It could allegedly be said that the former prime minister is just the “face” of the Opposition party.

Whether she is in the country or not, perhaps it should be made clear who is supposed to speak on her behalf and not three or four people giving separate interviews.

At present the Opposition is in a very dark corner indeed that shows members allegedly willing to put self before country. I prefer to take the view that it is all a bit of attention seeking to gain sympathy from a disgruntled public.

This is having a most negative effect on the man in the street and not just the business community.

If it is to be Senator Gerald Ramdeen, he should be given the room to operate. Persad-Bissessar should clearly indicate what is her pleasure. The formal spokesman would give interviews after collaborating with all the other voices including Persad-Bissessar.

The “dolly house” approach to media briefings has to be discontinued.

Like them or not, for whatever reasons, this nonsense of too may voices did not happen with Jack Warner or Anand Ramlogan.

The Opposition must, by every means possible, get its act together or crapaud will continue to smoke its pipe well beyond 2020.

And besides, all this playing hard to get with approving the amendments to FATCA continues to make the Opposition look like it could allegedly be hiding something.

Loss of face means loss of political place.

Lynette Joseph Diego Martin

If my memory serves me correctly, Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley some time ago agreed to convene a joint select committee (JSC) of the Parliament for the purpose of thrashing out contentious issues written into the Bill.

A few weeks following his stated agreement to convene such a committee, he issued a statement in which he reneged on his prior decision. It is Rowley’s change of heart that leaves me confused.

The Attorney General has told the nation that both his administration and the Bankers Association felt there was no need to convene such a committee. AG Faris Al-Rawi’s assertion merely restates the PNM Government’s position which is well known to every citizen while it provides no rationale.

There must be a good reason for his Government’s position, but he has not articulated it. The Government has a responsibility to the population to clearly articulate the reasoning that informs its present position since its refusal to convene a committee of experts to scrutinise the requirements of that Bill represents the reversal of its original position.

On the other hand, the Bankers Association’s position on the FATCA legislation has been consistently one of support. Bankers in this country have been consistent and unanimous in their support for the proposed legislation.

Their position is based on enlightened self-interest. That association understandably seeks its best interests first and understandably those interests may or may not be aligned with what is best for the ordinary man.

I can assert that the persistent call for its passage is not in the best interest of anyone residing in this country who is an “accidental” US citizen with business interests outside that country and who happens to run a profitable enterprise. Such a person must be wondering why he should have to remit taxes to this Government as well as to the US Treasury.

Ordinary Trinidadians must also be wondering why a government of this country — a sovereign State — in the midst of a contracting economy should seek to borrow US$40 million simply to “reorganise” our BIR so as to be in obedience to the US Treasury’s unreasonable attempt to coerce compliance with its hegemonic demands.

The BATT understandably seeks to protect the interests of the banks, the global banking network and those of its clients — the wealthiest of them — by not exposing them, or rather their wealth, to any untoward risk. And although its position might not be entirely palatable, it is understandable. Its requirement for accountability is largely fiduciary.

That the Government has seen it fit to flip-flop on its decision- making makes it imperative that it gives a cogent reason for its change of heart. Its contract with the citizens goes beyond fiduciary.

The Government’s first concern is the citizens of the republic.

Should any adverse outcome result from this non-indigenous law, its impact would be first upon ordinary people. The banks’ wealth and that of their clients enjoy the protection of the State, both local and foreign.

The nonsense that Al-Rawi continues to utter by way of attempting to offer a reason for his Government’s change of heart on the need for a JSC is intellectually insulting and merely serves to deepen the prevailing mistrust for the present opaque and bungling PNM administration.

Steve Smith via email

I am a businessman and I write to congratulate the former minister of trade, industry, investment and communication, Vasant Barath, for calling on his fellow UNC members to stop playing politics with important matters like this and not delay passage of the FATCA legislation, which the Bankers Association and the business community have taken the Opposition UNC to task over.

We do not want TT ending up in financial difficulties like Venezuela or Cuba because the UNC is not listening to the Bankers Association’s and the business community’s recommendations.

