Invisibilising and demeaning ancestral traditions so as to dehumanise the subjected is a main characteristic of colonial rule. So the need to guard against acts of prejudice against diverse religious, political views and sexual orientation is essential.

But since a lot of the problems and challenges we are confronting emanated from ideas of racial/ cultural superiority wrapped in a cloak of science and, more so, religion, we need to robustly deconstruct all the institutions and ideas that were imposed on us.

This is vital if we are to develop the self-confidence that is needed to make it through the challenges ahead. There is no avoiding it (though many of us really try to).

True we have had our calypsonians and the satirical ole mas traditions, but it must be done on all fronts and so the academic fields also have their role.

I am saying all this because when I listen to the advertisement of the Equal Opportunities Commission, I’m not sure that the framers of the Act itself thought things all the way through.

For all the good religion can do, it also can be very dangerous and right now we are living in extremely dangerous times. Much of the current conflicts and threats to the environment stem from fundamentalist (and/or hubristic) interpretations of religious dictates that are just secular cultural ideas given a veneer of divine authority.

Far too many important, critical decisions are being made; too many progressive public policies are being held hostage because of the continued influence of de-contextualised, mistranslated myths peddled as the divine instructions of some other-worldly entity. Witness the recent spectacle of the US presidential election and the way Christians and Muslims voted on both sides, believing that either the Democratic or Republican parties represented the values they want projected.

In TT we inherited a culture of unquestioning conformity to authority that was elitist, bigoted, self-serving and often incompetent.

Religion was the principal institution that ensured this conformity through ideas of natural inferiority and worthlessness that largely European and North American missionaries transmitted.

However, many religious leaders from Islam and Hinduism have been just as culpable even as they provided much-needed counter-narratives. So we clearly need to have robust probing conversations that deconstruct these teachings. However, it will not be pleasant; there has to be a certain degree of confrontation that will include language considered disrespectful to religious sensibilities.

Did the framers of the Equal Opportunities Act, who I am sure had the noblest of intentions, think about this? Or is it that religion cannot to be touched and atheists, agnostics and free-thinkers like myself are unfit to contribute to a more cohesive society?

COREY GILKES La Romaine

It must take a considerable amount of courage to make such a call, but just as importantly it shows how out of touch the commissioner is with the views of the public.

In the present circumstances, does the commissioner believe the public has any faith in the police? Any poll done today would show that confidence in the police is at its lowest and despite the recent developments with respect to police officers facing the courts for a variety of crimes, there is little evidence this will change soon.

The commissioner has to start the process of creating an environment which builds the confidence of the public that police officers will behave professionally and ethically at all times and will face sanctions when they do not.

And this has to be an ongoing process which will not lose steam as soon as the public’s attention is diverted elsewhere. No promises or fancy language is going to succeed without the will to make this happen.

Take the necessary action and ensure continuity and over a period of time it will happen. Anything else is just spinning top in mud.

KARAN MAHABIRSINGH Carapichaima

And with just over one week to go before the poll, the ruling People’s National Movement (PNM) and the United National Congress (UNC), despite reports of internal wrangling and defections in both entities, are pulling out the stops through walkabouts and cottage meetings in a bid to win the corporation.

In fact, the campaign for control of the corporation has been anything but dull.

In an especially shocking scenario, Rajkumar Bhagaloo, who sat in the SGRC Chamber as the UNC councillor for Cumuto/Tamana during the 2013-2016 term, became the PNM’s choice for the area despite an expressed willingness by several die-hard activists to contest the electoral district. The move was said to have been strategic.

Similarly, Sangre Grande businessman Anil Juteram, once a PNM member, has again gone to the UNC as the candidate for Vega de Oropouche.

Juteram, who was expelled from the PNM in September, following the news that he had offered himself as a candidate for the UNC, said he was ready to give back by serving constituents in the Parliament.

