Unproductive cease fire after cease fire has made a mockery of international diplomacy, and a deepening of the depression that the hostages of this war, including women and children must feel under a life where the next noise hey hear might be their last.

It is in this context that Presbyterian minister, Rev Daniel Teelucksingh, in a week-end Christmas sermon, may be entitled to invoke Aleppo to vent his exasperation at Trinidad and Tobago’s horrific crime situation of murders, robberies, rapes and abductions, and our shared feelings of helplessness to turn the tide of lawlessness. Fortuitously, however, his remarks amount to the use of hyperbole to try to spur action against our own recklessness.

While each of the families of a murder victim in TT might be said to be experiencing their own personal “Aleppo”, this country overall is not in the depth of destruction and despair as the ancient Syrian city, and thankfully, shows no evidence of getting there.

We underscore this by looking at the differences between the real Aleppo and what the goodly Reverend believes is our own.

Atrocities occurring in Aleppo are the result of a civil war between at least four armed groups, one of which has laid siege to the vast city to oust its rivals, with the fighting having destroyed the city’s infra-structure including buildings and water supply, and general way of life as civilians cower from explosions and starvation.

A second characteristic of the Aleppo Siege is that death is dispensed largely in the name of an array of ethnic rivalries which dictate group-loyalties, including being either pro-regime or anti- regime. The third difference between the mayhem in Aleppo and in TT is the use of terror.

While TT has seen awful cases of killings being “done to send a message” including several residents of East Port-of-Spain killed so as to scare others into leaving, this is not at a level of terrorism that sadly is happening in Aleppo.

An act is defined as “terrorist” not by its horrific nature but by the fact of it being targetted indiscriminately at random victims so as to induce a sense of defeat in a wider population. The reckless use of bombs, poison gas and the like against broad swathes of the population of Aleppo but often without an assailant even knowing the identity of his victim, clearly falls within the classic textbook definition of terrorism, whether the perpetrators are labelled as State actors or rebels.

Thankfully this is not the case in TT, which may have all kinds of lawlessness (plus domestic violence incidents) but is not now subject to terrorism as an everyday reality.

It is crucial for us to point out these limits to any attempts at simile between TT and Aleppo, not just for academic exactness, but because of reports of several TT nationals being linked to the Middle East theatre of war. Several persons have reportedly enlisted in the conflicts in Iraq and Syria, while the Government recently revealed that some TT nationals are suspected of donating to groups deemed to be terrorist.

Despite the crime wave, TT remains committed to an equal place for all citizens regardless of ethnic/religious origins or political leanings, all of which we trust will shield our twin-island nation from ever facing the horrors of Aleppo, and prove Reverend Teelucksingh wrong.

While the ministry repeatedly insisted that at the start of each school term all schools would have been ready for opening, we would have witnessed many schools having to “open” and then “close” for one reason or the other. The refrain of the authorities continued to be a lack of money.

The year also saw the announced discontinuation of the much maligned Continuous Assessment Component at the primary level. This decision came following feedback from the wider national community during the national consultation conducted by the Ministry of Education. This decision brought relief to the majority of teachers and parents.

Along with the planned removal of the National Tests in 2017, it is hoped that some semblance of normalcy will be returned to the primary school system and that in future whenever such changes are being contemplated there will be proper prior consultation with major stakeholders along with proper scientific piloting of proposed reforms before nationwide implementation.

The issue of school violence and student indiscipline continued to make regular headlines, with the Minister of Education having to make regular visits to schools where students were virtually taking the law into their own hands.

Thankfully, the minister was decisive in his resolve to exercise maximum powers given to him under the Education Act and have unruly students temporarily removed from the school and placed in Learning Enhancement Centres where their offending behaviour can be corrected so that the students can be returned to the school and not engage in disruptive behaviours.

While TTUTA does not have the statistical evidence to support the claim by the Ministry of Education that there has been a drastic reduction in school violence and indiscipline, it was heartening to know that the minister was prepared to take drastic action regarding a problem that had long gotten out of control.

Now that centres have been established in all seven education districts in Trinidad, it is hoped they will be adequately staffed and will be able to work in tandem with all schools to treat with the socio-economic and psychosocial deficits that give rise to deviant behaviour among our student population.

The year began with the expectation by TTUTA that salary negotiations with the Chief Personnel Officer (CPO) for the period 2014-2017 could have commenced.

