An America that looks inward instead of outward is a security threat not only to the US but also all nations of the world battling the global scourges of extremism. Isolating the most powerful country in the world further from Muslim communities by imposing a “Muslim registry” can only serve to deepen hostility and, therefore, generate further risks. Now is not the time for America to be burning bridges. Now is the time for it to build on the momentum created by Barack Obama’s strategy of engagement instead of isolation.

Trump stridently believes Obama’s policies did not work, yet he did not sit in the Oval Office for the last eight years nor did he oversee operations such as the one that took out Osama bin Laden.

But attacking minorities will also serve to weaken the United State’s standing in the world.

Sadly, Trump has not yet demonstrated that he will live up to his promise to rule for all of America.

His Cabinet picks thus far are alarming. These include controversial far-right strategist Steve Bannon – who spews what the New York Times has called “toxic ideology” – and Jeff Sessions, who was once accused of a racial slur against a black public official and then lied to the US Senate about it, according to the latest headlines. Session is an ironic replacement for Loretta Lynch, only the second black US Attorney General. The alarm is such that over the weekend, the cast of a successful Broadway musical, Hamilton, felt compelled to issue a strong message.

“We, sir, we are the diverse America who are alarmed and anxious that your new administration will not protect us, our planet, our children, our parents, or defend us and uphold our inalienable rights, sir,” said actor Brandon Victor Dixon.

“But we truly hope this show has inspired you to uphold our American values and to work on behalf of all of us, all of us. … We truly thank you for sharing this show — this wonderful American story told by a diverse group of men, women, of different colours, creeds, and orientations.” An America where human rights progress is weakened by a racist, xenophobic, misogynistic administration will have a dramatically weakened moral standing and will not be able to effectively lobby for the upholding of universal rights and freedoms in neighbouring countries and in countries worldwide.

This will embolden leaders around the world intent on not recognising those rights, placing more pressure on agencies like the United Nations.

It is hoped the Trump administration does not bury its head in the sand when it comes to the realities of globalisation as well, including free trade. There is already some anxiety over Trump’s perceived alignment with Russia’s Vladimir Putin.

Obama has signalled that he intends to break with longstanding tradition of former US Presidents remaining silent after leaving office in order to address issues that may arise under Trump, in another indication of what is at stake.

The planet now has new leadership in the US and UK. Anxious eyes now turn to France and Germany.

These are desperate times for not only the US but the world.

Our society has seen a constant decline in standards of morality and universal principles of honesty, respect, social justice, equity and even selflessness have been thrown by the wayside by many prominent and professional people in their quest to acquire material wealth and power.

The relevance and sincerity of many of our institutions have been coming under question as they fail to rein in those who transgress the law or engage in illicit and illegal activities. The protection of the well-being and sanctity of society as a whole is a duty that is being ignored with impunity by those entrusted with the authority to do so.

In the middle of this social decadence are our children – our future adults. As we continue to ensure that their future is more uncertain than ever through our greed, unequal distribution of wealth, unsustainable approaches to development and destruction of the environment, they are crying out to us teachers for guidance and protection.

In our hands lie a moral responsibility to ensure that they all have a bright future that they can look forward to without fear and trepidation.

It is in this context that teachers cannot be anything but professional in their approach to their tasks, seeing it well beyond the delivery of academic curriculum and activities restricted to the classroom.

Teachers must model behaviour that we want to see in our future adults. Despite their protestations and indiscipline, children do look up to us. Their eyes are constantly on us in and out of the classroom and this is a fact that we cannot ignore as a reality of the profession.

When we made that all important decision to become teachers, we entered into a moral contract with the society to help define future generations.

Notwithstanding the negative criticisms and attacks from people and segments of the society, some of which we must admit is wholly justified, the society at large also holds us to very high expectations and standards. As teachers we perform a public good and our actions must at all times be in keeping with that dictum.

In many instances, children will insist to their parents that the word of the teacher is superior to theirs. This reflects the awesome level of respect and admiration that is reposed in us by their innocent minds.

In their eyes we represent everything that is right, decent and good. This is evident by the level of reverence and esteem that many of us continue to enjoy from them long after they leave our care and influence.

