The WPSL is the second tier in women’s football in the United States behind the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL).

Cordner is no stranger to the domestic league in the US, campaigning in 2014 for Seattle Sounders in the now defunct United Soccer League USL W-League and in the NWSL for Seattle Reign FC in 2013.

The speedy forward has netted 20 goals from 17 matches for the national team but is currently suspended from duty after a dispute with TT coach Carolina Morace. Cordner, five foot, nine inches, is known for her direct and aggressive style of play as well as predatory instincts in the penalty area.

TT shattered the 2015 record of 4:38.34 which was set by Elisabeth Timmer, Anahi Schreuders, Keeley Maduro and Florence Kock of Aruba.

Guadeloupe were second in 4:38.56 with Martinique taking bronze in 4:40.84.

Bahamas topped the points table at the end of Day Two with 406 points, with Guadeloupe in second (347). Trinidad and Tobago (309), Cayman Islands (306.5) and Barbados (284) rounded off the top five teams. While Team TTO did slip one notch on the points table to 3rd, their dominance in the 50 metre butterfly events did not go unnoticed with three gold, one silver, one bronze, two national records and nine personal bests, in the space of nine swims.

Gabriela Donahue picked up her third individual gold in the 13-14 girls .age group stopping the clock at 29.02 seconds, ahead of Guadeloupe’s Lucia Francois (29.17), with St. Lucia’s Katie Kyle taking the bronze (29.46).

Donahue erased team captain Amira Pilgrim 13-14 National record of 29.41 of which was set on the CARIFTA stage in 2014. Jahmia Harley was 6th in 29.75. Donahue, together with her contribution to relays, has amassed 27 points thus far, the most by any TTO female.

Pilgrim, two events later in her bronze medal swim, did some record breaking of her own in establishing a new 15-17 girls national record of 28.38. The old record belonged to Kristin Julien (28.56), and was set at the 2013 World Junior Championships.

The 15-17 female 50 butterfly was won by Mika Heideyer of Martinique (28.12) with Elinah Phillip of British Virgin Islands taking silver (28.13).

Racine Ross of TT was 5th in 29.04.

Kael Yorke followed up on his 100 fly victory to capture gold in the 15-17 50 fly in 25.23. In what has been the closest medal race for the competition so far, 0.02 seconds separated gold from bronze. Teammate Jeron Thompson captured silver in 25.24 while Steven Aimable of French Guiana copped bronze in 25.25. Yorke has amassed 18 points thus far, the most by any TTO male.

Kadon Williams had a magnificent swim to win the 11-12 male gold in the 50m butterfly in a personal best 28.75. 11-12 female Zoe Anthony (31.26) and 13-14 male Aqeel Joseph (27.20) were the other 50 butterfly finalists and placed 5th and 6th respectively in their age groups.

In January of this year, Positive Mindset launched its newest initiative targeting the development and empowerment of adolescent girls from ages 11 to 17. The programme, called Confident Girls: Dynamic Women, hopes to inspire, educate, empower, value, and support teenage girls, foster a sense of purpose, and encourage them to reach their fullest potential.

With a Bachelor’s in Psychology and a Master’s in Education in International Teaching, Royette’s academic credentials lend themselves to the developmental work she has built her career upon.

For the past seven years, she has been appointed as a secondary school guidance counsellor with the Ministry of Education, Student Support Services Division.

Royette’s main focus in this position is to assist in the holistic development of young people in relation to three domains: personal- social, academic, and career.

However, she notes that there are many other glaring issues facing our adolescent population apart from these areas. From her experience, she says these problems include family dysfunction, lack of attention, low self-esteem, parental alienation, self-injury, depression, friendship, bullying, cyber-bullying, all forms of abuse, violence, issues with identity, issues with sexuality, unhealthy relationships, and poor role models (and, as she notes, these are only a fraction of the nameable problems teenagers on our shores face).

“Our young people have been given the short end of the stick,” says Royette of the specific issues facing our youth. “They are being blamed for every issue too many times and we, as adults, don’t understand them nor the countless issues that are plaguing them.” While acknowledging several agencies throughout our islands that cater to the needs of our young people, she believes more attention and education is needed to help teenagers navigate this “turbulent time” in their lives. Instead of our commonplace reactionary culture, she thinks we must be more pro-active instead of only seeking to right wrongs after a crisis has popped up.

