SAS, a study abroad programme aboard the World Odyssey cruise ship, first visited Port of Spain in November 2015. Over two hundred students and faculty representing thirty-two countries were treated to an authentic local pan yard experience at the event.

The event incorporated key elements of Trinidad and Tobago’s culture including Carnival characters like the midnight robber, moko jumbies, masqueraders in costume, steelband performances by PCS Nitrogen Silver Stars, tassa drumming, the Laventille Rhythm Section and limbo dancers.

The students and faculty also sampled homemade ice-cream, and other culinary staples like doubles, pelau, corn soup and pastelles.

The objective of the Pan Yard Lime was to provide an authentic experiential event in which the attendees could experience Trinidad and Tobago’s culture and cuisine with the aim of generating interest in the destination as a fun and welcoming holiday option and encouraging return visits. For the duration of the semester, the ship docks at various ports around the world for one to two days, exposing students to authentic experiences within those destinations. The students participate in on-shore excursions and field classes while at the destination. Among the other activities the students and faculty participated in during their visit to Trinidad were: * Tour of Paramin * City Tour – Calypso/ Storytelling in and around Port of Spain * Tour of the Indian Museum * Food Tour * Tobago Day Trip * North Coast Tour * San Juan Market tour * Marianne Waterfall Hike * Caroni Bird Sanctuary * Nariva Swamp and Bush Bush Wild Life Sanctuary.

The World

“The Ministry of Health declared Zika a national public health emergency on January 29th based on the threat as then assessed, making Trinidad and Tobago one of the first countries in the world to do so. The WHO declared a global public health emergency on February 1st which allowed for increased and more rapid research to be conducted,” the statement said.

This research has since linked Zika to Guillain-Barr? syndrome in some adults and the severe birth defect in babies, microcephaly.

“This underscores that the Zika crisis is far from over as it has now been classified as a dangerous, mosquito-borne disease similar to malaria or yellow fever and should be viewed as an ongoing threat,” said the statement, adding: “The ministry, having noted the WHO’s recent position, wishes to advise the population of Trinidad and Tobago that vigilance must be maintained in the coming months to ensure the safety of our citizens, especially pregnant women.

“Citizens are therefore urged to continue working with authorities in the eradication of mosquito breeding sites and to take all necessary precautions to avoid being bitten by the Aedes aegypti mosquito.”

An EFCL release said that its officials have been on site at the school and have assessed the situation.

Effective November 21, the EFCL said, “a contractor has been engaged to commence emergency electrical work.” The electrical work includes replacement and repair of a high voltage main cable, testing of a transformer and repair to the low voltage cable. It is expected that all work will be completed within 24 to 48 hours from yesterday after which time classes should return to a state of normalcy.

Rambharat visited the various booths and sampled the exotic cuisine on offer.

“I sampled most of the products here and I can tell you that even though I’m very proud of the booth of my home town, Mayaro, everything here tastes first class. This was a fantastic experience and I applaud bpTT for leading the way in their role as responsible corporate citizens. They have fostered this programme which delivers a myriad of benefits, including reducing the food import bill, diversifying the economy, empowering communities and expanding our local choices,” Rambharat explained.

Thousands lined up throughout the day to savour the free samples of culinary delights developed from watermelon, pigeon peas and sweet potato by groups originating from Kernahan Village, Mayaro; Covigne, Diego Martin; and St. Barbs, Laventille.

The Living Exposition, held under the banner ‘Sustaining Communities: Building Enterprises for Community Resilience’, represents a pivotal platform in bpTT’s investment toward empowering at-risk communities across Trinidad and Tobago through the Beyond Borders programme.

Launched in 2010, the programme is implemented by The Rose Foundation and provides training in organisational development skills for groups in marginalised communities across Trinidad and Tobago.

Toco Secondary School’s Food and Nutrition teacher, Eartha Thomas, brought several of her Form Six students to experience the gastronomic magic at the expo. “I brought the students because the innovation on display here will serve them well in doing their internal assessments for exams.

We are all amazed at the versatility of the groups in transforming these ordinary products into exotic delicacies. It encourages us to stick to our local produce, which will only serve to make us healthier and wealthier as a nation,” Thomas explained.

