He was responding to questions regarding the situation at the Ramai Trace Hindu School in Penal where parents and students of the of the school protested along the SS Erin Road last week calling on Garcia to complete their school so that they can be comfortably housed. The students are currently occupying the Hanuman Milan Temple in Rock Road, Penal but parents say the accommodation is not adequate.

On Friday morning when parents arrived at the temple to drop off their children they were greeted by locked gates. PTA President Indar Jairaj said parents have now taken a decision to keep their children at home until the new school is opened. Jairaj said the new school is 95 percent complete.

Maharaj told Newsday the students are suffering. “There are five newly built Maha Sabha schools that are almost completed but are yet to be opened,” he said.

These schools, he said are at Reform, Rousillac, Arima, Endeavour and Claxton Bay. He also named a pre-school in El Dorado that is also yet to be opened.

“Whenever we try to find out why the Minister is not attending to these schools, we get a response that says they are investigating the construction of the schools and, as a result, they cannot attend to the school. “What is this investigations about? We need to know,” Maharaj said. Maharaj pointed out that the parents are tax-payers and they should be given their due at the end of the day.

Up to last evening Roberts remained at the San Fernando General Hospital having underwent an emergency surgery late Saturday night.

Roberts was shot in the chest on Saturday at about 5.45 pm, while campaigning on the tray of a pick-up van along Ramdass Road, Palo Seco.

At the time, Roberts was in the company of a group of supporters who assisted him when he collapsed on the van bleeding from his chest.

He was rushed to the Siparia Health Facility and then transferred to the hospital where he is recuperating.

Although he was stable condition, police suggested that it “will not be wise for him to leave the facility (to vote) at this point”. Roberts, a contractor of Beach Road, Palo Seco.

Police investigators are unable to confirm whether or not the shooting was politically motivated.

An arrest is yet to be made and officers of the Santa Flora Police Station are investigating.

One week after their impressive victory in the Emerging Entrepreneurs category of the Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Industry and Commerce’s 2016 Champions of Business Award ceremony, the duo, known to the corporate world as d’Market Movers, are basking in the afterglow of their success. And with good reason.

Renie said the Barataria- based company, established seven years ago, has grown exponentially since they received the prestigious award.

They are grateful for the support and encouragement of their faithful cheerleaders whom, they believe, played a monumental role in their victory.

“We have had an influx of new online customers which we are very grateful for as well as interest from other businesses who would like to use us to help distribute their brands through our online sales platform and tap into new market segments,” an excited Renie told Newsday.

Renie said they also intend to use the victory to propel their mission of becoming a leader in both agri-business and e-Commerce in Trinidad and Tobago and throughout the region.

Also in the pipeline for the Barataria-based company, she said, are plans to take their Farm & Function, Frozen Fruit brand across a global market. One of three entrepreneurs short-listed for the prestigious award in last Saturday night’s gala function at the Hilton Trinidad, St Ann’s, d’Market Movers came up against some stiff competition in their category. Cocobel Chocolate Limited, founded by Isabel Brash, became a force to be reckoned with in the industry after just seven years in business while the designing company, Anya Ayoung Chee Limited, led by the former 2008 Miss TT Universe contestant and winner of the US television show Project Runway, remains a major player on the fashion circuit.

Renie admitted they were somewhat daunted by their challengers.

Asked what they felt accounted for their victory, she initially joked, “Our winning personalities, maybe.” On a serious note, though, Renie surmised that the innovativeness of the service they offered led to their success.

“We feel that our ser- vice impacts and enhances the lives of all our clients in a positive way and that definitely shone through. The level of innovation within our service and how we communicate with our customers was a major strong point.” She said, too, that the duo’s background and journey into business, resonated with many people.

“I think many people could identify with our story of taking that leap into the unknown without a large deal of backing,” Renie said.

Pioneers in their own right, Renie and Thomas were employees at a commercial bank when they decided to venture into business, seven years ago.

Observing that their colleagues were often too bogged down with work to search for the fresh products they yearned for on a daily basis, the young duo began taking orders at their office for fresh fish and seasonings, which were sourced mostly from Thomas’ hometown in Las Cuevas and Renie’s family green house in Piarco. Thomas and Renie also had shared a love for food and cooking with fresh ingredients – a passion which wowed their clients.

But I have no interest in renting a car from Hertz, using an RBC credit card or using Massy points, whatever that is. In any case, why should I have to do anything to keep my miles? Now, there’s no good reason for flyer miles to expire except that it’s one more way for an airline to squeeze that extra dollar (or, in this case, a cool $1,000) from their “valued customers”. By comparison, since the 1980s, I earned OnePass miles with BWIA’s former partner, Continental Airlines, by travelling on BWIA. Know what? Up to the last time I checked, they are still valid, no expiry date. So tell me, CAL, why do my miles expire? I’m sure it can’t be because your planes are always full. Is it that you have found yet another way to take your loyal customers for a ride? This is just one example of what I consider an abhorrent practice by corporate entities. The banks and the phone companies readily come to mind. So we use our credit cards and earn points or cash-back dollars.

