The issue was raised yesterday by president of the Co-operative Credit Union League Joseph Remy at the funeral for hiker Richard Baird who fell to his death while returning from a hike to the Aripo waterfall on August 19. His body was found at the bottom of a precipice three days later. An autopsy revealed the father of six, of Rousillac, sustained a broken neck.

The funeral for 55-year-old Baird, a computer technician at Petrotrin, was held at the St Benedict’s RC Church in La Romaine.

He was also the treasurer on the League’s board of directors and served on various committees at the level of the Caribbean Confederation of Credit Unions.

Remy told the large gathering that the regulatory framework guiding hiking organisations should include registration and operating licences, evidence of expertise and establishment of medical, safety and security systems.

“And in the event of incidents, mandatory investigations must be conducted to ascertain liability,” Remy said.

Remy questioned whether Baird’s death would be the catalyst for advocacy by his peers for State-sanctioned regulations for such events or if his death would be just another statistic to be ignored.

He said as president of the national umbrella body for credit unions in the country, he and the organisation will be failing if they leave issues like this one unattended.

“While we consider Richard to be a victim on this occasion, and sadly so, we pledge in the interest of those of us who are left behind, to pursue with our country’s leaders, the issue of legislation and practices to govern hiking with appropriate safeguards and attendant consequences for non-conformance.” Remy said Baird was more than a friend or colleague; he was a brother, mentor, leader and a man who spent all his years “looking out for everyone”.

To the Baird family, Remy said: “Rest in the comfort that Richard certainly did his duty for his country and his people. We want to thank you for the privilege of sharing such a great life with us. He was a true co-operator and a friend. We will surely miss him and his vast contribution to the co-operative credit union movement and the quest for equity and economic and social justice.” Many friends, colleagues and relatives paid tributes to Baird and thanked him for his contributions which, they said, enriched their lives in different ways.

Deacon Harold Woodroffe, who officiated at the funeral, recalled fond moments with his friend Baird.

The body was taken to the RC Cemetery at South Oropouche for burial

As part of the Ministry of Tourism’s “Stay to get away” campaign several tours were organised to take the media to various tourist destinations.

This tour was guided by Courtenay “Bush Man” Rooks, managing director of Paria Springs Tours, who created the rappelling trend at the falls.

On the way, Rooks pointed out that there was a lot of fun things to do in TT and said he has been surfing, mountain biking, hiking and bird watching every year.

The journey to Avocat began at the Queen’s Park Savannah, Port of Spain. Arriving off the Arima, Blanchisseuse Road, the bus stopped at Pop’s House where the team picked up harnesses and helmets and began the physical 45-minute trek to the waterfall.

Soon, we were knee-high in the cold waters of the Marianne River, navigating through slippery rocks, logs and trees. We occasionally stopped to observe the beauty of the rainforest while Rooks pointed out intertwined trees, acting as a natural protection for the ecosystem in the event of a hurricane.

“What is fascinating about rainforests is many people think that the forest is here because of the rain, however, studies have shown that it is actually the forest which produces the rain,” Rooks said.

When we arrived at the base of the waterfall, we were greeted with a a downpour. The group strapped on their harnesses to prepare for the rappelling adventure. We began our crash course in rappelling as a rope and large tree became our practise pad. Meanwhile, Rooks hiked to the top of the 72-foot waterfall to fasten the ropes to the hooks. He had drilled and anchored hooks into the rocks himself almost two years ago after learning rappelling from a friend who teaches the technique in France.

While some were adventurous enough to climb to the top, others opted to stay at the base of the waterfall and enjoy the river experience.

The waterfall is surrounded by rocks and trees which provide a serene landscape for a relaxing swim in one of the clear shallow pools of the river. At the top, we all experienced moments of fear at the edge, while some reconsidered the adventure. Rooks was the first to rappel down the waterfall, showing the proper technique.

All anxiety was soon forgotten as one after the other we had our own rappelling adventure.

We all agreed that the first phase, which was a cautious climb down, was the most terrifying, however, after being swung under the cascading waterfall, the feeling of excitement took over. Those who were timid on their first try rushed back to the top to have another go at the rappelling experience.

The river-goers who met the team at the river were shocked to see rappelling being done and said that they wished that they could have joined in.

