THE more we experience new things in life, there is a reality which tells us that there is some social debris worth discarding from within our social spaces including but not limited to discrimination, social exclusion, stigmatisation, unfair judgments, and the list can be pretty long but I’d stop here for now.

There are many individuals who have severe difficulty in attempting to co-exist and simply find a space to survive, and this difficulty may have emerged due to medical, psychological and /or physical conditions. Some of these very individuals who have also found themselves falling prey to suicidal attempts given the extent of their social exclusion, are clients of the International Women’s Resource Network (IWRN), and on many occasions, are offered customised counselling support aimed at providing them with a sense of hope.

The toxicity of inequality and discrimination needs to be addressed urgently if humankind is to be salvaged; “The Power Within: Love Your Body, Love You” carded for January 26, 2017, is a unique conference that is intended to be a blueprint to begin the process of mind-shifting and as well as providing a clearer understanding of the importance of equality in social spaces which tantamount to the fundamental principle of TT ’s national anthem “every creed and race finds and equal place.” Leading the cast of presenters for this event is Harnaam Kaur, a 25-year-old British national who suffers from a medical condition called “polycystic ovarian syndrome” which causes excessive hair growth throughout the body.

Because of this condition, Kaur suffered tremendously at the hands of others who sought to bully and insult her, but despite the odds, she was able to withstand the test of human survival; she now uses her condition to raise awareness globally about diversity, inclusiveness and body shaming. Kaur was recently inducted into the Guinness Book of Records as the youngest bearded female in the world.

Other speakers include professionals from TT , the United States and London, who all work and provide support to individuals across the broad spectrum of psychological and physical impairment.

Dr Gabrielle Hosein, head of the Institute for Gender Development Studies at the University of the West Indies (UWI); Prof Gerard Hutchinson, head of the Clinical Medical Sciences Department, UWI and head of Psychiatric Services at the North- West Regional Health Authority; Dr Jacqueline Huggins, manager, Student Life and Development Support, UWI; Gregory Sloane- Seale, programme co-ordinator, Citizen Security Programme, Ministry of National Security and social activist, Margaret Rose, attorney, managing partner and head of the Public Procurement Practice at Rose Law Caribbean (London); Pauline Haynes, certified life coach, trainer and director at the International Women’s Resource Network (United States); Gail Merhair, president of the San Juan Business association and managing director, gm advertising; Danaja M Garland, youth activist and manager, administration and volunteerism, IWRN (United States) and yours truly.

There is a loud global cry for equality and social justice, and all are asked to be part of this platform.

For more info on this conference: 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

The training was conducted by Shri Ashwani Kumar Sharma and members of the Asian Punjabi Folk Dance Club from India. The aim of the Asian Punjabi Folk Dance Club is to safeguard the timeless heritage of Punjab while promoting cultural entrepreneurship.

The 12-member dance troupe was in Trinidad, on a seven-day visit from November 28 to December 4, as part of ongoing cultural exchange initiatives with India.

The group’s visit was the first of its kind to the Caribbean region. This cultural exchange was facilitated by the Ministry of Community Development, Culture and the Arts in collaboration with the High Commission of India and the Mahatma Gandhi Institute for Cultural Co-operation.

More than 25 dance students and lecturers from the Dance Department at the UTT attended the workshop held at the UTT Campus at NAPA, Port-of-Spain, last Thursday. The programme began with an explanation of the traditional musical instruments of Punjab such as the been (the snake charmer’s instrument), sap, kato and khundra.

Then, there were a series of demonstrations of the Punjab dance styles with emphasis on the bhangra, folk orchestra, Malwai Giddha, harvesting dance “Kirti Di Kuli”, Jawabi Chaallan and the solo folk dance. Additionally, students were given the opportunity to interact with the artists and obtain hands-on experience.

The workshop concluded with Nancy Herrera, head of the Dance Department thanking the group for sharing their culture and creativity.

On Saturday night, the Super League, through its director of operations Richard Piper, issued their regular email containing results of matches earlier in the day, as well as a note stating “special congratulations to UTT on their first Championship Division title”.

A local daily newspaper went as far as to report that UTT were the champions, though a story in yesterday’s Newsday indicated that there was some conjecture as to who were the 2016 winners.

Both Cunupia and UTT finished with 32 points from 16 games, but UTT had a superior goal difference of plus-24, compared to Cunupia’s plus-16.

