Chairman of the Chamber Demi John Cruickshank in addressing reporters last week said that the letter was sent off to the board’s chairman Allison Lewis, as he is of the hope that they can sit around the table as was done previously.

“We have penned a letter and sent it out requesting an urgent meeting to see if we can solve this problem once and for all. Yes, we went through this fiasco already in the past and what we did is that we sat around the table with everybody and we discussed a way forward, a way how we can solve the problem but this regime is bent on doing things their way and they have seen that doing things their way is not in the best interest for all the people of Tobago. So, we are calling on the chairman to meet with us urgently,” he said.

The chairman referred to the present challenges aboard both the passenger and cargo vessels, which he said to date has resulted in a shortage of construction materials at hardwares as well as the low stocks on supermarket shelves.

“We have indicated to both the ministers and his members in Port of Spain that what we were saying a month ago has come to fruition in terms of the two fast ferries are giving serious problems mechanically, we do not have an adequate cargo service between Trinidad and Tobago even bringing on the barge and the Atlantic provider that still is causing some serious hardship for the business community, the truckers and also the citizens of Tobago. You have hardwares that are literally empty, the supermarket shelves are actually running low and people’s warehouses are questionable in terms of if we can continue in this manner, so we have to at some point in time bring some sort of closure to this crisis that we have been faced with and have been forced to endure by the powers that be who have the responsibility and the authority to fix this problem,” he said.

Cruickshank also responded to critics who have labeled the chamber members as ‘Hush Puppy and Hush dog team’.

“Let me put on record now, we have been the voice of the business community in Tobago, we have been championing the cause of Tobagonians and bringing the plight of the situation to the general public, so I am not too sure where he would have received that bit of information from and we take very, very serious offence to his statement as an organisation that has been working very, very hard and toothless to solve the problems in Tobago,” Cruickshank said.

President of the Hotel and Tourism Association (THTA) Chris James in adding his voice, noted that he is seriously concerned about the current situation as it will adversely affect the July/ August busy period.

“We are very seriously concerned about the position on both the air and sea bridge and as you may know July and August are our busiest times for our domestic tourism and normally the bookings are coming in around now for that period and we’re not seeing them coming in so this is an urgent situation for us and we are concerned,” James said.

The president said that the tourism industry has been on a serious decline for the last ten years.

This as he noted that hotels and guesthouses across the island have reported a number of last minute cancellations, which is adding to an already crippling situation.

“I’ve heard stories of people waiting over fourteen hours to get to Tobago, so on top of that we have last minute cancellations so accommodations are suffering from that because of either the air bridge or the sea bridge, we have a serious challenge here which is affecting our bottom line. We are currently averaging an occupancy of 34 percent from our figures, we represent the largest numbers of hotel rooms on the island. The region is averaging somewhere about 66 percent, our rate has now dropped to $154US and the rate in the region is US$228. So, we seriously depend on the months of July and August to keep us afloat,” he said. Meanwhile, President of the Interisland Truckers and Traders Association Horace Amede said that following meetings with both the Minister of Works and Transportation and the Port Authority board last week, they feel disrespected.

“They were supposed to call us and let us know if a vessel was found, but they never did and we saw it in the papers and to begin with, we thought that was disrespectful.

Up to now, we have not received any calls from them and apart from that they said that they would have meet in Tobago on Wednesday with the stakeholders, to bring us up to date on what is happening and up to now, we are just seeing things in the papers that the Chairman apologized to the people of Tobago and we don’t think that is good enough.

You cannot feed your families on apologies and this is what we are getting from everybody. From my standpoint and the truckers, nothing is wrong with saying I am sorry,” he said.

Amede said now is not the time to play games with people livelihood.

“Let us bring an end to the suffering that Tobagonians is going through. We have members in Trinidad for four and five days and cannot get back to Tobago at a rate of three hundred dollars a night in guesthouse but meals and that is not doing good for us at all,” he said.