Explaining the company’s involvement was Ronda Francis, Corporate Responsibility Manager, bpTT, “The initial stage of this programme was focused on formalising the various community groups, identifying their strengths, and developing their institutional capacity through training.

This expo is a representation of the evolution of the programme where these communities have found their areas of expertise and enterprise, and are now ready to market their products to consumers.

Not only will this bring sustainable benefits to their communities, it will also add value on a national level.” By the end of the day, some 14,000 samples were distributed by the various groups and consisted of products such as watermelon bread and salsa, sweet potato cheese and ice cream, pigeon peas pizza and pastelles and various beverages created from the three selected products.

The expo also featured other products that are being marketed as part of the overall Beyond Borders programme, including local wines, pepper sauce, candied fruit and oxygen infused water. All of this progress is possible because of bpTT’s vision of transforming communities toward attaining sustainability and giving them the opportunity to contribute to the economic and social health of our nation.”

The son of late former San Fernando Mayor Rakeeb Hosein recalled his father wanting him to be a doctor or lawyer but admitted for some reason unknown to him he was just obsessed with “rubbish trucks” and wanted to work in the San Fernando City Corporation.

During an address last week at a PNM public meeting in Cocoyea, San Fernando he told of a sketch drawing of a rubbish truck that earned him first place in a competition.

“Since I small, I drawing rubbish truck. In those days, the rubbish truck was a ‘roll top’ and you had to push up the sides. I draw one of those trucks and came first with that drawing.

I didn’t know what it meant,” adding that he was not a comedian for the night but telling the truth.

“I ended up in the corporation (San Fernando) in a summer job and started at the lowest level which was a tool checker. I started to check tools. I used to come to work at five o’clock in the morning and the garbage truck going out. My job was to check the tools to make sure it was on the garbage truck. It is nothing to be ashamed of. I worked at the lowest point and I am proud of it.” Hosein spoke of the boy days when his father will wake him up early on mornings to go to the Coffee Street San Fernando PNM office for the late Prime Minister Patrick Manning to clean before going to school.

Hosein continued: “I just passed Common Entrance (now SE A) for Naparima College. My father used to wake me up between half past five and six o’clock in the morning.

In those days we had a galvanize bucket, gazette paper, a mop and I used to walk from home go up there, clean the office, take the gazette paper, clean the window make sure the seat clean, everything, go back home, bathe, change and walk to school at Naparima College.” In 1978, he told the crowd, he became employed at the San Fernando City Corporation.

He worked in almost all the departments in the corporation gaining knowledge of the system as he went along and it was a chance meeting with a former PNM councillor at a funeral in Roodal Cemetery, San Fernando that he was invited to become a councillor.

As a devout Muslim who wanted to be a servant for the people, Hosein said he did not turn down the offer and in 2003 he became a councillor and never looked back.

He spoke of working closely with now Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley during his time in Opposition. In 2013 he became the mayor of San Fernando.

At the meeting, a confident Hosein boasted: “Just as I cleaned up San Fernando, I am going to clean up the whole of Trinidad now in the ministry (Local Government and Rural Development) where I am employed as the minister of Rural Development and Local Government.

I am not going to sit down in the office at Kent House. He promised to meet directly with elected mayors and chairmen and councillors.

He added: “I am going to each corporation and I am going to do what the people put us there to do. What they want, we are going to execute it.” Highlighting projects under his watch as mayor of San Fernando such as the homeless shelter, a new look Harris Promenade complete with a refurbished monument of the “Last Train to San Fernando , new public convenience, water fountain, car park and a re-designed Marabella and Mon Repos Roundabouts, Hosein said he will continue his mission of service.

Turning to Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley seated on stage, Hosein added: “I want to assure you tonight that I will not let you down and I will not let down the government and I will not let down the people of San Fernando.

Hosein said his Muslim upbringing is responsible for where he has reached today.

“It has taught me to be humble and I believe in service to humanity.” Hosein says he prays five times a day and went to Mecca in 2012 where he performed Hajj.

