President of Friends, Claudia Ottley, was overwhelmed by the “love and more love” which has been shown in the face of the country’s drastic economic downturn. Thus, the organisation started 38 years ago by the late hospital administrators – May Cherrie and Dr David Quamina – is able to continue with its ideals “to work along with the nurses to improve the quality of patient care.

“This worked well in the beginning,” said Ottley.

“We assisted and the patients benefited but with the introduction of personal care assistants we were not needed.” And, says Ottley, “In spite of the lack of finance, I will continue to tie many shoes on a short shoestring budget.” What a fantastic ceremony with a guest list headed by the Minister of Health, Dr Terrance Deyalsingh; hospital director Dr Parkinson, CEO Northwest Regional Health Authority Sheldon Cyrus; Zalayhar Hassanali, patron of Friends; and Canon Dr Steve West at the head table. The Regiment Band played “O Christmas Tree” at the time of the switching on of the Christmas tree lights on the huge tree standing in the central forecourt by the patron, guests having enthusiastically taken part in the “Countdown to turning on the switch” led by Francois Ottley, who truly kept the programme alive as chairperson.

There were expressions of surprise as the minister let the nurses know that he tries to visit a hospital on every public holiday, be it Eid, Divali, or Christmas Day when on Sunday 25 he will show support and solidarity with health care workers with visits at 9 am to the PoS Central Block, 10 am PoS Maternity and then Mount Hope Maternity. Referring to the tree, the minister very wisely quoted: “He who hath not Christmas in his heart will never find it under a tree,” and brought applause as he ended, “We are not in a good place but many countries wish they were in our place.” Ottley (Claudia) gave a quick rundown on Friends through the years going back to “a trolley service to sell much needed toiletries etc to patients; we managed the paediatric ward for years until it was moved to Mt Hope Medical Sciences Complex; the prayer group continues to be a source of encouragement and hope to patients; most of our outreach is with fellow NGO’s and elderly sick members and we are happy to do this as they have served selflessly.

“Our cafeteria provides a variety of items ranging from lunches to popcorn on a daily basis. We do floral arrangements for all the wards at Easter time and the supreme sacrifice of giving a care bag to each patient on Christmas morning when members leave their families to bring cheer to patients and staff on duty with the bag and parang/Christmas songs – unfortunately in 2016 we have to break tradition after 37 years due to financial constraints we cannot do this project.

“But we plan to be back in 2017 and are apologising upfront for the no show. Friends make a sterling contribution to the Medical Social Workers Department by disbursing cheques from Republic Bank Ltd to medical providers for needy patients.Transparency is the order of the day and annual audited accounts have been provided for 35 years.” The music was a mixture of Christmas and other songs. The Regiment band, which came at short notice, as usual provided wonderful music so too did saxophonist Trevor Callender, who has played with the Police Band in the Cayman Islands; powerful soloists Raymond Edwards and Nigel Floyd; Marilyn Williams wrapped us in “ribbons of love” with her powerful voice; and it’s not Christmas without a parang presentation, this time by Los Alumnos de San Juan beautifully gowned in red and white as they followed tradition and sang first asking for permission to enter, followed by the story of their song, ending with farewell.

Tributes to awardees from president of Friends and also floral presentations to those who never say “No” to Friends; an assortment of refreshments and the 35th tree lighting ceremony closed with guests chipping to the Regiment Band’s rendition of “No Christmas on Sesame Street” THE National Youth Action Committee (NYAC) has announced the finalists for the 2017 Stars of Tomorrow competition, which will be held on January 14, 2017, at Daaga Hall, UWI St Augustine.

The finalists are: Aneka Collins, Curlissa Charles, Ezekiel Yorke, Garve Sandy, Jhevon Jackson, Keishon Jack, Kerine Williams- Figaro, Kevin Dodds, Kyle Cowie, Mark Eastman, Meguella Simon, Natasha Edmund, Nicholas Ashby, Sasha Ann Moses and Wendell Goodridge. All finalists are asked to contact NYAC offices, 40 Duke Street, Port-of-Spain, Tel: 6235470, immediately.

