Would Pan Trinbago be able to boast about where it has reached today if there had been no year in, year out donations from the public purse? I am not referring to individual dedication of the players or their deep love of the steel pan.

I am alluding to gross mismanagement on several levels occurring within the fraternity.

Are they all so talented that they dare not be scrutinised or asked “where the money gone?” Who is supposed to be more vexed than whom? Are they now expecting government after government to keep putting money down a black hole? What makes Pan Trinbago untouchable from government intervention? Is the music so sweet? Is the art of pan so terrific that Pan Trinbago must be allowed to do exactly as it wants? TT is in a fiscal guava season of unprecedented proportions and the public and the Government are supposed to feel themselves privileged to allow pertinent questions to remain unanswered? The players as well as the spectators have been grossly used and abused for too long.

When it used to be just pan around the neck there was no confusion like what is going on now. The tune of choice to be played this year by the small, medium and large bands is named “Look at us how we never expected to reach.” Written by the government and people of TT .

Lynette Joseph Diego Martin

The Environmental Management Authority (EMA) arranged a joint response with agencies for the suspected source of the oil pollution at La Brea. This was done with personnel from agencies of the IMA, EMA, the Ministry of Energy and Energy Affairs, and the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard (TTCG).

The IMA reported that no oil was observed at the shoreline at Pt. Sable, Carat Shed, Coffee and Station Beaches with the exception of the mangrove area at Coffee Beach.

Trace amounts of “oil clumps or pellets” were observed at this location and sampled, and three water samples were collected at the sites to determine the amount of dissolved hydrocarbons (DDPH), and one oil sample at Coffee Beach for the purpose of oil fingerprinting.

The report stated that there was no visible oil sheen in the marine waters of these beaches at the time of observation. Six samples of oil were provided by the EMA for oil fingerprinting. These samples were collected by the EMA on January 28 and 29, 2017, at La Brea and Fullarton locations.

It was reported that a barge named “Transporter 1”, which sank last year at La Brea, was a suspected source of the oil spill.

Investigations indicated that a team of workmen employed by a private marine contractor service was engaged in repairing the sunken vessel.

However, no oil was observed at the time of the investigation in the marine waters, and no oil could be sampled from the sunken vessel.

The IMA also investigated the areas of Fullarton, Columbus and Vessigny on January 31, however no oil was observed.

Trace amounts of an oil-like material was seen at Columbus Bay and was sampled to identify whether it was petroleum.

The sample of oil from the sunken vessel remained a possible source of the oil spill, but sampling the oil would require a diver. The EMA was now consulting with the owner of the sunken vessel to arrange for the collection of oil samples.

Abdool was speaking with reporters following a TTTI-hosted town meeting at the Gulf View Community Centre, Gulf View on Tuesday night.

Asked about the nation’s downward spiral on the corruption index which witnessed Trinidad and Tobago rank 101 out of 176 countries with a score of 35, Abdool said the index pointed to the issue of corruption and which had to be dealt with by the country.

“There is a problem” Abdool said.

“We have to admit that first and the index merely points to the issue.

How do we treat with it ? We started here with this conversation with communities and we have said it begins in our home,” Abdool said, adding, “we need to begin to change how we think, how we act, how we conduct ourselves, how we conduct business, starting with the home, the communities and gradually to our organisations and our government, ensuring that public expenditure has accountability and transparency.” Asked whether the problem of corruption could be defined as a generational problem which was made worse over successive generations, he said, “I wouldn’t call it a generational problem, I think maybe there is a determination, an awareness problem. We need to first of all understand that we have a problem.

How do we address that problem? By starting with the schools and ourselves. “We started talking about identifying those areas we are weak in and by coming together with love and caring, sharing proper values,” he said, adding, “It starts in the home and starts with all of us.” He said the town hall meeting, the second for the year, was an initiative of the Transparency Institute to “promote and partner with civil society organisations, encourage transparency and accountability in the organisations themselves and within our community.” Also addressing the meeting was T&T Coalition against domestic violence representative, Natalie O’Brady, who observed that there was an “inter sectional” connection between domestic violence, truancy and criminal activity.

While the text of the story accurately stated, “When a close member of my family was diagnosed with HIV, it was a faith-based organisation which had given our family the courage to support my relative…”, unfortunately the headline for the story incorrectly identified this person as being an in-law. The error is regretted and we apologise for an inconvenience/ distress caused.

“We are a national company supporting the national instrument,” said Petrotrin President, Fitzroy Harewood on Tuesday evening to Newsday in Petrotrin Hatters’ panyard at Lady Hailes Avenue, San Fernando.

“It is no secret that Petrotrin is going through a challenging period, but we count it a privilege and an honour to be part of this experience of giving communities a cultural outlet for expression.” Harewood said he could not put an exact figure to Petrotrin’s financial contribution to Carnival 2017, but said it was “more or less” the same as last year. “We have been contributing to a few sponsored bands, and we have been assisting a number of bands. We’ve been trying to keep the assistance within some of four fence-line communities, like Siparia, Point Fortin, San Fernando, and even the ones other than the fence line.” Following January’s averted strike, Petrotrin was given a renewed mandate by Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley to increase productivity while also cutting costs.

