I have seen a video making its way around social media, where a young woman describing herself as trainee of the On the Job (OJT) Programme has bravely come forward to articulate on her behalf and other trainees the concerns many of them have with respect to the future of the programme.

Firstly, let me allay the fears and dispel the rumours that the programme will be closing down.

This is simply not true. What has been communicated and is fact is that the programme is being restructured.

As the OJT Programme is now a division of the Ministry of Labour and Small Enterprise Development, Cabinet took a decision to restructure the programme. This decision was made to facilitate the most efficient and effective way to integrate it into the ministry, with a view to developing an appropriate organisational structure for the programme.

These are challenging times and tough decisions are being made across both private and public enterprises.

I give the assurance that amidst it all, the decisions are being made with the best interest of the trainees in mind.

We are presently engaged in interviews for staff for the restructured programme. We have to ensure that we bring on board the most suitably qualified people, who will continue to address the concerns of the trainees and provide the level of service these trainees deserve.

As part of the restructuring process and alignment to the ministry, the OJT Programme’s satellite offices will now be located at the ministry’s satellite offices in Pt Fortin, Siparia, San Fernando, Chaguanas and Tunapuna and I guarantee that from June 1, OJT staff will be present at these offices to address the concerns of trainees.

Please note that we are still in the process of finalising accommodation for the programme’s head office and will advise trainees of the new address.

Moreover, we have been working at full speed to ensure a seamless transition and that all functional and operational logistics are in place so that our trainees are not adversely affected. We are aiming at minimising to the very best of our ability, any disruptions to the operations of the programme.

I thank the trainees for bringing to my attention their concerns and congratulate the young woman for her bravery to make a public and overt call for me to address this issue.

I remind all OJTs that this programme was conceptualised to provide them with an opportunity to gain practical experience in the workplace and to help them develop the professional and interpersonal skills necessary for their success.

The On-the Job Training Programme is not closing down and as the minister with responsibility for this programme, I am committed to ensuring that we minimise the possibility of disruption to any aspect of this process. I invite the trainees to keep us updated on any further concerns they may have.

In this context please contact the director at K.Lovell-Ferreira@ojt.

gov.tt.

JENNIFER BAPTISTE-PRIMUS Minister of Labour and Small Enterprise Development

It will be a one-off holiday. Like when TT qualified for the FIFA World Cup for the first time but hopefully not last time.

Does the general public agree with this move? Shouldn’t the holiday be permanent? Other major groups have recurring public holidays.

Contrary to public belief, people benefit from public holidays.

Some work for premium rates.

Some get time to rest and do things with their families. The country does not shut down.

This is not about the number of public holidays we have. It is about celebrating our diversity.

We are a cosmopolitan nation.

Where every creed and race finds an equal place.

Make the holiday permanent.

AV RAMPERSAD Princes Town

Udit Narayan and his celebrity son Aditya Narayan will join with his singing mother Deepa for a show in TT on June 17 at 7 pm at the Centre of Excellence in Macoya.

This royal family of Bollywood will perform with their full band for this Father’s Day spectacular.

Aditya has anchored television series and appeared in ads.

No stranger to TT , Udit and his wife and son performed here in 2008.

Promoted by Missy and R Promotions, chief co-ordinator of this event Rodney Bickram said that the Udit’s voice is heard on a daily basis here in TT through the various East Indian frequencies.

“We live on a daily diet of these love songs coming out from the Bollywood films and this is why we chose to host Udit Narayan and his wife and son here for Father’s Day,” Bickram said. a Udit began singing since his childhood but it was not until 1980 that music director Rajesh Roshan asked him to do a song for the Hindi movie Unees Bees. Right off he got the opportunity to sing with Mohammed Rafi.

Success struck in 1988 when he did playback for the Bollywood movie Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak. He bagged a Filmfare Award, which is the Bollywood equivalent of the Oscar.

After the success of Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak, he became one of the leading playback singers in the Indian film industry, lending his voice mostly in Aamir Khan movies like Dil, and Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikander.

Throughout the 1990s, he was one of the most successful singers in India. In 1995, his song Mehndi Lagake Rakhna from the movie Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge won him his second Filmfare Award after seven years. In 1996 he was nominated for three songs out of five and won his third award for the song Pardesi Pardesi from Raja Hindustani.

He has worked with musicians like Anu Malik, Jatin Lalit, Laxmikant- Pyarelal, among others, and all the hit directors like Yash Chopra, Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Karan Johar and others.

His collaboration was mostly popular with Shahrukh Khan, for whom he has sung major hits for movies like Darr, Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Dil To Pagal Hai, Mohabbatein, Swades, Veer Zaara.

Udit is considered as one of the greatest singers of his generation.