Rooks said he began rappelling at Avocat because he wanted people to get a different experience at the waterfalls. The youngest person to have rappelled was four while the eldest was 86.

Asked how he felt about tonight’s show he said: “It’s celebrating 25 years as a songwriter and singer, and what is nice is that I will be having people who have been there for my 25-years’ journey. So not only will I have people who have been with me throughout those 25 years in the audience but also on the stage as well. I’m really looking forward to it.” John’s guest performers are Tricia Lee Kelshall, Michelle Xavier, Stefan Roach and Savita Singh.

In the last 25 years John has been nominated for five Copyright Music Organisation of Trinidad and Tobago (COTT ) awards, in the pop rock and gospel categories but is yet to win one.

He joked: “Imagine coming up against Kees with his Lion song….” But those things never deterred John who has released two albums to date, Keep the Faith in 2002 and Shine in 2006, with a third album to be released by year’s end.

The latest album will include two of John’s songs that were released earlier this year, Finally Here and Fall in Love Again, as well as the oldie Love on the Radio and also Christmas Prayer which was released last year.

Tonight, John will be performing some of his fans’ favourite songs including hits from Rod Stewart, Tim Mcgraw, U2, Creed, Don Henley, Blake Shelton, The Beatles and Lionel Richie, as well as original songs from his upcoming album

This was disclosed Friday by Port-of- Spain Mayor Joel Martinez at the corporation’s statutory meeting, held at the City Hall, Knox Street, Port-of-Spain.

Martinez did not want to disclose the location and the cost of the homeless centre, and he indicated he would leave the announcement for Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley, to make.

“We have had a number of discussions over the last couple of months on the way forward in dealing with the homeless community.

We have set up a committee to take us forward in proposing how we will put up a building to serve the homeless committee and to run it over the next couple of months.” He continued, “The committee is to chart the way forward and to develop structure and scope. Also, to develop a public private partnership between the stakeholders which are the business community of Port-of-Spain, the city corporation, and the government of TT.” He assured the public the project will work because the plight of the homeless has been around for more than 25 years.

Martinez said an attempt was made 25 years ago through an assessment centre at the car park, at Riverside Plaza.

“It has served its time and it’s now considered now not fully appropriate to serve the homeless. As we can see at this time, the homeless are spreading throughout the city of Port-of-Spain into all the suburbs. Hopefully this will be the start of a project that will see some light at the end of the tunnel.”

Seepersad-Bachan made this claim hours after Rowley said Le Hunte was a TT citizen and would be appointed once the “communication glitch” regarding his citizenship is clarified.

In a statement, Seepersad- Bachan said anyone taking a ministerial oath of office must be familiar with the provisions of the Constitution.

She claimed when Le Hunte was sworn in last Thursday, he did so, “despite knowing that he was in direct violation of Section 42(1) (of the Constitution).” She said it is “a serious disrespect to the citizenry” to have Le Hunte reappointed.

On this basis, Seepersad- Bachan said Le Hunte, “should be disqualified from holding any public office at this time.” She said transparency and accountability in public life demands that existing or prospective Cabinet ministers, respect the Constitution and the rule of law. Saying the issue of corruption in government should start at the top, Seepersad-Bachan said if Rowley is serious about solving the problem of corruption within his administration, “he should therefore lead by example.”

Residents said the heavy rains pounded the southern borough for at least three hours. Up to late yesterday evening many villagers throughout the borough remained marooned in their homes being surrounded by flood waters. Baby Ethan Soodeen and his young mother Maaltee Seedath were among 30 other households which suffered heavy flood damage. A still traumatised Seedath recalled that flood waters reached up to her neck as she remained trapped inside her home for nearly 30 minutes holding her screaming baby towards the ceiling of the house.

Seedath said she held her baby boy up towards the ceiling to prevent him from drowning. The child’s father, Darren Soodeen, 35, arrived half an hour later and rescued both mother and child. “I keep thinking of how me and my baby could have died, we could have drowned if my husband did not come home in that time,” the still visibly shaken mother said attempting to hold back her tears. Seedath recalled that heaving rainfall started falling at about 2pm on Wednesday. The young mother said that the waters started coming through the front door of the family home. At that time she thought nothing of it until more water started entering the home rapidly. At the time baby Ethan was sleeping in his play pen. “I started to move appliances to high grounds thinking it would not have been much water, but within seconds the entire living room, bedroom and bathroom were filled with water. I rushed to take Ethan out of his playpen because I realised the waters was coming into his play pen,” the mother said.