Anthony Arrindell via email

To begin with, the Chinese are the hardest working group of all the immigrants in this country and God knows we have a lot of immigrants. They come from all over the region and as far as Nigeria, some legal some illegal.

I am not saying only Chinese work hard, but the Chinese are the ones, some years ago, the then government called to complete the Diplomatic Centre/ PM Residence and NAPA, to mention two projects.

There are many other projects that Chinese immigrants worked on without problems. Now the powers that be want to show they are doing their job by targeting them.

I am not saying we should turn a blind eye to Chinese immigrants.

If there are illegal ones, send them back, but do it “across the board”, not only with the Chinese.

Check the facts.

How many Chinese are in our prisons compared to other immigrants? I don’t know but the facts are there. Do the math, then you will know which ethnic group to target.

All these things they have done, and I am not even mentioning their invaluable contribution to food in this country.

W Dopson Woodbrook, PoS

The first area for attention must be agriculture.

It has been said by many leaders, including Kenya’s Mio, that “a nation that cannot feed itself cannot claim to be truly independent.” TT is almost totally dependent on the outside world for our food supply. We have the potential to not only feed ourselves but export food. Agriculture, including food processing, must be a prime initiative in restructuring our economy.

The second area for development must be tourism. We must invest in infrastructure and marketing our very valuable tourism package. That is an initiative that must be done in conjunction with the private sector.

The areas for immediate attention must be upgrading our beach facilities, clearing and securing our hiking trails, preserving our mountains, building facilities at the bird sanctuary, the Gasparee caves and the pitch lake.

Additionally, we need to make the steel pan an indigenous thriving industry and package Carnival to be more attractive to visitors.

These can only be achieved in conjunction with our business sector.

As we contemplate the new economic model we must continue to invest in the energy sector. These investments, however, cannot be under the control of the political party in power.

It is critical that for sustainability and growth companies like the National Gas Company, Petrotrin, TSTT , Clico and Caribbean Airlines, among others, are managed by the best minds that TT has to offer.

As such the appointments to these boards must not be subjected to political interference.

The Government’s involvement should be at best that of a shareholder.

The success of these companies means additional income for the Government through taxes. For too long these companies have been a place for “jobs for supporters”.

The success of our nation is directly linked to our ability to provide a better quality of life for our citizens and that is directly linked to our economic survival.

Our survival is dependent on our ability to diversify our economy and partner with our business community in a concerted effort to develop an economic package geared to meet the challenges of an ever- changing world.

We have the infrastructure, personnel, finance, products and markets for success.

What we need is the political will.

Steve Alvarez via email

The Air Canada service to PoS from its Toronto hub will operate twice weekly (Tuesday and Thursday).

Tourism Minister, Shamfa Cudjoe, hosted a welcome reception at the airport that day, during which passengers who flew in from Toronto on flight AC1880 received commemorative eco-friendly token bags with local gifts, as tokens of appreciation from the ministry and the Tourism Development Company (TDC).

This year-round service between Toronto and Port-of-Spain is part of Air Canada’s ongoing global expansion, connecting its extensive domestic and international network through the global hub, Toronto Pearson International Airport; officially Lester B Pearson International Airport. Addressing the crew, Cudjoe noted that “in today’s fiercely competitive global market place, consistent, reliable and competitive air access is the lifeblood of any modern economy. In this light, therefore, the Government of Trinidad and Tobago has sought to attract additional airlift both to Trinidad and to Tobago.” “We welcomed Condor and Thomas Cook to Tobago in November 2016. Moreover, as a result of our recent participation in ITB Berlin and the World Travel Market in London, we are in discussions with several other airlines – including Eurowings, Norwegian Airlines and Air Berlin – all in our efforts to secure additional airlift directly to Tobago.” Minister Cudjoe applauded Air Canada’s decision to recommence flights to Trinidad and wished the company all the best in this initiative.