“I don’t think we are at a stage to announce anything as yet, but we are doing a lot of work in that respect,” said Harewood.

“That was a mandate we had even before that incident so basically that incident has accelerated our efforts and we continue to discuss that with the state and all the various stakeholders about how we are going to go forward.

We are always looking for ways to cut costs but we have maintained our contribution to the culture, to the community and to the steelband.” Petrotrin Chairman, Andrew Jupiter, was also present to show the company’s support for one of their many sponsored bands, Petrotrin Hatters, as they were judged in their panyard for the Medium Band category for Panorama.

Hatters performed the calypso “Engine Room” sung by Dalani “Lani K” Kojo with a band of 50 players, most of whom were young people from the neighbouring community, Embacadere.

The tune was arranged by Kevin Mcleod.

Expressing his support for any law that will make the marriageable age 18 or older, Prakashnanda said, “To insist otherwise is Jurassic in nature and will make a relic of Sanatana Dharma in Trinidad and Tobago.” The Sanatana Dharma is the appropriate title of Hinduism, he said.

Commenting on the amendments to the Miscellaneous Provisions (Marriage Bill) 2016, Prakashnanda said there was a well established conventional agreement that an individual does not have the full capacity to make an informed judgement about who to vote for in an election and in other judgements until they have reached 18 years.

“How then can they make the most dramatic and life-changing decisions about marriage?” he asked.

The Swami, who has been serving the local community in the spiritual and religious field since his return to TT from his studies in India in 1997, said, “The principle that guides modernity in Hinduism is the re-codifying of laws in Smrti (ancient Hindu scriptures detailing moral and ethical codes of conduct) form to suit the needs of the time (and by extension place, since many Hindus live not only in India).” Therefore, he said, there are “different Smrtis for different ages: Manu for Satyug, Yajnavalkya for Treta and Parashara for Kali, etc.” If the local Hindu community did not give serious thought to the requirements of modernity, and by extension evolution, Prakashnanda said, “We run the risk of being left behind in the march of time and progress, and many leaving our fold for a more modern and progressive way of life.” The re-codifying of Smrti for Yuga (historical age) was always done, he said, “by the Rishi-gana – holy guides and seers of Hinduism – who are grounded in the Sanatana Dharma.” Today, he said, “We are faced with the terrifying prospect of it being re-codified by leaders of organisations who are grounded more in political power than in Sanatana Dharma.”

Questions posed by PAEC members to Plipdeco officials came 24 hours after Santa Cruz businessman Ricky Ragoonanan told Newsday that he knew nothing about US$2 million which was found stashed among ply board in a container at the port last year.

Without referring to this specific matter during the PAEC public hearing at Tower D of the Port-of-Spain International Waterfront Centre, Labour Minister Jennifer Baptiste- Primus observed there have been media reports over time about, “various types of contraband material coming through the Port of Point Lisas.” She added, “Drugs, money…the range.” Looking at Plipdeco officials seated before the committee, Baptiste- Primus asked them, “What systems have you all put in place to detect the will of those who are determined to break the law in this country?” In response, Plipdeco president Ashley Taylor said, “Based on the feedback from Customs and Excise, we anticipate that the implementation of the much awaited container scanners would be finalised by the first quarter of this year.” Taylor said Plipdeco had the infrastructure for the scanners in place, “for the last year and a half.” However he added, “We await on the feedback from Customs to be able to start the process.” Taylor explained that while Plipdeco has a security team that works extensively with the Customs and Excise Division, “we on our own cannot make the decision to take a container and put it aside.” He reiterated, “ It really has to come out of the directive of Customs and Excise.” After saying Plipdeco and Customs work closely together to vet containers coming through the port, Taylor stated, “We have put some other measures in place to ensure that documentation cannot be hacked, cannot be forged.” He also said the port has a closed-circuit television (CCTV) system which is in the process of being upgraded.

PAEC chairman, Opposition Senator Wade Mark, expressed concern about bad debts being written off by Plipdeco. According to Mark, documents provided by Plipdeco to the committee indicated that bad debts rose from $22.1 million in 2014 to $28.7 million. He told Plipdeco officials that the country’s taxpayers have to bear the burden of any bad debts written off by any State company.

As he requested further clarification from Plipdeco on this issue, Mark warned, “Somebody getting bad habit here.” Mark, Baptiste-Primus and Independent Senator David Small questioned the existence of a casual retirement fund. Baptiste- Primus, a former Public Services Association (PSA) president, said this was the first time she heard about such a fund in her 40 years in the industrial relations arena. Small said it was not logical for any company to keep workers casual indefinitely.