Frightened and panicking with fear Seedath said that she telephoned her husband who was at the time on work and told him that the place was flooded out. She was fearing the worst. “I was panicking and crying. I climbed unto the bed thinking that we would have been safe on the bed, but I was wrong, the water covered the bed,” he explained.

Seedath said that she could no long sit on the bed with her baby but now had stand on the bed with the floods waters reaching almost to her neck, “I was cold and trembling, I could feel parts of my body going numb, but I did not let go of my baby. I held him up to the ceiling to protect him, he was crying, I was crying and I kept telling him ‘everything is going to be ok baby boy’, mama is not going to let anything happen to you,” the mother told Newsday during an interview at the family Ragoonanan Avenue, Hollywood. She said that she was also screaming for help, but no one heard her.

At a nearby household Aaron Cardinal,31, and his common-law wife Amanda Ramnarinesing,22 were counting their loses. At the time of the flooding the couple who also has a seven month old baby was not at home. “We came home to see our home in water and everything floating. We lost everything, from appliances, to furniture to foodstuff,” he said. Thirty two homes were damaged by flood waters.

“There are vendors who have been registered already, those are the vendors who will be allowed to remain on Charlotte Street. All other vendors, we are asking you to remove yourself in an orderly fashion.” Mayor Martinez added , “We are going to ask our police service to assist us in ensuring that the areas are properly regulated.

Charlotte Street is the first street we have started the regularisation process, however we are moving to the other streets thereafter.

Once the process is completed on Charlotte Street we want to ensure that vending is properly regulated throughout the city.” Martinez said although vending occurs in all cities around the world, there are rules and process vendors have to follow to ensure the city remains a successful city.

“How it is done? It is regulated.

Vendors are allowed to vend in certain parts and ply their trade in a very decent manner.

They are young entrepreneurs, but at the same time they must be regulated.” He said discussion are being held with the police to further collaborate on new and innovative ways to enhance the safety and security of the burgesses and citizens of the city of Port-of-Spain.

They say the facility, located along the Eastern Main Road, Aripo, continued to be affected by the absence of an air condition system, leaking roof, defective surveillance cameras and a faulty electronic gate, which, for the longest while, was being operated manually.

Further, they complained that the food given to the detainees lacked variety and was not even “fit for dogs.” Established by the Patrick Manning-led People’s National Movement Government in November 2009 to curb the problem of illegal immigrants in the country, the IDC shot to national prominence in January 2016 when workers complained about chronic overcrowding, unsuitable living conditions and fears of a potential health threat at that time.

National Security Minister Edmund Dillon visited the facility, one month later, to get a first-hand account of the situation and promised to look into the concerns of both workers and detainees, particularly overcrowding. And while there has been a marked reduction in the number of detainees at the IDC, sources said many of the other problems persist.

Newsday understands there are now 73 men and 18 women currently detained at the facility. They comprise mostly Jamaicans, Russians, Haitians, Vincentians, Venezuelans, Grenadians and Chinese nationals.

One source said the complaints of the workers and detainees appear to be falling on deaf ears.

“Dillon only paid lip service and management is not saying anything,” an irate source said.

He claimed the absence of an efficient air condition unit was causing serious discomfort to both staff and detainees.

“It has not been operational for about five years and this has caused many of workers to sick-out because they are uncomfortable.

Only the manager’s office has air condition,” one claimed, adding the manual fans were blowing hot air.

He said the problem was particularly acute in the visitors’ lounge.

“This is an international place and when people have to come and visit the detainees, they get soaking wet because of the heat,” he said.

He claimed the leaking roof also posed a major inconvenience as the detainees’ beds often had to be shifted during heavy rainfall.

Another source said the detainees’ diet left a lot to be desired.

“The food is poor, not even fit for dogs and the caterers are getting big money. On mornings they get two hops bread and either butter or cheese paste and for lunch, macaroni and chicken nuggets and a small Orchard drink. This is what they get everyday.” He claimed workers have dubbed the macaroni and chicken nuggets meal the “Road March Dinner” by virtue of the frequency with which the detainees receive it.