While they may not say it, when our conduct is unbecoming, they do experience a significant measure of disappointment, especially when we may have been the only positive influence in their lives.

They are also quick to discern double standards and hypocrisy on our part. This can even translate into diminished levels of regard given to us.

We cannot escape the fact that we have a sacred duty to safeguard those innocent minds that come before us and remember that we might just be their most powerful and influential role models. Our influence and impact go well beyond the classroom and serve as a platform upon which good decent citizens are created.

Our levels of commitment and dedication to the job must never be in question by the society as a whole and worst yet by our charges.

T h e i r perception of us as g o o d d e c ent huma n b e ing s is a paramount pillar of our vocation.

Addressing a news conference at the Ministry of the Attorney General and Legal Affairs Tower in Portof- Spain, Young noted Oropouche East MP Dr Roodal Moonilal’s call to UNC supporters to throw roti at Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley. He also noted Princes Town MP Barry Padarath’s claim that Rowley’s exposure of wastage in expenditure at a October 2014 Divali function hosted by former prime minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, had undertones similar to the 2013 Tobago House of Assembly (THA) election.

Young said Bisnath alerted the PNM yesterday to threats with respect to him and the St James East district. Saying the party is treating these matters “very, very seriously,” Young said the, “racial undertone is being proffered squarely by members of the Opposition and that is not going to be tolerated by the PNM administration.” Declaring the PNM believes firmly in the words of this country’s national anthem, Young said, “There is absolutely no suggestion or reference whatsoever to any racial conversation by the PNM.” He added this is reflected in the composition of the Government’s benches in both houses of Parliament.

Regarding the threats against Bisnath, Young said the PNM has also been informed there is an attempt to intimidate persons wanting to vote in next Monday’s Local Government elections. He said the PNM is also being informed, that persons of a particular race are being told, “not to vote for the PNM.” Asked if additional security has been provided to Bisnath and Ramkissoon, Young said the PNM is heartened by the assurance from Acting Police Commissioner Stephen Williams that the police are investigating the threats against both of its candidates. He was confident that if the police find anything out of the ordinary, “they will provide the necessary support.”

Young said the PNM continues with its campaign and, “we certainly do not encourage our supporters at all to engage in anything other than peaceful canvassing.” Saying all of the PNM’s interactions with the electorate have been “very peaceful,” Young reiterated, “We do not encourage any divisiveness whatsoever on the part of any citizen of TT.” He also said none of the party’s supporters have interpreted statements made by Public Utilities Minister Fitzgerald Hinds on a political platform in Mayaro to, “to do harm to anybody.”

He said Hinds’ statement was “very different” to Moonilal’s call to throw roti at Rowley.

Sarah Ramdeen has described herself as the “weeping widow” who fears she may be left penniless and out on the streets by Christmas.

Ramdeen, 26, received a pre-action protocol letter last week Friday which threatened to take her to the High Court if she refuses to leave the house located at Shelly Street, Reform Development, near Gasparillo in the next three-anda- half weeks. Ramdeen has been reminded in the letter that she is the widow of Mark Thackoor, 26, who on September 26, died at the Petrotrin Medical Centre due to acute coronary artery thrombosis and severe artery disease.

In a pre-action protocol letter sent by the law firm Harrikissoon and Company, Ramdeen was further informed, by Prakash Thackoor, who is the father of the deceased, that he obtained lands from Caroni (1975) Limited as part of a Voluntary Separation of Employment Package (VSE P) and he decided to build a house on it. He further stated that Ramdeen was allowed to move into the house but only by virtue of her intended marriage to his son.

But since his son’s death in September, Thackoor stated, there has been occupation of the house by Ramdeen and her other relatives.

As a result, he has called upon Ramdeen to not go into the house and occupy it, and, that she should leave because she in unjustly enriching herself by trespassing. If not, legal proceedings would be instituted against her to recover possession of the house.