However, it was revealed that a rule book, which was presented to all teams in 2015, stressed that the head-to-head rule would be used to separate teams who shared the same points, at the end of the season.

Yesterday, in a media release issued by Anthony Harford, owner of All Sport Promotions (the organising body for the League), it was revealed that “the technical director (Wayne Caesar) declared officially, Cunupia Football Club as the winners of the 2016 NSL Championship Division.

“There was some confusion over the weekend when a release on the final round of matches congratulated UTT on becoming champions, but this was not verified by the technical director at that time,” the media release continued.

“The clubs and then technical director (Douglas James) agreed on the change from 2005 giving as the second tie-breaker, head to head (meaning results of the games between the two teams tied at the end of the league).

Goal difference has been the fifth tie-breaker since then.

There has been no revision of the regulations since 2005 nor has the NSL been required to use the tie-break system. These regulations are contained in article 17 of the TT FA National Super League rules and regulations.” However, “the management of the NSL congratulates Cunupia FC and apologises unreservedly to UTT for frustrating their hopes of a first league title.” Cunupia FC coach Michael De Four, in a telephone interview, said, “it is wonderful to be a champion, you can ask (Dwayne) Bravo what that means.” He continued, “it was a lot of hard work, and it came about with the staff of Roland Clarke, David Wiltshire, David Ceballo, Nicole Fletcher and the president Navin Charles.

The players gave the best they could have given under the circumstance and it is really a joy to be made champions.

“Cunupia (were) the only team that beat every club in the League (in 2016),” De Four stressed.

“That is performance.” UTT official Nicholas Lochan was disappointed, yet graceful in defeat with regards to yesterday’s outcome. “It was unfortunate that it went down to head-to-head.

We had a superior goal difference but we also lost less games than Cunupia. In all fairness to Cunupia, they were one of the best teams in the League. They were consistent right through.

“I’m happy for them. I’m just disappointed that UTT put in a lot of effort to win the League and sometimes it just don’t work out for various reasons,” Lochan acknowledged.

Last Friday, two of the three officers were pointed out during an identification parade. However, Director of Public Prosecutions, Roger Gaspard SC, gave instructions on Saturday for the three officers, ages 26, 34 and 36, to be each charged with the three offences.

The three SRPs will be represented in court today by attorney Fareed Ali. It is alleged that the three officers approached a Diego Martin businessman and demanded $4,500 two Sundays ago to forego prosecution for harbouring illegal Venezuelan immigrants.

The matter was brought to the attention of officers of the TTPS’ Professional Standards Bureau (PSB) and an investigation was initiated.

Last Wednesday, the three officers were detained, along with a female employee of Western Union. Newsday understands that the arrests came after PSB officers set up a sting operation in west Trinidad.

The bandits took a total of $6,000 from the cash register and several boxes of cigarettes.

Reports said that as the men were about to flee the scene, Pacheco followed.

A struggle ensued between Pacheco and the two men. Police said that one of the men pointed a firearm to the businessman and shot him several times.

Pacheco died on the spot.

According to reports, at around 10 am, Calvin Jack, an employee of Seereeram Brothers was assisting with some road works in full view of police officers who were assigned to ensure the smooth flow of traffic.

A source told Newsday that a 32-year-old man was driving at an excessive speed when he knocked down Jack, who died shortly afterward. The police officers on the scene detained the driver and administered a breathalyser test on the man.

He was found to be over the legal alcohol limit and was taken to the St James Police Station, where he was charged with a series of offences.

Jack’s body was viewed by a District Medical Officer (DMO) who ordered it be removed to a mortuary.

Colleagues of the deceased, who witnessed the fatal accident, became distressed and were subsequently unable to work.

Officers of the St James Police Station are continuing investigations.

Dead is 33-year-old Troy James, of Pranz Gardens, Claxton Bay.

According to police reports, at about 11pm, James was walking along 5th Street, Pranz Gardens when he was approached by a lone gunman. Reports said that the man pointed a gun at James and shot him several times in the chest. He died on the spot outside the house where Sankar’s wake was held. James lived a short distance from where Sankar’s decomposing body was found along 5th Street, Pranz Gardens on Saturday morning.

Sankar was found dead by his parents after being reportedly missing for a week. Newsday learnt that on the day Sankar disappeared he was seen conversing with James at his (Sankar’s) home. It is uncertain if the two killings are linked to each other.