Unfortunately, while the CPO promised to respond to the union’s proposals by July, to date no such response has been received. These negotiations should have been preceded by a review of the job evaluation exercise that was done some 14 years ago. Unfortunately, early in the year the CPO reported that while the employer agrees that such a review should be done, at this time the unavailability of the necessary funds prevents the conduct of such an exercise.

While TTUTA is extremely disappointed about this development it is hoped that the salary negotiations will commence early in 2017 and be completed before the expiration of the threeyear triennium. The ongoing issues plaguing the Early Childhood Care and Education teachers and education support personnel caused TTUTA to engage the Ministry of Education in extensive discussions. While many of these issues remain unresolved to date, it is hoped that the promised review of the Education Act will help to alleviate many of them.

Her husband Devinish Bridglal 35, and two of their children and her niece were all discharged from hospital on Sunday. Elizabeth , 32, of Monkey Town Village, Barrackpore, was a front seat passenger in the family car, driven by her husband Devinish when it was involved in a collision with a van around 4 am on Christmas Eve.

The family members were a short distance from their home after attending a birthday party in San Fernando.

The couple’s nine-year-old son, Emerald, daughter Deliza,15, and niece Vishacar, 15, along with Devinish were treated for various injuries.

The couple’s other son, Emery, 10, was at the home of relatives in Barrackpore at the time of the crash. He was later told of the tragedy that befell his parents and siblings.

Reports said Fire officers used the ‘Jaws of life’ to free the passengers who were trapped in the back seat of Devinish’s car. A district medical officer pronounced Elizabeth dead at the scene while an ambulance rushed the other occupants to the hospital.

Elizabeth’s sister in law Usha Sundar said yesterday that family members are just trying their best to console each other.

“The children crying for their mother, nobody not eating, nobody not sleeping, we drained, we don’t have the strength to cope.” She explained that her brother Devinish and his wife Elizabeth were childhood sweethearts and they were very close to their three children.

She said her mother left New York to come to Trinidad yesterday to support the family during this difficult time.

Usha thanked her neighbours for supporting them in their time of grief.

Funeral arrangements are tentatively set for Thursday

According to reports officers of the Eastern Division Task Force were on patrol along Cunapo Main Road, Sangre Grande when they had cause to intercept a Nissan vehicle, which was occupied by two men, aged 31 and 25. During a search of the vehicle, police officers found a crocus bag with approximately 4.2 kilogrammes of marijuana in the trunk of the vehicle. The two male occupants, were then arrested and taken to the Sangre Grande Police Station, where they were charged in connection with the find. The two men are expected to appear before a Sangre Grande Magistrate on Wednesday.

In a separate incident, two men were arrested when police officers thwarted what was believed to be an attempted robbery in the Western Division.

According to reports, at about 6 pm on Christmas Day officers of the Western Division Task Force received information that two known bandits were planning to rob several business places in the Diego Martin district.

They were told that the men planned to break into the business places which were closed for the holiday.

The information received led them to a bus shed along the Diego Martin Main Road, where they saw the two suspects and intercepted them. While searching the two men, they allegedly found a Colt .38 revolver, loaded with four rounds of .38 ammunition.

The two men were arrested and taken to the West End Police Station.

Identification parades are expected to be conducted with the two men, in relation to other robberies committed in the area during recent times.

The two men are expected to appear before a Port-of-Spain Magistrate on Wednesday.

According to reports, officers of the Northern Division were on mobile patrol on the morning of Boxing Day, when at about 12.45am, they noticed a man known to them in the Phase Two area.

According to police, the man is wanted on several robbery and firearm offences.

The officers slowed their vehicle down and called to the man, but when the he turned around, the officers notices that he was holding something which resembled a firearm.

Without warning, two loud explosions were heard.

The police officers took cover in the safety of their police vehicle, then returned fire, but the man managed to escape the lawmen.

No injuries have been reported stemming from the incident.

ASP Beddoe is investigating the matter.

The construction is being undertaken by interests under Colin Soo Ping Chow, Managing Director at Ernst and Young, and is at Young Pow Avenue, La Seiva, Maraval. Soo Ping Chow told Newsday in an interview last Tuesday, “We have all approvals and this has been provided to everybody and that is the fact of the matter. I am not being difficult over it, but we have all approvals.” Soo Ping Chow acknowledged awareness that there have been concerns by some residents who claim that the building under construction was “inappropriate” for the community, and was causing distress to those living there.

“This is a personal matter,” he added. “This is quite honestly a project that has been properly approved, it is for apartments.