Queen aims to promote traditional Korean music with a contemporary twist, fusing a wide array of musical genres. It comprises seven members each playing a unique traditional instrument such as geomungo, gayageum, haeguem and electronic violin with original harmonies from the east and west.

Along with the growing popularity of K-pop and Korean culture around the world, the Queen has been invited to perform in over 20 countries including China, India, Italy, Japan, South Africa and the USA, said a media release.

“The embassy believes that the Sounds of Korea 2017 will allow people in Trinidad and Tobago to have a glimpse of understanding of Korean culture by enjoying the unique beauty of Korean traditional music and dance. F urther the embassy hopes that such an event will further contribute to our two countries’ friendly and co-operative relationship,” the embassy said. Admission is free and on a first-com first-serve basis; tickets will be distributed at Queen’s Hall Box Office from May 24 but are limited to two per person.

For more info: contact the embassy at 622-1069 or ko- remb.tt@gmail.com.

Joseph’s win improved his professional record to four wins and zero losses while his rival slipped to 5-3.

Joseph, who recently returned from a training camp in the USA, took control of the fight despite the efforts of his more experienced opponent. After a first round where both fighters tested each other, the 27 year old Joseph ended the contest in the second round, getting the Jamaican in a knee bar submission which forced him to tap out. Joseph is now eyeing bigger things as his career continues to thrive.

Also on the night, Keron Bourne beat Nard Ramkilawan for the second straight time with a first round TKO. Ramkilawan, who lost to Bourne in August last year, was seeking revenge for that defeat but found himself on the end of some heavy ground and pound blows by Bourne early with the referee stopping the fight.

Stewart, who broke the world F44 javelin record en route to winning gold at the Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, last year with a throw of 57.32m, easily got the nod for the top award. He also earned silver in Brazil in the discus with a heave of 61.72m as he emerged as this country’s most successful athlete at the Games.

James was a virtual lock for her accolade as well with her tremendous all-round ability. James is a national footballer, cricketer and track and field athlete.

James’ skills make Signall Hill a contender at all national football and cricket competitions and she make her mark regionally lats month with a bronze medal at the CARIFTA Games in the Girls U-20 javelin event. She also demonstrated her ability to balance sport and academics with seven passes in her Examinations.

Also on the honour roll on Saturday was 2017 CARIFTA Boys Under-17 gold medallist Tyriq Horsford who was named Secondary School Athlete and Male Student Athlete of the Year.

The Signal Hill student collected his third straight Boys U-18 CARIFTA javelin gold medal last month and broke the Games record with a powerful 76.50m throw. He easily won gold in his pet event at the 2017 Secondary Schools Track and Field Championships with a 65.76m effort.

Wade Franklyn, coach of Horsford, Stewart and James, was unsurprisingly named Coach of the Year.

Feature speaker and Assemblyman Jomo Pitt hailed the consistency of Tobago’s athletes over the years and encouraged the younger ones to follow in the footsteps of their predecessors and become legends of the game. He urged the media to focus on the many positives in the sport, arguing that sometimes the negatives are given too much prominence.

Also recognised for his service to sport in Tobago was Theophilus Trim who served as Director of Sport for the THA. Trim urged Tobagonians to support the athletes and although acknowledging that there are areas that need improving – specifically infrastructure – he said athletes must continue striving for excellence.

There were also posthumous awards for David Noel and Abiela Adams.

THA AWARDS

Sportsman of the Year
– Akeem Stewart
Sportswoman of the Year
– Asha James
Student Athlete Male
– Tyriq Horsford
Student Athlete Female
– Asha James
Primary School Athlete Male
– Jevon Cox
Primary School Athlete Female
– A’brisse Trim
Special long service award
– Theophilus Trim
Best Completed programme
– Aqua Warriors
Best Project without Gov’t Support
– Aqua Force
Memorial award
– David Noel, Abiela Adams

As a society, we are getting less sleep than we did 50 years ago and The British Sleep Council estimates that over a third of people have insomnia, difficulty going to sleep, disturbed sleep or wake up early. I suspect the true figure may even be higher than that, especially with the prolific use of phones, televisions and laptops in the bedroom.