The work is re-imagined in a Trinbagonian setting, with the actors bringing to life such Traditional Masquerade characters as the Baby Doll, Pierrot Grenade, Dame Lorraine, Midnight Robber and Batonye.

In Carnival Medea, the Grenadian Medea, a baby doll, flees Carriacou with Jason, a Tobagonian stick fighter to live in Trinidad.

After some years of marriage, he forsakes her to marry a younger woman. Distraught, she is determined to wreak havoc on the new bride and spite Jason where it hurts the most, by denying him access to his two sons.

The play was originally being written by Holmes. In 2002, she invited Spencer to dramaturge the play. However, in 2014 when Spencer was invited by the University to work on the play as a visiting fellow, Holmes immediately insisted Spencer be its co playwright.

The play was presented as part of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Scotland in 2015 where it received a four of five star review.

Carnival Medea will feature acclaimed Trinidadian-Canadian actor, Joseph Jomo Pierre as Jason, Tishanna Williams as Medea, Penelope Spencer, Cecilia Salazar, Susan Hannays-Abraham and Marie Chan-Durity as the Macomeres (Chorus) and Kearn Samuel. The production also introduces leading Bajan actors, Sonia Williams as Nen/Mama Neza, and Levi King as Tan/Chantwelle.

Carnival Medea is set in Trinidad circa 1950s when the traditional masquerade characters were at the zenith of their existence in Carnival on the streets of Port-of-Spain. Spencer said “the decision to use the mas characters was inevitable as they are a dying performance art form, and the full potential of the playing of these characters is not being expressed in neither narrative, dance nor costuming today.” Carnival Medea will run on February 9 to 12, February 16 and 19 and March 2 to 5 at the Little Carib Theatre. For further information go to https://carnivalmedea.wordpress.

com or find us on Facebook.

For its inaugural project, the Darryl Smith Foundation reached out to the Pantin family who reside at Teixeria Street in Diego Martin, to facilitate a home renovation.

With the assistance of local businesses, family and friends, the Pantin’s family home got a much needed facelift just in time for Christmas.

The Darryl Smith Foundation, according to Smith is part of his vision to develop DMC holistically by streamlining the delivery of services, specifically designed to meet the needs of the wider community.

Residents will benefit from community-based scholarship, educational, sports, cultural and social outreach programmes, which fall under the purview of the Darryl Smith Foundation

The game gets its name from the term commonly used by calypsonians to punctuate their extempo verses and is derived from the French, “sans humanit?” – without mercy. “These extempo battles see calypsonians indulging in freestyle competition with one another in a battle of lyrical quality and wit,” says Le Platte, likening the game’s play to the feisty spirit that enshrines such extempo showdowns. “Santimanitay … is a board game which oftentimes shows no mercy,” he explains, elaborating that one minute players may be moments away from winning, then suddenly be last in the race. “Being able to think and adapt to change are important keys to becoming victorious.”

Le Platte makes note that the game is a true representation of TT’s Carnival season, going beyond the Monday and Tuesday. “The characters, the traditions, the music, the history, all of these aspects come together to create the greatest show in the world. Santimanitay explores them all,” he explains of the game’s inclusive spirit. He is also proud to point out that the game contains all-local content from the character designs and illustrations, to the trivia questions, to the game’s namesake. And while the board game boasts iterations of our rich cultural history, Le Platte says no prior knowledge of TT Carnival is necessary as the game is designed to encourage players to learn about the festival while playing and having fun.

The gameplay follows the similar classic format of board games we have grown up with and love. Two to eight players compete to reach their ultimate goal – The Stage. He explains, “The path to their ultimate goal is filled with challenges; players must avoid Hard Luck spaces, get past Midnight Robbers, take advantage of Warrahoon cards AND display their knowledge of TT Carnival.”

The game is Le Platte’s homage to our festival of beauty, colour, and pageantry while keeping the rich and nuanced history of the festival at the fore: the music, costuming, and performance. He says as internationally renown as our festival is, many do not know some of its earliest and deepest roots. He gives examples such as the year the first Panorama was held or when the Canboulay Riots occurred in Port of Spain – such knowledge is shared and preserved through Santimanitay, with its engaging gameplay, cadre of memorable characters, and challenging questions.