Canada is home to a thriving business and financial community and a large Caribbean Diaspora. The ministry said the Toronto-Trinidad non-stop service “will play an instrumental role in serving both communities and in enhancing trade and economic ties between TT and Canada.” With an average of 40,000 to 50,000 visitor arrivals from Canada each year, Canada is this country’s second largest source market. The typical Canadian visitor stays for approximately two weeks and spends approximately TT $6,500 per trip, generating approximately TT $0.34 billion (US$ 0.05 billion) in foreign direct revenue.

More than 50 percent of Canadian visitors come to Trinidad and Tobago to visit Friends and Relatives (the VFR market); followed by approximately 20 percent who come for leisure.

During the proceedings on December 20, the ministry announced that early next year (2017), the TDC will launch a new tourism mobile application which will provide users with a comprehensive insight into TT’s many events and festivals, as well as provide feedback regarding the quality of visitor experiences whilst in TT.

It is a happiness he hopes to share with TT, the region and the world come Carnival 2017 with his release “Nuttin Sweetah.” Those who know the Barbadian soca artiste would remember him for hits like 1998’s “Kaylaylay” or 2008’s “Soca Junkie.” Rudder spent a large portion of the time away from the forefront of the music industry working in the background, helping young Barbadians perfect the art.

In an interview with Newsday, Rudder said, “[This] is really just my re-announcement onto the scene again. As a solo artiste, I have had a lot of success in the past with “Kaylaylay” and “Soca Junkie.” “I have been behind the scenes.

I went into production. I was helping to develop some of the younger artistes, writing songs for them and producing a compilation album – from concept to actual production.

So that kind of took up a lot of my time. Two years I have finished this and this is the second year since the volumes came to an end. I did seven volumes.” Rudder’s time away from the stage was prompted by a ‘burning desire’ to give back and to raise the overall bar of the music industry in his homeland and beyond. “If you build a champion, you are a champion,” Rudder said expressing how he looked at the ‘behind the scenes’ work done in developing the music industry.

While he enjoyed the behind the scenes work done, Rudder knew there was a strong base longing for his return. His return was further prompted by a conversation held with a ‘leading soca artiste.’ “I had an interesting conversation with one of the biggest soca artistes and he was like Dale I respect what you have done so much.

Not that I gone off the scene,” he said.

The artiste, whom Rudder did not name, also said to him, “soca needs you to get back out there big time.” Rudder was also grappling with personal family issues, regarding his son, during those years away.

He, however, never stopped being involved in some form in the industry. “I wrote for Junior Monarch.

Wrote for the winners. I am always involved in the cultural side of music, every year but in terms of really pushing Mistah Dale as a performer as a solo act, based on that conversation, I know I have not given it my all.” He took a concrete decision, last year, to return to the bright lights of the stage. And so “Nuttin Sweetah” was released for Crop Over this year.

“When I sit and look at the music business as a whole, like I have been telling people all along, this is a numbers game and unfortunately we in the Caribbean have the talent but we don’t necessarily have the numbers to make a dent in the world market. I think more collaborative efforts are needed from all the islands, especially with soca which I view as the last happy music on earth.” “Soca is the last remaining untapped source of happiness,” he said.

That is why I completely understand the reason people who suffer hair loss are hesitant to seek help. They may be afraid of being judged or ridiculed. I will share some of the steps that you can take to manage hair loss such as androgenetic alopecia.

Choosing the “right doctor” It is important that you choose the right expert for your condition.

And the right person to go to, if you have a hair and scalp problems, is a trichologist.

Trichologists specialise in hair and scalp health, and if they identify that the underlying condition of your hair loss is related to genetics or hormones, they will refer you to the right specialist for proper treatment. You can also visit your dermatologist. However, most dermatologists will recommend blood tests or other diagnostics to be informed on the real cause of your hair loss. With this information, your dermatologist can prescribe treatment that is tailored to your specific condition and make necessary referrals.

