental Consultants accredited by the American Council of Accredited Certification (ACAC) and the Council of Engineering and Scientific Specialty Boards (CESB) which is the most prestigious certification specific to Indoor Air Quality.

Some of the services offered by CARIRI in the area of Indoor Air Quality include but are not limited to:
• Air Quality testing for any indoor air pollutant
• Air-conditioning and Ventilation systems inspections
• Mold testing both in the air and on surfaces
• Environmental sampling for common allergens
• Noise surveys
• Occupational health risk assessment
• Occupant surveys

For more information on Indoor Air Quality testing feel free to contact CARIRI’s Air Quality Management Solutions department at: Trincity West Industrial Estate, Macoya, Tel: (868) 285-5050 ext. 3300 Email: iaq@cariri.com

Padarath, the Opposition UNC’s shadow minister of Sport and Culture said Smith’s actions shows a continued disregard for public office and that Smith, “Really needs to come out and clear the air in terms of whether or not this expenditure was approved by him.”

“The minister cannot absolve or refute any of the allegations that have been made because (it is) in black and white,” he said. “Imagine, $92,000 has been spent and the minister is comparing this to a storm in a teacup. Well, minister, $92,000 has been spent and we don’t even have a teacup to show for it!”

Padarath said having served in the Office of the Prime Minister during the People’s Partnership Administration, he was aware that such expenditure could only be approved by a Permanent Secretary and/or a minister. On Smith’s response that the expenditure was at state-owned hotels, he commented, “I think that is a ridiculous response, because what this means is you are using taxpayers’ dollars for this expenditure and you are trying to justify it by saying that you are using it at stateowned enterprises. That really does not cut the mustard.

“I think this really warrants a complete investigation into what is happening at the Ministry of Sport. I believe the honourable Prime Minister needs to call in the minister and the minister needs to ventilate and provide some answers on this.”

For decades, we have sought to change the output of our economy without changing the way in which we create goods and services. Embracing transformation can also lead Trinidad and Tobago to look off the beaten path for new opportunities.

Transformation must be long-term.

At the heart of this transformation is a move towards greater competitiveness and efficiency. The performance of the global economy has demonstrated the need to stay competitive to attract capital and to ensure that development is sustainable in the long run.

We must embrace a new approach to doing business and accept the need for transformation of the labour market to meet the requirements of a newer, more nimble economy.

Labour needs to become more productive. This would mean giving citizens the tools they need to identify and take advantage of opportunities. Such opportunities could come in the form of entrepreneurial activity or as workers contributing to new ideas in an established business. Education is essential to this, along with a willingness to give workers space to contribute in different ways.

Unions need to take ownership of their role. The traditional focus on workers’ rights is important. Businesses must be held to account in terms of providing suitable working conditions. However, this should be accompanied by a drive to preparing workers for changes in the economy. As we focus on competitiveness, increases can no longer be based on tenure.

They must be based on productivity.

Currently, there is no impetus to improve as individuals because many times workers and unions hide behind the Industrial Relations Act (IRA). If organisations are held to account for how they provide for their workers, unions and the workers they represent must be accountable for the way in which they use the IRA.

As business leaders, we must also be willing to transform.

This requires a change in approach to business and how we produce our goods and services. For example, a focus on research and development could carve out new avenues for business, even those we have traditionally overlooked.

Development of the Small and Medium Enterprise sector is crucial to transformation, especially as we seek new opportunities in developing or creating niche markets. We need to continue to address the way in which we look at the SME sector and how we approach entrepreneurship.

Transformation needs to lead to sustainable growth. This will mean an approach that is different to the boom and bust cycle motivated by a hydrocarbon-led economy.

At the same time, there is also a need for short-term prospects (such as tourism) as we recognise the need to keep the economy turning over, while we seek long-term transformation.

True transformation must also be driven by a change in governance by both the public and private sectors. At one level, this means adherence to the laws of Trinidad and Tobago.

At another level, it is about holding ourselves to account as individuals and as organizations. Good governance goes beyond “doing what is right.” Governance ensures long-term survival and success by demanding that we follow rules and regulations and being held accountable for our actions.

Finally, TT cannot truly transform unless we find solutions to the crime problem whether it is white collar or blue collar crime. Crime affects us at all levels, from the loss of life to added cost of business to a poor reputation on a global scale.

Only last week, the wounded man obtained bail and was released from prison in connection with the crime against the Mayo businessman. The suspect had an unlicensed firearm and ammunition in his possession when he was arrested. He is expected to be charged with a number of gun-related charges.

The drama, which began in Mayo, ended just around 11.25 am on Monday at the front gate of the Gasparillo home of retired Assistant Commissioner of Police Cecil Santana, with the bleeding victim stumbling out of his silver Lancer begging for help. Chasing him was the shooter, who was also held, in front of Santana’s gate. PC Castillo of the Gasparillo police is investigating.

According to sources, fire officers got a report of two cars – a Hyundai Tuscon and a Hyundia Getz – being on fire at about 2.10 am. Firemen from the Fire Headquarters, Wrightson Road responded and doused the flames which destroyed both vehicles which were parked neart the medical centre.