Designed for two to eight players, Santimanitay is suitable for various occasions, “from a quiet evening at home to the highlight of a Friday night lime.” As Le Platte says, “From age eight to 80, choose a character and start the race!” These characters each have their own attributes and personalities, such as Matilda, an enterprising corn soup vendor and Daniel Piper (D. Piper), a “dedicated Associate Native Environmental Waste Acquisition & Monetisation Enterprise Specialist” (or, in layman’s terms, a bottle collector). The varied characters make it easy for persons who may be unfamiliar with Carnival to connect with the game through each of their unique personalities and histories.

A seasoned freelance graphic designer, illustrator and photographer, and a part-time lecturer in layout, graphic design, and photography, Le Platte has felt as one with the fabric of Carnival since childhood and has great adoration for its rich history. In creating Santimanitay, his goal was to capture the spirit and fun of TT while preserving inherent aspects of our country’s history and culture. “From the beautiful designs and illustrations to the carefully crafted trivia questions to the hilariously funny and fun characters and gameplay, Santimanitay is a must have in every household,” believes the creator.

While the game’s development is completely local in origin, it was produced in China – an experience Le Platte describes as a rewarding learning experience, especially having received the finished product. The game’s design is eye catching and incorporates the artist’s knack for colourful designs that can further entrance players. He shares that before the thought of producing the game entered his mind, he engaged in much research and prototyping. “When I was satisfied with the overall look of the game and the mechanics … I began seeking quotations from manufacturers both local and foreign,” he says of the process of deciding on a mode of production. Given the game’s niche style, he was initially interested in producing 500 units but says our local production markets start at a minimum production of 5000 units and could not facilitate the printing of his foldable game board. “I approached companies in the US and China and China ended up being most cost effective,” he states, adding that he paid special attention to the quality of materials (specifically the thickness and weight of stock). He comments that there was a “fair deal of back and forth” between the game’s manufacturers and himself, including further redesign to reduce his final production costs and assures that he was pleased with the quality of the finished product.

His advice to fellow citizens who may be seeking production options for personal projects is research, prototype, test, and research some more. “The more time you take refining your product, the less potential mistakes and bad decisions will be made when it’s time to produce and the cheaper it may end up being,” he recommends.

He plans to have Santimanitay available in stores and online for delivery in the near future. Initially, he made calls to various retail outlets to enquire about the possibility of stocking the board game but at the time did not have an actual product to show. Now, he is in the process of setting up meetings to continue to push for local distribution as he reiterates the game is an engaging creation that perpetuates appreciation for our cultural past. He notes that some locally conceived board games are strictly targeted to the TT population, which can exclude foreigners who may have a hard time following along. “Santimanitay takes that into consideration, making it more accessible to a wider audience, especially since the primary goal is to preserve and promote [our] culture.”

Lastly, Le Platte commends our raw local talent in the creative fields and expresses his hope that Santimanitay can encourage more local artists to explore their creativity and produce quality products of an international standard to “help put and keep Trinidad and Tobago on the map.”

Sources added that the CCP is a unit within the larger department known as the Office of Law Enforcement Policy which was established in 2007.

The CCP came into being in July 2014 and according to the National Security Ministry website, it was aimed at being a crime reduction initiative of the Ministry consistent with the strategic vision of the TTPS, “to make every place in Trinidad and Tobago safe”. The programme initially started with 24-hour, two-officer mobile patrols in CCP branded vehicles in designated residential communities to let residents see a greater law enforcement presence.

The CCP started under the People’s Partnership by then national security minister Gary Griffith.

At present, over 300 security officers from four security companies including Amalgamated Security are involved in the comfort patrols and officers were given specific communities including Westmoorings, Diego Martin, Valsayn, La Horquetta and Tobago to carry out these patrols.

Officers worked closely with police and assisted in patrolling communities while persons were away at work; doing beach patrols; assisting the elderly and school children and also provided back up assistance when needed by police.

Sources said that when the People’s National Movement (PNM) came into power in 2015, a review of the CCP was ordered and a decision was made recently to scrap the programme.