“Being a person interacting with the community for a number of years, people of all ethnic and political persuasions, I think it is very critical, the crossroads we are at in Trinidad to come out to serve in a patriotic fashion,” he told Sunday Newsday.

“Even those who may not be in support of me or my political party, I am still going to work in their best interests.” Juteram, who had unsuccessfully contested the then Toco/Manzanilla seat twice for the UNC in 2001 and 2002, said he was concerned about uniting the constituency.

“At the end of the day, we are not concerned about the division in society but we are concerned with uniting our region under one umbrella to make it a more progressive and safer environment for every Sangre Grande resident,” he said.

Also crossing the floor are former UNC councillors Debbie Harris and Ravi Lakhan, who are representing the Sangre Grande South and Vega de Oropouche electoral districts, respectively, as members of the National Solidarity Assembly (NSA), the newest political entity in the fray.

Harris said serious queries in the UNC’s process to select candidates for the election caused her and others to sever ties with the party.

“I was a member for 19 years, serving at the party group and at the level of the constituency executive and I have paid my dues,” she said. “But when the selection was made, they chose Kennick Seupaul, who was the ILP’s candidate in 2013. The UNC also did the same thing in Manzanilla by putting up someone (Kenwyn Phillip) who was the ILP’s candidate in 2013.” Harris said Lakhan also has been replaced by Juteram She claimed that in the Sangre Grande South electoral district, Kennick Seupaul was never screened with the rest of the candidates.

“He was chosen before the candidates were presented. That is not transparent and it was an insult to those who really went through the proper channels. If that is how we handle things I don’t want to be apart off that.” Asked why she joined the NSA, Harris said she welcomed the party’s philosophy of meaningful inclusion as opposed to politics based on race and party affiliation.

“Race must stop being an issue in the country. It is always an issue ever since I was growing up and it must stop,” she insisted.

“We have to look now at country and community first. Serve all.

That is the mantra of the NSA and that is my passion.” The NSA, which emerged out of the All Trinidad General Workers Trade Union (ATGWTU), is contesting five of the eight electoral districts in the corporation: Sangre Grande North East; Vega de Oropouche; Sangre Grande South; Sangre Grande North West and Manzanilla. The party’s political leader Nirvan Maharaj told Sunday Newsday that the decision to contest the SGRC was strategic.

“Sangre Grande is the perfect place to test the waters by giving the people an alternative,” he said.

“No one political party has a divine right to support. The UNC and PNM do not own anyone’s vote.

Maharaj observed the UNC and PNM were “almost equal in strength” at the corporation – a scenario which, he felt, augured well or the NSA.

“We are offering voters a new vision based on issues rather than skin colour. We are encouraging people to vote on nationalism and patriotism rather than party.” He, however, acknowledged the magnitude of the task at hand.

“We do not have any delusion of grandeur. We know it s a huge task to change patterns of voting but we are hoping for a new dawn to see the dynamics change,” Maharaj said.

The PNM currently controls five of the eight electoral districts in the corporation, which serves residents in the largely rural Toco/ Sangre Grande and Cumuto/Manzanilla constituencies.

It was one of eight corporations which the PNM won in the 2013 Local Government Election.

Following Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley’s announcement of the Local Government Election date in October, UNC chairman David Lee said the party hoped to increase its standing with an outright win the SGRC.

Rowley also has urged supporters to help the PNM retain control of the corporation. The PNM’s slate includes veteran Martin Terry Rondon, sitting SGRC chairman, who is again contesting the Toco/Fishing Pond electoral district and Soca Warrior footballer Anthony Wolfe, the candidate for Manzanilla.

Yesterday, Rondon was confident that the PNM will retain the corporation.

“We are going to take back the corporation because we have unfinished work to complete and our candidates are of high of a high calibre,” he said.

Rondon said the candidates were very excited at the proposed Local Government reform and its implications for building the region.

The PNM holds its final meeting of the campaign in Sangre Grande on Friday.