That is it in its simplicity. I don’t want to appear to be difficult in anything, but it is all approved, properly done from day one.” Spokesperson for the residents, Dr Lesley Roberts, said her house abuts the structure being erected on the eastern side. She said the area was basically for single storey homes, nothing over 25 feet.

She told Newsday, “We had a lawyer who asked that Mr Soo Ping Chow cease and desist with the building. He said he had full approval and everything was being built according to plan. Then he told us that we could come and view the plans, but then we were told that we could not bring in an expert to view said plans.

Now, I know nothing about building plans.” Roberts claimed that neighbouring properties were being destroyed as there was construction material falling all around. She said it was only when the issue was raised that a mesh covering was put in place. She also claimed that there was lack of privacy because of the noise being generated by the workers.

“These are Chinese workers who live on site,” Dr Roberts said.

“When I spoke with Mr Soo Ping Chow, he said they would only work from 7 am to 5 pm during the week, including Saturdays. He also said they would work from 7 am to 12 noon on Sundays, but this is still inappropriate. When they are finished working they speak loudly and it is disturbing, especially to the elderly.” Roberts said she and other residents have been making inquiries with the Diego Martin Regional Corporation and Town and Country Planning, but nothing has come out of it. In the meantime, she said, the building continues to go up. “Now we realise that the building is almost on top of my house,” she claimed. “Cement and water was coming over on my roof.

The place was approved as a two-storey dwelling place. When this happens there is no natural light or ventilation. We need someone to come and see what we are being deprived of.” Roberts claimed there were specifications to the plans for the construction.

However, Soo Ping Chow was adamant that all plans and approvals were all in order.

“Recently I was a patient at Ward 24 of the Port-of-Spain General Hospital and wish to thank the doctors, nurses, cleaners and all those who had to attend to me, for they made my stay more comfortable than I would have thought,” he said.

Edinborough explained that from the time he entered the ward to the time he left, he was treated very cordially with politeness and respect.

“I always had the feeling that those attending to me were interested in my welfare. Before being admitted to the ward I had to attend the Surgical Outpatients’ Clinic (SOPC), and here again I felt comfortable that the doctors were interested in my welfare.” He added, “I saw that they had many people to deal with but they gave me (and I suppose all the other patients) their full attention and time, politely responding to my questions and concerns. I thought of them on Christmas Day and knew that they had to work on that day and all other days that the rest of us have the time off.” Edinborough said he prayed for the staff at the hospital and will continue doing so, and urged all citizens to remember them in their prayers.

“There is a massive collusion,” said Ronald Williams, the Oilfield Workers Trade Union Shop Sterward for IOCL, as the striking workers entered their sixty seventh day of striking. Speaking under a strike camp along the Southern Main Road near Oropouche Junction yesterday, Williams added “My President General (Ancel Roget) has been saying that, because up to now Petrotrin has not taken action against these people.” Williams said that the government wasted no time to go after OAS Construtora to recover the millions paid to the company for its failure to complete construction of the Point Fortin Highway, yet they are not doing anything of the sort for a “small contractor” like IOCL. IOCL provides marine transport for Trinmar’s offshore workers. Williams said their strike has caused Trinmar to suffer a severe drop in production resulting in serious losses in revenue.

“We understand, however, that Petrotrin has been advertising for a new service provider be it local, be it foreign,” said Williams. “If IOCL wants to standby and let the most lucrative of all contracts in marine transport in Trinidad slip through their hands for whatever reason, so be it. That is their fault.” IOCL workers have gone without salaries for two months, but they did not allow that to put a damper on their Christmas. They beat their drums and chanted yesterday around a lit Christmas tree.

“Today is our sixty-seventh day so a few days to go again,” said Ronald Williams, “We are as strong as ever, we are as committed as ever to this camp, and when the time comes, if it has to go to the Industrial Court, that is where it will go.” “The Christmas season did not put a damper on us at all. Christmases will come and go, some will be better than others as all of us have experienced in our lives. It will come again, but Christmas can’t stop us from doing what is right, fighting for peace, bread and justice.” IOCL workers are demanding that they are paid the minimum wages of Trinmar employees which, they say, is supposed to be paid to contract workers

He also encouraged the unmarried to trust God to send them the appropriate spouse in the right time, in the same way that He put Joseph and Mary together.

Chankersingh began, “I want to talk to you about your family connection.

I want to especially talk to those of you who are not yet married, to draw to your attention that God handpicked Joseph and Mary for each other. Yes, He did. God handpicked Joseph and Mary for each other.

Not only because He was interested in their individual futures, He was more interested about his eternal plan and where they fit in.

