Nanan was hospitalised after complaining of feeling unwell on Wednesday last. A blood clot was discovered in his head and he died at the San Fernando General Hospital on Thursday, two weeks after celebrating his 59th birthday on May 5.

His funeral service was held at his home in Exchange Lots, Couva, yesterday morning after which his body was cremated at the Mosquito Creek Cremation site in La Romaine.

He was given a military funeral and among those at his home and the ceremation site were those officers who graduated with him from the Police Training Academy at the St James Barracks.

His son Andre remembered him as a bird lover, a hard worker, and the co-ordinator of all of their family gatherings.

Nanan’s legacy culminated in his latest promotion to being Senior Superintendent, the most decorated responsibility of his being the lead investigator into the “emailgate” scandal of 2013.

Speaking briefly during the service, Commissioner Williams said “During his last few years in the service, he (Nanan) would have been the main investigator in one of the highest profile investigations seen in the country over recent times.” Williams celebrated Nanan as a model example of the police service.

And so did National Security Minister Dillon. “I remember some time ago he reminded me, when he was an honour guard, I was a young officer then. At one of the inspections, because we had to inspect guards before the Prime Minister came out, I remember giving him a good turnout. A good turnout, ladies and gentlemen, is one where you couldn’t be checked for anything because you were dressed so impeccably.

There was nothing the inspecting officer could have checked you for.” Dillon said Nanan lived the values of the service and he did so with pride before extending his condolences to Nanan’s family. Nanan is survived by his wife, Lystra Nanan, a police sergeant, and his son Andre.

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.

The event featured competition at the two venues and was organised in memory of Anderson, who died on January 25, 2017 from complications with brain cancer. He was 38 years old.

West Indies batting legend Brian Lara, Anderson’s friend and former business partner, was the brainchild of the event. At the closing ceremony, held at Brian Lara’s residence at Lady Chancellor Hill, Port of Spain, the former West Indies left-hander thanked everyone for supporting the initiative.

“I want to say a very big thank you to everyone for turning out.

This was not a normal tournament, where you have two or three months in advance and you have an opportunity to go out there and get a sponsor or get a day off to play the tournament.

This was hastily organised,” he said.

The record-breaking batsman, speaking about Anderson said, “We’ve lost a brother, a son, a friend, and someone that we all know and we all have great respect for. He was a great fighter.” The proceeds from the tournament will go towards the Scott Anderson Young Achievers Award. The programme will see youngsters from underprivileged communities introduced to the sport of golf.

Anderson’s father, Steve, said, “I cannot express the gratitude of our family. Thank you so much.

This is something for our family that we never expected, nor could’ve imagined. This will be with us for the rest of our lives.” At the Brechin Castle Course in Couva, Ernest De Gannes and Rol Seecharan won that leg of the tournament with a score of 41, followed by the team of Bill Ramrattan and Arjoon Samlal. Third place went to Suresh Jagessar and Munilal Lalchan, while Kumar Boodram and Ken Pollard ended fourth.

In Chaguaramas, Andy Gomez- Burke and Curtis Moses finished with a score of 35 to earn victory. Jason Collier and Richard Lara were second and the duo of Chris Richards and Michael Commissiong grabbed third spot. Rounding off the top four were Subash Ranjitsingh and Gerard De Four. Brian Lara and Shaheed Komdiah won awards for closest to the pin.

We all learn the same national anthem; get the same passport, and are familiar with the same vernacular, but for some reason, there is more racial and geographical division than we can fathom.

From the geographical perspective, Trinidad and Tobago is one nation divided into several colonies.

A nation is fundamentally a large body of people united by common descent, history, culture, or language, inhabiting a particular state or territory, which for all intents and purposes, we can agree exists in Trinidad and Tobago.

A colony on the other hand is a group of people of one nationality or race living in a foreign place, which is also an accurate depiction of the situation I see with several communities in Trinidad, and separately, Tobago as a whole.