His wife Deepa Narayan, whom he married in 1985, is an accomplished Nepalese singer, and the two have recorded an album together, Dil Deewana.

Deepa and Udit will be bringing several unforgettable romantic songs to life for this concert.

Aditya has also established himself as the voice of child artistes in Hindi movies and acted in hit movies like Pardes, Rangeela, and Jab Pyar Kisise Hota Hai. His role as a son of actor Salman Khan in the movie Jab Pyar Kisise Hota Hai was widely acclaimed.

However, Aditya who took break from Bollywood since 2001, on account of his changing voice is now back on the scene and is hosting Sa Re Ga Ma Pa L’il Champs.

Smith, of the Rough House Gym in Trinidad, weighed in at 151.2 pounds at the National Boxing Gym, Hasely Crawford Stadium in Mucurapo, yesterday.

Banai of Simson Gym in Suriname weighed in at 154.8 pounds.

Fight promoter Bharath Ramoutar is expecting a competitive bout tonight. Ramoutar said, “Smith, an undefeated fighter from the Rough House Gym is rough and ready to clash fist and feet with Joey, who is just eager to take the title home to Suriname.” Banai’s coach Angelo Simson respects Smith but believes his kickboxer will come out victorious.

Simson said, “We already know that Omar Smith is a very good fighter. Rough House Gym is a very good gym. We know that they have talented fighters, so we don’t underestimate him. We expect that the crowd will have a very entertaining fight, but we still expect to win.” Smith’s coach and manager, Adam De Silva, said they agreed to fight Banai because of Suriname’s proud history in the sport.

De Silva said, “Suriname has some of the top kickboxers in the Caribbean. They produce world class kickboxers consistently and many of their kickboxers go to the international level. We brought him here because we wanted to test Omar’s skills.” The supporting card includes eight non-title bouts, as kickboxers from a number of schools will compete. Some of the schools participating are Fine Line Fight Factory, Rough House, Team Elite, Jian Wu, Thai Warriors and Golden Phoenix.

Ramoutar also anticipates a stiff showdown for the national welterweight crown. “Another exciting bout is the local clash between long-time rivals, Andell Lakhan and Vimal Jagoo. The two will finally settle who is the best, as they battle for the national welterweight title over five rounds.” Wrestling will also entertain the spectators, who must pay $100 for general tickets and $150 for ring side.

Professional wrestlers will add to the excitement and entertainment, as the local wrestling association brings two top tag teams with the Thunder Warriors seeking to expose the Masked Assailants, during a midway segment of the event.

The event will also have explosive karate demonstrations by two of the top athletes from the Team Elite School. Tickets are available at the Fine Line Gym in Chaguanas, Centre City Mall in Chaguanas and at the Rough House Gym in St James. For more information contact 772-9640 or 763-1187

Special tributes begin promptly at 10.30 am, and the official service begins at noon. Brigo will then be laid to rest at the D’Abadie public cemetery. A release from the Trinbago Unified Calypsonians’ Organisation (TUCO) expressed condolences to Brigo’s family, friends and close associates.

Brigo died at 1 pm at the Mt Hope General Hospital on May 16.

Famous as the face behind the Det insecticide commercial to thousands of people, Brigo produced classic songs such as, Mama Popo, Green Lime, Voodoo Man, Limbo Break, After Carnival, Barnabas Collins and many others. On Sunday, there will be a viewing of his body at the Arima Town Hall from 4 pm to 6 pm. All calypso and cultural lovers, friends and well-wishers are invited.

This month’s theme is Can’t We All Just Get Along? In keeping with the association’s commitment to advocacy, the panel discussion will address issues that affect both men and woman everyday in our workplaces.

The panel will comprise Nikoli Edwards, Sue-Ann Barratt and Sharon Mottley.

Edwards, youth and social advocate and the youngest Independent Senator in TT, will be speaking on the role of men in gender issues.

Barratt, of the faculty of the Institute for Gender and Development Studies, University of the West Indies, will contribute from the perspective of her PhD in Interdisciplinary Gender Studies and her research in interpersonal interaction, gender and ethnic identities and beauty and body image.

Mottley, study lead of Trinidad and Tobago at the National Alliance of State and Territorial Aids Directors (Nastad) and founder of the Women’s Caucus will also present based on her knowledge and experience.

For more info: www.afett.com, e-mail admin.afett@ gmail.com.

“That is our biggest problem. It is out of hand. It is affecting us badly and getting worse day by day,” Network president Adrian Acosta said. During a picket march Thursday outside the Ministry of Works and Transport, Acosta told reporters they are not seeing PH drivers being ticketed.