For the past 20 years, Royette has worked with adolescents – first teaching in secondary school on her island of Dominica and now closely with secondary school children here – as a teacher and counsellor. “I would say I have a comprehensive understanding of them and their behavioural patterns. From where I sit, young people are not to be blamed. What is lacking is the support systems,” she says of the root of the problems the younger population faces.

“When I teach my Understanding Adolescents class, I tell the students if they want to know why a young person is exhibiting such behaviours, just go home!” She believes institutions and civil society groups must step up to the plate and serve youth better, as well as cultures of Young People’s Oppression being broken to make way for “saving” our young people. “We blame, malign, criticise, and disrespect young people,” she laments, instead of supporting and guiding dutifully.

When it comes to adolescent girls, Royette is hoping that through Positive Mindset and her Confident Girls programme, she can lay this foundation that she says is necessary and oftentimes missing in girls’ upbringing.

“It should be noted, many people, even the adolescents themselves, consider this period of transition as negative,” she says, referencing media reports that focus on negative headlines involving adolescents and criminal activity, sexual violence, drug- and alcohol-related infractions, and suicides. “Notwithstanding professional literature that frequently portrays the adolescent stage as a negative part of life – a period of stormy stress to be survived or endured,” she adds.

She continues that most of what is understood and studied about girls and teenage girls is usually limited to emotional, cognitive, or sexual matters. “We believe this is a socially construed concept that is responsible for the negative social stigma. Adolescents have much more to offer society rather than engaging in risky behaviours,” she refers to the empowerment she believes adolescents need to rise above society’s standards.

Confident Girls has a 12-week syllabus and is designed to promote positive development in female adolescents through curriculum-guided, interactive group discussions, and positive adult guidance and support.

“The primary objectives of this empowerment programme are to promote the development of healthy behaviours and self-care so teens can avoid risk and achieve an education and other life goals, support the acquisition of valuable life skills in areas of relationships, communication, and decision-making, and provide teens with a sense of purpose, increasing knowledge of their own worth as they contribute to nation building,” Royette expands. She envisions that by the end of the 12-week programme the girls in attendance will feel loved, valued, self-assured and will be better equipped to face negative challenges that may come.

Launched in January in San Fernando, Royette says the programme has a tentative start date of May 13. The sessions will be held Saturdays, between 9.30 am and 12.30 pm (venue to be announced). Programme topics will include, among several more, Development & Sexuality (puberty, teen sexuality, body changes, ST Is), Relationships (love & love languages, peer pressure, dating, teen dating violence, friendship, healthy boundaries), Social Media (sexting, sextortion, cyber bullying, social networking), and Mental Health (depression & anxiety, social anxiety disorders, self-injury, and suicide).

The programme is a collaborative effort between Positive Mindset, Issachar & Spero Consultancy Psychological Services, Caring Hands Family Services Organisation, a Chaguanas-based NGO, and the Priceless Foundation for Women, a San Fernando- based NGO.

“The first instalment of this programme will be facilitated by Ms Denielle Placide and Ms Christiana Mitchel of the Priceless Foundation for Women,” Royette says, adding that they have decided to focus on at-risk teens from in and around San Fernando since this is where the NGO is based.

Positive Mindset will also be facilitating a twoday interactive workshop titled Understanding & Intervening in Bullying Behaviour, targeted at teachers, on April 19 and 20 at the Chaguanas Indoor Facility. Given the recent reports of bullying in some of our nation’s schools, she believes this is a good time as any, so that teachers may return to school after the Easter holidays armed with the n ecessary skills and information on combating such issues.

“I believe that the cornerstone in the prevention of bullying at our nation’s schools is promoting a positive school culture and climate that is welcoming of differences and diversity and is based on inclusivity and respect,” she says.

Apart from a general overview of the issue, the workshop’s focus will be solution-based.

At the end of the two-day training, Royette hopes teachers will be able to formulate anti-bullying prevention plans, become more vigilant when dealing with reports of bullying, and a better understanding of the behavioural motivation of the bully.

Lastly, Royette repeats that we must foster a more solution- driven culture when it comes to adolescents, as opposed to reactionary tactics.

“We need to help the future of this nation by understanding adolescents and what they have to offer,” she implores of the attention and respect our young people deserve.

“We need to hit the ground running and come up with positive solutions to help fight the crime situation.

