The series starts with two premier outdoor concerts featuring a mixed repertoire of music delivered by the dynamic and multi-talented NSSO ensemble. NSSO which uses the G-Pan exclusively represents the pinnacle of musical excellence in the arena of steelpan development.

There will also be a Carnival exhibition showcasing the evolution of the steelpan in the lobby of the Lord Kitchener Auditorium. This exhibition will be hosted by the Remember When Institute of the Culture Division.

These performances, which are free to the public, form part of an initiative to create a unique addition to the existing Carnival product that is truly Trinbagonian while providing a rich cultural experience for citizens and visitors during the 2017 Carnival season.

Upcoming performances for the “Carnival at NAPA – Our Culture, Our Space” include: The theatrical production Play Mas at NAPA on February 15-16 at 7 pm and three premier concerts entitled “Onstage: the Carnival Cooldown” featuring the National Philharmonic Orchestra.

For further information, please contact the Culture Division at 271-2894.”

The directors who will work with the new president are Gloria Nelson (secretary), Michal Andrews (treasurer), Karen Lee Lum (public relations officer), Jan Bocas Ryan (immediate past president), Mona Khan, Penny Elias, Wendy Voss, Allison Harford and Anna Bonnin.

Associate members are Tamara Khan (chairman), Melissa Pierre (secretary), Christiana Lee (treasurer), Soraya Khan, Petrina Hernandez and Kristin Chiselko.

The final project in an extremely busy year, organised under the outgoing president, was the WAND – Price Philantropies – PriceSmart – Procter & Gamble Foundation School Project Handover Ceremony on January 5, at the YTEPP Building, Woodford Lodge, Chaguanas.

Bocas-Ryan welcomed guests to the event at which items were distributed for 3,200 school children in 13 primary schools which will supplement what they have and assist them over the school term. She stated that “The Wand Foundation is delighted to participate and partner with Price Foundation, PriceSmart and Procter & Gamble to assist the very young in their efforts to earn a good education” The principals and educators present at the distribution received donation letters, which will also be forwarded to those who were unable to attend. The 13 schools include St Crispin’s AC Primary, Princess Elizabeth School for the specially abled, Laventille Boy’s Government Primary, Laventille Girls’ Government Primary, Success Village Girls RC Laventille, D’Abadie Government Primary, Pinehaven SDA , Brothers Road Presbyterian Primary, Charlieville ASJA Primary, Charlieville Presbyterian Primary, La Romaine Government Primary, La Romaine R.C.Primary and San Fernando Methodist Primary.

On the heels of the “handing over “ ceremony, the Board of directors and associate members, at the Annual General Meeting on January 19, elected a new executive committee for the term January 2017-January 2018. Ryan thanked members of the Board “for their tireless work so that our goals could be met and also the many companies and Diplomatic Missions, and individuals who not only work with us but also support our fundraisers and make contributions so that the work of WAND could continue. I also thank our new Associate members for their many contributions.” Bocas-Ryan reflected on the projects and fund-raisers of the past year, which are now vested in “the safe and competent hands of the new president”, such as, the Cascade School for the Deaf funded by the United States Embassy, St Francois Valley Road and Romain Lands Community Centre funded by High Commission for Canada.

Funded by WAND are the St. Martin’s Welfare Association Early Childhood Centre, Paradise Heights Day Care, Belmont Early Childhood Centre and Women’s Transition Home Coora Camp.

The Annual Charity Fund-raising Luncheon, which starts the Christmas festivities, is hosted by WAND and also the Red Carpet Ball Fund-raiser. The Education Project with 14 community centres is funded by Price Philanthropies Foundation, Trinidad Systems Ltd., the University of Trinidad and Tobago and FLO W in collaboration with The Ministry of Community Development, Culture, and the Arts. Primary Schools Project 2017 is being funded by Price Philanthropies Foundation, PriceSmart, Procter & Gamble and Trinidad Systems Ltd. Other Projects on WAND’s radar are Girls Be Heard; Servol Centre; and Community Libraries & Book Drive.

Galt readily accepted the projects for which she will assume responsibility and thanked Ryan for her sterling service as twoterm president and tireless work on behalf of WAND, and offered congratulations for the many achievements during her tenure and a job extremely well done. While she considered it an absolute honour and privilege to stand before members on this special occasion, Galt very firmly said: “Yes, I accept this post for the year January 2017 to January 2018. But a single head achieves nothing so I am counting on your support – Board and associates – to achieve the growth and goals I have been dreaming of for WAND’s continued success.

