Speaking yesterday at the Brian Lara Promenade at the launch of Love you can Feel, an initiative of the University of the Southern Caribbean (USC), Martinez said, “Several other countries are experiencing the vulnerability and erosion of the peace, oneness and love that once permeated our lovely twin-island State.” He said the programme was designed to give participants a chance to show love and care for their neighbours and communities, rekindle spiritual counselling, health and wellness consultations, combined with nutritional consultations and education across the country. He called the USC students champions saying that they had the winning strategy of using love.

He noted that the university was celebrating its 90th anniversary, proving that it had stood the test of time. Martinez thanked the USC for having the vision and foresight to initiate the programme saying that its timing could not be better.

Martinez said citizens are living in challenging, fearful and perilous times but but is encouraging all to keep the faith.

“We must all continue to be our brother’s keeper,” he said. He said programmes such as Love you can Feel are what “Will allow healing and connectivity amongst people and bring back that love to care for and protect and to take social responsibility for each other.” He said people must overcome their human impulses to marginalise, physically mistreat and mentally hurt or oppress their brothers and sisters

Another man, Shaquille Bridgeman, 23, was granted $500,000 bail. They were taken before Magistrate Margaret Alert in the San Fernando Second Magistrate Court. The Farrell brothers are charged with possession of 9.9 kilos of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking. Mosquera, 27, and Bridgeman were charged jointly with possession of 1.1 kilos of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking.

Charges were laid by PC Moses and Rampersad of San Fernando CID. The men were arrested and charged on April 11 in two separate incidents in La Romaine.The court heard that brothers Chiwale and Kibwee were arrested at Bobb Street while Mosquera and Bridgeman were detained Rahaman Drive.

The men were allegedly arrested during an anti crime exercise co-ordinated by Head of the Southern Division Snr Supt Zamsheed Mohammed, ASP Ali Mohammed and Insp Don Gajadhar and supervised by Sgts Commissiong, Parasram and Ramroop.

Attorney Subhas Panday represented Chiwale and Kibwee.

He told the court the brothers worked as taxi drivers. In his application for bail, Panday also said the men were not flight risks.

Court prosecutor Sgt Chanardath Jhilmit identified the exhibits as being nine rectangular blocks of cocaine. He said the drugs were found in a blue bag. He told the magistrate that the street value was $12.3M.

However Panday in questioning the street value amount said that the exhibits were not tested to know the quality of the drugs to determine the street value.

Mosquera and Bridgeman were represented by attorney Shawn Teekasingh. The matter was adjourned to May 11

According to an article in London’s Daily Mail, fatbergs which are lumps of congealed palm oil derived from the pulp of the fruit of African, American and Maripa palms, can prove fatal to dogs.

Veterinarians warned that dogs could die if they ate the white or yellow waxy blobs, and also cautioned to steer sandcastle-building and rock-pooling children away from them. They said dogs, which would pick up anything on the beach, from pebbles to food, loved the distinct smell in the fatbergs, which were covered in deadly germs, and would not hesitate to chow down on the blobs.

The vets explained that since the palm oil was so gelatinous, it could get lodged in the oesophagus and the dog would require surgery to have it removed.

Dog owners were warned to keep their pets away from the fatbergs, and that they should seek help from their nearest vet if they thought the animal had ingested the substance.

Fatbergs could also contain face wipes, disposable diapers, sanitary items and condoms, which did not break down like toilet paper. When contacted yesterday, chairman of the Environmental Management Authority, Nadra Nathai-Gyan, said she could not comment on Trinidad being one of the sources of the fatbergs because this was the first time she was hearing about it.

Agriculture Minister Clarence Rambharat also said he had no knowledge about this phenomenon, but asked that the information be sent to him so he could further investigate. The minister told Newsday later that upon investigation, the fatbergs were in no way connected to Trinidad

Rural Development and Local Government Minister Kazim Hosein made this statement during a meeting with Chaguanas Mayor Gopaul Boodhan and councillors of the Chaguanas Borough Corporation (CBC) at the Ministry’s Kent House offices, Maraval yesterday.