He claimed the detainees were poorly treated.

“They order slippers for them and there are no proper sizes.

You have people with big feet wearing small slippers.” He also claimed workers sometimes had to take money from their own pockets to assist detainees with trips to their native countries when they are released.

“I think the Government should consider giving some kind of pardon to the detainees and just send them back to where they come from. Some of them have been here (IDC) too long.” He claimed a Nigerian national, believed to be in his late 30s, is the longest-serving detainee at the IDC.

“He has been here for about five years and he speaks seven different languages and has seven different passports. But that is not our business. Send him back to his native country.” Sources are also calling on the authorities to address the disparity in salary between Special Reserve Police officers at the IDC and those working under the TT Police Service.

“An SRP usually get $7,000 a month but those at the IDC only get $5,000. So, something has to be wrong with that,” one said.

The proceedings began with a performance of the national anthem, prompting spectators to raise their voices in unison and sang aloud with the lyrics, as the stands echoed with the lyrics. For his arrival, Prime Minister, Dr. Keith Rowley was met with uproarious applause, shortly before 7 pm yesterday morning as he and members of his Cabinet made their way to the stands for the spectacle.

Officers of the various arms of the protective services showcased their discipline, skill and rythm for their marching out, as members of their accompanying marching bands belted out classic calypsoes to more contemporary soca hits.

Members of the TT Regiment, the Coast Guard Air Guard and Police service and Cadets made up the armed detachments or front half of the parade, while the fire service, prisons service, Ambulance Brigade and the Red Cross made up the rear part of unarmed detachments.

Members of the police service mechanised division were drew an overwhelming round of applause as they crossed the grand stand, as one officer of the police traffic branch, carefully balanced himself over two motorcycles along the stand.

Along the parade route throngs of onlookers struggled to catch a glimpse of the parade, as they packed the pavements along Frederick street and the Western Main Road in St James.

Service men kept the crowds on their toes with their antics as they made their way down Long Circular road to the Police Academy, where the parade ended.

Newsday spoke to avid spectator and retired police officer, Randolph Greene who said that he has attended the parade for over ten years,he was overwhelmed with the large turnout of spectators and supporters.

“It’s a really warming sight to see so many people come out today in unity for our country and our sevicemen.

I saw in the streets a lot of young children waving their flags so I’m glad to see that the tradition has not died.”

“We must instill in our children that importance of obedience and giving of themselves, just as Ismail did, upon realizing the task that had been asked of his father. For it is only in this way that we can come together as one,” Hosein said in a message to mark Eid Ul-Adha, observed annually on September 1.

“We must promote the values of having a strong character in our younger generations and to all our fellowmen. Live above reproach and this way, we can progress together as a nation.” Hosein said Eid Ul-Adha reminded Muslims of the importance of obedience to the Almighty and one’s parents.

“This is a message that we can all draw from – that we have a duty to our younger generations to inculcate the ideals of sacrifice, hard work and devotion.” Hosein said Eid Ul-Adha commemorates Abraham’s unyielding commitment to his faith, such that he proved his willingness to sacrifice his son Ismail.

“Almighty Allah recognised his devotion and intervened, letting a lamb take Ismail’s place.

It is the holiest Islamic observance,” he said. “Every year on Eid Ul-Adha, the Islamic community worldwide comes together to mark the end of the holy pilgrimage, Hajj, and to give honour to the spirit of sacrifice which marks this celebration.

“For Hajj, we leave behind our worldly possessions to make our pilgrimage to Mecca. We stand together, men and women, as equals before God. And in so doing, we recognise and honour the great sacrifice that our forefather, Prophet Abraham (Peace Be Unto Him), was willing to make; and are able to reflect on the many ways we as individuals and collectively, can make sacrifices in our daily lives to demonstrate our devotion and do good for humanity.” Hosein said during this holy observance, Muslims are called upon to make sacrifices to the Almighty by dividing meat into three portions: one for ourselves, another portion for family, and a third portion for those in need.

He said this sharing represents the key lessons of Eid Ul-Adha – sacrifice, equality and charity.