You put them away in a safe place and, one day, you remember to use them, only to discover that you can’t — they have expired.

So much for the banks’ claim that “it’s just like cash”.

Have you ever heard of cash expiring? Imagine buying a book and because you took some time to start reading it, the book disappears into thin air.

But the worst are the phone companies. So you have a pre-paid phone and you put enough money on the phone so you won’t suffer the embarrassment of running out of money on an important call.

How does your phone company repay you for your patronage? By “cancelling your money” if you do not use it within 90 days.

In any other business (except, perhaps, banks and airlines), such an action would be considered reprehensible. Even so, these companies will try to convince us it’s “good corporate practice”.

But whichever way I look at it, all I see is barefaced dishonesty, and companies taking advantage of the hapless consumer.

NOEL KALICHARAN via email

This became a reality in the aftermath of the dangerous Cuban Missile crisis in October 1962, when the Russians were stockpiling nuclear warheads in the Bay of Pigs area, in the Cuban landscape, and which cause then USA President John Kennedy to push part of the panic button demanding that then Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev dismantle his military hardware, and after several days of phone talks and telexes and media statements, Premier Khrushchev had no choice but to yield to Kennedy’s order and dismantle his stockpile and remove it as quickly as possible.

And in a terse but venomous warning Kennedy cringed these words: “If at any time, the Communists build-up in Cuba were to endanger or interfere with our security in any way…,or if Cuba should ever…become an offence military base of significant capacity for the Soviet Union, then this country will do whatever must be done to protect its own security and that of its allies”.

We must remember that there were three outstanding features in the Caribbean at the dawn of the seventh decade of the 20th century, in the Caribbean.

Namely, the West Indies Federation had collapsed in May 1962, followed shortly afterwards with Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago gaining Independence from Britain on separate days in August 1962.

These two countries were not given the chance to design their respective foreign policies, and two months later were confronted by the American-Soviet Union crisis, at which Cuba and Castro were one of the main players.

No one would have thought that Castro would get his Caribbean sisters in this international diplomatic dilemma.

Whilst, this intervention was viewed as the Caribbean once more, becoming at the heart of world history and world affairs, the Caribbean leadership were not sure of its own existence at that time, and while praises must be given to him for such becoming the mouthpiece for the Caribbean, it did not augur well for the peace and peace and security of the Caribbean community.

Certainly, Trinidad and Tobago, and Jamaica had to rely on the British or the USA, or both on their positions in the world crisis. So much for that. On the other side of the coin, Castro was a brave, an intellectual, and a revolutionary leader in our time.

His actions would always be the study of historians, researchers, students and politicians as there would always be issues, new issues and new thoughts, in this matter for generations to come.

Dr Fidel Castro was a political colossus, a thinker, and a maker of history, whose name will always be etched in world history.

Paras Ramoutar, former councillor, CAPARO

It makes me cringe that so many authoritative voices in Trinidad and Tobago seem not to understand the most basic rules governing a Foreign Service and the Officers who serve therein.

Does anyone believe that when Mr. Trump becomes the President of the United States that another country or group would dare to tell him and the United States that Samantha Power should remain as Permanent Representative of the US to the United Nations, regardless of how brilliant she is? Or even the current US Ambassador to Trinidad and Tobago? Or Caroline Kennedy, who is the current US Ambassador to Japan? They will all be recalled and that will be that. I hope those who have commented on Trinidad and Tobago’s decision, not to be swayed by foreign importuning, have taken note of the UK’s prompt dismissal of Mr.Trump’s ill-advised suggestion that the UK name Nigel Farage its Ambassador to the US. I hope that they have also noted that Mr.

Trump, who will not be President until 2017, has already identified a new US Ambassador to the United Nations to replace Ambassador Power, who was appointed by President Obama.

Similarly, the PM of this country, having the responsibility to uphold its sovereignty, should not have had to remind civil servants that indeed they serve their country and not their own personal interests.

The Prime Minister has the prerogative to appoint or recall any diplomat, to or from any diplomatic post of Trinidad and Tobago about the world.

The Republic of Trinidad and Tobago is a sovereign country, not to be governed or instructed by outside powers and that point is worth stressing and underlining further, 12 years at the UN, in New York City, contrary to Mr. Andy Johnson’s contention in his article entitled “Rowley lynches Eden”, is a gift and a prime, luxurious posting. I fear that to seek a longer term is to look a gift horse in the mouth. The Prime Minister’s anger is justifiable.

