The statement said providers must comply with the terms of their concession, the Telecommunications Act and all laws of TT.

“This includes a responsibility to protect their customers personal information and their right to privacy as provided for in the Data Protection Act and the concession and/or as found in the respective subscriber’s contract of service.” TATT said disclosure of a client’s information can cause him/her significant harm.

“As such the Authority seeks to protect customers of public telecommunications services from such breaches of their rights and to hold authorised providers culpable pursuant to the law.”

Toussaint said it is the association’s hope to work with the ministries of Education and Health, to create safe spaces for children so they can feel comfortable to make reports of abuse.

Speaking at a child abuse seminar for nurses and teachers hosted by the Children’s Authority and Child Protection Unit Child at the Central bank Auditorium in Port-of-Spain, he asked, “Are there any rooms in the schools that children can comfortably go into to report child abuse? “It appears our frame work does not protect our children.

It appears that the courts cannot protect our children. Too much bureaucracy, too much red tape, too much money going in lawyers’ pockets and our children are being neglected,” Toussaint continued.

He reminded the audience that it was mandatory for teachers and nurses to make reports of child abuse to the police, the Children’s Authority and Child Protection Unit, but wondered whether or not in some cases, this is done. He said the seminar is aimed at making nurses and teachers understand they are key stakeholders in protecting the nation’s youth and nurturing them.

“We are hoping that after you have been sensitized to the need for safe spaces for children to make such reports and also to the fact yours is a critical role, you nurses and teachers will be confident enough to report any abuse toward a child to the relevant authorities.

It is my hope we can raise enough funds to create these safe spaces so children can feel comfortable to report abuse.” He also suggested a drop box at schools so children can actually write on their abuse and put it in for teachers to read and act accordingly.

He said working within the Eastern Region where a large percentage of all reported cases of child abuse comes from, has motivated the association to play a more proactive role in order to make a difference.

Toussaint said child abuse is a global issue whose impact runs deep into the cultural, economic and psychological well-being of all societies.

The eradication of the pail system will solve the problem of the use of toilets at nights and improve the hygiene and health issues, Duke said.

Answering questions yesterday from the Joint Select Committee on Human Rights, Equality and Diversity inquiring into the human rights of ‘remandees’ at the Remand Yard Prison, Arouca, Duke said, the plan to install the toilets was in place probably before 2013.

Funding for the project, he said, was out of the hands of the prisons administration as it could only approve the use of $450,000. The estimates for the project have been submitted, he said. “We are waiting the go ahead from up above to actually start this project.” In the meantime, he said, 23 stainless steel toilets were installed throughout the facility allowing the inmates to use during the day.

On the construction of the new remand prison, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of National Security Vel Lewis said, the proposal has been agreed to, land has been identified, and the Urban Development Company of TT (Udecott) has been engaged to manage the project. Udecott is in discussions with the Ministry of National Security to finalise the contract. The ministry is hoping, he said, to have an agreement in place with Udecott for preliminary designs by the end of this fiscal year.

“We had actually hoped to start that project this year but because of the financial constraint within which we are operating, he said, “we had to prioritise differently.

So we are actually aiming to start that project in the new fiscal year.” The ministry had to give priority, he said, to some other projects including the electronic monitoring system which is expected to reduce the population in the remand yard. This system would allow remandees to be released and monitored.

“We hope to have this project on stream by the end of this fiscal year.” In dealing with overcrowding and managing the remand yard, Duke said, the prisons service has tried as far as possible not to keep the number to not more than 1,000 persons in recent times.

Any remandee that above 1,000, he said, are transferred to the Maximum Security Prisons which has capacity.

In the past, the prison service would transfer remandees to the Maximum Security Prison when the remand yard reached 1,200.

The remand yard was built to accommodate 600 prisoners. At present it has 714.

To improve conditions in the remand yard, Duke said that 300 beds were bought and installed, and a laundry was built and two washing machines and four dryers installed to allow the remandees to wash their clothes.

Where there is lack of beds, he said, remandees are given mats to sleep on.

Meanwhile, concerns expressed by the prisons service included the ratio of one prison officer to 20 remandees when ideally it should be one prison officer to six remandees, the mental stress of remandees due to long incarceration some for as long as 14 years due to the failure of criminal justice system and the need for their reintegration in society just as those who would have been convicted, the submission of a strategic plan awaiting approval for implementation, and prison rules still to be updated.

Concern was also expressed that there is no charter that defines how

The ball hit the bottom edge of the bat, rattled the stumps and the bowler Yasir Shah ran a 50-metre dash in a flash, sliding onto the field as his teammates deliriously pounced on him to celebrate Pakistan’s first ever Test series win in the West Indies — in 59 years.

ESPN Cricinfo described Gabriel’s shot selection as a “brain fade.” Gabriel, though, performed brilliantly with the ball by capturing 15 wickets at a miserly average of 18.80 in the three-Test series.

Scribes can say “we fought hard,” but let us face some hard facts: This result was our sixth straight series defeat and our 13th Test loss in the last 20 matches.

Roston Chase stamped his class by scoring 403 runs, averaging 100 in an olympian effort. No other West Indian batsman scored more than 200 runs.

The debutants Hetmyer and Singh aggregated 159 runs.

Jamaican Jermaine Blackwood was relegated to water bottle duties, despite his Test average of 32, including one 100 and nine 50s.

West Indies has been ranked eighth in the ICC world Test rankings for as long as I can remember. What’s next? Where are we going? Where have we gone? The relationship between the hierarchy of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB), key players and regional governments has deteriorated badly over the past several months, even years.