Fire officials told Newsday yesterday that the Tuscon was involved in an accident earlier that day, which left a crack in the gas tank. Vapours from the gas tank found a heat source and ignited. The fire then spread from the Tuscon to the Getz. No one was injured and investigations are ongoing.

Sturge, who is an Opposition Senator, represented by his fellow attorney Gerald Ramdeen, is questioning the appointment of the three judges to the High Court.

In his judicial review application, filed yesterday at the Port of Spain High Court, Sturge is seeking declarations that the JLSC’s failure or refusal to notify him of the approval or refusal of his request for information under section 15 of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) was unlawful, illegal and irrational.

He has also asked the court to direct the JLSC, in seven days, to take steps to notify him of its decision and order the commission to provide copies of the information he wants.

On April 19 Sturge filed a request under the FOIA on the appointments of attorney Kevin Ramcharan, magistrate Avason Quinlan-Williams and chief magistrate Marcia Ayers-Caesar.

In the request, Sturge noted that each candidate who applied for the position of Puisne Judge of the Supreme Court was required to take a written exam and to undergo a psychometric assessment by an independent service provider.

Sturge sought a copy of the examination administered, the names of the JLSC members of the JLSC responsible for setting the examination and the names of the members responsible for marking the exam.

Sturge is also seeking the names of those who wrote the exam, the marks awarded to each candidate, the name of the independent firm carrying out the psychometric testing and the tendering process involved.

Ayers-Caesar, Quinlal-Williams, wife of acting Commissioner of Police Stephen Williams, and Ramcharan were sworn in by President Anthony Carmona on April 11.

Two days after, several prisoners staged a near-riot at the magistrates court and on April 25, Ayers-Caesar resigned as a judge when it was discovered she had left behind more than 50 part-heard cases, despite her claims to the contrary.

Sturge in his lawsuit said the JLSC was a public authority and its decisions were open to judicial review and subject to fundamental principles of fairness.

He said he filed the claim as a citizen, a member of the legal profession and a parliamentarian directly affected by the JLSC’s actions

The team, under the captaincy of Nizam Ishack, will face Enterprise Busta Sports Club on May 28, Bacchus XI of Essequibo on May 30 and Everest Cricket Club on June 2.

The PYO Club have been touring Guyana annually for the past 35 years.

Team – Nizam Iahack (captain), Bobby Kallie (vice-captain), Kenneth Ninah, Sona Ramdath, Krishna Sammy, Bhagwan Singh, Roger Bhola, Sam Pooran, Ballyram Nyak, Tazmool Hosein, Wayne Mahabir, Batoon Ragbir, Subhas Ragbir (president), Boyie Ninah (manager), Robert Pereira (secretary).

This was reported on Tuesday night at the UTC 35th Annual General Meeting held at Queen’s Hall, St Ann’s.

UTC Executive Director Ian Chinapoo reported that total revenue was TT $1.1 billion compared to TT $812.4 million a year ago “reflecting an impressive” 29.5 per cent improvement and their customer base grew by 1.2 per cent from 595,706 a year ago to 602,728.

“Let us also take cognizance of the fact that these results were achieved amid what can only be described as very difficult domestic and regional economic conditions. Fortunately for us, we benefitted from stronger than expected results in financial markets of the United States and other international markets,” he said.

He noted the recent ratings downgrades of this country by international rating agencies Standard and Poor’s and Moody’s.

“I must stress, however, that, notwithstanding the significantly weaker economic fundamentals such as sub-par economic growth, burgeoning fiscal deficit, rising debt to GDP level, weakening external balance of payments position and the slow pace of economic diversification, TT still has a strong financial position with Net Official Reserves totalling US$9.1 billion as at March 2017 representing 10.1 months of import cover, and over US$5.4 billion in the Heritage and Stabilisation Fund.” UTC Chairman Krishna Boodhai reported that in 2016 their distributions to unit holders increased by 45 per cent from $165 million to $239 million which is “testimony to our commitment to deliver positive returns even in a challenging economic environment.” He reported that in May 2017 they increased their payout rate on their largest fund, the TT dollar Income Fund, to 1.20 per cent annualised rate compared with one percent in May 2016 representing a 20 per cent increase year on year payout rate.

Boodhai said that some unitholders have accessed their savings under the corporate saving plan to mitigate the impact of the economic downturn. He reported that the overall rating for their 2016 customer satisfaction survey was 80 per cent which represented a 2.4 per cent increase from 2015.

Boodhai also reported that they completed their benchmarking exercise to assess their governance practices and have met all the compliance requirements of the Central Bank’s Corporate Governance Guidelines for Financial Institutions and all the National Code for Corporate Governance of Trinidad and Tobago.

He said that despite protracted economic challenges they are pleased to report “a very robust year” and amidst increased stakeholders’ expectations and amplified regulatory requirements they achieved a total comprehensive income of $92 million compared with $20 million for 2015.