“This is truly a moment to be honoured and cherished. I accept this appointment with pride and will give my best efforts to make you proud to have selected me. With the grace of God and the co-operation of fellow members, I will devote my time and myself to the obligations and the duties of this post

It is one of many Christian signs in and around her home. And her devotion to Jesus Christ led to her writing a book that was 13 years in the making.

She chatted about her new book A Simple Man’s Walk With God and her background during an interview last week with Sunday Newsday.

Collins-Johnson was born in La Brea, just overlooking the Pitch Lake, and was a “miracle child” as her mother was already experiencing menopause. As an infant moved with her family to San Fernando and it was there she spent her teenage years.

Her mother was the “pioneer” on the religious side and showed her and her siblings the Christian walk and raised them in the Methodist Church. Her father was a Roman Catholic but he never went to church except on special occasions.

During vacation time she would visit the Church of the Open Bible in San Fernando. She recalled in her early years as a Methodist she was encouraged to go to church but no to be in a relationship with Jesus Christ. At age nine she attended a service with world famous American evangelist Billy Graham at the Presbyterian Church in San Fernando and it was then she accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and saviour.

“His message was the same today as it was all those years ago. Making you realise your spiritual life is so important,” she said.

As a teenager she had rheumatic fever and missed out on a lot of school. At about age 18 she moved to the United States (US) to be with her brother and complete her high school education.

From the US she went to London to do nursing. Her dream was to be a doctor but it was too expensive at the time but she could study nursing free.

She returned home to Trinidad at the end of 1969 and the start of the Black Power Riots.

“My first major welcome back to Trinidad,” she recalled.

She did not return alone but with three children and “a trying marriage”.

She also faced many struggles to complete her final exam for nursing so she decided to quit.

She went into business and opened Netta’s Drugs, a pharmacy which is now run by one of her sons.

While she looked after her own children, five boys, her house, over the years, also became a sanctuary for other children who were in difficult situations and had nowhere to go. One girl lost her mother at seven months and stayed with Collins-Johnson until she was old enough and then went back to her father. Some of the children had been abused, and for others their parents had gone abroad.

“People always felt I was a little bit crazy with all those children,” she recalled.

In one instance, she kept two children while their mother was in hospital. When the mother was released, Collins-Johnson realised she had no place to stay and took her in as well.

She remained in the church and loving God but was “drawn away” when she moved abroad. She said she would not follow all the church “rules” and while she knew Jesus Christ was the most important person she had not made a full commitment.

Back in Trinidad with her struggles with her marriage and children she felt that God was calling her to do something.

“One day he just caught up with me,” she said.

It was then she made the decision to be really committed and “go the full distance”. She became a Sunday School superintendent at the Methodist Church and planned to become a preacher.

She said, however, that Jesus called on her to choose between him and the traditions of the church. She experienced a mild stroke and was hospitalised for a week. She felt this was God trying to get her attention.

“After that there was no turning back,” she said.

Thirteen years ago she was awakened one morning and started praying. She realised that she had received a message from God and the outline and name of the book.

She was in Washington DC with her youngest son at the time and he was impressed by what she wrote.

She felt, however, that it was a mistake and for years did nothing.

“I knew I had to do it but I just couldn’t start. I didn’t think I could do it,” she explained.

She recalled the story of Moses when God called him and he was afraid. She went to the altar at church and prayed for God to remove her fear and “one day in his presence it broke”.

Last year, she felt an urgency to complete it and it was launched in Atlanta, Georgia on December 16.

She said that she has no education in theology but the book is about parts of her walk with God and is about really exalting him in his majesty, showing the power of God and his faithfulness, how much he loves us and how far he would go to reach his children.

“Words cannot explain,” she added.

Collins-Johnson explained the chapters show different aspects of her walk including on unity and on the power of prayer. She said it was written in a manner that it can also be used as an evangelism tool.

The book also contains a number of testimonies and different meetings with strangers to whom she ministered to via God working through her.

She said one of the main points of the book is that whoever we are God can use us, once we have a willing heart. She added the book helped her to develop the biblical fruits of the spirit and build her faith.

“What (the book) did for me I know it will do for others,” she said.