We need to start in our homes, our churches, our schools, and our communities.

“Let us try to empower these young people so they can contribute positively to not only building their lives, but by extension Trinidad and Tobago.” For registration and further information, you can contact Royette at 463-5513 or email positivemindsetinc@gmail.

com

Such individuals are affected by Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), the causes of which are complex based on research studies.

Dissociative identity disorder is a condition wherein a person’s identity is fragmented into two or more distinct personality states.

US-based psychiatrist Richard Kluft who is also an expert in this field, suggests that DID is caused by four main factors.

Firstly, individuals have an innate potential to dissociate what is reflected in the fact that they are easy to hypnotise; secondly, traumatic experiences in early childhood may disturb personality development, leading to greater potential or divisiveness in mental and emotional areas; thirdly, individuals may be denied the chance to spontaneously recover because of continued emotional and/or social deprivation; and lastly, final presentation is shaped by mental and/or emotional external factors including social influences.

Having a strong resilience particularly in dealing with traumatic experiences, is essential in avoiding occurrences of this emotional ill, as research shows that DID symptoms are a psychological response to extreme environmental and interpersonal stressors.

In cushioning this stress, affected individuals separate their thoughts, feelings, actions and memories associated with the particular trauma, from their normal level of consciousness, hence the split personality effect.

Studies have also revealed that persons affected by DID, tend to have a personal history of recurring, overpowering and mostly life-threatening traumas such as physical or sexual abuse usually before the age of nine.

DID victims sometimes describe feelings that they have suddenly become modified onlookers of their own speech and/or actions.

They may admit to hearing different kinds of voices, and in some instances, these sounds are assisted by various thought streams over which the victims have no control.

Whilst DID is not totally understood, victims often report past experiences of physical and/or sexual abuse, particularly in their earlier years.

Symptoms include memory loss, a sense of disconnection from yourself and your emotions, a perception that shows the people around you as unreal, a confused sense of identity, inability to cope with stressful situations and mental health problems such as depressions, anxiety and suicidal thoughts.

Persons experiencing these symptoms should seek psychotherapy aimed at disintegrating the different personalities and uniting them into one. Remember your health is your wealth.

Sandrine Rattan is a Communications/ Branding Consultant/ Author and President of the International Women’s Resource Network (IWRN) Contact: thecorporatesuitett@ gmail.com or intlwomensresourcenetwork@ gmail.com or contact 283-0318.

More than just a recreational space, this youth club has become an important forum for community policing, providing an outlet for vulnerable youth and acting as a sustainable form of social intervention. It is a model that should be supported in the long-run, if we are serious about tackling crime.

The club, the second oldest, is this year celebrating its silver anniversary. But while we may count its 25 years of existence, it is harder to quantify the invaluable impact it has had on its community and, potentially, society at large. So many youths have experienced the positive effects of the club.

Yesterday’s report in this newspaper, detailed a few instances, including: the case of a young man from Laventille who lost three brothers to murder and the other three to prison; another young man put out by his stepfather and a disabled mother simply seeking an additional parental figure for her son.

Not only has the club had a positive impact on the lives of its members from a personal standpoint, but it has also in created respect between communities and the Police Service.

While there are already well over 100 youth clubs (four new clubs were launched last year in Caparo/Palmiste, Flanagin/ Mamoral, Tabaquite/Brasso and Gran Couva) there needs to be more of this. Certainly the demand is high.

In April 2013, police officers overseeing these clubs were made full-time, meaning they were now tasked with running these clubs to the fullest of their abilities. But a few weeks ago, a call was made for youth clubs to be set up not only across divisions but also in all primary and secondary schools.

“We will like to see the Ministry of Education institutionalise and incorporate police youth clubs in all primary and secondary schools and we will like to see greater collaboration among government agencies to more effectively address the issue of school violence,” said ACP Enez Joseph, who is in charge of community policing.

Some time ago, these same schools were serviced by youth organisations who would undertake to visit the sick in hospitals, developing an attitude among young people so that they can appreciate having a role in society.

Such organisations have been useful in instilling discipline and respect. Sadly though, these organisations need resources.

In this regard, the St James Youth Club has been fortunate.

It has been supported by the UK Women’s Club; the American Embassy, which refurbished the club in 2001; the Citizen Security Programme, which donated a bus; the Lion’s Club; the Rotary Club; the Canadian High Commission and the British High Commission.