Told that garbage collection at Enterprise North/Esmeralda and Munroe Road/Caroni Savannah Road had not been taking place on the collection days of Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, Hosein said the council had the responsibility to prevent a health hazard from taking place by the non-collection of the garbage.

He noted that over one week had passed without garbage being collected and this posed a serious hazard to public health, with animals scattering the garbage along the roadways leading to an offensive odour.

“This situation cannot continue. I am appealing to the Chaguanas Borough Corporation to ensure that this matter is corrected with immediate effect.

If a garbage contractor is not performing the duties, then they must not be paid.

Garbage collection is an essential service to the people that is provided at the level of local government, and if the work is contracted out, then the responsibility is on us as local government practitioners to ensure that it is completed.

And this should be a message to all corporations,” Hosein said.

He said residents had made numerous complaints regarding the accumulation of garbage in their communities and had also expressed concern that it would not be collected given the upcoming long weekend in observance of Easter.

Hosein promised to monitor the collection of garbage and ensure it was improved across the entire country, and that those contracted to provide these services “perform at a high standard.” Hosein said the Ministry was working towards the establishment of a system which would allow citizens to rate the services they receive from their respective corporations.

Marcano pleaded guilty to the charges laid by PC Shaquille Charles of the San Fernando CID. Police court prosecutor Sgt Chanardath Jhilmit told the court that on April 5 at about 5.30pm, the owner of a business place along Cipero Road , San Fernando secured his business place and left for the day. The court heard the business owner returned at 10.14 am the following day and discovered his place broken into. Alert heard that a glass window on the northen side of the building was smashed . Checks revealed that a quantity of garbage bags and several cartoons of cigarettes valued $1,392 were missing . The prosecutor said when Marcano was arrested, he told the police complainant that he was an “ole breaker” and he would sell the stolen items to a drug pusher to get money and “a smoke”.

Jhilmit said on April 3, Marcano stole a fan valued $400 from a business place along Coffee Street , San Fernando.

The court heard that on April 11, Marcano stole a teak table valued at $1,800 from a furniture store along Coffee Street, San Fernando.

The prosecutor said while conducting investigations, PC Charles caught Marcano red-handed walking in San Fernando with the stolen table.

Upon his arrest, Marcano admitted he stole the table from the said business place. Reviewing Marcano’s criminal record, the magistrate said the accused had 31 convictions, six of which occurred within the last ten years. The magistrate said four of the six convictions were larceny related offences.

Marcano, who was unrepresented, said he was willing to change his life. “I started to check on myself and say I have to change,” he said. The magistrate in further questioning him said, Marcano knew all of this before he interfered with people’s property.

In sentencing Marcano , the magistrate said that he had to take into consideration his track record. On the charge of store breaking and larceny he was sentenced to four years hard labour. On the two charges of larceny, Marcano was sentenced to four months each hard labour for the fan and table . The sentences are to run concurrently

Over the weekend 44 worshippers were killed in Egypt. All they were doing is worshipping God and some individuals saw it fit to bomb them.

We are in the week leading to Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection and thousands of people all over TT will be congregating. Thank God they can do this with a sense of peace and safety. This is also the case with all other religious celebrations throughout the country.

It is important that this freedom of worship not be taken for granted, even in this Holy Week. I appeal to all our leaders and also our citizens to do their best to ensure that no one takes this away from us. Let us guard our freedom which goes with true democracy.

As a wise people it is important that we take note of what is happening around us and be always alert.

Arnold Gopeesingh via email

Easter is about giving. Jesus came to Earth and gave his life for mankind.

As a result of Adams’ sin, man became God’s enemy and death, fear and calamity came about. But Jesus came to restore the relationship between God and man.