On Monday, the Ministry of National Security sent letters to the four security companies involved in the CCP stating the programme will end on January 1. Ironically, on that same day, Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley, speaking at the opening of the new Besson Street Police Station, opined that statistics showing a reduction in certain crimes were rendered virtually meaningless in a society where the fear of crime and the fear of falling victim to criminals, are pervasive.

Sources said Government is actively considering utilising municipal police officers, from various borough corporations, to take on the same work carried out by CCP officers, in a bid to cut costs and save tens of millions of dollars.

Sources said it is not known if this plan would work since the Municipal Police force is severely under strength. It is further understood that a retired Deputy Police Commissioner may be given the plum job of overseeing these municipal officers tasked to carry out duties of the soon to be defunct CCP.

Contacted for comment, former minister Griffith said it was “very unfortunate” that the CCP was being scrapped. “This is the 21st national security policy that has been dismantled in the last year and a half.

New TT coach Tom Saintfeit, earlier this month, omitted veteran striker and captain Kenwyne Jones from the 28-man training squad for the Nicaragua matches. When the final 23-man squad was announced yesterday Jan-Michael Williams, who has been the starting goalkeeper for TT for many years was omitted.

Both players currently play for Central FC, the two-time TT Pro League and current league leaders. TT face Nicaragua on December 27 and 30.

Managing director of Central FC Brent Sancho said that Saintfiet stated if the national players participated in the Pro League matches on Tuesday they would be dropped from the national team. Central FC players Sean De Silva, Nathaniel Garcia and Williams were all named in the original 28-man training squad. De Silva was injured and was left out of the 23-man squad but Garcia and Williams failed to make the cut on the current TT team.

Garcia and Williams both represented Central FC in the Pro League against Morvant Caledonia United on Tuesday, but Sancho believes Saintfiet had already made up his mind regarding the composition of the 23-man squad for next week’s trip to Nicaragua.

Sancho stated, “from the very start of this debacle we are extremely and continue to be very disappointed.

We have to select the best team to particiapate in the Nicaragua games. How in God’s name you could ask a goalkeeper (Williams) that has over 77 caps for his country and has been the starting goalkeeper for the past four, five years for this country and you still need to see him (in the camp)?” Sancho added, “Why do you still need to see him in a camp, what point does that prove.

He played Tuesday, he will be playing again this Friday, if you have any doubts about him you come and watch him play in a game.

I am very sure if you take a poll with coaches around the world and ask the best methods to see any player they would probably tell you the best bet is to see a player is in a game.” Sancho, a former national defender, is wondering if certain players are being victimised.

“I want to start to think that this is a witch-hunt. In all my life of playing national team football and international football there is no way you could ask a goalkeeper with 77 caps and has been the starting goalkeeper for five years to come into camp because you need to see him play. That is extremely ludicrous.” Williams was injured during this country’s last World Cup qualifier against Honduras but Sancho says he is fully fit to play.

Sancho explained, “this is a man that has played for Central FC in three games since the Honduras injury and clearly he is fit. So I don’t think this is a question of fitness, it cannot be. They have gotten rid of Kenwyne Jones and I believe Jan-Michael Williams is probably the next one they wanted to get rid off.” Former national player and current coach of Club Sando Angus Eve said an agreement was made before the Pro League season began that national football will be a priority. Eve confirmed that Club Sando striker Akeem Roach did not play in the Pro League on Tuesday night as Roach was selected for the national team. Eve stated, “at the beginning of the season, we the coaches and the Pro League decided that we will give the national team preference for this short term. This is a World Cup year. If the national team is not operating at their optimum then it does not help the Pro League. The Pro League supposed to help the national team where we are developing players to play for TT , to move them on to bigger and better things, that is our job at the Pro League.” Eve added, “people of principle you have to stand by the agreement.

I missing Akeem Roach, he is the (second leading) goal scorer in the league (with eight goals). He is the only recognised striker my team have. But if he goes to the national team it is better for him. For somebody to be complaining now it is hypocrisy.”

Cemex is using an indirect subsidiary, Sierra Trading, in the bid to acquire 132,616,942 ordinary shares of TCL at a price of TT$4.50 apiece. Sierra Trading already owns 39.5 percent of TCL stock and if its latest bid is successful, it will take its ownership up to 74.9 percent.