But while thankful for this support, the club’s manager/ founder PC Derrick Sharbodie is urging the private and public sector to get involved.

As part of its 25th anniversary celebrations, the club is planning a career day, featuring alumni members who now work in various fields; a gospel concert; a family and fun day; a public speaking discussion; an Easter variety concert featuring past members, including reggae singer Jah Melody and media personality Jason Williams; a University of the West Indies panel discussion on the relevance of youth clubs; panel discussion on youth and crime and an awards ceremony.

Sharbodie hopes that all police youth clubs will eventually become full-time centres, like St James, and places where young people know they can receive help without judgement or intimidation.

It’s a noble aspiration which should be supported by all.

The cash remains locked away inside a vault at St James police station and is under the direct control of the Extra Duty clerk. The money represents payments made to at least five Senior Superintendents, who headed this Division, over a five-year period.

Extra duty is defined as a police officer attending a privately-arranged, public event such as a party, a sports event, weddings, graduations and fetes in order to maintain law and order among the gathering. Officers are paid out of an Extra Duties Fund. Monies are paid up-front by the organiser of an event and payment is then disbursed by a senior officer, to officers who worked at said event.

A police constable is paid $65 per hour while on extra duty.

A Corporal is paid $79, a Sergeant $96, Inspectors $111, Assistant Superintendents (ASP) $124, a Superintendent (Supt) $133, Senior Superintendents (Snr Supt) $151 and an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) is paid $181 for every hour he/she works extra duty. Many people who paid varying sums to have police attend their events and perform extra duty later complained to the Western Division head that officers hired either did not attend or did not show up in the numbers paid for. These people, Newsday was told, were supposed to be refunded once proving their claims.

However, under the stewardship of five Snr Supts, the money owed was not repaid and remains in the safe despite a clear directive from Acting Commissioner of Police Stephen Williams, for Western Division police to do so.

In June 2015, Fraud Squad police led by Snr Supt Totaram Dookhie raided St James police station after officers of that station observed certain discrepancies with “overtime” forms where claims were being made for scheduled extra duties which were never completed. These claims, which were paid from the Extra Duties Fund, resulted in some officers receiving as much as $30,000 a month in extra duty.

Snr Supt Dookhie and his team seized documents which were forwarded to the Police Finance Branch for further investigations.

The Finance Branch gave a directive that all monies collected from the public, as payment for extra duties which never materialised, be repaid immediately.

This order was ignored.

Last week, Wendy Wilkinson took over as new Snr Supt in charge of all police stations within Western Division.

Under her direction, an effort is now being made to contact the 1,000 people who are owed so they can come to the St James police station with their receipts and supporting documents, to be reimbursed.

Contacted for comment, president of the Police Social Welfare Association (PSWA) Insp Michael Seales expressed surprise when told of this issue where $700,000 is owed to the public by police but remains locked away. He said if the Police Commissioner gave an instruction to return the money, it should have been carried out immediately.

“I don’t have details as to why those instructions were not acted upon and it warrants fresh intervention by the Acting Commissioner because these things are suspect and given the raid by Fraud Squad two years on St James Police Station, if not dealt with, can tarnish the image of the Police Service,” Insp Seales said. Efforts to contact Ag Commissioner Williams, over the extended Easter weekend, for a comment have proven futile.

However the passer-by later noticed the human remains among a burnt patch of bushes and he alerted the police. Officers of the Homicide Investigations Bureau, firemen and the district medical officer visited the scene. The remains — mostly bones — were removed to the Forensic Science Centre in St James.

Police are calling on members of the public whose relatives have gone missing to assist them in identifying the remains. This is the second such discovery in the Northern Division over the Easter vacation. On Good Friday, at 9 am, the burnt remains of a human being were found in some bushes along Orange Grove Road, Arouca. The gender of the person has not yet been determined.

19 HELD FOR DUI In an unrelated crime story, 19 people were arrested on Glorious Saturday and charged with driving under the influence (DUI) during a police exercise in the Caura District. According to reports, earlier that day, Head of Northern Division Senior Superintendent McDonald Jacob, mingled with crowds at the four pools which comprise Caura River.

He advised them to take precautions while liming and reminded them not to drive while under the influence. Newsday understands that while many of the bathers thanked Jacob, in the end, 19 failed to heed the Senior Superintendent’s advice. Shortly after 4 pm on Saturday, police began a DUI exercise on one of the main roads to/from Caura River, where drivers were asked to submit to a breathalyser test.