She described as a “major distraction” to the completion of the book, the death of a son many years ago – he was stabbed to death. She knew the perpetrator, a young boy aged 15.

“My heart went out for him,” she said.

She explained she realised that in a lot of circumstances where these “no good” young men in crime have a stage set for them from parents and generations before.

“The book encouraged me to look deeper at these things. The book wasn’t mine. I never thought I could write it. The message is coming from God, passing through this vessel.” The book is available at Christian Booksellers, Edward Street, Portof- Spain, Divine Destiny Worship Centre, Diego Martin, on Kindle, Amazon and eventually at Trinidad Christian Centre (TCC), Petit Valley.

She thanked the Lord, the Methodist Church, her schoolteachers, Sunday School teachers, and ministers who contributed to her walk including those at TCC, Apostle Dr Austin De Bourg and Pastor Kelvin Siewdass.

Collins-Johnson said the ministers encouraged her to follow the commandments to love the Lord with your all and to love your neighbour as yourself. She stressed that if this country followed these commandments we can be where we God wants us to be. She also thanked her sons and their families, her siblings and her parents.

The sign behind the couch where she sat read, “Jesus Christ Heals All Hurts”.

I left being ashamed of my country and its government. How does a family lose home and livelihood from gang violence and be ignored? What is the Minister of National Security doing about this? Is it that our women and children are disposable and therefore we ignore the fact that everyday a child or woman is being killed for mind-numbing reasons? Can a gang move into any community and cause havoc as our leaders talk and talk with no action? To the Minister of Housing, how does one qualify for housing? This woman is a citizen who owned her home, has submitted all her paperwork but is still homeless even after that story aired. She has a special needs child that she alone is taking care of.

Are we supposed to wait to all be slaughtered by the criminal element? Is it really going to be easier to bury our children and women than to put a stop to the carnage? This woman is autistic and in spite of all her struggles she continues to make sure her children become responsible contributing citizens.

She is homeless because of gang violence in her community. This single mother needs urgent help and while citizens have reached out, she needs housing for her and her children. What are their futures if left on the streets? Our Prime Minister boldly said mothers of this country are raising monsters. It isn’t because she was raising monsters she’s homeless.

It’s because she was a law-abiding citizen who refused to be part of the problem our county is facing.

Is her reward to bring her children up from a street bench? Is our country facing a future of lawlessness because we know standing up would mean losing our lives or our homes? So we pretend not to see until it is on our doorsteps? The Prime Minister says this country has no terrorists. So what do we call the gangs or the government that fails to protect us from the gangs? Shame on us.

Kurt Campble Couva

There have also been many articles in the newspapers discussing this health issue and advising on lifestyle changes, but the problem persists, resulting in high healthcare costs and untold human suffering.

In the face of this “healthcare crisis”, I wish to advance a scientifically- tested nutritional approach that has the potential to revolutionise treatment of the disease.

Type 2 diabetes makes up the majority of cases of the disease and involves high levels of sugar in the blood resulting from the inefficient use by the body of the insulin it produces. The element chromium available in certain foods is a critical part of the metabolic process that regulates blood sugar levels and low chromium levels in the body contribute directly to high blood sugar and consequent diabetic issues.

It turns out that the absorption of this important nutrient by the body declines with age and therefore some level of chromium deficiency is expected in older people with an increased occurrence of diabetes with age, as is observed in our country.

Improper lifestyle worsens the problem.

A simple solution then appears to be to increase the chromium present in the body through some form of supplementation and this straightforward approach is in fact well supported in the scientific literature.

Using chromium picolinate, one of the best absorbed and metabolised forms of chromium, it has been shown through many published clinical tests that this supplement effectively reduces blood sugar levels.

According to Robert Crayhon’s Nutrition Made Simple, “Chromium enhances the ability of insulin to transport sugar into body cells. It is not surprising, therefore, that chromium deficiency has been linked to diabetes and poor glucose tolerance.

Chromium in adequate amounts may completely prevent adult-onset diabetes.” He suggests that everyone should take 200 to 600 micrograms of chromium each day but that insulin-dependent diabetics should do so under medical supervision.

Thus the published scientific evidence is that chromium picolinate is a well-tested, effective and non-toxic substance for the treatment of this disease. It is probably safer and more effective than most drugs used today.

In addition, chromium picolinate is inexpensive and readily available as an over-the-counter item.