People from poor or highcrime areas, and to a certain extent, Tobago, are foreigners in their own country because they hardly have the same amount of rights as those who are fortunate enough to have a different address.

Whenever I see the lack of development in rural Tobago, or pass through really poor communities in Trinidad, I am bothered by the fact that a government Minister can rack up a phone bill for $59,000 in four days and place that burden on tax payers in this time of economic difficulty. But when one lacks integrity, such a decision is easy to make.

You see –in an adaptation of what George Orwell stated in Animal Farm– in Trinidad and Tobago, all men are created equal, but some men are more equal than others.

So we treat one section of society as part of the nation and leave those living in their colonies to fend for themselves; and the general Trinbagonian mindset is that however they accomplish that feat is their problem, not ours – they chose that life.

I recently listened to a speech given by Richard Nixon when he was accepting the presidential nomination at the Republican National Convention on 8th August 1968, and it almost felt as though he was speaking about Trinidad and Tobago. In the speech, Nixon – who went on to become the 37th POT US – stated the following: “For the past five years we have been deluged by government programs for the unemployed; programs for the cities; programs for the poor. And we have reaped from these programs an ugly harvest of frustration, violence and failure across the land…I say it is time to quit pouring billions of dollars into programs that have failed… Let us increase the wealth of America so that we can provide more generously for the aged; and for the needy; and for all those who cannot help themselves… Instead of government jobs, and government housing, and government welfare, let government use its tax and credit policies to enlist in this battle, the greatest engine of progress ever developed in the history of man— American private enterprise…

“Black Americans, no more than white Americans, they do not want more government programs which perpetuate dependency. They don’t want to be a colony in a nation.

They want the pride, and the self-respect, and the dignity that can only come if they have an equal chance to own their own homes, to own their own businesses, to be managers and executives as well as workers, to have a piece of the action in the exciting ventures of private enterprise.

“I pledge to you tonight that we shall have new programs which will provide that equal chance.” Of course, it is now etched into history that although Nixon talked of inclusion, his use of the Southern Strategy and his war on drugs destroyed the black community even further, but his words are still very relevant in a modern TT society.

Sometimes we forget that the vast majority of people living in poorer communities are also Trinbagonians and not foreigners invading our shores.

The problem with creating these excluded colonies is that they operate outside of the view of the nation’s security forces; hence the high level of unchecked criminality.

Had there been a more inclusive approach towards the colonies within our nation, those residents would not feel so isolated, neglected and ignored and would actually feel more inclined to assist the nation in its fight against crime.

Criminals kill and rob because they view the rest of society the same way society views them – different; “not one of us”, which is why they do not hesitate to take an innocent life for the most minor reason(s).

We should be building a nation instead of constructing colonies, but how can we when colonies bring in the votes? To divide and rule, is their whole plan.

jamille85@ msn.com

Supreme Court Registrar Jade Rodriguez confirmed this to Sunday Newsday yesterday, saying she received the notice of appeal via e-mail.

“That notice of appeal was sent to the attorneys-at-law for Mr (Devant) Maharaj,” she said in a brief response.

“I have an undertaking that the notice will be filed on Monday, which is the 22nd of May and as a result of that, I have fixed an appointment with the Court of Appeal for 9 am on Monday in the east court, Court of Appeal, Hall of Justice.

Rodriguez said the quorum tomorrow will include Justices of Appeal Peter Jamadar, Gregory Smith and Judith Jones.

Earlier yesterday, the United National Congress (UNC) political leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar claimed Government had not served the Opposition with any legal notice of its appeal.

As a result, the party signalled its intention to move a motion in the House of Representatives to bring Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi and, or, Acting Prime Minister Colm Imbert before the Privileges Committee for “deliberately and wilfully misleading the Parliament and attempting to unduly apply pressure and influence on the Judiciary in a politically sensitive case in which the government’s illegal conduct is being challenged.” But in an immediate response, Al-Rawi yesterday dismissed the Opposition’s proposed motion as “arrant nonsense,” claiming Government’s action in appealing the ruling was well above board and in sync with standard legal practice.