Diagnosing Androgenetic Alopecia Below are some of the laboratory blood works that are recommended. They may be costly, but the results will assist in an accurate diagnosis. • DHEA, DHEA Sulfate, Prolactin, follicle stimulating (FSH) and Leutinising Hormone (LH) • Androstenedione • free and total testosterone • thyroid tests: T-3, T-4, and thyroid stimulating hormone (TS H) • Iron and serum ferritin and total iron binding capacity (TIBC) • haemoglobin/haematocrit or CBC (complete blood count) The first three tests measure the androgen levels in your blood, as I have pointed before, testosterone is the most active hormone when it comes to hair loss.

The thyroid test is also important considering its hormones, T3 and T4, play an important role in hair growth. The last two diagnostics are optional, but these can also help your doctor rule out other underlying conditions.

Effective treatment There are commonly prescribed drugs for hair loss. It is important that you follow the suggested dosage and frequency to maximise the effectiveness of the drugs. If you experience any adverse reaction to the drugs, you must report it to your doctor.

However, I will caution the use of products that contain minoxidil, as once you begin your treatment using any product with minoxidil, you must commit to a lifetime of use. You must be made aware that if you discontinue treatment with the minoxidil, you will lose all the benefits you received while using it.

Surgical care Surgical treatment for androgenetic alopecia has been proven to be successful, especially with a follicular unit transplant. This creates a more normal look since it uses the clients’ own follicles with its oil glands and nerves. This procedure requires time for the preparatory stage to ensure a smooth and successful treatment.

Androgenetic alopecia is difficult to treat or manage if you do not fully commit yourself to the treatment. Yes, it is tough and it may cost you money, but you must remember that your hair is as important as any other organ of your body.

Your hair helps shape your self-image. If you love yourself, you should do so from head to toe.

As we draw close to the end of the year, thank you for your support throughout 2016. I do hope that my articles have provided information which assisted many of you in unravelling the mysteries that surround hair loss, its types and possible treatment.

In the new year, I will continue to provide you with info and keep you abreast of the new technologies in the hair care industry, as it relates treatment for hair loss and scaly scalp conditions.

Do have a Blessed and Happy Christmas and a Healthy and Prosperous New Year.

Germaine Williams Beckles is a doctor of trichology (DT T?CT) and nutrition consultant (NC), motivational speaker, coach, mentor; Rayogee Wellness Lifestyle, Woodbrook, germainewilliamsbeckles.

com, geesexclusive.

com, 627-4659. E-mail your questions to queries@ geesexclusive.com.

This of course leads to other kinds of social impairments because victims of stigmatisation are literally isolated from the norm.

Particular groups of individuals who are afflicted by mental illness and HIV/AIDs are harder hit by this scourge. Whilst stigmatisation differs from discrimination, there is a strong alignment as one easily leads to another.

The negative impact of stigma on those so affected is huge, as their ability is limited in obtaining and keeping a job, effectively settling in school without running the risk of bullying, living safely without being jeered upon, acceptance from family, friends as well as their communities, accessing loans and/or any goods or services to which they are so entitled in the normal scheme of things and social justice. Of significant concern, are the grave consequences of public illusion and apprehension, and so, their self-esteem and overall sense of being is crushed instantly.

Stigmatisation is not alone as it brings with it shame, blame, hopelessness, distress, reluctance to seek help and perhaps reaching out to others and the possibility exists for a fatality if left unaddressed.

Reducing stigma requires all to introspect …because remember, individuals to whom the stigma is being directed for the most part, were not born that way and therefore, more compassion and tolerance must be exercised in dealing with them.

Victims should avoid remaining silent and attempt to reach out to family members and/or close friends with the capacity to help. Remove the “victim label” as you may be living with a condition, and not necessarily suffering from a disease. The use of language is extremely important as attaching negative names to afflicted persons, only make an already bad situation worse as the self-fulfilling prophecy steps right in.

Avoid judging and stereotyping individuals with mental illnesses; instead seek assistance on their behalf.

Stigmatisation is one of the many social issues which will be addressed at the Conference – “The Power Within: Love Your Body, Love You” on January 26, 2017. Book your space now – call us at 638-1083, 268-6078 and 684- 6982.