As one researcher commented, “With the relative safety and inexp e n -siveness of chromium picolinate, there seems to be no reason for it not to be used in people who have poor blood sugar control or insulin resistance syndrome. The benefit-to-risk ratio favours benefit” (D Kalman, American J Clinical Nutrition, 2003).

I have brought this important information to the attention of the Ministry of Health and have urged them to conduct their own investigative trials. I am confident of successful outcomes since just as we know that vitamin C prevents scurvy, the evidence suggests that chromium prevents type 2 diabetes.

Prof Stephan Gift Dean, Faculty of Engineering, UW

In addition, we should deeply consider producing a package of shows that are solely geared towards media coverage by international television networks and all other significant broadcasting agencies. What do you think TT ? Let’s do this?

NEVILLE G ALLEYNE Curepe

Roopsingh Road is in a deplorable state with a soon-to-be fallen bridge and giant potholes. Joyce Road follows close behind with potholes soo frequent you are given a “NASCAR drifting” driving experience at 40 kmph. It would be greatly appreciated if these roads can be attended to as a priority.

Melissa Abdool-Persad Carapichaima

“At one time growing up I wanted to be Prime Minister,” Augustine, 31, said in a Sunday Newsday interview.

The THA may be a far cry from the Office of the Prime Minister, St Clair, Trinidad, but for Augustine, who won the Speyside/ L’Anse Fourmi/Parlatuvier seat on a Progressive Democratic Patriots (PDP) ticket in the January 23 THA election, it is an opportunity to finally have an input in the development of Tobago.

“I am hoping to bring issues of rural Tobago to the forefront for the first time,” said Augustine, the youngest member of the THA. “I am also hoping to challenge my colleagues in the House to think big and outside of the confines of tradition.” A natural orator with a passion for his hometown of Speyside, Augustine was one of the stand-outs of the THA election campaign.

Before the campaign began in earnest, the former schoolteacher was courted by both the People’s National Movement (PNM) and the Tobago Forwards to contest the Speyside/L’Anse Fourmi/Parlatuvier electoral district. After some prodding, he chose to be a candidate for the Watson Dukeled PDP, a fledgling party which promised greater inclusion and a ground-up approach to governance.

Duke won the Roxborough/ Delaford seat.

Asked about his choice of the PDP, Augustine said: “I wanted to be part of something new. I didn’t want to be controlled by a political organisation whose structure was long established and there wasn’t room for me to advance changes.” He said he wanted to contribute towards the building of a political party in a real way.

“I am an idealist when it comes to politics,” he said. “I didn’t just want to join a party and run for a seat. I want to have some control over the rules of engagement within the party.” Augustine said the PDP was Tobago’s only indigenous political party.

“It wasn’t constructed on the basis of someone breaking away from another party. I wanted a Tobago-centric party that was daring to be different in approach, behaviour and philosophy.” On the hustings, Augustine was known for fiery, captivating speeches which highlighted the perceived limitations of the PNM-THA administration over the past 16 years.

The Bishop’s High School alumnus also spoke glowingly of the contributions of the people of Tobago East to the island’s history, blatantly contradicting statements made by the PNM’s candidate for Canaan/Bon Accord, Clarence Jacob, about PDP leader Duke.

During the campaign, Jacob issued a message to Duke, saying, “No country man can’t run town “(implying that people from Tobago’s rural communities cannot aspire to sit as Chief Secretary of the THA). Duke was born in the rural district off Roxborough.

The statement sparked a firestorm of controversy, with many Tobagonians deeming his utterance irresponsible, biased and condescending.

On his elevation to the THA, Augustine said: “I felt overwhelmed by the bigness of the moment. The pride of this achievement was so ubiquitous that it could almost be sliced. In that single moment I felt most privileged and blessed.” Augustine painted an almost storybook picture about life in Speyside. He recalled being tossed into the sea by fishermen and being able to swim long distances by age four. Recreation revolved around the beach, as there were no phones, cable TV computers and Internet when he was growing up.

Augustine said, however, it was not until he entered high school in 1996 that he recognised the limitations of his community.

“It was then that I began to dislike the fact that I lived in a place so remote that getting transport to and from my village was the hardest thing ever,” he said. “I also disliked that we were considered backward because we spoke Tobago Creole and because we lived closer to the earth. As young boy, I did not know how to defend the life that I thought was great but that the world outside of my village felt was primitive.

Despite the setbacks, Augustine said he always felt destined for greatness.