In a strongly worded statement, Persad-Bissessar said the UNC never received any notice of an appeal.

“Our legal team led by former attorney general Anand Ramlogan SC, has not been served with any notice of appeal in this matter,” the party said, one day after Seepersad ruled in the San Fernando High Court that a temporary stay had been placed on the implementation of the property tax.

The stay will, in the first instance, remain in effect until May 31.

G o v e r n m e n t , through Al-Rawi and Imbert, announced on Friday in the Lower House that they intended to challenge Seepersad’s ruling in the Court of Appeal, tomorrow.

However, Persad- Bissessar said when official enquiries were made of the Supreme Court Registrar about Government’s plan they were advised “that no appeal has been filed and the Court of Appeal has not convened any emergency session at 9 am on Monday to hear the Government’s supposed appeal against the property tax judgment.” “The UNC is concerned, to say the very least, that the Government can make such reckless, false and misleading claims in the Parliament to deceive the population and pour scorn on the undoubted legal victory for the people,” she said.

“We see this as an alarming and disturbing last ditch attempt by the Government to save face and apply pressure on the Judiciary.” She added: “For the Government, through its Attorney General and/or Acting Prime Minister, the two most senior members of Cabinet, to exert such naked and raw political pressure on the judicial arm of the State is a serious breach and fracture of our Constitution which enshrines the separation of powers.

“The Judiciary is insulated and protected from this kind of disturbing and dangerous political interference as the undoubted consequences of a government meddling in the administration of justice is dictatorship and oppression.” The UNC called on Government to apologise to the public and Judiciary for its “hypocritical, deceptive and self-serving statements which have no basis in fact.” “We challenge them to produce any evidence to substantiate the reckless statements as we now know it to be completely untrue,” she added.

Lamenting that Imbert’s “reckless statements” have been widely reported in the media, the UNC leader said the audio-visual record of the Parliament sitting showed Al-Rawi also made this statement during his contribution “after the landmark judgment”.

“These statements were made by the Government in Parliament in a clear attempt to do political damage control and give the false impression that the Government’s appeal was meritorious and hence warranted the immediate convening of the Court of Appeal in an emergency session within forty-eight hours.” Al-Rawi again dismissed the Opposition’s motion against himself and Imbert.

“I understand that they have threatened to take Minister Imbert and me to the Privileges Committee.

That is arrant nonsense largely because the position that we volunteered to the Parliament is a position of fact born out by the statements of the attorneys- at-law who represent the State and their information to us,” he said.

Al-Rawi took umbrage at the Opposition’s condemnation of the State’s attorneys in the matter.

“I can say that the attorneys for the Commissioner of Valuations include Russell Martineau, Senior Counsel, Deborah Peake, Senior Counsel, Ravi Heffes-Doon and that for the Attorney General, the team includes Fyard Hosein, SC and Rishi Dass.

“Effectively, therefore, the UNC is saying that these very reputable attorneys, have dome something wrong. That has got to be the epitome of foolish statements. It is just to be ignored. It is a storm in a tea cup.”

But as the billionaire dealer and transcontinental businessman that he was before entering the White House, he has survived, in fact, conquered many a threat – even from the law. But this time it is politics, and from what has been happening around him, it is beginning to look like cut-throat politics. Support from Republican House Speaker Paul Ryan has grown cool. Senior Republican Senator John McCain (R) questions Trump’s judgement, especially on the “Russian connection” and the sudden dismissal of FBI Director James Comey who had signalled his intention to inquire into the alleged pro-Trump “Russian interference” in the last US election and as well, the role of Trump’s aide, General Michael Flynn.

Trump and Russian President Putin both deny such interference.

Last Thursday, however, the world was told by Reuters (news agency) that “eighteen contacts” were made between Russia and Trump’s campaign advisers. This added to the current blowout. Politically weakened, Trump’s reply was “all this is hurting the US, too negative.” Reuters’ disclosure added fuel to the fire that now occupies all media, especially TV talk shows. A media frenzy.