Former Cumuto/Manzanilla MP Collin Partap regarded the corporation as “a marker” for the rest of the country.

“How Sangre Grande goes, so does the mood of TT,” he said.

“Sangre Grande has all the components of the country – a good ethnic, social and economic mix. It is a microcosm of TT.” Partap, who served the constituency from 2010 to 2015, could not predict a clear winner in the race fro the corporation but said the outcome could change the political dynamics.

“The PNM actually has it right now but if they lose they could go from eight corporations to seven and the UNC, if they win, can go from having six corporations currently to seven.” Partap observed that former Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar also had taken a keen interest in the corporation when she hosted cottage meetings and walkabouts in the area a few weeks ago.

“As prime minister, she never did that,” he said.

On this occasion, though, Partap claimed there was some discontent among UNC loyalists with respect to the candidates that were selected.

The party’s slate includes three former ILP candidates.

“This has led to some councillors saying that they want nothing to do with the UNC,” he said.

Partap felt the NSA, as a third party in the fight, could affect traditional UNC votes.

PNM general secretary Ashton Ford said the corporation has long been one that could go either to the PNM or UNC in elections, hence the reason for the intense attention by both parties.

“It is definitely an area to watch,” he said, noting the PNM has opted traditionally to end its campaigns in Sangre Grande.

Former PNM minister Overand Padmore agreed the corporation has played a decisive role in the fortunes of political parties but said he never got the impression that it was a “jewel in the crown” for the PNM.

Responding to a question in Parliament on Friday, Rowley said this was in keeping with Civil Service regulations where the Foreign and Caricom Affairs Ministry is concerned.

Rowley also indicated that expressions of interest regarding the Couva Children’s Hospital have been put out and this will determine the use to which the facility, built under the former People’s Partnership (PP) is put to use.

Rowley reiterated that the People’s National Movement (PNM) did not take delivery of the hospital until July 25 and it was a construction site until that time. He also recalled that former prime minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar opened the hospital ahead of last September’s general elections, although it was not complete. The Prime Minister also said Government is paying legitimate debts owed to contractors and rejecting illegitimate ones.

He said the Economic Advisory Development Board has issued seven notes to Government on economic matters, manufacturing is one of several areas which Government is looking at in terms of economic diversification. Rowley also said statements regarding the Mitsubishi petrochemical plant and the cost of airlift to Tobago would be made at later dates.

In making this comment on Friday in the House of Representatives, Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley said Government would be willinng to review the subvention given to groups such as Vision on Mission that play an invaluable role in, “maintaining national security.” Rowley said there is a difference between deportees and TT nationals who return home from the US on their own volition. He explained the former are subject to the US judicial process and, “protocols have been in place prior to the arrival of (US President elect) Donald Trump” to deal with them. On the latter, Rowley said they are, “free to come and go as they wish.” During a People’s National Movement (PNM) walkabout in St Joseph on Monday, Rowley said Government is keeping “a very close eye” on Trump’s statement that he plans to deport some three million undocumented immigrants from the US, after he assumes office in January.

At that time, Education Minister Anthony Garcia said from August, all students currently enrolled in programmes which fall under the GATE Programme will continue to receive funding for their entire programmes. Students registered to begin programmes this year, will be fully funded for the 2016-2017 academic year.

However, from August, persons over 50 years will no longer be eligible for GATE funding.

Also effective from this month, Government will discontinue funding of new students in the medical programme at St George’s University (SGU) in Grenada. From the 2017-2018 academic year and beyond, students whose household income fall below $10,000 will be eligible for 100 percent GATE funding. This will be determined by means testing.

For household incomes over $10,000, students will have to pay 25 percent of their tuition fees. Students from households whose income is over $30,000 will have to pay 50 percent of tuition fees.