Some of you like my own son and his wife have got three beautiful teenagers this morning, and there are many families in the church where there are lovely teenagers. I was praying with one family last Sunday after church and I was surprised at their little girl, who I had just met a few days ago had just turned 16. And I turned to her mother and said ‘In two years time, you’re going to have a young woman on your hands,’ and sometimes that thought can be frightening…You know how important a choice that is.” For this reason, Chan kersingh explained, it is important for individuals to leave that matter in the hands of God since He has their best interest at heart and a plan for their lives. The wrong mate, he continued, could mean “Heaven or Hell.” With regards to those already married – what Chankesingh referred to as “the mature marriage” – desiring some change in their family life or who are about to throw in the towel on toilsome marriages, Chankersingh reminded them of the miracle that God did for Zacharias and Elisabeth, an elderly couple spoken of in Luke 1:1-25, who had been praying for years on end to God for a child, but gave up since they had already grown old. Nonetheless, while they “had closed the book on that,” said Chankersingh, “God didn’t.” In due time, he continued, God blessed them with a son.

“…Could it be that you are on the verge of receiving an answer to prayer, that you might have prayed and prayed and prayed and prayed and prayed, and all the natural circumstances dictate to you, it’s time to give up. It’s too late now.

That can’t happen; God can’t answer that prayer. Well, the Christmas Story talks about that. And when the angel brought the message to this couple, this barren couple, Zacharias and Elisabeth, they were both shocked. And they laughed.

They said, ‘How can this be?’ And we have that great verse, Luke 1:37, ‘For with God, nothing shall be impossible.’ That’s in the Christmas story, and not is it only in the Christmas story, it particularly pertains to your family life.

Can God touch your family this morning? Can God release a particular blessing in your family this morning that will leave you with your mouth open? Your jaw dropped because you didn’t think that God could do it? You thought it was impossible? “Hear the Word of the Lord to this couple, a family and it’s a part of the Christmas Story.

‘For with God, nothing shall be impossible.’ And it may not be that your desire is to have a natural child, a biological child, like Zacharias and Elisabeth, it may be some other quote on quote barren area of your life that has not produced.”

The partnership will include interventions in schools, offices and vulnerable communities.

Through its “Make It STOP – Gender-Based Violence Prevention Project in Trinidad and Tobago”, PSI-Caribbean is seeking to contribute to the reduction of the prevalence of Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) and to ensure the health and safety of women and girls experiencing IPV.

The project will be implemented in collaboration with local partners such as ANSA McAl.

To address IPV in real and concrete ways, “Make It STOP” will seek to: 1) Increase access to quality, comprehensive GBV services and support for women and girls experiencing violence; 2) Transform negative gender norms among youth and their families; 3) Cultivate community- based approaches to preventing GBV; 4) Support the creation of an enabling environment for the uptake of GBV services; and 5) Increase public awareness and advocacy for a concerted national response to GBV.

Speaking at the announcement of the partnership earlier this month; during a celebration of ANSA McAl’s 135th anniversary at the Queen’s Park Oval, Port-of-Spain, Group Chairman A Norman Sabga said the decision to sponsor the PSI project, Make it STOP, was inspired by the Group’s responsibility to be protectors of the nation’s daughters, mothers and sisters.

PSI-Caribbean said that in referring to the scourge of violence against women and the disappearance of others, Sabga declared his company must be a catalyst for positive change and transformation.

Senior Regional Director, Latin America and the Caribbean, PSI (Global), Julia Roberts, also spoke about the partnership. “PSI recognises the incredible impact of public private partnerships – harnessing leadership, vision and lasting commitment.

ANSA McAL has now joined the ranks of our global corporate partners and together we will make meaningful progress to Make it STOP,” Roberts stated.

PSI-Caribbean said, “It is to the credit of Mr Sabga and his Group that they would take such a leadership response to such a critical issue. PSI is a global health network that has decades of experience in conducting many social initiatives related to women’s health and welfare. Partnering with such an influential Group as ASNA McAl will go a long way towards mounting a substantial response required to create a positive impact.” PSI-Caribbean’s Executive Director, Marina Hilaire-Bartlett, commenting on the partnership, said the company “believes in the power of the collective when like minds come together to face issues that affect our nation, our communities, and those we love.” “We stand in solidarity with the various other entities and individuals who work towards ending this scourge in our nation. We are therefore deeply pleased to partner with ANSA McAL to join forces in facing the issue of GBV head on.

Kudos to you Mr Sabga for your compassionate and sincere leadership,” Hilaire-Bartlett said.