A police report stated that around 1.15 am yesterday, officers accompanied by their colleagues from the Arima Police Station went to a bar at Guanapo Road in Arima and found the establishment to be in excess of the required decibel level and as such, was disturbing the peace. The owner was ordered to stop playing all music.

An hour earlier the officers had visited a bar at Gandhi Village, Arouca and the owner was also found to be in breach of the noise control rules. The music was also stopped. At the time, officers said both places were crowded with patrons.

EMA officers said business owners found in breach of the law could end up being prosecuted and advised residents to notify them of the lawbreakers.

Theophilus Bourne scored a brace to lead Carapichaima East to a crushing 5-0 win over Gasparillo in the Central Zone final at the Ato Boldon Stadium in Couva. Daniel Pascal got the ball rolling for Carapichaima East with a 22nd minute strike before Bourne got his first in the 29th.

A late burst in the final 15 minutes guided Carapichaima to the title in style. In the 75th minute Bourne got his second item, Elijah King found the back of the net in the 78th minute and Akiem Albert completed the match with an 82nd minute strike. Before the Boys Central Zone final Penal got past Carapichaima East 4-2 to lift the Girls Intercol title. In the East Zone Final, San Juan North and St Augustine locked horns at the Larry Gomes Stadium in Arima. The match was expected to be competitive as both teams competed in the Premier League earlier this season. The contest lived up to expectation with San Juan North edging the “Green Machine” 2-1. At the Dwight Yorke Stadium in Bacolet, Tobago, Signal Hill defeated Speyside 6-5 on penalties after the match ended in a 0-0 stalemate.

Signal Hill goalkeeper Ngeri Fermin had an excellent match which included a point blank save to help his team force a penalty shootout.

The Merlin Samlalsingh- owned chestnut son of Performing Magic/ Sea Treaty put down a good gallop over 1200 metres, on Sunday morning, which was clocked in one minute 14.2 seconds.

Also having the engagement, Black Onyx, who was fourth in the Derby, had a good spin over 1000 metres timed in one minute 04.1 seconds.

Crown The King, a disappointing p;re=- race favourite in the Derby, was clocked in 52.3 seconds over 800 metres The 2014 Derby winner Momentum, returning after a short rest, galloped 800 metres clocked in 51.0 seconds.

Two-year-old Set Sail who came within .04 seconds of equalling the track record (59 seconds) when winning the Nursery Stakes, her only start over 1000 metres by an emphatic 10 1/;2 lengths, had a solid gallop over 800 metres timed in 48.3 seconds.

But the gallop of the morning came from Thisonesforron, who was timed in one minute 00.2 seconds over 1000 metres.

Meanwhile, sprint champion Whisper Light and Glenn Mendez stablemate Control Unit were clocked in 48.0 seconds for a 800 metres gallop from the boxes yesterday.

Yesterday’s selected gallops: 400 METRES: GOLDEN CHOICE – 25.2 Good.

600 METRES: ACTUS REUS – 38.3 Good; HURRICANE HARRY, SANNIA – 39.4 Good; I’MMISSINGHIGHBURY – 40.1 Handy.

800 METRES: CONTROL UNIT, WHISPER LIGHT – 48.0 Good (Boxes); DARK TREASURE, MAN TO COME- 52.2 Handy; INTEGRITY – 52.2 Handy; PEACE N GLORY – 53.1 Handy.

Selected gallops on Sunday:

400 METRES: CHICARITO – 23.1 Good (Boxes); MAGICAL VICTORY – 24.1 Good; SET AN EXAMPLE – 24.1 Good; SINGLE BULLET – 25.3 Good; SORAYAH – 25.0 Good; SPONTANEOUS – 24.4 Good.

600 METRES: ALWAYS READY – 37.1 Good; BLIND DATE – 36.2 Good; BO BO YAO – 38.2 Good; CLASS ACT – 38.4 Good; G E T – AWAY 0 39.3 Handy; JACOB’S DREAM – 36.4 Good; JESSE’S GIRL – 36.3 Good; JUST HONEST – 37.2 Good; LORD SILVER – 37.2 Good; MILITARY MAN – 38.4 Good; REBECCA’S WORLD – 37.1 Good; ROUGH’N TUMBLE – 36.3 Good; SERENGETI – 37.2 Good; SIAN’S LEGACY, STATE OF GRACE – 37.1 Good; WELL CONNECTED – 36.3 Good; WRONGFULLY ACCUSED – 37.0 Good.