At the United Nations we, international civil servants, serve at the “disposal of the Secretary- General.” Similarly, diplomats are posted at the discretion of their Head of Government, be it the Prime Minister, the President, or the Sultan.

I would suggest, therefore, that instead of prolonging this unnecessary debate, we simply check the accuracy of our remarks before making any more misleading comments.

And, as a former Senior UN staff member, I can assure you that the Group of Latin America and Caribbean Countries (GRULAC) would not have approached the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago without having been asked to do so.

By whom? I would not know.

Cheryl H. STOUTE Bayside Towers

While we did reach out to Haiti, the truth is it needs help not just with food, water and clothing, but with the rebuilding of the country in all aspects. Even though we have our own problems right here, comparatively speaking we are a paradise. So in Haiti’s time of need let us be there for them with assistance for as long as necessary.

I appeal to our leaders to, first of all, give us a report on what is taking place in Haiti. Did the $6-a-person appeal bear fruit? Is there a plan going forward? There are citizens of this country who are willing to help once our leaders take up the challenge and lead.

Also, to those privileged multinationals and other companies, please be of even greater assistance to Haiti. I am sure their generosity will be well rewarded.The starling reality is that if Haiti does not receive the urgent help needed now, who knows where this country and its people will end up. Let us continue to show love and compassion. Also, prayer still works.

ARNOLD GOPEESINGH San Juan “

“We need to have a significant focus on the perpetrators .

There has been a lot of emphasis on the victims, the survivors, counselling for them, shelters for them, hotlines,” she said, but not so for perpetrators .

Speaking on Wednesday last at the SALISES /Soroptimist International/IGDS Forum III 2016 on Eliminating Violence Against Women at the University of the West Indies St Augustine Campus, she recalled a “terrible experience” early in her practice in which one of her clients was killed while trying to retrieve items from the home she shared with her abuser .

Her client, she said, went with police officers, movers, and a marshal of the court .

“Yet she was killed in the presence of all these people in the home. It had to do with a lack of focus on the perpetrator,” she said .

Seebaran-Suite noted too, the “dire need for policy redirection” for the police and the magistracy in dealing with the protection of victims of domestic violence .

Police officers, she said, would easily take victims out of the home for their safety and protection but when the victims attempt to get back into their homes they may be locked out .

The policy of removing the victim, she said, does not favour women and children, who according to international statistics are in excess of 90 percent of victims of domestic violence .

In metropolitan countries like Canada and the United States, she said, the perpetrators were taken out of the home. This has created a revolution among men in terms of prevention, she said .

Such a policy change for Trinidad and Tobago, she said, would not be simple because provisions for the perpetrator have to be made .

“There has to be an organised arrangement for the reception of the perpetrator,” she said, whether it is at a holding place at a police station in each region, or through an NGO that will provide intervention .

Another problem that needs remedying, she said, was for police officer to advise the victims of their rights to apply for protection orders, and to charge perpetrators for the offences which they see taking place .

“They do not do that,” she said.

The philosophy of the GPCU is financial stability, service to members, cooperative corporation, ongoing education, and distribution to members through non-discrimination, the minister observed.

She noted GPCU is ideally positioned to assist in the development of the “people’s sector”, and can also have a social impact on youths who are the future generation.

Baptiste-Primus said the social intervention can have a positive influence on youths, keeping them away from criminal activities.

She urged union executives to provide continuous education and exposure to developments in the local, regional and international movement.

“In addition to the training seminars conducted by your credit union, institutions such as the Cipriani College of Labour and Cooperative Studies conduct ongoing programmes in the field of cooperative studies and credit union management which you must make available to your membership perhaps via scholarships” added Baptiste-Primus.

She encouraged present pioneers of GPCU to build products and “service offerings” with the youths in mind.

Baptiste-Primus emphasised, “Look at your product and service offerings and examine how best it can be re-engineered to adapt to the growing needs of the GPCU membership and to attract young technological and entrepreneurial members who are quick to examine the products on the market before making selective choices of what is available.” The credit union is an integral part of the financial sector as well.

Baptiste-Primus said the credit union’s financial intervention can reduce poverty and impact on the diversification of sectors.

UWItv is set to go live on Thursday – initially with three hours of programming per day, showcasing a diversity of UWIowned content.

This tripartite partnership involving The University of the West Indies, CaribVision (the regional cable service of the Caribbean Media Corporation) and the RJR Group in Jamaica, will deliver UWI programming to millions of viewers in 22 Caribbean countries as well as the large Caribbean Diaspora communities in New York, Toronto, Montreal, London and Europe.

In a statement yesterday, The UWI said UWItv’s cable service will be complemented by a robust web and social presence, allowing users to access content in real time or on demand. “The UWItv website will also offer a vast searchable video database which will serve as an invaluable resource for students, scholars, librarians, researchers, and journalists.”