Speaking to Newsday yesterday, James common-law wife Judia John said that her husband and Sankar were friends. She said that the two would often meet to catch crabs in the village. “My husband left home on Saturday night and said he was going to the Sankar’s wake nearby and that was the last time I saw him alive,” she recalled. She said that last year on two occasions her husband was attacked by a group of men which stemmed from a dispute over land. “The first time he was walking the road when a group of men ambushed him but he fought back and was able to run.

The fight in this area is always over land,”she said. John said that on the second occasion her husband was walking along the roadway when a driver attempted to ‘run him off the roadway’. James also managed to escape unharmed.

“I don’t know if these ncidents have anything to do with my husband’s murder and I also don’t know if the murders of my husband and his friend, Sankar are linked, I really don’t’know,”she said.

The emotional mother said that James was the sole breadwinner of their family and the father of their three-year-old daughter. James had two other children from a previous relationship.

Nearby at the home of Sankar, family members expressed difficulty coping with his death. Sankar’s father, Sham said that already dealing with the murder of his son, the murder of another villager also shocked him. “Imagine I am in the wake of my son then I hear loud explosions and then you see all these people who were on the road for the wake just running coming inside your house,” he recalled.

Sham said that minutes later the body of a man identified as Troy James with bullet wounds to his body was found on the roadway.

Autopsies on the bodies of James and Sankar are expected to be performed today at the Forensic Science Centre, St James. Homicide Investigations Bureau Region III are continuing investigations into the killings.

A high-powered delegation, led by Prime Minister (PM) Dr Keith Rowley, is scheduled to arrive at the Sim?n Bol?var International Airport in Maiquet?a, about 21 kilometres from downtown Caracas, at 9.55 am today.

The delegation includes Energy Minister, Franklin Khan, Minister of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs, Dennis Moses, Minister in the Ministry of the Attorney General and Legal Affairs, Stuart Young, as well as Petrotrin Chairman Professor Andrew Jupiter and NGC Chairman Gerry Brooks.

Members of the TT media also accompanied the delegation on a chartered Caribbean Airlines Limited flight from Piarco International Airport, Piarco this morning on Rowley’s first Official Visit to Venezuela as PM.

The official signing ceremony will be followed by a press conference before the delegation’s scheduled departure at 4 pm for their return flight to Trinidad.

Contacted by Newsday yesterday, the Energy Minister said he preferred not to say much ahead of today’s press conference.

“There’ll be a signing ceremony and a Government-to-Government agreement for the export of Venezuelan gas to Trinidad.

“I don’t want to say any more because that’s the PM’s prerogative and they’ll be making a lot of statements tomorrow (today),” Khan stated.

Meanwhile, speaking with the media around midday on Saturday on the sidelines of an HDC key distribution ceremony in Port-of-Spain, Stuart Young said he was “still in conversation with my Venezuelan counterparts and things are going very, very well. We are looking forward to Monday’s trip and quite frankly, it will be historical.” The minister also said matters such as security may be on the agenda during Rowley’s meets Venezuela’s President, Nicol?s Maduro.

“When we give the gift of courage this Christmas, we must ensure that our acts of courage are underpinned by truth derived from preparation.

For example, we need to spend less time on Facebook and more time reading authoritative books,” Christie said.

He made the recommendations while delivering the feature address at the annual Christmas banquet and awards ceremony held on Saturday evening at Signature Hall in Longdenville, Chaguanas. The Chaguanas Chamber of Industry and Commerce (CCIC) hosted the event.

Christie charged that zeal without knowledge can be destructive.

He insisted that all must ensure that “our courage is not misplaced”. He explained that the root of the word ‘courage’ is ‘cor’, the Latin word for heart.

He added: “We need more heart than belly in dispensing courage. This Christmas, let us surprise as many people as we can with love.” Addressing the gathering on the topic ‘The Christmas Gift’, Christie acknowledged that there are many challenges that require courage among them change, complexity and crime.

“Change, complexity and crime alone have many deeply concerned. They are looking for answers.

They are looking for a meaningful gift.

They are looking for the kind of courageous leadership that can truly say: ‘Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil for God is with me,’” Christie said.

Christie reiterated that people should give the gift of courage and dispense it with preparation, love, and with reliance on a God who is bigger than any ‘boogie man’.

Among those in attendance at the ceremony were: Trade and Industry Minister, Paula Gopee-Scoon; Chaguanas Mayor, Gopaul Boodhan; CCIC’s outgoing president, Richie Sookhai; and chairman and chief executive officer of the ANSA McAL group, Dr.Anthony Norman Sabga.