800 METRES: BERGERON RODEO – 48.1 Goos: BLUE BAYOU – 51.4 Good; BLUE ORACLE – 51.4 Good; CROWN THE KING – 52.2 Handy;DELIGHTFUL – 53.1 Handy; EAGLE LANDING – 50.1 Good; HOLY MAN – 48.1 Good; JOHNYGOTLUCKEY – 51.4 Good; LADY KATE – 53.3 Handy; MOMENTUM – 51.0 Good; MONEY MATTERS – 53.4 Handy; SEA OF GDANSK – 50.2 Good; SET SAIL – 48.3Good; SHINING LIGHT – 53.3 Handy.

1000 METRES: BIG FIVE O – 1:07.1 Handy; BLACK ONYX – 1:04.1 Good; ERRAZURIZ, GOLIATH’S BOY – 1:04.3 Good; LADY FELISHA – 1:03.2 Good:MAIN SAIL – 1:03.2 Good; RAEVEN RENAE – 1:02.2Good; THISONESFORRON – 1:00.2 Good; 1 2 0 0 METRES: ACADEMY AWARD Breezed 6F in 1:14.2 Good.

Newsday spoke with event organiser and fashion designer Kerby Young last week about the fusion event and his career from his business place in Curepe.

The 31-year-old Guyanese began in the fashion industry in Guyana in 2005 and his first show was called “Colours of the Caribbean”.

He described his aesthetic as “colourful, Caribbean, easy-breezy type of garments”.

He migrated to Trinidad in 2008 and started developing his skills in makeup, photography and jewelry making. His designs were featured in a number of shows including San Fernando Fashion Week. His last showing was for the Independence Fashion Show in Guayaguayare.

On the show Young explained he has been involved in the performing and creative arts and, “I wanted to fuse together everything and make it into like one package.

That if you are an artist or you’re involved in the arts something when you come to the show must captivate you.” He chose the name The Art Gallery because at an art gallery you form your own perceptions of the pieces that you would see and this is the “vibes” he wants people to get at the show.

The show features three visual artists: Princess Charles, better known as Avianne, Shakellah Mungo and Omar Jarra. On his choice of the artists, Young explained that when he was he was younger he never had anyone to mentor him or give him opportunities. He reported that other artists wanted to be a part of the show but he feels but they were already established and the event would do more for the three of them.

“Introduce Trinidad and Tobago to the up and coming (artists),” he added.

Charles, 21, from Petit Valley, wanted to do art since she was age five. She attended Corpus Christi College and was introduced to art in form two. When the art teacher left in form three she had to “look elsewhere” and discovered the St Joseph School of Art and studied at the Cambridge level.

She entered a couple of art competitions and was introduced to the Art Society and held a show with them last month entitled Observations.

Charles recently found out that she has depression “which kind of motivated me to paint about mental health and what can possibly affect that”. Her topics include racism, sexism and misogyny.

“It sort of sends a message because that is what I want people to get. I want people to see things they remain oblivious to most of the time. So that is what I am basing my work on for this show,” she said.

On her style Charles said that it varies and it is not necessarily abstract or realism but a mixture. She works in acrylic but prefers watercolours. For The Art Gallery she will be presenting six pieces, all acrylic, and pieces that previously featured in her Observation show.

On being part of the art fusion, Charles said: “It will be very eye-opening to see the talent because a lot of the times they don’t expose much talent especially between young artists in Trinidad. You kind of have to fight to get stuff in the spotlight.

Fellow artist Mungo, 15, of Diego Martin, said she has always loved the arts and it is one of her talents; her others are dance and modelling. From the time she started to write she was drawing. She attends Diego Martin Central Secondary, where she is in form four, and has been studying art.

On her artistic style, Mungo said she is still trying to figure it out.

She tries different things and used “mixed media”: pens, glitter and “anything I could find to fit into the painting I would put it. She works in both water colour and acrylic and the theme of her pieces is “The New Beginning”.