There is objection aplenty to this latest bid by Cemex – the most strident from TCL’s former chief executive officer, Dr Rollin Bertrand.

In two letters Bertrand recalls that in 2002, Cemex made what he calls a “ridiculous” offer of TT$5.62 or US$0.92 per share for 100 percent of the company’s stock, an offer which was rejected by TCL.

The company then issued a revised bid of TT$7.15 or US$1.17 directly to the shareholders. The company hired American investment bankers JP Morgan to do a valuation of the shares and when JP Morgan returned a determination that the shares were worth TT$10 or US$1.64 each, the TCL board again advised shareholders to reject the bid.

Bertrand feels this is the approach the company should adopt this time around – hire a reputable investment bank to value the company’s shares. However, TCL chairman Wilfred Espinet sees no need to bring in an investment banker, arguing there are many reputable institutions competent enough to conduct a fairness opinion of the valuation done by Cemex, which is the way TCL intends to go.

Espinet said the current TCL board has taken a position that every time it spends the company’s money it must get value for the money spent, and the existing board would not approach the problem in the same way as the previous board.

“They have disqualified themselves as being authorities,” he said. He said the board had an obligation to engage a third party who was unrelated and who the company’s governance committee was satisfied did not have any conflict to do a fairness opinion of the valuation which supported Cemex’s offer.

“We did not say that we were going to do a valuation.”

Espinet said a valuation is something subjective.

“I can give three valuators to value the same property and they could come up with totally different valuations. The process by law is that you must get a fairness opinion and we are doing that. The question is whether having another valuation serves a purpose. I think, personally, that it may create more confusion than is required. The board is going to have a fairness opinion…some third party will look at the offers and then the board must respond to that in its obligation to give a recommendation to its shareholders.”

He added the valuations already put forward and Bertrand’s proposed valuation would show that anybody could have their own ideas about the methodology to be used.

Each one is arguable. He said the solution is for anyone who thinks the company is worth more than Cemex is offering to step forward and buy the company at their proposed price.

“Why doesn’t Bertrand and they put together a team and offer $5?” he asked. “If he thinks it is worth $5 let him offer $5.”

He said the way to determine what something is worth is what someone is prepared to pay for it.

According to Espinet, “The board of TCL is neither a buyer or a seller and it has engaged a third party that is independent and in our minds non-conflicted to come up with a value or to come up with a fairness of the valuation.” He added the four Cemex directors on the board would “naturally” recuse themselves from the decision-making process.

“The governance of this company is a gold standard of governance in this country today. We will never sit on a board and agree that we are going to have Cemex directors make a decision about a Cemex issue. We will ask them to excuse themselves. In fact, they will excuse themselves.” He said the directors did not come onto the board as “Cemex people.”

The board must await the fairness opinion from the experts appointed to do the job, said Espinet, “and when it comes in to us the board will sit in a special committee of directors who are not in any way conflicted.

They will sit and they will come up with recommendations for the board. Then we will sit as a full board – everybody – and make our determination.”

He reminded the public that the number of Cemex representatives are fewer than the non-Cemex directors so they are not in a position to outvote the other directors because it is a Cemex issue.

“And we will take a decision in the interest of TCL and all its stakeholders – and all its stakeholders are not only shareholders because I have employees, financial institutions, I have the public that I sell to and I have the public whose interest I have to represent – the whole public of Trinidad and Tobago.”

In response to a suggestion that once it receives the fairness opinion the board should call a shareholders’ meeting and explain the opinion and seek shareholders’ views, Espinet said the board does have an obligation to inform the shareholders but that is a prescribed process in which the company has to send the shareholders an actual document – the director’s circular containing the directors’ position and an explanation of that position which must be sent 21 days after the offer is made. “So, we are bound by law and by ethics to do that properly.”

But the labour movement is also against the deal: in a brief comment president of the Joint Trade Union Movement (JTUM), Ancel Roget, said JTUM would be opposed to the sale of TCL to Cemex

Vincent Cabrera, president of the Banking, Insurance and General Workers Union (BIGWU), one of the member trade unions of JTUM, was also opposed to any proposed sale. He said the takeover bid was “clearly” another move by foreign capital to monopolise the local market.