Contacted yesterday, Ramdeen said that as far as she is concerned, she is entitled to the house and she would be seeking legal advice. Attorney Stephen Boodram is advising her on whether she is entitled to property left by her deceased husband. Ramdeen said, “As far as I’m concerned, this is not unjust enrichment. I am entitled. It has not been easy staying in the house every night. But the law would take its course. My husband and I worked and built that house and we had a good relationship with the family until he died.”

SW UTT president Christopher Henry said the union has two potential investors — experienced firms from Canada and the US — with proposals to restart the plant seeking new opportunities, created by the widening of the Panama Canal (to build shipping containers) and the opening of the Cuban market.

Henry related that two SWUTT officers met Rowley in April and he promised to champion their proposal if it is workable.

Since submitting their formal proposal to him on September 28, the SWUTT received a letter of acknowledgment but no agreement from the PM to meet again. “We didn’t ask the Government for one red cent,” Henry said. “We told him it is workable in terms of our investors.” Alleging that ArcelorMittal had left its sacked staff without any severance pay by use of legal loopholes, he said, “The Prime Minister and the Government have not given this situation the attention it deserves.” He spelt out the plight of the 2,000 people now without jobs since the firm’s closure.

“Children have had to change schools because there is no money.

The daughter of one of our members had to stop studying for her doctor’s degree. Six of our members have lost their homes. Each day that goes by it gets worse,” Henty said.

He was worried that ArcelorMittal might be trying to buy back the plant under a different name, saying the firm knows lawyers who now hold high office.

“On the 23rd of this month the liquidator will give an opportunity for investors to look at the plant. In December the bids will be open, and we’ll know which investor was chosen.” He alleged that the Government is treating them like second-class citizens.

Henry disliked the alleged scepticism shown by Finance Minister Colm Imbert, who had allegedly asked how a union could find investors, and had demanded to know the identity of the investors.

Alleging that the Government has a seeming bias in the class of people it wants to deal with, Henry said, “We are not dunces.

We say the plant is still viable.” He said the plant had been earning revenues of US$25 million a month. The SWUTT, in its formal proposal, wants the Government to give it concessions for the supply of gas, electricity and water, tariffs to protect TT-made steel, and a committee to assess their proposal.

Asked about China’s firing of one million steel workers as an indication of a low demand for steel during this economic lull, Henry admitted that while China will land steel on any port for US$300 a tonne, TT’s cost to produce steel is US$420 a tonne. However, he said that TT beats China by making a higher quality of steel, and that while the Chinese Government hugely subsidises the cost of production, this subsidy has now reached its limit of sustainability.

“They’ve been selling steel to themselves, to build cities for nobody to live in. This could no longer continue,” he said.

Lutalo Masimba (Bro Resistance), Wayne Mc Donald (Cassman), Carlston Kerr (Calypso Kerr) and Annmarie Parks-Kojo (Twiggy) retained their positions of President, General Secretary, Welfare Officer and Trustee respectively. However, there was surprise as pre-election favourites Dr Ottley and Franz Lambkin (Delamo) lost to Lennox London and Maegan Sylvester, respectively, for the posts of Marketing Manager and Education and Research Officer.

Also, the hotly contested post of Public Relations Officer (PRO) by Duane O’Connor, Steve Pascall (Ras Kommanda), Miguella Simon, Abbi Blackman and Winston Henry (Explainer) saw Pascall prevailing.

Three members of the TUCO executive retained their positions as they were unopposed.

They are Ainsley King (Vice-president), Shirlane Hendrickson (Assistant Secretary) and Devon Seale (Assistant PRO).

Other members elected to serve as Treasurer were Dennis Cox, Assistant Treasurer, Anthony Johnson and Trustee Joseph Adams. When Newsday caught up with Masimba yesterday, he expressed gratitude with the membership in choosing him to return as president and praised as “smooth and incident free” the electoral process overseen by presiding officer Robert Giuseppi.

Asked about reports of canvassing outside the polling area, with slips of paper with names of who to vote for, being passed to members, Masimba said: “As far as I know, there is no objection to that.” The new executive will serve for a three-year period.

Senior Magistrate Gillian Scotland called the case in which Mathews, a 40-yearold security guard of Ghandi Street, St Helena and Coutain, a 25-year-old hairdresser of Phase 2, Malabar, Arima were charged.