We can now have that relationship with God through the sacrifice that Jesus made on the cross in Calvary. His death and resurrection brought about reconciliation, hope, life and peace to mankind.

So let’s celebrate Easter with that understanding.

ANDRE ROBERTS via email

After marriage nothing scares me.” The Easter weekend is upon us and will see many people heading to the beach. There is the possibility of bathers getting into difficulty.

People who are drowning usually cannot shout for help. The body sinks and only the head is visible above water.

In an emergency, immediate action and first aid can prevent a drowning death.

The first thing to do is call EMS.

Rescue the drowning person if you can do so without endangering yourself.

Unless you are trained in water rescue it is best not to swim to the aid of a drowning person. In desperation they may grab you and pull you under. Instead, give the victim something to hold on to as you pull them to safety.

Safe ways to rescue someone: 1. Reaching assist: Extend an arm or leg or long rigid object — pole or paddle — to the victim. If nothing rigid is available, use a towel.

2. Throwing assist: Throw a flotation device, inner tube, buoy, life ring to the victim. If the device has a rope, pull the victim to safety.

3. Rowing assist: If a row boat is available and can be used competently, row out to the victim. Throw the victim a flotation device or allow them to hang on to an oar or the side of the boat as you row to shore. If possible, pull the victim aboard over the rear of the boat/ stern. This will prevent capsizing.

4. Wading assist: Remove any heavy objects from your person; leave your clothes on. Wade out to the victim, be aware of strong currents. Use a reaching assist and extend something for the victim to grab. Use a stick to test the depth of the water. You can also hold it out to the drowning person.

Once you have the victim ashore: * Check breathing and circulation.

If necessary and you are trained, begin rescue breathing, CPR or bleeding control.

* Remove cold wet clothes and replace with something warm.

* Administer first aid for any illness or injuries, once you are trained.

* As the victim revives, calm and reassure them until you get medical help.

All near drowning victims must be checked by a physician because even though they may revive quickly at the scene, lung complications are common because of the ingestion of water.

Prevention is better than cure.

Let us all learn to swim and be able to administer first aid. The life you save could be your own.

AV RAMPERSAD Princes Town

This is a false belief because discipline is essential in every organised movement.

Discipline is perfect obedience to external authority and it is a necessary qualification for discipleship.

A student has no right to question the authority of the teacher.

He has no right to question but to obey. Disobedience is unpardonable in a disciple.

Discipline is indispensable in schools. Discipline implies subjection or subordination of one’s own will to external authority.

Discipline in schools is intended to foster habits of self-discipline.

Self-discipline is the only path to true freedom. True freedom is not a lack of control but self-control. Self-discipline strengthens the will. Our natural impulses may be good or bad, right or wrong. It is our reason that will decide the action.

Discipline is not intended to make slaves of students. Its purpose is to prepare them for life.

Education Minister Anthony Garcia must be commended for his position in dealing with recalcitrant and deviant students.

AHAMAD KHAYYAM Cure

Why resign when there is no credible, inspiring ideas, no attempt to galvanize real interest coming from the sitting Opposition? Its members appear to have nothing other to do but whine that they had good ideas for economic activity which have now allegedly been stolen. Their particular grumble is that political strategies for health and education are being ignored.

They are convinced that they themselves were better than sliced bread but cannot seem to internalise that the electorate refused to eat in 2015.

More than 19 months down the road they continue chewing down on the coffin nails of political defeat.

We are well aware that the Government is seemingly not moving swiftly enough to appease the citizens who have become used to hand-outs from the previous administration.

To date all the Government appears to be doing is a tightrope walk to keep the country out of the clutches of the IMF.

The Opposition appears to be unashamedly hoping that the upsurge in crime will be enough fodder for people to forget the criminal mismanagement of taxpayers’ money between 2010 and 2015.

The Government is struggling to get its act together and we have an Opposition in waiting that is less than perfect. Those of us who are unkind might even say totally shameless and brainless.

Lynette Joseph Diego Martin