He said if Cemex were successful in its takeover bid it could carry out dumping because of its size compared to the local TCL since the local company would not be able to achieve the economies of scale which could be achieved by Cemex.

“It calls into question how we approach strategically the question of national ownership as against foreign ownership which the Government would have little or no control over,” said Cabrera

Then there is shareholder activist, Peter Permell, who said it was clear to him that Cemex’ intention was the takeover of TCL but when the Mexican cement giant made its initial offer in 2002, one of the big obstacles was the 20 percent limitation on share ownership.

He recalled a special shareholders meeting was called to remove the cap but that effort failed for lack of the necessary votes. However, the board of directors later summoned another special shareholders meeting at which shareholders voted to remove the “cap.”

Permell said he never understood why shareholders would vote in favour of such a resolution without understanding all the implications if there was a takeover that was likely to be in the offing.

He said the resolution was passed because the company was in bad shape, shareholders had not received dividends for years, the finances were in a mess and the shareholders were unhappy with the then board of directors.

He said following the removal of the cap, Cemex was able to buy up more than 20 percent of the company’s shares through a rights issue.

For Permell, the issue is whether the price of $4.50 being offered by Cemex was a good offer but he said shareholders would have to wait until the board of directors completed a valuation and give their opinion whether they were for or against the offer or whether they were neutral.

He pointed out that under the Takeover Bye-Laws the directors had 21 days from the date of the offer to submit their valuation and opinion.

Espinet is unfazed by the opposition. Pointing out that TCL was established by an Englishman, he debunked the “narrative” that the company does not have to run properly or profitably only that it remains in local hands.

He said that was not true and at the price of 95 cents per share under the previous board and management, the company would have been “bust” by now.

He said TCL was in a state of technical insolvency when the new board took it over. He said if the directors had not met with the company’s creditors and gone into default, the company would have gone bust.

He said at that point it was necessary to replenish the capital TCL had lost but many companies, even big entities, did not support the Claxton Bay-based operation while Cemex was willing to do so.

ABOUT CEMEX

According to its website, Cemex is a global building materials company with operations in some 50 countries and trade relationships in more than 100 nations, providing what are described as high quality products and reliable ser¬vices. The company has close to 43,000 employees across the world, is one of the leading cement manufacturers in the world and is described as the world’s largest supplier of ready-mix concrete and aggregates. It is also described as one of the globe’s top traders in cement and clinker.

TCL’s former chief executive officer, Dr Rollin Bertrand.

These were words uttered by convicted killer Gilbert Evelyn as he walked out of the San Fernando High Courts yesterday a free man, after spending 26 years behind bars for killing his grandparents. Entering prison at age 33, Evelyn who is now 59, said those long years in prison were not wasted as he learned enough skills he thinks to make himself employable.

In 1990, Evelyn burned down his grandparents’ house in Claxton Bay while they were asleep. He was charged for murder but was found guilty on the lesser count of manslaughter and imprisoned at the President’s Pleasure. In a ruling yesterday, Justice Carla Browne-Antoine said that Evelyn was perhaps now fit to return to mainstream society, but warned him, “times have changed in Trinidad and Tobago since 1990, and there are new challenges you would face as a free man.” “When you in jail, every day is Christmas even when it is not Christmas, because December 25 come like a normal day. I am free now and I can tell you I want a job.

I will be looking for a job,” Evelyn said as he walked slowly out of the courthouse accompanied by his 79-year-old aunt Monica Browne.

The case against Evelyn was that in 1990, he set fire to his grandparents’ home leading to the death of Marcus and Constance Evelyn. It was revealed at the trial that at age 13, Evelyn was a user of illicit drugs and on the day of the incident, he used cocaine.

Former Justice Kester McMillan accepted a plea of manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility.

Evelyn was sentenced to a period of imprisonment at the President’s Pleasure. In prison, Evelyn enrolled in drug abuse programmes as well as anger management sessions.

Nine years after being imprisoned, attorneys petitioned the High Court in a constitutional motion on behalf of Evelyn, that to sentence a person to the President’s Pleasure was unconstitutional. Justice Gregory Smith ruled that the prisoner be detained at the Court’s Pleasure, which would facilitate his sentence coming up for periodic review.

