I am a resident of a little village that makes up the Arima constituency.

I do not live in Paria, but I attend all its activities because of the ties I have with that community.

One thing I can vouch for is that each time I go to any activity in Paria, I see the Member of Parliament there. He would be accompanied by his wife or grandchildren. I have seen him in Paria no less than three times this year and that is only counting the times I have been there.

It struck me as very odd that any resident will be purported to lament Education Minister Anthony Garcia’s absence from his constituency, in particular Paria.

As far as I understand, Garcia has emotional ties to that community since his wife comes from that village.

It is possible that in the recent disastrous occurrence due to the severe rains, circumstances prevented Garcia’s immediate presence but as far as I understand, the Member of Parliament reacted immediately to source help for the residents in ways that his physical presence could not have accomplished.

In this business of politics we may need to be suspicious of the source of complaints. Sometimes there is more in the mortar than the pestle. Granted, in the ideal situation, the MP should be on spot, but since that was not possible in this instance, I am sure all that could have been done was done.

I felt compelled to put pen to paper because an injustice is being perpetrated here.

JOHN PLAZA Arima

It was eye-opening to learn that our police officers require just five GCE O’Level passes along with other social and anthropometric qualifiers to enter the service. After a candidate is screened he/she receives just six months of formal training at the St James Barracks, after which that person joins the ranks of the Police Service.

In the case of SRPs, it is my understanding that this group receives just two months of official training at Costatt. I am unaware as to whether there is any other formal training requirement or any programme of continuing professional development in the Police Service.

The bar for admission to the Prison Service is even lower than that of the Police Service. I could not find anything concerning the type or duration of training prison officers receive.

All of our national security institutions are certainly in a terrible state of disrepair today. While that is accepted, we hear nothing from the present Minister of National Security by way of policy innovation or policy change in the pipeline to improve the service through enhanced methods or systems of recruitment, training or continuing professional development.

Not only is the Minister of National Security silent on intended policies geared toward the evolution of an enhanced service, but the leader of the PNM Government has himself offered nothing in this regard.

Dr Keith Rowley has so far said nothing sensible about the state of the nation’s security. He continues with nonsensical layman’s chatter in the way of criticisms of the very services under his charge or engages in cynical rebuttal of those who criticise the ineptitude of his Government.

As a country we are daily descending into hitherto unheard of depths of barbarity and murderous criminality and those who are supposed to be “in charge” provide little or no comfort or hope. They too seem to be in need of guidance.

I am baffled that the present acting Police Commissioner can assert — if reports are correct — that the police have no locus standi to demand the release of surveillance camera footage at the IAM establishment since there is no “clear evidence that the girl went into IAM.” Might such footage not reveal how her body got there? There is an adage that says “garbage in, garbage out.” The only way that “garbage in” can yield anything but “garbage out” is through concerted and well-directed effort exerted upon the process of refining the “output”.

Every non-PNM government has started that process in far too many public institutions in this country than I care to recount. It has never gone beyond a promise by PNM administrations.

Each time such a process has been initiated by a government other than the PNM, the PNM reverts to the status quo on its return to power. It is comfortable with the incompetence it peddles and we relish the stagnation.

Steve Smith via email

The minister laid out a spiel about moral suasion aimed at the “hearts and minds of everyone to do their part.” What rubbish! The minister should have outlined a more rigorous approach to this issue or, better yet, taken a page from the Grenadian Royal Police Force and have our police clamp down on sellers of scratch bombs.

If the law is being broken, then deal with the importers and the retailers.

Cuffie acknowledged the physical damage already done to citizens by these devices. However, it seems the Government is afraid to do anything.

When will we ever learn to stop pussyfooting with serious issues in this country?

Linus F Didier Mt Hope

It is a natural fit, and the school — one of the country’s finest — does need the space.

It is irrational and idiotic that a police post is instead given priority. After all, the St Clair Police Station is a relatively short walk away.

Come on Minister of Education, stand up for what is absolutely right. Give QRC the much needed space. Do the right thing.

Vinda RamSingh via email

I cannot lament the death of this monumental revolutionary without also saying “muchisimas gracias” to the Cubans for the gift that was Castro and the pride I and many feel in his courage in leading the Cuban people to stand up for the disadvantaged and for resisting imperial domination and the dictates of the powerful for more than half a century after the revolution asserted and protected the Cuban people’s right to self-determination.