At the end of the exercise; shortly after 6 pm, 19 people were arrested for being over the legal blood alcohol limit. Some of them protested their arrest, claiming they hadn’t realised they had consumed enough alcohol to fail the breathalyser, while others begged for a chance. But officers stood firm and arrested all offenders.

The 19 are due to appear before a Tunapuna Magistrate tomorrow.

The DUI exercises continued in Caura yesterday, with another set expected to be carried out in the same area today. Police yesterday warned they have a zero- tolerance approach to DUIs and urged the public to have a designated driver when consuming alcohol at a location from which they have to drive home.

She said her fee for acquiring the Galicia, of “several hundred thousand dollars”, was calculated at the Law Association’s rate of $2,250 per hour. Alfonso made it clear she was not in charge of the tendering or evaluation process and had no knowledge of several issues being raised. She reiterated that payment received was for her expertise as a maritime lawyer and not as any ship broker.

She said the Law Association sets fees for all attorneys in one of four bands, from A to D, of which she is in the highest pay-grade as she is an instructing attorney/maritime law specialist, with 20 years experience.

She said the association’s banded rate at the time was $2,250, which at present is $2,500 per hour.

“That bill is 11 pages long and has four very distinct set of assignments each with billable hours. I’m deeply disturbed someone in port or government finds it necessary to share my bills,” the attorney said in reference to newspaper reports which outlined money paid to her. Alfonso said as she was invited to tender to source a vessel, she would not be in any position to say how the shortlist of nine bidders was made up and how the eventual winner — Intercontinental — was not on the short list.

“Apparently a lot of documents have been circulated in the press but they have not been by me. So I assume the person or persons distributing what I consider to be confidential documents would have shown them (the media) a document that had nine people on it, but I wouldn’t know anybody besides myself.” Asked her role in the affair, she said, “I was asked to find a vessel on an emergency basis when the previous vessel, Warrior Spirit, was leaving service for repairs. So on that instruction in December 2013, I went out and found five or six different vessels in a week or two.” Alfonso said she supplied the authority with details of these boats including specs, location and cost.

“We looked at availability that met their specs for passengers and for cargo. Subsequently they told me that Central Tenders Board had told them they must do some form of limited tender, to which I agreed, from a procurement standpoint notwithstanding that legislation was not in place. I was told that of the vessels that were located, Super Fast Galicia appeared to be the most suitable one, given its size, capacity, speed and age.

“I was told that bearing in mind that I had brought this boat forward and it looked good, then I would be allowed to participate (in the tender) because of that.” Alfonso refuted media reports of her being the Galicia’s broker. “I see my name being starred as a broker, but I had asked that the broker who had procured the majority of those (short-list) vessels, who is located in Gibraltar, be allowed to tender. That is what I requested.” She recalled supplying the Port Authority with the broker’s contact details, yet ultimately the tender documents ended up being addressed to her firm, ND Alfonso. She clarified that the Galicia never actually came to TT on an emergency basis but joined the line with eight other boats up for tender.

“What I requested specifically is that once they said the boat would be allowed to tender, I asked that they invite the broker to tender…not me.

But the tender invitation came to me in February 2014. It had my name on it, not the broker. That was not my doing as I’ve never been a member of the Port management.” She said it was done by the Port official carrying out the tender process.

Alfonso scoffed at claims that another Port official’s report had warned against the Galicia by saying its cost would triple within six months. “I find that nonsensical.

When a vessel comes in whatever the fuel or lubricant or crew – if she’s coming in on a charter you have one fixed rate per day. You can’t tender for US$14,750 per day, I think that’s what she chartered at and say next month or in six months time it is US$15,500 or US$16,000.” Alfonso refuted media claims that a Port official who is now saying he cannot talk, once rejected the Galicia as incompatible with port infrastructure.

She said that at a Port meeting in 2014, this same port official publicly said the Galicia was the best vessel and this statement should have been recorded in Port minutes.

Alfonso also refuted the idea of rejecting the Galicia due to a need to dredge the harbour, saying that this exercise was needed for any new vessel. (See Page 9A)

This meeting comes days after a letter was penned to the Prime Minister by Chamber chairman Demi John Cruickshank requesting a sit-down to deal with issues surrounding the usage of a barge to transport goods to Tobago from April 21, after the Galicia departs.