Government will increase the loan ceiling for students at local institutions to $35,000 annually while the loan ceiling for students at regional institutions will remain at $75,000 annually. Government will also establish a National Education Savings Fund, into which the private sector will be encouraged to make contributions, through tax incentives

Overlooked Trinidad and Tobago internationals Andre Toussaint and Hughtun Hector, and Dominica’s Briel Thomas, all scored in the first half to guide the Stuart Charles Fevrier coached-Connection to their fourth consecutive league win.

Two-time defending league champions, Central FC, also on 16 points, but second to Connection’s superior goal-difference, had the chance to regain the lead when they took on bottom-placed Point Fortin Civic in the second game of last evening’s double-header at the Mahaica Oval, while third-placed San Juan Jabloteh, on 15 points, welcome St Ann’s Rangers from 4 pm in Barataria today.

Also yesterday, Ma Pau Stars will take on Defence Force from 4pm at the Mahaica Oval.

Club Sando, playing at home for the first time since joining the Pro League in 2015, snapped a threegame winless run in all competitions with a 2-1 win over Police FC in the second game of Friday’s double-header.

Akeem Humphrey snatched the winner in the 64th-minute to earn the Angus Eve-coached Sando their second league win of the 2016-2017 campaign to hurdle First Citizens Cup 2016 semi-finalists Police and Morvant Caledonia to occupy sixth position with seven points.

Kevon Piper had given Sando a 17th-minute lead against the run of play, hitting into a vacant net on a rebound after a Keithy Simpson attempt crashed off goalkeeper Adrian Foncette’s crossbar.

But Police equalised three minutes from the half when defender Dexter Alleyne headed past Kelvin Henry from close up after the Sando ‘keeper had flung himself to keep out an initial attempt from Todd Ryan off a Kenaz Williams cross.

However, after absorbing numerous raids by Police on a muddy but grass-covered surface, the hosts were back in front following a sublime Humphrey item. Set free on goal by a Piper pass from the middle, Humphrey raced into the area and touched the ball beyond an advancing Foncette before hitting into the open net for what turned out the Sando winner and Police’s fifth consecutive league loss.

Earlier Connection, who were ousted in the First Citizens Cup quarters last weekend, got off to a flyer when Toussaint slid in to fire the “Savonetta Boys” ahead with a third-minute goal. The veteran attacker met a low Dimitrie Apai cross to beat Morvant Caledonia goalkeeper Stephon Seepersad for his fourth league goal this season.

Then on 27 minutes Hector, who was denied earlier by Seepersad, doubled Connection’s lead with a composed finish in a one-on-one with the goalie following a breakaway move Aikim Andrews.

Seepersad was hung out to dry again by his defence and Briel Thomas smashed in Connection’s third goal a minute before the break after Morvant Caledonia failed to clear on a corner kick.

Morvant Caledonia, who are now winless in six straight league appearances, did, however, find a consolation item in the 90th-minute though defender Seon Thomas, who smashed his effort beyond Connection goalie Terrence Lewis

The 21-year-old slammed a stroke-filled topscore of 65 as the hosts, responding to Pride’s first innings of 242, were dismissed for 168 in the second round encounter at Queen’s Park Oval.

Opener Imran Khan made 35 but no other batsman made it past 20 as off-spinner Kenroy Williams claimed three for 21 to lead the attack.

Seamers Kevin Stoute (2-29) and Justin Greaves (2-38) supported with two wickets apiece. Armed with a lead of 74, Pride finished the day on 20 without loss to head into the penultimate day 94 runs to the good.

Resuming the day on 214 for seven, Pride added a further 28 runs before they were dismissed in the second hour of the morning session.

Jamaican left-arm seamer Sheldon Cottrell claimed all three wickets to fall to finish with three for 27 while leg-spinner Imran Khan picked up three for 61.