Castro refused to allow his nation to bow under the severe economic pressure and hardship meted out against them by the inhumane trade blockade and embargo imposed on the Cuban people by the government of the US.

Even in the special economic period, after the fall of the Soviet Union, Castro’s leadership and that of his government never buckled, never faltered nor wavered, but combined with the strength and intelligence of the masses was able to “transform this special period into a new age of revolutionary splendour”, not only for the people of Cuba but also for the people of Angola, Namibia and South Africa, where the racist, apartheid regimes crumbled under the mastery and genius of Castro’s military leadership.

Recalling the inception of the Association of the Caribbean States, Cuba was a founding member.

During the visit of Castro to TT in the early 1990s, to inaugurate the ACS, I had the honour of hosting a luncheon for Castro and then prime minister ANR Robinson.

The purpose of the luncheon was to introduce the manufacturing and export business community of TT to Castro and to doing business with Cuba.

You may recall that prime minister Dr Eric Williams, prime minister Michael Manley of Jamaica and president Forbes Burnham of Guyana had led the rest of the world in breaking the political and economic isolation of Cuba imposed by the US and in establishing diplomatic relations with Cuba in the 1970s and giving that country the opportunity to trade and flourish.

We must remember some of the important history lessons of the Caribbean.

For example when, in 1804, Haiti, under the leadership of another indomitable Caribbean hero, Toussaint L’Ouverture, defeated the French army of Napoleon and had the audacity to abolish slavery and declare independence of the second republic in the Americas.

But there was a heavy price to pay.

The French government charged the Haitian government and people hundreds of millions of francs in “reparations” or compensation for the loss of “human property”, enslaved Africans in Haiti.

The US later invaded and occupied Haiti in the early 20th century and even removed democratically-elected president Jean-Bertrand Aristide, a Catholic priest, in the 1990s because they were unhappy with his populist and socialist policies.

What Castro showed the Haitian, Caribbean, Latin American and African people and the peoples of the world was that a leader and a country could stand up for principle and, with the support of the masses, resist foreign domination.

Castro proved that, even against tremendous odds, powerful foreign opposition, invasion and assassination attempts, a small-island developing State, grounded among the people and lifted up by socialist principles of “from each according to their ability and to each according to their needs”, could excel in education, health (with a higher life expectancy than the US or Canada), sports and culture and lead the Caribbean with exports in these areas.

Comandante Fidel Castro and the government and people of Cuba, I salute you.

I thank you and I assure you that I will never forget you and your intrepid, internationalist example.

GERALD HADEED via email

LINKAGES partners with governments, communities and key populations in an effort to provide support and reduce HIV-related stigma and discrimination.

Funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the United States President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), Linkages across the Continuum of HIV Services for Key Populations Affected by HIV (LINKAGES) is the first and largest project of its kind in the Caribbean.

USAID, in a statement issued on its behalf by the US Embassy, explained that “through funding and technical support, LINKAGES will share the best tools and strategies drawn from decades of global experience and adapted to local needs and conditions.” “This will help LINKAGES and its partner countries realise challenging but essential objectives: testing those who don’t know their HIV status; linking those living with HIV to quality care, treatment and support; and reducing new infections.

The programme will also address incidents of stigma and violence that place people at greater risk for HIV,” USAID stated.

Luke Sinnette, Director of Friends for Life; a Trinidad-based LINKAGES grantee, spoke about how crucial it is to include everyone in the HIV/AIDS fight.

“It is important to focus on key populations in the fight against HIV and we must not just do so in rhetoric. Inclusion of men who have sex with men, sex workers and transgender women must be done in ways that address their experiences and help heal their communities. This is the opportunity we have with the LINKAGES project,” Sinnette said.

Meanwhile the LINKAGES Director, Hally Mahler, said the project is about “passion, partnership and re-thinking the way we address HIV, with the end goal that all members of key populations in the Caribbean, and globally, will have access to comprehensive health care services and enjoy a high quality of life. LINKAGES is excited to work alongside local governments, international partners and local communities in these efforts.” Mission Director, USAID Eastern and Southern Caribbean, Christopher Cushing, talked about how the agency works with stakeholders to implement LINKAGES.