One of the unfortunate consequences of this sleepless epidemic is the increased dependency on hypnotic/soporific drugs known as sleeping tablets. Which, because of their addictive qualities and the body’s ability to build up tolerance to them, should only be used as short-term measures.

Sleep is important because it allows the body to rest and recuperate from periods of illness.

It helps to repair and regenerate tissues, bones, and muscles, strengthens the immune system and supports healthy brain function.

But what happens when the body is deprived of sleep? immune responses are compromised pain perception is increased memory and thought processes are impaired hormone levels fluctuate for example perceptions of hunger or fullness, and affect blood sugar levels psychiatric disorders and mental health challenges can be exacerbated gut bacteria (which helps with metabolism) is altered Having viewed The Truth About Sleep on BBC it is evident that lack of adequate sleep has a widespread impact on the body, affecting both mental and physical wellness. One of the startling aspects of the programme was the research undertaken by Leeds University making an association between sleeping less/sleeping worse, gut flora, obesity and Type 2 diabetes. It showed how sleep deprivation increases secretions of the “hungry hormones” which sways the need to eat more, and the gut bacteria then increased the calorie uptake of the food ingested.

Internal and external factors such as brain function, diet, stress, medications, the sleep environment, and underlying health conditions shape sleep quality. But our gene markers also play a part in determining whether we are susceptible to sleep disorders, or if we are morning or night people.

Sleep is regulated by two mechanisms: The circadian system (internal body clock) which regulates the timing of sleep, and the homeostatic mechanism affecting the need for sleep.

The body clock in the brain regulates hormone levels, digestion, immune function, body temperature, and paying attention to when the body is saying it’s time to sleep or time to wake can aid in getting restful sleep.

According to the National Sleep Foundation most people feel the strongest desire to sleep between between 2 am and 4 am and then again between 1 pm and 3 pm but this can vary from person to person.

Sleep needs vary across the ages. The recommended requirements are: for infants it’s 16 to 18 hours, teenagers it’s nine hours, for most adults it’s seven to eight hours, and because ageing affects sleep patterns elderly people have less deep sleep, sleep lighter, and have shorter time spans of sleep.

Practising good sleep hygiene is important for both physical and mental wellness and can affect the overall quality of life.

Some suggestions are: unwind and relax before bedtime – have a tepid shower, read a book, do a puzzle, practise mindfulness.

there are some studies attributing benefits to the sedating effects of soursop (guanabana) tea, camomile tea, St John’s Wort, passion flower and Valerian root supplements.

desist from using phones, tablets, laptops or TVs one hour before bed or alternatively turn down their screen brightness.

consider taking prebiotic supplements to rebalance gut bacteria use sleep-promoting eye wear for example eye shades, blue blocking glasses if possible, take a short power nap (maximum 20-30 mins) between 1 pm – 3 pm reduce alcohol and caffeine intake exercise regularly use fans, humidifiers or air conditions to regulate room temperature and air quality to 15c – 22c (59f – 71f) consult a therapist to address any underlying psychological causes We all need good restful sleep as it is vitally important in maintaining positive mental and physical health.

Dr Yansie Rolston FRSA is a UK-based disability and mental health specialist advisor. She is a social strategist and trainer who works internationally at various levels of government, business and civil society. Contact her at yr@efficacyeva.com

In an interview with Newsday, Khan said when People’s Partnership Government commissioned the hospital, everything was in place for the facility to be opened.

He disputed claims by the present Government that the hospital was not ready to be opened.

“The hospital was ready for commissioning when we left office, so now I am not sure what is the keep back, I really don’t know,” Khan said.

Khan was among the hundreds of United National Congress supporters who protested on Friday outside the facility.