“My village always made me feel like I could achieve anything.

I was the boy that village celebrated as being ‘bright’,” he said. “The village literally built my self-esteem and pushed me all through my life. Even when I was struggling as a high school student, I kept telling myself I have to do well because I will disappoint the village.” Augustine said the support from villagers has never waned.

He recalled that when he returned to Speyside on vacation while studying language communication and society (linguistics) and international relations at the Mona campus of the University of the West Indies, Jamaica, between 2005 and 2009, he would meet “a fridge filled with fish, because the fishermen felt that I needed as much fish I could get to keep me going.” Augustine, who taught English literature and communications at Speyside High School, was also one of the managers of its Mantas football team. He headed two of the school’s steel orchestras and was the head teacher for the student council and prefect body.

Augustine said he was passionate about bridging the developmental divide between Tobago and Trinidad and between Tobago East and West.

Young professionals on the island also needed support, he said.

“This, in large part, has contributed to emigration and our almost stagnant population size.” Augustine lamented that most of his high school classmates no longer lived in Tobago “because they feel that the island has little to offer them.” Saying that he also developed an “acute passion” for the unemployed people he met on the campaign, Augustine observed that many young people seemed content with the bare minimum with little concern for their self-development and life beyond Speyside.

“I could not fathom that I had so many young men in my constituency who are contented with liming and gambling and getting high off weed,” he said.

Augustine described life for the young Tobagonian as mixed.

“It offers contracted employment through the THA, limited entrepreneurial opportunity, close family ties and an abundance of party vibes. But many of our young people feel stifled on the island.” Augustine said the biggest challenge facing Tobago was the island’s apparent inability to complete projects in a timely manner.

“This is fuelled by corruption, nepotism and a lack of planning,” he claimed.

He claimed Tobago had not got value for money under the Orville London administration.

“After having $40 billion in 16 years, with a population of just around 60,000, we still can’t boast of having one of the fastest developing islands in the region,” he concluded. “This is indicative of us having a management issue.”

In a release yesterday it was reported that the meeting was held on February 2 at the ministry’s head office, St Vincent Street, Portof- Spain.

“Following the very productive meeting, the minister was quite pleased to note that both the Ministry and PAVI are now on the same page in addressing the issue of the organization’s subvention. Minister Crichlow-Cockburn further stated that PAVI has been informed and now understands that the information required for the 2013-2015 period was critical to informing consideration of reinstating a subvention,” the release said.

PAVI, the release continued, agreed to provide the information as required by the Ministry, by the end of February 2017. The Ministry also forwarded to PAVI the templates to assist in providing the necessary information.

“The Ministry through its NGO Unit remains committed to working with PAVI in ensuring that the organization meets the criteria for funding by the Ministry. The meeting concluded on a very cordial note,” the release concluded.

In a press release on Friday the association advised of its decision to close indefinitely the School for the Blind, located at Pax Vale, Santa Cruz.

According to the release, the decision was taken because of their displeasure with the running of the institution by the current principal, Derrick Mundy. The release stated that the school will remain closed until the Ministry of Education, which appointed Mundy, removes him. The association also demanded that the ministry replace the head teacher Nichola Mundy, the principal’s wife; sign the memorandum of understanding as proposed by the association; and that in future, it consult the association “on the appointment of the new principal and all other teachers” at the school.

In a brief phone interview, last Friday, association executive officer Kenneth Suratt said he was ready to “resist” the ministry if it opposed the association’s decision to shut down the school. He made this comment in response to a threat from the Director of School Supervisors, Ashram Deoraj, “that the police and the MTS will storm the building to ensure that the school will be reopened.” Surratt said, “I told him that we will be ready for action. We want to sit down to resolve the situation. But the Government doesn’t seem to care about persons with disabilities.” In an additional release yesterday, Suratt said the association has not received any word from the Education Ministry and will have no choice but to call on Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley to intervene to have this matter resolved.

President of the Parent Teacher Association, Alicia Modeste, told Sunday Newsday parents were not pleased with the association’s decision to close the school.

The association started the School for the Blind in 1952 and provided both domestic services and academic training for students. However, an amendment to the Education Act of 1984 gave the Education Ministry full responsibility for the school’s academic curriculum.

The association retained the responsibility for the domestic services at the school.

Attempts to contact Education Minister Anthony Garcia yesterday were unsuccessful.