In a January 1, 2015, newspaper article titled “Rousseau: WICB failing to follow constitution,” former WICB president Pat Rousseau heaped blame on current WICB president Dave Cameron for the exclusion of Dwayne Bravo, Kieron Pollard and Daren Sammy from the One-Day International team to South Africa.

Rousseau called the omission “victimisation” and remarked that “the current board continues to fail to follow its own constitution,” adding that “all matters of player discipline must be referred to the disciplinary committee appointed by the board.” It is paramount that the trust between players and the board be restored expeditiously and egos on both sides be discarded into the hallows of hope for West Indies Test cricket to move forward. It has been far too long.

The words of David Rudder resonate in my mind: Soon we must take a side or be left in the rubble In a divided world that don’t need islands no more Are we doomed forever to be at someone’s mercy Little keys can open up mighty doors Rally round the West Indies now and forever.

REZA ABASALI El Socorro

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.

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.

Joseph, 27, just returned to Trinidad from a training camp at Jacksonville in the USA where he worked alongside Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) superstars Jon Jones and Holly Holm, who gained notoriety after she ended Ronda Rousey’s unbeaten streak. Joseph, a submission specialist, is the current light heavyweight champion for Ruff N Tuff MMA League and is currently undefeated after three pro MMA bouts. Joseph is on a high after fighting in Guyana recently against Bajan Emmerson Hurley where he emerged victorious.

After an intense camp, Joseph is brimming with confidence against the 34 year old Joseph who has a record of five wins and two defeats and is also the current title holder for the International Cage Warriors in Curacao.

Jason Fraser, one of the organisers for the event, believes it will be an epic fight and said it is a fight that is long overdue and will see two well matched contenders battling for glory. Joseph is a silver medallist in combat sambo while McCarthy is a bronze medallist.

There will be seven cards on the evening card including a female bout which promises to be quite exciting. Also in the spotlight tonight will be a rematch involving two of the best local fighters with Narad Ramkilawan seeking revenge for his August 2016 TKO loss to Keron Bourne at Ruff N Tuff 4. Admission is $150 and is available at the venue.

However, none of this will erase the gap that has emerged between the line being taken by the minister and the ordinary citizen – a problem that will pose deeper problems relating to the credibility of this administration in the long run if not addressed.

In announcing the extension, the minister said 150,000 valuation forms had been distributed to Government facilities. But he added, “It is obvious people want to get involved in this process of having their property valued, assessed and they want to pay the tax.” While we are sure there are many civic-minded people out there, if Imbert is to be believed taxpayers are lining up in droves with smiles on their faces to fork out more of their hardearned income to a State system bogged by inefficiency and graft; a system for which successive administrations have failed to implement a convincing public procurement scheme, each ostensibly coming closer and closer to it while effectively wasting all of our time by tinkering ad nauseam.

To interpret the fear of citizens as a form of glee is to misread the nature of the relationship between any State and those governed within it. The State wields tremendous power over us and, in some cases, politicians are empowered to direct the armature of the law against individuals.

In such a climate, all sorts of abuses of power and violations are possible. So when the dragon starts blowing fire, we all wet our houses.

Taxpayers don’t quite know what their money will be spent on. But we know we will pay a price if we fail in our duty to comply with the State’s directives.

But while we don’t agree with the minister’s misguided rhetorical flourish, we must still commend the decision to extend the deadline for the filing of paperwork.

More time will allow more people to seek advice and to get proper valuations done so that they do not put themselves at risk by submitting forms that will possibly be tested. It also allows legal processes to take effect without being rushed.

Imbert makes Cabinet appear aloof and removed from the concerns of the man in the street if he misreads a climate of fear for something else. Once it opens, it is hard to close a credibility gap. The minister also cannot dismiss questions about legal action filed against the State by facetiously saying Opposition officials will update the nation.

His duty is to be as open as possible to the citizenry.

Though 150,000 forms have been delivered it is also important to emphasise that is not the end of the matter. Efficient systems and resources must also be in place to process the paperwork that will result. This is another benefit of an extension of time: it gives the State an opportunity to ensure it is ready for the last-minute wave of filings.

Why is it that for every service from the State we have very lengthy lines? Whether we are applying for a passport, doing transactions at the Licensing Office, or getting an ID Card at the Elections and Boundaries Commission, the impression sometimes left is of a State architecture that is still in the Ice Age.

While computerisation poses its own challenges, it is equally true that the State’s systems can do with a little ramping up.

Hopefully all will be ready come June 5.

In a statement yesterday, the association’s president Douglas Mendes, SC, said the seven-member committee – which will be led by Justice Desiree Bernanrd, former Caribbean Court of Justice judge and Chancellor of the Court of Appeal in Guyana – will report back to the association’s Council within three months with its recommendations.

The Committee’s Terms of Reference are: (i) To examine the constitutional and other arrangements pertaining to the selection and appointment of judges of the High Court and the Court of Appeal (ii) Make recommendations, including changes to the Constitution and/or current practices and/or procedures and/or selection criteria, with a view to ensuring due process, transparency and accountability whilst maintaining the dignity of judicial officers and the independence of the judiciary.

(iii) To consult with stakeholders and members of public and to receive and consider their written and oral submissions.

The establishment of the committee comes less than two weeks before lawyers vote on a motion of no confidence in Chief Justice Ivor Archie and the other members of the JLSC for their handling of the appointment and subsequent resignation of former chief magistrate Marcia Ayers-Caesar as a Judge of the Supreme Court.

The members of the association’s committee also include economist and chairman of the Economic Development Advisory Board (EDAB) Dr Terrence Farrell; Movement for Social Justice head David Abdulah; vice president of the Law Association and deputy chairman of the Integrity Commission Rajiv Persad , senior constitutional law lecturer at UWI (Mona) Tracy Robinson and attorneys Vanessa Gopaul and Rishi Dass.

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