“I have no idea what is keeping back the opening but a public/ private partnership is a very lovely set of words, it gives you the feeling that the private sector would work with the public sector to deliver but one does not realise that the private sector does not deliver for nothing, whereas the public sector could take a loss,” he said.

Khan said that if that is in fact the arrangement by government, one would have to ask themselves how is it going to be paid for who is going to pay.

“Is it going to be the private patients or what is the mechanism of approach?” he asked.

Khan also said if the government was looking at a public/private partnership, there was no need to hand over a working facility.

He noted that the former government planned to start with the opening of the radiology department, then move to the medical wards, clinic and then the Accident and Emergency Department and Surgical Theatres.

President of the Trinidad and Tobago Road Safety Council, Stan Huggins, explained that there were two Traffic Management Branches – one with the TT Police Service and the other with the Ministry of Works and Transport.

He complained that no one was synchronising the two branches and suggested that the Branch be handed over to the police as they were the ones “on the ground.” The branch at the Ministry, he added, should be converted to a road safety department. “We are duplicating this thing, we are not getting any where with it, and it is not working because the traffic is in a mess in this country. Traffic brings headaches to our drivers and increases our road carnage situation. We need to streamline this situation to put less stress on our drivers, passengers, and pedestrians… It makes no sense that the people in the Ministry are telling the police what to do when the police are the ones manning the streets.” Huggins called on Transport Minister, Rohan Sinanan, to help the organisation establish good road safety practices through education.

Part of this assistance would be to help the Road Safety Council to set up a home office from which to run road safety programmes.

At the new location, Road Safety Council hopes to install a library so that children could learn proper road safety, arrange to teach road safety programmes in schools, and run programmes at all driving schools so that instructors would be certified under the Road Safety Council. These plans, he said, would require funding from the government. However he stressed that it was important for Government to assist as there had been an average of 200 road fatalities a year since 2000.

He said road safety included education, enforcement and engineering so it was necessary to start with youths as many young people were being killed or damaged in vehicular accidents. In addition, he said, the public was spending too much money on medical bills, traffic tickets, or fixing vehicles, which could have been avoided by obeying road safety guidelines.

“We are saying you can not punish people on the road if you don’t teach them proper road safety.

Doing that is like ripping off the public.” Huggins also requested that “zebra crossing” sings to be changed to “pedestrian crossing” and the slogan “safety first” be placed at each one; that proper signage and pedestrian crossing be installed at all major intersections on the bus route; and that speed limits around schools be drastically reduced.

IN CONTEMPLATING the future of agriculture, the basic question to be asked is what kind and size of agriculture is reasonably possible in the country today, what mix of resources would be required to be engaged for this purpose and what demand, whether local or foreign, is it aimed at meeting.

The simplistic proposal of just giving land to the people and allowing them to produce at their discretion is not an option. There needs to be a more rational and scientific basis for land distribution which should be subject to soil survey and assessment of suitability for various crops or other agricultural purposes. Road access is of course necessary and so too is the availability of water for irrigation purposes.

For years we have discussed but to no avail proposals for the construction of catchment dams and ponds for the storage of water for irrigation and other purposes. In addition, there should be the availability of support services to advise on up-to-date methods of cultivation, high-yielding varieties and disease and pest control facilities.

Size of plot is a significant consideration in what is to be produced.

Smaller plots of two-acre size render them suitable for the cultivation of small crops.

However, cultivation of tree crops would require plots of approximately 50 acres to be viable whereas animal rearing would need a minimum of 30 acres.

In Caroni (1975) Ltd’s retrenchment programme, the authorities failed to anticipate the possible consequences of the two-acre plot distribution. If the estimated 7,000 two-acre plots were actually distributed and put under cultivation, it would almost totally have been focused on small crops. Thus, with 14,000 additional acres under small crops the total output would have overwhelmed the market for such crops and prices would have collapsed to below cost of production.

It is just another illustration of a seriously flawed decision.