Red Force then lost Barbadian opener Kyle Hope for eight just before the break to stumble to lunch on 18 for one. Yannic Cariah, unbeaten on one at the interval, fell in the second over following the resumption after adding four, LBW to Greaves but Imran Khan and captain Yannick Ottley (13) put on 34 for the third wicket to stabilise the innings.

The right-handed Imran Khan had struck six fours in a 69-ball knock when he was LBW to captain Stoute, leading to a slide where three wickets tumbled for 26 runs.

Tottering on 91 for five, Red Force were rescued by Primus who spearheaded a 44-run, sixth wicket stand with debutant 19-year-old Jyd Goolie who made 18.

Primus lashed five fours and five sixes in an entertaining 78-ball knock which helped Red Force put a resistance well into the first hour after tea.

Once Goolie was LBW to Williams, however, Red Force lost their last five wickets for 33 runs, with Jeremy Solozano unable to bat.

Timba, the music of Cuba (akin to our soca), is a fusion mix of African, Spanish and French rhythms and was something that Ecliff found himself listening to and enjoying while deciding on the direction for this next collection.

On researching further into it, he settled on the idea that his collection would have a story to tell, an area he says that many local collections fall short on.

“You must tell a story.

Someone looking at the collection as an abstract may think that there is a fractal or disjointed aspect to it. But someone coming to the show, this Tuesday, would see how it ties in and really get to understanding that we have channelled the timba music of Cuba in all its ways using those heritage influences of the France, Spain and Africa,” Elie explains.

The collection is extensive and will be one of his largest yet, carrying the wearer from as varied locations as the beach to the nightclub.

It’s eye-popping without being alarmist and conveys a millennial- bohemian chic that is difficult to capture let alone create. More than that too, as he explains, the collection draws elements of architecture from Cuba in terms of its cuts and lines and is ‘climate- appropriate’ for local men to wear.

“We have as always paid attention to the materials we design with and made sure that this is thread-count appropriate for where we live,” he adds.

Not that Ecliff Elie is limited to TT’s male market. The designer has buyers and shoppers from around the world with repeat interest coming out of locations as varied as London, New York, Paris, Belgium Switzerland and Belgium among others.

He also has locations in St Vincent and St Lucia, in addition to Arima and Port-of-Spain locally, and will in the next year focus on aggressive expansion to the Bahamas, Barbados, St Maarten and US Virgin Islands.

This success is largely due to the man behind the vision – who has stuck to the tried and true formula of working with a business plan and pushing it through with sheer hard work.

Elie has also always been a savvy businessman in addition to being the chief creator and for the last few years smartly offered two collections. The first in the earlier part of the year focuses on the ‘heavier stuff ’ as he puts it – the stuff he’s known for, such as suits and blazers.

The second one, held in October or November is intended to capture the all-inclusive fetes and events between December and Carnival, a smart position that has worked remarkably well.

Elie believes in men’s fashion and not simply having men come in for one off purchases.

He truly believes that clothing is an investment in yourself and also offers image consultancy from everybody ranging from the CEO to the student looking for their first job.

“You should not seek to simply purchase as-needed before events. You really should look to come in and we find a date that we look to launch the new ‘you’. We have a launch date that we set and during that time we will work to accommodate however it works for you. You have to see clothing as an extension of your own personal brand,” he advises.

“Men are taking more pride in the way they dress with a focus on more trendy and stylish accessories; so as an industry, men’s fashion is growing locally and internationally as well.” Tickets are limited as the show will be an intimate one, with celebrity models ranging from Kenwyne Jones to Roadie, Kes, Sunny Bling and Shurwayne Winchester, just to name a few.

Visit ecliffelie.com or the brands on Facebook and Instagram for more info and tickets.

The 2016 Old Hilarians’ People’s Choice Honouree has taken a herbal personal care products line, Cher Mere, and tailor-made it for a Canadian client?le who never before had a grooming choice for their natural hair and body. And she keeps it environmentally friendly.