And there is the salivating throng of “I told you so’s” waiting for blood.

It’s like a self-fulfilling prophesy from last November coming true some six months after. There is indeed a big fight ahead, pressing Trump to coerce as many Republicans as he can to stand in front as he did with replacing Obamacare.

But some Republicans now compare Trump’s situation to former President Richard Nixon’s impeachment for “obstruction of justice” in the infamous Watergate scandal.

So Trump moves into survival gear.

Through a news leak, he is accused of trying to influence FBI’s Comey to stay away from any Russian inquiry – an apparent Nixon-type “obstruction of justice” charge. He claims that no other president “has been treated so unfairly” as he is.

He questions an independent inquiry into the Russian affair. After smashing the media before and soon after assuming office, calling them names from “crazy,” to “shameless” and “fake news,” last week he invited the anchors of the major TV stations for lunch. The politics of survival. After all, a US president enjoys some immunity and high-powered privileges too.

You see, there are classical techniques politicians – even emperors or princes – could use for survival.

Let’s take three. One, they can retreat into their natural constituencies, meaning labour, business or ethnicity, making it appear that if they lose, the entire constituency loses too. Two, they can form fresh alliances with attractive promises.

Three, they can boast of their many achievements “for the people” while making themselves look like aggrieved victims of jealousy and ingratitude.

Sentimental stuff.

America’s democracy is quite different from our frozen Westminster- type democracy. Trump, for example, looked as if he never knew appointing a Supreme Court judge would have been so difficult. The transparency shocked his business sense. He seemed not to recognise the constitutional limits to an executive order. His executive order to ban immigration from certain Muslim countries was blocked by judges.

And further, publicly objected to by Acting Attorney General, the feisty Sally Yates. He fired her as an “Obama AG.” Three months into his unexpected presidency, he admitted he had thought being president “was easier.” Which prime minister in this country did not think so too? If the obstacles to impeachment do come down, it will not necessary mean fresh elections. The US has fixed date for that, unlike Britain where PM Theresa May called an early election for June 7. This anti-establishment man who came to “drain the Washington swamp,” now finds himself swamped by establishment threats. Last year, in the Republican run-off for presidential nomination, Trump beat 17 contenders. They now lie in waiting, wondering if not wishing. He may survive in spite of surrounding dangers.

The politics of survival.

“The issue of the property tax is certainly one of certainty because there are multiple ways in which the proper tax can be implemented,” he told Sunday Newsday.

“But, ideally, it is proper to wait to hear what the court has to say on Monday and otherwise and we will speak further on that.” The Government heads to the Court of Appeal, tomorrow, seeking to reverse the ruling of Justice Frank Seepersad in relation to the implementation of the controversial property tax.

Seepersad’s ruling on Friday in the San Fernando High Court followed submissions by Senior Counsel and former attorney general Anand Ramlogan, who filed for judicial review on behalf of applicant Devant Maharaj, a former People’s Partnership government minister.

Seepersad, who ruled that the stay would remain in effect until May 31, until further notice, said there was a “strong arguable case” that the property tax could be struck down or the process by which the Government is seeking to enforce it, justifiably reviewed in the courts. Citizens were initially expected to submit their completed property valuation forms, tomorrow, at the designated offices.

However, Finance Minister Colm Imbert announced in a statement on Tuesday that the deadline has been extended to June 5, following the overwhelming response of citizens to the exercise.

The Opposition has consistently questioned the Government’s timing in seeking to implement the property tax, arguing that citizens are already under extreme pressure to survive in the economic downturn.

They also have called for clarification on certain aspects of the exercise.

Yesterday, Al-Rawi, when asked if the Government will ultimately claim victory in executing the property tax, simply gave a synopsis of the most recent challenge to its implementation.