The sentencing review came up for hearing on several occasions before Justice Carla Browne-Antoine, in which State Attorneys made legal submissions in respect of Evelyn’s life in prison and how well he had responded to various programmes. After 26 years and five months in jail, yesterday was for a decision and as his aunt Browne, who lives in Wallerfield, stood beside him, the court heard that attorney Tempu Nefertari Moheni sought the interest of the aunt.

The court heard that Browne has consented to keep Evelyn at her home in Wallerfield if he is released. Justice Browne-Antoine then told Evelyn that he must not think that he was being released willy nilly into society to roam free as there are conditions which if violated would see him return to court and quite possibly sent back to jail.

The conditions are that Evelyn be subjected to supervision by a Probation Officer for a period of two years and he must report to them as soon as he leaves the courthouse.

The Probation Officer’s department is to compile a bio-data of Evelyn’s life and he is to report monthly and the Probation Officer would determine how often thereafter.

Justice Browne-Antoine also ordered Evelyn to attend narcotics programmes and any other as directed by the Probation Officer, who is to keep the court abreast of his progress. Further, he is to be subjected to mandatory drug testing and is to stay at Mexico Road, Wallerfield by his aunt Browne.

And, if ever he is to leave there to go elsewhere to reside, the judge further ordered, that information must be made available to the Probation Office department. Justice Browne-Antoine said, “Mr Evelyn, everything you do I would know.

This is an opportunity to start over and I know it is kind of late, but you can start over. The world outside prison is not as you knew it when you went in. Your aunt is elderly and old people are set in their ways, so you must take your time as you go about life.” Evelyn was then told he was free to leave.

“Lets be proactive this coming year, the influenza vaccines are available for free at all Health centres nationwide.

We are making it easy for everyone to access and I want to emphasize on the importance of the vaccine and call on citizens who may be most at-risk to contracting influenza, the pregnant women, the hypertensives, the diabetics, the elderly, to make it their responsibility to get this vaccine and to urge your loved ones to do the same.

Don’t wait to hear in the media that one person or two persons has already died from a virus to take interest.” Newsday spoke to the Minister following his address, who expressed optimism that the drive would yield positive results adding that the success of the campaign hinges upon the willingness of the public to become vaccinated. “For this year alone we’ve distributed approximately 20,000 vaccinations, this is more than twice the amount of vaccinations that were given last year.

We are committed to ensuring that all persons are safe and healthy, however it is the responsibility of the public to access the vaccine and take the necessary precautions against infection.” General Manager of the Primary Health Centre, Dr Peter Baggan, explained that the purpose of the vaccine was to not only minimise the aggressiveness of local influenza virus, but also to protect against foreign viruses, which may be imported from North America.

“During the Christmas and Carnival seasons especially where persons from abroad come to Trinidad, there is a lot of influx of viral diseases and infections…”

“It has been shown that children are particularly vulnerable to abuse during school vacation and long weekends, as this may provide perpetrators with increased opportunities,” said the Authority.

With the closure of schools, parents must ensure that trusted adults supervise their children at all times. The Authority advised parents to keep an open communication with their children, who must feel comfortable reporting any incidents or concerns.

The public is urged to contact the police at 999 or the Children’s Authority at 996 or 800-2014 if they suspect a child is in danger. This includes if a child is being ill-treated, neglected or abandoned; appears to be homeless or roaming the streets; is begging; or is in the company of a criminal.

The Authority offered tips to observe for the protection of children over the holidays: Teach children what is an appropriate touch versus an inappropriate touch, and tell them to never keep inappropriate touching a secret.

Children should always be supervised by an adult, not by other children.

Get to know the adults and other children with whom your child interacts.

“Be aware that there are adults who attempt to befriend a child with the intention of later engaging the child in sexual activity,” warned the Authority.

“Make time to talk to children about their day and listen to their concerns about an adult who interacts with them. Also pay attention to your child’s behavioural changes like mood, sleeping and eating habits, which may indicate some type of abuse.” The Authority urged parents to speak to children about safely surfing the internet and, if necessary, use parental controls to protect children from inappropriate content online.