“Enforce the law! They are coming out more and more. There is a proliferation of PH drivers around our stands every day. We want action right now,” he said. The PH drivers, Acosta said, occupy prime spots behind or before taxi stands so that before the travelling public reaches the taxi stand they are picked up.

Acosta said that representatives of the network met with Minister of Works and Transport Rohan Sinanan in January about the issue and Sinanan said he would look into it. Prior to that meeting, Acosta said, they also met with former Transport Minister Fitzgerald Hinds who subsequently informed the network by way of letter that he was seeking legal advice.

“To date, no one is taking heed about what we keep saying.” Acosta said the authorities should ensure that these PH drivers regis ter, get their ‘H’ license and register for their taxi badges.

The length of time obtaining and renewing badges was another issue. “It takes three weeks to get the badges done when that could be done in a day. I am asking for that to be looked into,” Acosta said. On Uber, Acosta said this was “organised PH driving” and could also seriously affect taxi drivers if it takes a hold in TT.

Speaking with reporters during the tea break in the House of Representatives, Al-Rawi said neither Housing Minister Randall Mitchell, Agriculture Minister Clarence Rambharat, the Chief State Solicitor nor himself had any prior knowledge that the demolition would take place.

“It has not originated from ministerial, Cabinet or AG’s office,” he said. Noting this happened on May 15, the AG said, “In light of the severity of the action taken, I can confirm that I have been calling for the Commissioner of State Lands to meet with every single day since the 15th.” However he said the Commissioner has not responded to any of his requests for a meeting to date.

Told there could be legal action taken by one squatter, Al-Rawi said he was quite concerned because he,” would like to understand the action that was taken and where the advice to take that action came from.” He reminded reporters that he was the line minister to defend the State against any claim made against it.

Al-Rawi said it would be unusual for the Commissioner to act independently on these kinds of matters and this is why he is seeking clarity.

He disclosed that some of these offences include using abusive language, sacrilege, throwing missiles, maintenance and traffic violations.

Noting there are approximately 2,280 people in remand, Al-Rawi said, “Of the remanded population who are entitled and have been granted access to bail, 71 percent are still there.” In terms of cost, Al-Rawi said the cost of maintaining these inmates ranges between, “$19,000 to $25,000 per head, per remanded inmate, per month.” As he explained there are several direct and indirect costs in maintaining the prison population, Al-Rawi said people being kept ten years and over, five years and under five years, cost the State $804 million, $1.135 billion and $1.085 billion respectively to maintain them.

“The delay in justice is very, very expensive for the people of TT,” the AG stated.

Speaking to reporters during the tea break, Al-Rawi disclosed, “I have in my possession a Cabinet note from Mrs Persad-Bissessar’s tenure in 2013, which specifically approved the policy to the exact items which she described as dotishness today.” Describing this as “an absolute embarrassment,” Al-Rawi promised to speak about it when he concluded the debate. On Persad-Bissessar’s call to give bail to the 839 people, Al-Rawi said there are only seven people in prison past their maximum sentence.

Rochard Douglas Presbyterian came up against Picton Presbyterian who were no match for their more experienced rivals. Batting first, Rochard Douglas Presbyterian were bowled out for 123 in the 25th over with Anthony Arrindell the best of the batsmen on show with 24 runs. Bowling for Picton Presbyterian, Rishard Ali finished with four wickets for 17 runs, which brought joy to their many supporters at the ground.

Picton Presbyterian were confident at the break that they could challenge the score but Arrindell had other ideas as he returned with the ball to wreck them for just 41 in 13.1 overs. Arrindell claimed four wickets for 13 runs and was well supported by Jameel Sankar with two wickets for six runs.

Meanwhile, Charlieville ASJA put in a fine display with both bat and ball to claim the Caroni Girls final crown at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Tarouba yesterday.

The girls were elated to be playing at the newly opened facility and ASJA girls left the venue even happier after they took out Todd’s Road RC by five wickets. Shanna Joseph, with 35 not out, and Vani Surujbally (19 not out) thought they had taken their school to a good score of 105 for five in 15 overs but this proved insufficient as ASJA reached their target of 106 for four with relative ease.

Summarised Scores: CARONI GIRLS FINALS At Brian Lara Cricket Academy: Todd’s Road RC 105/5 (15 overs) – Shanna Joseph 35 not out, Vani Surujbally 19 not out vs Charlieville ASJA 106/4. Charlieville ASJA won by six wickets.

VICTORIA BOYS FINALS Rochard Douglas 123 all out (25 overs) – Anthony Arrindell 24, Rishard Ali 4/17 vs Picton Presbyterian 41 all out (13.1 overs) – Anthony Arrindell 4/13.

Rochard Douglas Presbyterian won by 82 runs.