“The matter before the court on Friday is an application for leave for judicial review and for interim relief,” he said. “That matter came prematurely to the court in my view in so far as the claimant had requested a response to a pre-action protocol and requested that that be done by Friday, by Friday meaning at the close of business.

“Notwithstanding that fact, the applicant went to court, even though they had yet to allow Friday to pass and the judge considered the matter.

“It was ex parte-opposed, meaning they gave the lawyers for the State, for the Commissioner of Valuations a call, and said look, we have a matter and we proceeding with it. That being the case, the matter was opposed. The judge gave an order that they are granting leave for judicial review.” Al-Rawi regarded the leave for judicial review as “a very low threshold.” “It essentially means that you have an arguable case that the matter will go to judicial review and you deal with it there and the judge also gave interim relief in relation to a press statement.” The AG said the Government was subsequently advised by their attorneys to appeal Seepersad’s order tomorrow at 9 am.

“The appeal will be dealt with at the court. We will certainly be guided by the highest courts in the land and certainly the confusion created will be addressed once we hear what the courts have to say.” In relation to the Opposition’s claim of victory in Seepersad’s ruling, Al-Rawi told Sunday Newsday, “It is not the first time we have heard the Opposition Leader claim victory in defeat. At the end of the day, one cannot complain that the separation of powers operates.

“There is a Judiciary in the country and people have the right to approach the courts and we will deal with the matter and the outcome from the court.” Asked what would be the Government’s advice to citizens in the wake of the ruling, Al-Rawi said: “It will be improper of me to answer that question because there is a judicial order which is under appeal. So, I don’t want to be inciting a contempt of court, one way or the other.

“At the end of the day, we must await the due process of the deliberations of the court and we can certainly speak with clarity after that.”

So Rev Dr Knolly Clarke said yesterday during the homily at the three-hour funeral service for Rennie “Stretch” Dumas, at the Holy Trinity Cathedral in Portof- Spain. Another funeral service is expected to be held on Wednesday in Tobago.

Clarke said churches, political parties, and other organisations had become so exclusive, that they had no use for people of different positions and ideologies.

“We can not tolerate different things. We cannot recognise that Trinidad and Tobago is a diverse society… we have lost the art of listening and dialogue.” He said Dumas, 61, was a man of many talents who was involved in all aspects of national development.

He said if the people of Trinidad and Tobago were going to build up this country as Dumas did, we would have to do so as a community of communities. “If this man’s life meant anything to you, we must change.” All of the speakers described Dumas as a man of many talents who served his country and the People’s National Movement (PNM). They said he was a man who understood people and so was patient and empathetic.

Listing some of Dumas’ accomplishments, Planning and Development Minister Camille Robinson-Regis said he served as president of the UWI Guild; an executive member of TTUTA; a senator; a member of the House of Representatives; a government minister; member of the General Council and Central Executive of the PNM; and as an executive member of the PNM’s Tobago Island Council.

Speaking on behalf of Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley and the PNM, and the Women’s League, Robinson-Regis described Dumas as a good and decent man, and as the voice that bridged the two islands.

“He gave us strength in times of trouble, wisdom in times of uncertainty, and generosity in times of happiness… He was always by our side… It was because he was a man who understood people, that in the darkest days of 2000, 2001, he lit the lamps of hope at many firesides as we traversed the length and breath of Trinidad and Tobago and released so many from the chains of despair, that by 2002, we were able to convince the nation that we were worthy of their trust.” Former PNM minister Mustapha Abdul-Hamid told the audience Dumas was “one of the most underrated politicians, a true intellectual powerhouse” and he loved Dumas as a brother.

He said although Dumas was “a mountain of strength and power” in the Parliament, “Rennie’s superior generosity and wisdom were to be found, not in academia, but in his understanding of people.” In addition Abdul-Hamid said, “He had the courage to stand on his principles, even at great personal cost. At a time when it was fashionable to ridicule, humiliate and persecute Patrick Manning, Rennie Dumas refused to join the herds stampeding in desperate search of high political office.” Delivering the eulogy, William Benjamin, a friend of Dumas’ for 30 years, was the most emotional.