Mark said he hoped this was not a case whereby a State controlled company was exploiting any category of workers in the country.

They queried the direction of the “rescue” of CLICO after eight years under the Central Bank and Government, including the Bank’s apparent “regulatory forbearance” .

They also mulled the legality of this control (plus any fallout from such), the inordinate delay in returning billions of dollars to the taxpayer (and the impact of this on economic decision making), and the nature of recent ministerial statements seemingly at odds with the stated goals of the rescue under the Central Bank Act .

The letter posed seven questions .

While a 2011 Central Bank statement hit the past subordination of the interests of Clico, its policyholders and mutual fund investors to the private interests of Lawrence Duprey and Andre Monteil, the letter bemoaned that nothing has been done to declare the responsible parties to be unfit and improper to hold high office in the company .

“What is the Central Bank’s current position on the matter?” .

Secondly, given the removal of the risk of contagion from Clico to TT’s financial system plus the solvency of Clico’s Statutory Fund, doesn’t the Act now mandate the Central Bank now relinquish control? Thirdly, given that the Bank’s powers arise if CLICO’s state poses a risk to TT’s financial system, the letter asks if the Bank now thinks TT’s financial system is at risk of “disruption, substantial damage, injury or impairment”? If not, can the Bank carry on dealing with the assets and operations of the institution with impunity? Fourthly, given that only creditors’ and policyholders’ interests must guide the Bank’s rescue of Clico, can the Bank and Finance Minister pursue other goals such as unrelated government objectives as drivers of their rescue? Fifthly, was the acquisition of policyholder rights (The Resolution Plan) done under the Act’s Section 44 powers, and if so how does that action “preserve the rights of depositors and creditors of the institution” as the Act seems to demand? Sixthly, Who decides if to relinquish control of Clico – the Bank, Finance Minister, both, or other? Seventh, how will the Bank release the Clico companies without the former CL Financial principals regaining positions as directors, officers or controlling shareholders?

Nine selected matches from Zone A will air live from the Coolidge Cricket Ground via the ESP N Caribbean television network, as well as on ESP N Play (www.

espnplay.com) — ESP N’s multiscreen live and on-demand broadband service.

Zone A will consist of defending champs, Trinidad and Tobago Red Force, led by West Indies wicketkeeper, Denesh Ramdin, in their hunt for a hat-trick of titles, alongside hosts Leeward Island Hurricanes, Windward Island Volcanoes, West Indies Under- 19s and special invitees from England, Kent Spitfires. Zone B boasts last year’s beaten finalist, Barbados Pride, as well as Jamaica Scorpions, Guyana Jaguars, Combined Campuses and Colleges Marooners, and lastly, special invitees, ICC Americas.

The top two teams from each Zone will face off in the semifinals from February 15 with the final set for February 18 for the Clive Lloyd Trophy Date Time (ET) Match Venue

Feb 2 12:15 p.m. Hurricanes vs. Red Force Coolidge Cricket Ground, Antigua

Feb 4 12:15 p.m. Hurricanes vs. Spitfires Coolidge Cricket Ground, Antigua

Feb 6 12:15 p.m. R e d Force vs. Volcanoes Coolidge Cricket Ground, Antigua

Feb 8 12:15 p.m. Hurricanes vs. Volcanoes Coolidge Cricket Ground, Antigua

Feb 10 12:15 p.m. Volcanoes vs. Spitfires C o o l i d g e Cricket Ground, Antigua

Feb 12 12:15 p.m. Hurricanes vs. Red Force Coolidge Cricket Ground, Antigua

Feb 15 12:15 p.m. Semi – final #1 Coolidge Cricket Ground, Antigua

Feb 16 12:15 p.m. Semi – final #2 Coolidge Cricket Ground, Antigua

Feb 18 12:15 p.m. Final Coolidge Cricket Ground, Antigua

Short drops out of Port-of-Spain are also going up by a dollar; from $3 to $4, however there will be no price increase for short drops within Diego Martin, Petit Valley, Carenage and Maraval.

Short drops within these four areas will remain at three dollars. President of the Route One Maxi Taxi Association Eon Hewitt, told Newsday the association held off on a price increase for the past eight years.

“We have been holding strain since 2008 while everything has gone up…tyres, batteries, brakes, fuel, insurance, everything has gone up over the years but we at Route One have held back until now because we are aware that our customers face the same increased cost of living,” Hewitt said.

But Yellow Band maxi-taxi drivers can no longer afford to fully absorb these costs.

They therefore voted in early January on which of three fare increases made the most sense for them and for their customers.

Hewitt explained that voting was open to all members, “from 8 am to 4 pm that day and the majority voted in favour of the $1.00 fare increase.

We kept the short drops within Diego Martin, Petit Valley, Carenage and Maraval the same because we know people trying to move around within the communities, children travelling to school.” Hewitt expressed hope that Yellow Band customers “would understand why this price increase was necessary.”