“At Cher Mere we try to be environmentally friendly, we use solar panels in our processes, post-consumer recyclable products, natural ingredients. In Canada our spa is powered by green power from solar and wind energy,” Bowles-Mortley tells Sunday Newsday.

The Cher Mere line is wellknown locally, being the brainchild of her mother, bio-chemist Cheryl Bowles.

The business spans from Cher Mere Herbal Personal Care Products out of The Herbarium to Cher Mere Spas in Trinidad and Barbados.

Bowles-Mortley has joined her mother in the production of the Cher Mere products and is today responsible for the introduction of the Cher Mere INatural line specifically created for natural hair grooming.

The products are natural, organic based and the line is based on the LOC system for natural hair treatment, but users are free to create new combinations for their hair. LOC reads: (L) moisturise hair with INatural conditioner (water based); (O) Seal with INatural conditioning oil to lock in moisture; (C) cream with INatural curling butter to define curls and protect the hair.

Bowles-Mortley, who grew up in Tacarigua and now lives in Kingston, Ontario, credits her interest in science to her years as a student of Bishop Anstey High School (BAHS), remembering when her then principal Pat Rudell introduced Environmental Studies to the curriculum while she was in Form Three.

“It was the first time the curriculum allowed it in BAHS. This sat with me and is part of who I am, example, in business my family owns Cher-Mere Products and day spas, started by my mom 30 years ago. I am now carrying the flame and my goal is to internationalise the brand.

I opened Cher Mere Day Spa Canada and we are in discussion with a box store in Canada to take our products.

“At Cher Mere we try to be environmentally-friendly, we use solar panels in our processes, post-consumer recyclable products, natural ingredients. In Canada our spa is powered by Green power from solar and wind energy. This is something Ms Rudell instilled in me – that we are part of the earth, borrowing it and leaving it for our children.

We have to take a stance to be accountable for things and to try to make a difference when you can.

I am grateful to Ms Rudell for instilling this in Form 3 which is useful even now.” Bowles-Mortley’s academic achievements are also stellar. She obtained a Bachelor of Science in Engineering Chemistry at Queen’s University in Kingston, a Masters and Doctor of Philosophy in Chemical and Materials Engineering from the Royal Military College of Canada (RMC) also in Kingston, after which in 2010, she was presented with the Governor General of Canada’s Gold Medal by Michaelle Jean, Governor General of Canada, for highest academic standing in a graduate degree programme in her institution.

Following this ceremony, Bowles-Mortley received the RE Jervis Award at the Canadian Nuclear Achievement Awards in Montreal from Elodor Nichita, a member of the Canadian Nuclear Society for having successfully completed an eight year graduate research programme on addressing the issue of radioactive waste management, concentrating on the design of containers intended to isolate radioactive materials from the biosphere for several centuries.

A director of The Herbarium Limited in Trinidad and Barbados and assistant general manager in Trinidad, Bowles-Mortley opened Cher Mere Canada in 2013 and is involved in a number of corporate social responsibility (CSR) projects through her organisation. She is married to Canadian Ted Bailey, and with their four children live in Kingston, Ontario.

As an active member in her community, Bowles-Mortley’s awards include Volunteer Service Awards for five-year service and dedication as a volunteer in Ontario in 2010, Member of the Youth Justice Committee by the Ministry of the Attorney General, 2011 and the Andrea Van Blaricom Volunteer of the Year Award, Youth Division, Kingston, Ontario in 2006.

She enjoys being healthy and staying fit, through running, boxing, and astanga yoga, and has participated in the ING Ottawa Half-Marathon; Beat Beethoven Run and the Wolfe Island 10 K Classic Run.

On receiving an award from her Trinidad alma mater, Bowles-Mortley says, “I am so honoured to receive the Hilarian’s award in the school’s 95th year, with the theme ‘Let’s celebrate’.

I did not expect it. There are so many wonderful women who have come through these doors and I am so inspired that I have been chosen.”