He said he could not believe it when Dumas died because he was too young. In fact, he said he visited Dumas a few weeks before his death, and Dumas was an eternal optimist. He said Dumas felt confident all he needed to do was strengthen his body, undergo the surgery, and he would be back on his feet.

While that was not the outcome, Benjamin said he was happy his friend lived his life well, had done so many good things, and was loved.

He described Dumas as gracious and warm, full of love, a man with a joy for life, a scholar, counsellor, a proud father and loving companion, an educator, and an integral part of the PNM in Tobago.

Benjamin said Dumas was a walking encyclopaedia of the social, political, and economic landscape of Tobago, and that Tobago had lost a community man and a champion who understood the institution of democracy.

“It seems of little consequence now that there were political differences or objections to his legislative product, his approach to development, and his style of leadership… What matters now is that feeling of loss. That personal sense of emptiness which most Tobagonians and Trinidadians feel because Rennie, our Stretch, has left us in the prime of his life,” he said.

After the eulogy, Benjamin began to sing Hear Me Calling, Great Redeemer by Fernando Ortega.

He was not able to finish as he broke down in tears and had to be helped from the platform.

The internet as we know it was invented in 1989 by British national Tim Berners-Lee. He imagined the web as an open platform that would allow everyone, everywhere to share information, access opportunities, and collaborate across geographic and cultural boundaries.

But the first recorded description of the social interactions that could be enabled through networking was a series of memos written by American J C R Licklider of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in August 1962 discussing his Galactic Network concept.

Decades later, what started as a cool trend accessible by few has profoundly changed the shape of our lives. It has expanded into a global network engaging billions on a daily business; enabling all sorts of technological innovations; supporting billions in trade; allowing the spread of information far and wide at rapid pace and facilitating social interaction and mobilization on a never-before-seen scale.

But the internet is now also the domain of a host of new, perilous, unprecedented threats. Cyber-hacking in the US presidential election, cyber-warfare, the spread of false propaganda on social networks, and this month’s cyber-attack that crippled the UK’s National Health Service and sent shockwaves across the world are but a few examples.

Concerns about privacy and abuse of power by the State have also emerged.

Last week, as World Telecommunication and Information Society Day was observed, the US Federal Communications Commission voted to overturn rules that force ISPs to treat all data traffic as equal – a blow to net neutrality or the idea that whatever is posted online is, at first instance, equally accessible by all. And in the UK, it emerged that Theresa May plans reforms that would curtail some of the freedoms on the internet.

The internet is more or less a broadcasting medium where information may be freely exchanged.

As such it has the capacity to cross borders and open doors; to educate and to enlighten. Any censorship of the internet must balance public interest concerns relating to law and order and security with the need for freedom, even in the digital realm.

Certainly, rules which will allow law enforcement agencies to combat cybercrime are advisable. The effects of the NHS hack were still being felt last week. Reports emerged that North Korea – which was also responsible for an attack on a Hollywood studio in 2014 – was also tied to the recent hack.

In Trinidad and Tobago, the Ministry of Public Administration last week assured that it has taken action to protect our own networks. Administrators and managers rushed to secure potentially vulnerable IT systems in Government’s infrastructure network Govnett. The statement revealed that operating systems within Govnett were being reviewed by the system’s developer and partner company, Fujitsu, for potentially vulnerable Windows systems operating in the network.

But notwithstanding these efforts, the fact remains the ministry will be unable to guarantee complete protection.

And as our past experiences demonstrate, we are vulnerable.

Even our Parliament’s website fell prey to an attack in 2012.

“This is a warning, what other hackers can do to your website.

Keep it in mind,” said an ominous message on the website from the hacker.

All of this points to the need for the long-delayed Cybercrime Bill 2017. That bill, which is currently tabled in Parliament, needs to be debated, modified if needs be and implemented as soon as possible so that our protections can have a robust framework.