The people to whom land is earmarked for distribution should be carefully selected and given a lease with the requirement that the land remain in agriculture. They should display a track record in agriculture or potential and willingness to get involved in it.

It would be an error to allot plots to people who have been employees all their lives and who have been dependent on wage incomes without any responsibility for managing production or catering to markets.

A farmer, however, is a small businessman. He or she needs to plan production, to ensure the availability of inputs, to reap, store and package outputs and relay to market and have an eye on price movements and its effect on profitability.

He or she is a risk-taker.

To attempt to convert someone with an employee mentality into a self-motivated farmer is an extremely difficult task. Hence, we have the spectacle of the vast majority of Caroni (1975) Ltd’s retrenched employees who received their two-acre plots having abandoned them.

Thus far, we have merely discussed basic requirements for the production of run-of-the-mill crops. However, in order to produce new or hybrid varieties to offer to the local or niche foreign markets, there is need for a great deal of research and experimentation.

This requirement applies whether it is fruit, vegetable or root crops.

On the issue of local meat supply, the foremost question must be what options, if any, are available to reduce the level of foreign inputs into the production of poultry or farm animals. An increase in the availability of fish can only come from inshore fish farming and a robust aquaculture programme.

The main criterion for contribution to the diversification effort is deemed to be the earnings of foreign exchange through export or the conservation of foreign exchange through import substitution.

It is left to be seen how impressive will be the performance of the agricultural sector on this basis.

The 24-year-old Jamaican stopped the clock at 22.09 seconds to finish ahead of countrywoman and World and Olympic 400m bronze medallist, Shericka Jackson in 22.61.

American Shalonda Solomon trailed in third in a time of 22.64 seconds.

Thompson burst from the blocks in lane five to storm through the first 100 metres and enter the strait with a healthy advantage.

She then produced her now familiar robust late race acceleration to win easily.

“My race plan was to get off the corner as early as possible and then control my race and take it from there,” said Thompson, who swept both sprints at last year’s Rio Olympics.

“It’s all about winning and perfecting the technique and execution.” Trinidadian Semoy Hackett was fourth in 22.87.

In the women’s 100m final, American Morolake Akinosun won gold, holding hoff a charging field to cross the finish line in 11.06 seconds.

Trinidad and Tobago and Olympic finalist Michelle Lee Ahye sthrugged off a lethargic start to almost snatch the gold in 11.06 seconds as well.

USA’s Allyson Felix was third in 11.07.

Yohan Blake, meanwhile, produced a season- best 9.93 seconds to easily win the men’s 100 metres, ahead of the American pair of Ronnie Baker (9.98) and Mike Rodgers (10.02).

The Jamaican duo of Nesta Carter and Tyquendo Tracey, in lanes one and two respectively, had great starts but Blake, in lane three, powered through to take command after 50 metres.

Baker and Rodgers went with him and was nipping at his heels at the finish.

“This is my first 100 metres of the season and to run 9.93 seconds is great,” Blake said.

Jamaican Novlene Williams-Mills also shone on at the National Stadium, producing a solid run to win the women’s 400 metres in 50.54, finishing ahead of the American pair of Phyllis Francis (50.66) and Natasha Hastings (51.20).

St Lucian Lavern Spencer also continued her winning start to the season, taking the women’s high jump with a clearance of 1.90

Can you imagine a teenager being dropped off at school witnessing his father slapping and cussing his mother in the presence of other parents and classmates? This scene will leave anyone shocked and hurt, both for the mother and that teenager. Think what about is happening in that home and the psychological effect on the victim and those who see this abuse.

Why can’t we settle our disagreements in a civilized manner? People with anger issues need to seek help instead of taking it out on someone else. It is wrong to abuse anyone. No one has the right to be slapping and kicking another human being.

I believe those who abuse others must be dealt with seriously by our justice system. I urge law-abiding citizens to continue the fight against abuse of not only females but also males.

ARNOLD GOPEESINGH via email