Both were remanded into custody and will reappear in court on December 15.

The victim Taylor was the step-mother of Coutain.

Taylor was found dead at her Phase 2, Malabar home on Monday October 24.

Her semi-nude body was discovered with lacerations to the neck.

Detective Constable Schankar Bedessie of the Homicide Bureau of Investigations (Region II) laid the charge on Sunday, after receiving instructions from the Director of Public Prosecutions Roger Gaspard SC.

In a statement to the media yesterday, NSA general secretary, Rajindra Mohan, noted that the party has been informed by its candidates that NSA “posters and banners are being defaced, slashed and pulled down in certain electoral districts in these two Corporations.”

“In addition to this, in the Electoral District of Sangre Grande Northwest, an unsigned letter is being placed in the mail boxes of constituents attacking a political party and its leader with derogatory statements in an attempt to make it look as though the National Solidarity Assembly is doing this. This demonstrates a poor and pathetic attempt at reverse psychology in order to gain votes,” Mohan said.

“The National Solidarity Assembly is calling for an end to this type of gutter and bacchanalia politics, being practiced by the two main incumbent political parties and is calling on both the PNM (People’s National Movement) and UNC (United National Congress) to deal with the issues facing the country rather than with petty divisiveness,” he stated.

The party pointed out that every citizen had a “democratic and constitutional right to engage in the electoral process however they may see fit and to support a party of their own choice.” “This is not PNM country or UNC country, this country belongs to every citizen of Trinidad and Tobago and it is time the leadership of both the PNM and the UNC realise this,” Gopaul added.

Appeal Court Justices Nolan Bureaux, Gregory Smith and Peter Rajkumar, yesterday granted leave to the State to challenge the two previous rulings in which the courts found that the Ministry of Planning’s decision to refuse publication of the information was null and void, and of no effect.

The judicial review lawsuit was filed in 2013 by then president of the Joint Consultative Council for the Construction Industry (JCC) Afra Raymond under the Freedom of Information Act after he made several requests for information on the project in November 2011.

The ministry had initiated a request for proposals, bypassing the Central Tenders Board, and later told the JCC it sought legal advice from the office of the Attorney General, and had been told the Tenders Board was not required in the tendering process.

Last month, the Appeal Court, in a majority judgment, upheld the decision of High Court judge Justice Frank Seepersad who, in July 2014, found that failure of Government agencies to disclose documents related to procurement of construction projects might create a “perception of misfeasance in the process” and a corresponding loss in public confidence.

“The public interest in having access to the requested information there is far more substantial than the defendant’s interest in attempting to maintain any perceived confidentiality in relation to the said information,” Seepersad had said.

Raymond is seeking the publication of the formal instructions and legal opinions on which the ministry was relying. The JCC is being represented by Senior Counsel Gilbert Peterson, while Russell Martineau, SC, appear for the State.

The beneficiaries were ten police youth clubs, four non-governmental organisations, and two women police constables who recently lost their homes in fires.

In a brief address, Acting Commissioner of Police Stephen Williams congratulated the policemen and women who took an idea from “chit chat” in 2014 to fruition, making it an annual event from 2015.

He expects even more support for the activity as it continues to grow.

The innovative event, Williams said, was aimed at bridging the gap in service between the police and communities, particularly at a time when the image of the police was being challenged.

Apart from fostering closer relationships among the ranks, he said, it was also building closer relationships with the wider community.

In the world of policing, he said that innovative ways and means must be found in the delivery of its service and to make positive attitudinal changes.

He thanked BPTT for being a corporate sponsor of the event that took place on Republic Day at St James Barracks.

The ten recipients from over 100 police youth clubs are Goodwood, Guaico, San Rafael/Brazil, Maracas Bay, Maraval/Paramin, St Clair, St Margaret’s, Morne Diablo, Enterprise and Las Lomas.

The four non-governmental organisations include the Vitas House Hospice, Lady Hochoy Home and St Mary’s Children’s Home.

The two women police officers are Cherise Hamilton and Candice Charles.