Speaking yesterday evening, Cruickshank said he received word from the Prime Minister that a meeting was carded for noon next Monday.

“We have received word that the meeting has been set. We are hopeful to meet with the Prime Minister on the issue, which is of national importance, especially for the people of Tobago,” Cruickshank said.

He is adamant that Rowley needs to tell Tobago if a barge is really what he wants for the inter- island sea transportation of goods.

“At this point in time, the chamber in Tobago and other stakeholders are calling for the resignation of the Minister of Transport (Rohan Sinanan). As important as the highway from San Fernando to Point Fortin is to the people of Trinidad, the inter-island cargo situation is the lifeline for the people of Tobago,” he added.

Cruickshank said priority must be given to Tobago and nothing less will be accepted.

He said at a recent stakeholders meeting held with Minister Sinanan at Mt Irvine Bay Hotel, the Minister was told by the Tobago Chamber in no uncertain terms, the barge will not be accepted as a means of cargo transport on the sea bridge.

“In the meeting, we made it clear to the minister motorised barge, tug barge, any type of barge system, we are not willing to accept,” the Chairman said.

Approximately two weeks ago, news broke of the recall by the owner of the Galicia.

(See Page 6A)

Seven industries have been identified to propel the envisaged diversification.

They are (Newsday 25/03/17): (1) manufacturing for exports; (2) near-shore financial services; (3) creative industries; (4) tourism; (5) energy services; (6) digital platforms, business process outsourcing and transshipment, and (7) ship repair and maritime-related services.

However, these industries or sectors are not new except for “digital platforms,” whatever that may mean.

In 2004 (13 years ago), the Patrick Manning administration listed six main sectors in its pursuit of diversification.

Among them was “the traditional manufacturing sector.” The current advisory board has identified in its roadmap “manufacturing for exports” as one of the recommended industries for focus.

Where the 2004 plan specified “financial services” for attention, the current proposals list “near-shore financial services.” The roadmap points to “creative industries” to be pursued, whereas the 2004 statement, while not labelling it “creative industries,” targeted “music and entertainment” and “the film industry” for further commercial expansion.

“Tourism” was a feature of both the 2004 outline as well as the current one.

While “energy services” identified in the new dispensation was not mentioned as a sector as such in the 2004 statement, the latter did propose “engineering technology” and “petrochemical manufacturing and services including industrial maintenance, logistics and distribution.” While “business process outsourcing” was not specifically mentioned in 2004, it would have been subsumed under the plans for the Wallerfield Industrial Park.

The “ship repair and maritime-related services,” pointed out in the roadmap as areas for current attention, would have been more or less covered by the emphasis on services to “yachting” and “merchant marine” in the 2004 plan.

Mention of “transshipment” may have been used as an embellishment to the maritime project given the absence of productivity, efficiency and physical infrastructure required for a successful transshipment industry.

I have gone into considerable detail in comparing the advisory board’s recommendations for diversification in 2017 with the plans elaborated in 2004 to show that, except for the omission of “agriculture” (to which I will come later), there is in effect nothing new as areas to be targeted in the new dispensation.

As a result, one may come to the conclusion that, as far as diversification of the economy is concerned, either there are no other options to the sectors or industries identified or that the board’s proposals incorporate strategies, plans and agendas for successful implementation and execution to overcome the failures of the past. The board’s roadmap identified what it called “seven enablers” which are to be pursued prior to or pari passu with the diversification thrust. They are (Newsday 25/03/17): “(a) infrastructure, both physical and abstract assets such as health and education; (b) diaspora engagement; © foreign direct investment; (d) economic and commercial diplomacy and branding TT; (e) innovation; (f) private sector and university collaboration, and (g) institutional reforms.” The identification of these socalled “enablers” as necessary support structures for the diversification drive is again nothing new and have been discussed and advocated for years without tangible progress.

Noted are the references to the importance of the coordination of efforts between the private and public sectors, of stakeholder leadership, of inter-ministerial collaboration and focused actions, of research and development, of worker productivity and the work ethic. If these sentiments have been heard many times before, a restatement for emphasis may be what was intended.

As regards the omission of “agriculture” as a sector of focus for the purposes of diversification, the edi t o r i a l in one newspaper has f o u n d it puzzling.