Christie noted that sometimes, even innovations add to the issue of complexity.

He charged that in the space of less than a decade, the entire oil and gas industry has been turned on its head because of factors such as shale oil and gas and global warning.

“How do we continue to maximize returns from gas in Trinidad and Tobago when the country which was our largest importer of gas less than a decade ago, the United States, is now a major exporter of the gas? How do we navigate the monetisation of cross-border and across the border gas when our neighbour Venezuela has significant political and economic challenges?” Christie questioned.

Confronting complexity, especially when it comes to leaders, will require courage, he noted.

On the issue of crime, Christie noted that no one is immune and what is frightening is the “increased callousness of humanity”.

In terms of change, he said there are seismic shifts in the way things operate and they are occurring at a pace not seen before.

Christie shared the biblical story of David and Goliath and emphasised the importance of relying on God in all things. “Relying on God ensures that we are courageous for just causes.

Reliance on God promotes hope because with God right will ultimately prevail.

Reliance on God promotes humility lest the courageous become conceited,” Christie told the gathering.

Christie added: “During this Christmas season that should bring added meaning to the name Emmanuel, meaning God with us. Probably the biggest surprise we can bring to many as we dispense courage this Christmas is to first seek God and then let Him guide us.” Some of the awardees at Saturday’s ceremony included: CEO Sabga; Mayor Boodhan; Anil V Maraj of Bankers Insurance; Trevor Joseph of T&Z, Barry Jankie of Cell Mates; Glen Ramdhanie of Novo Group; and Dipchan Hosein of Passage to Asia.

The island has a full range of events planned for the occasion (the visits of Prince Harry and Rihanna last week were a part of the festivities).

Barbados has been independent since 30 November 1966. It functions as a parliamentary democracy modelled on the British Westminster system. However, Queen Elizabeth II — is still head of state and is represented locally by the Governor- General of Barbados — presently Elliott Belgrave. Both are advised on matters of the Barbadian state by the Prime Minister of Barbados, who is head of government. There are 30 representatives within the House of Assembly. The Prime Minister is Freundel Stuart and the Leader of the Opposition is Mia Mottley QC.

While much is often made of the animus between Trinidad and Tobago and Barbados, Barbados is one of our closet neighbours literally and figuratively.

Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Patrick Manning once attempted a political union with the island and Guyana. This project, undertaken in the1990s, stalled after the then prime minister of Barbados, Lloyd Erskine Sandiford, became ill. His Democratic Labour Party lost the next general election.

Such a political union would have brought to an end perennial tensions between the two countries in relation to maritime boundaries and the question of flying fish stock.

Though its population and economy are smaller, Barbados as a nation has much to be proud of. Unlike Trinidad and Tobago, it has consistently ranked in the top 20 of countries with the lowest perceptions of corruption, according to Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index.

Though it is not a Republic, in 2005 the Parliament of Barbados voted on a measure replacing the UK’s Judicial Committee of the Privy Council with the Caribbean Court of Justice based in Port of Spain. Trinidad and Tobago has not done the same.

Barbados has a proud tradition of peaceful and stable democratic governance. It plays an active role in Caricom and has important trade pacts with organizations such as the World Trade Organisation, the European Commission and the subgroup of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (ACP).

The economy of Barbados was previously dependent on sugarcane cultivation, however since the late 1970s and early 1980s it has diversified into the manufacturing and tourism. Offshore finance and information services have become important, there is a light manufacturing sector. The island saw a construction boom in recent years, but this slowed post 2008 global crisis.

As a model of a diverse economy, Trinidad and Tobago could learn a lot.Barbadian trade policy has also sought to protect a small number of domestic activities, mostly food production, from foreign competition, while recognising that most domestic needs are best met by imports.

The island is open for business.

Culturally, Barbados has produced several great cricketers, including Sir Garfield Sobers and Sir Frank Worrell. It’s Crop Over festival is an important annual event. It has produced international popstar Rihanna, who has often used her celebrity to back important causes, such as the need to increase HIV/ AIDS awareness. Its list of poets and writers includes names like Edward Kamau Brathwaite, Austin Clarke, Frank Collymore, George Lamming, and Karen Lord—to name a few.

The island has also produced world-class sprinters such as Obadale Thompson. All of which is impressive for an island of just 291,495.

Barbados has in many ways served as an example to the world and we congratulate it on achieving its golden jubilee.