“USAID, as part of the broader PEPFAR initiative in Trinidad and the Caribbean, is proud to work hand-in- hand with Governments, Civil Society and the LINKAGES project to pilot innovative ways to expand access to life-saving HIV/ AIDS services to critically under- served and stigmatised populations,” Cushing shared.

The Santa Rosa squad needed a win, in their Match Day 25 fixture (the penultimate round of matches) to officially dethrone Defence Force as the title-holders.

And the Arima-based team duly obliged, and they have an unassailable four-point lead with one round of matches remaining.

Clarke got his name on the scoresheet, in the 17th and 81st.

Keith Look Loy, coach and owner of FC Santa Rosa, commented in a telephone interview yesterday, “this is the icing on the cake of a 24-year project.

We’re 24 years old, specifically in terms of a five-year project – our fifth season in the league.

“We’re very happy with how the season (went),” he added.

“It’s been a difficult, long nine months, including pre-season.

Like everybody else, we had our difficulties but we worked through them and we’re very pleased to be the champions today.” Defence Force registered a similar 2-0 victory over Guaya United at the Defence Force headquarters in Chaguaramas.

Stephan Antoine found the back of the net in the 25th while Akil Morris got the other item in the 90th.

Club Sando Moruga stayed in third spot, but they fell to a 3-2 defeat by Bethel United at the Mt Gomery Recreation Ground.

Akeil London opened the scoring for Club Sando Moruga after seven minutes but Bethel replied with goals from Densyl James (43rd) and Teejay Cadiz (45th).

David Neptune got the leveller in the 62nd but Kevon Woodley netted the winner, in the 84th.

WASA jumped from eighth to fifth on the standings after a 5-2 trouncing of Petrotrin Palo Seco at the WASA Ground in St Joseph. Nathan Lewis scored twice for WASA, in the 14th and 54th, while Glen Walker (71st), Phillip Nelson (72nd) and Dwight Crichlow (83rd) got one each. Finding the back of the net for Palo Seco were Tigana Sparks (seventh) and Brent Garcia (34th).

Siparia Spurs cruised past Matura ReUnited 4-0 at Irwin Park, Siparia, with strikes from Andy London (seventh), Chris Collins (22nd), Shavon Frederick (73rd) and Matthew Beal (90th).

At the St James Barracks, the struggling Queen’s Park got a slim 2-1 win over Police. Jason Devenish (11th and 71st) netted twice for the visitors, with Jason Boodram (14th) responding for the lawmen.

And 1976 FC Phoenix got three points without kicking a ball, as cellar-placed Marabella Family Crisis Centre defaulted their scheduled clash at the Canaan Recreation Ground.

In their first innings, the Jaguars were bowled out for 311 with the Pride responding with 288.

At their second turn at the crease, the Jaguars, resuming their second innings on 32/2, were skittled out for 136 and, in pursuit of 161, the Pride were reeling at 25/3 when the rains came.

The partnership with BPTT and MJP provides an amalgam of best practice, knowhow based on a proven record of success, and using technology to radically change and challenge the way things have traditionally been done.

Day one with coaches and trainers today will be held at Olympic House, Abercromby Street, Port-of-Spain, from 9am.

Day two will be for athletes and coaches, while a visit to Tobago for stakeholder meetings is on the agenda for day three.

The TTO C’s effort to facilitate the achievement of 10 or more Olympic Gold medals by the year 2024 includes harnessing technological advances to challenge the traditional TT sport system.

Joining Johnson at the head table will be Lance Walker, MJP performance director, Lindsey Anderson, MJP performance specialist and Tobias Ottley, executive manager of the Sport Company of Trinidad and Tobago Elite Development and Performance Unit.

Sunday’s result now means that the men from Speyside (44 points) had their ninepoint lead over nearest challengers Leeds United (34) trimmed to seven.

Sidey’s now have four more games to play while Leeds have five.

In the clash of bottom- of-the-table clubs at Montgomery, Black Rock edged Mason Hall USSS 3-2.

Akeil Alleyne notched a double and Trevor Alleyne got the other goal for the winners while Desmond Baldeo and Danny Pantin scored for Mason Hall.

Goal City, with a strike by Kenyon Manswell, took full points from Stokely Vale.

Bethel edged Charlotteville Unifiers 2-1 to solidify their second place position in the Championship Division.

Jelanie James and Adrian Morris scored for the winners while Kervin McKenna got the consolation goal.