To obtain a copy of the book With Women in Mind call 283-0318 or 795-9531.

Sandrine Rattan is a Communications/ Branding Consultant/ Author and President of the International Women’s Resource Network (IWRN) Contact: thecorporatesuitett@gmail.

com or intlwomensresourcenetwork@ gmail.com

Ramdhan, 23, will spend the next two years travelling the globe in his role as ambassador for Angostura’s products.

* Yuma mas revellers demanded charges be laid against security officers in the band after the latter ganged up and beat a reveller during Monday night’s celebrations.

* Japanese pannist Asami Nagakiya, who played mas this year was strangled to death on Carnival Tuesday night. While activist group Womantra called for the head of PoS Mayor Raymond Tim Kee for statements he made in the aftermath of the death, religious leaders including Pastor Dr Winston Cuffie, Rev Christian Andrews and Sat Maharaj, secretary general of the Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha supported the mayor’s statements.

* In a funeral like no other, veteran musician extra-ordinaire and icon Joseph “Pal Joey” Lewis received a stylish sendoff with big band music, dancing couples and moko jumbies. Most present at the event was long-time friend and former Prime Minister Patrick Manning who also passed on July 2.

* Soca star Ian ‘Bunji Garlin’ Alvarez was mentioned in this year’s Grammy Awards show as one of the artistes having worked on the winning Dance/Electronic album of the year by US artistes Skrillex and Diplo. Alvarez, who featured on a track called Jungle Bae also penned the lyrics for US artistes Skrillex’s and Diplo. During the latter’s acceptance speech, he noted and thanked Alvarez for being one of the people with whom they worked on the album.

MARCH *Several people excelled at the 31st Music Festival. Among them, Amelia Emmanuel, .Fatima College Senior Choir; St Augustine Chambers Orchestra (SACO); Los Corazones Sagrados; Signal Hill Folk Choir; Birdsong Academy Orchestra; South Presentation College Mixed Choir; Georgian Folk Ensemble; Aquila Rogers; Tishari Neptune; St Hilary’s (BAHS) School Choir; Dunross Preparatory School Instrumental Ensemble; Aliyah Lau; Nathaniel West, Kaalis De Las; TA GS Grace Notes and Bishop’s High School Calypso Chorale.

* A culinary fusion between TT and Canada, an initiative that was done in partnership with the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador as well as telecom giants Cable and Wireless Communications in the Caribbean and Bell Alliance in Canada, saw filming in both Trinidad and Newfoundland done for airing both in TT on Flow TV and Canada.

*Calypso King of the World, the Mighty Sparrow (Dr Slinger Francisco), was presented with a cheque for $2 million by Minister of Community Development, Culture and the Arts, Dr Nyan Gadsby-Dolly, after he formally signed an agreement with the ministry, for a ten-year licence for his personal collection of treasures and artefacts which spans his illustrious career.

*Shineque Saunders of Pleasantville Secondary School won the Courts Bocas Secondary Schools Spoken Word Intercol competition.

* Fittzroy Joseph aka Brother Ebony regained the National Humour Monarch competition crown

APRIL * The T20 Cricket world cup victories by both the West Indies Men and Women’s teams propelled the song “Champion” composed and sung by Trinidad and WI cricketer Dwayne Bravo, to be an instant hit around the world even in non-playing countries.

* Sunshine Awards recipients 2016 included arranger Pelham “PG” Goddard, Nutones Steel Orchestra, Godfrey Augustine (Grenada), Rawle Gibbons, Leon Smooth Edwards, Winsford “Joker” Devine and Dr Gordon Rohlehr.

* Soca star Machel Montano filed a lawsuit against TSTT for $2 million for breach of contract after the local telecom provider suspended its sponsorship deal with the singer in 2013, following his guilty verdict – assaulting four persons outside the Zen nightclub in PoS on April 26, 2007, and on a charge of using obscene language. According to Montano’s lawsuit, he signed a two-year contract with TSTT in November 2012.