“I like to do things that people see different things from it. If I draw something I don’t want it to have one meaning to it,” she explained.

Mungo has shown her art in school and in 2015 placed fourth in a competition for a Blue Water calendar and had her work featured in it.

Jarra, 18, is from the West African country of Gambia but migrated to Trinidad at age seven with his doctor father.

He explained that he has always been artistic and started to take it seriously while attending ASJA Boys College in Charlieville where he was encouraged by art teacher Eden Bissoon.

He started with acrylic and did a lot of abstract and surrealism and also likes realism.

He really enjoys faces and “loves” eyes.

“I feel like eyes are so magical and so beautiful to look at,” he said.

His six pieces will fall under the theme Joined Perception which is about having a feeling and connecting to a certain thing. This will be Jarra’s first time showing his work and he is “very excited”. On the arts fusion he said that he feels very privileged to be a part of it.

“The arts is basically who I am,” he explained.

Young said The Art Gallery will feature more than 40 models in a “long version” of the mannequin challenge holding the pieces and being an extension of them. The event will climax with the runway show featuring jazz and soul singer Nataki Lendor.

Venue is the Open Oasis, Simone Avenue, Arima at 7 pm. It is a cocktail event and attendees can dress in black or white. For more info 323-4805.

Our pituitary gland is the master of all glands since its hormones act as the trigger for the other glands to produce their own hormones.

The main pituitary hormones that affect hair growth include: Thyroid Stimulat- ing Hormone (TSH) Adrenocorticotropic Hormone (ACTH) Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) Melanocyte Stimulating Hormone (MSH) and Thyrotropin Releasing Hormone (TRH) Somatotropin Hormone (ST H) Corticotropin Releasing Factor (CRF) Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH): The TS H activates your thyroid glands to secrete the hormones needed for cellular metabolism.

In a previous article, I explained the relationship between thyroid glands and hair growth. The thyroid hormones are responsible for providing nourishment to your cells. If there is a decrease in the TS H level, your thyroid will not function effectively, thereby preventing equal distribution of nutrients to the other parts of your body, including your hair. A TS H-related hair loss will make your hair dry, brittle, slow growing, with bald patches.

So now you see, the importance of the TS H to hair growth. I have had many clients whose main problem is that of a malfunctioning thyroid.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone (ACTH): This stimulates your adrenal glands to secrete the stress hormone called cortisol. Cortisol is an important hormone because it regulates our body’s response to stress. Under normal condition, when there is too much cortisol in the blood, the pituitary gland stops producing ACTH.

However, if you have a dysfunctional pituitary gland, the production of ACTH will continue.

Thus, triggering your adrenal glands to secrete excess cortisol.

If too much cortisol is in the blood for an extended period of time, your adrenal gland will experience fatigue.

This type of hormonal imbalance will also affect the body’s ability to produce other hormones like the androgen, which regulates hair growth during and after puberty.

This can manifest itself through circular, patchy hair loss, and balding. You may also experience non-age related graying of the hair. Now, think about it, take a look around, and see how many persons, whom you know, may be experiencing the similar symptoms.

Over the period of these articles, you would have noticed that information related to these two glands, adrenal and thyroid, has been repeated. This indicates how important they are in fostering healthy hair and scalp. I have found it necessary to repeat information about these glands, as I have been continuously seeing individuals, who are experiencing hair and scalp issues, and fail to understand how these issues relate to their medical condition. We must remember hormones are chemical messengers that send different signals to the various areas of our body to ensure our health.

Next week, we will explore the Follicle Melanocyte Stimulating Hormone (MSH) and Thyrotropin Releasing Hormone (TRH), Somatotropin Hormone (ST H) and Corticotropin Releasing Factor (CRF).

Remember that all these hormones are controlled by the pituitary gland, which is the master gland of the endocrine system and plays and important role in maintaining healthy hair and scalp.

Germaine Williams Beckles is a doctor of trichology (DT TECT) and nutrition consultant (NC), Rayogee Wellness Lifestyle, Woodbrook, geesexclusive.com. Email your questions to queries@ geesexclusive.com or contact: 627-4659.