Yorke-Soo Hon will act as Chief Justice from today to August 14 after which Justice of Appeal Allan Mendonca will take over the acting reigns from August 15 to August 19.

Archie, a statement from the Judiciary said, was invited to the tour by the Embassy of the United States in Port of Spain. The tour will take Archie and other participants to Washington, DC, and Williamsburg, Virginia, and is hosted by the National Centre for State Courts.

The tour ends on August 12.

According to the Judiciary, the CJ’s participation in the study tour was in keeping with the Judiciary’s continued committment to advancing reforms in the criminal justice arena as it pertains to technological innovation. The statement also said the tour was part of a continued partnership on security affairs between the US and T&T.

“It also focuses on engendering and displaying further support to build the investigative and procedural capacity of the Judiciary of Trinidad and Tobago as it manages developing patterns in cybercrime, money-laundering an related crimes,” the statement said.

A professional overview of the different forensic processes and the applications of digital evidence used in complex investigations and the unique legal and investigative issues raised by emerging computer and telecommunications technologies will be explored.

The Chief Justice is expected to benefit from advance specialised training and networks through meetings with judges who possess vast experience in the focused areas of digital evidence, comp; uter and intellectual property crimes, cyber crime trials and social media intelligence.

“The Digital Evidence and Cyber Forensics Study Tour incorporates visits to the US Justice Department’s omputer Crime and Intellectual Property Section which is responsible for implementing US national strategies in combatting computer and intellectual property crimes worldwide; the William and Mary law School/Centre for Legal and Court Technology which is dedicated to advancing the efficent use of technology in the administration of justice and the advancement of appropriate technology in courtrooms, as well as an opportunity to observe cybercrime trials involved computer- based wire fraud, money laundering and online scams.

The woman, Neera Bajan, 45, is currently warded in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the San Fernando General Hospital (SFGH) in critical, but stable condition.

A police report said Bajan was in the living room of her home when she was approached by a 36 -yearold male relative.

An argument started and things escalated quickly with each of them shouting and hurling allegations against each other. Police said the man left the house and returned with a gun which he pointed at Bajan and shot her in the face.

The woman’s two young children were at a relative’s home at the time of the shooting. When Bajan was shot, she began to bleed profusely and according to the police report, the male relative fled the house.

Police said the suspect also lives at Diaz Road. Neighbours, who were alerted to the commotion, contacted Emergency Health Services and shortly after an abulance arrived on the scene. Police said Bajan, who sustained a gun shot wound to the face, was taken to the Couva Health Facility and subsequently transferred to the SFGH. She underwent surgery and was warded in the hospital’s Intensive Care Unit. An hour after the incident, police officers from the Brasso Police Station arrested the relative. He was taken to the police station where he was being interviewed about the incident.

Meanwhile, in a separate incident, a 24-year-old man of Oropune Gardens, Piarco, was shot to death early Saturday morning in what police believes was linked to a domestic dispute in which he intervened hours earlier.

Police reports said Keston Knights was returning home when he intervened in a domestic dispute between a couple just before midnight on Friday.

The answer to this is “No” but what has taken place is that the gap between labour and employer continues to get larger. The fact remains, if we are going to have any positive advancement in the relationship between the both parties, the gap must be a thing of the past.

There must be a compromise and both sides must listen and understand the point of view of each other. Let us call a spade a spade, our unions do not want to sit down and discuss anything if they are not having their way.

That is the wrong attitude.

So it is no big thing to try to shut down the country while losing millions running investors who are taking notice of what is taking place.

Do not think for one moment that I am in any way against unions, that is far from the truth, they are needed and are necessary.

But what happened to good old dialogue, compromise, looking at the present situation, the ability to do what is requested. All these things must be taken into consideration before hurtful action is taken against both the citizens and country at large.We all are living in trying times and we need to understand this, including our unions.

If we are going to come out of this storm, one of the key elements is learning to work together from captain to cook despite the differences.

Maturity in handling issues before us is important and that goes for all.

This is the way forward as a country and a people.

Arnold Gopeesingh San Juan

Last week’s discovery of eight Chinese nationals in an unfinished building at Charlotte Street, Port-of-Spain — a stone’s throw from the National Museum, the National Academy for the Performing Arts and the Office of the President — is hardly the first time the issue of the trafficking of Chinese workers has arisen.

For decades, and under successive administrations, there have been concerns over the conditions by which Chinese labourers have been brought into the country to build billion-dollar mega-projects. The model remains unchanged: a Chinese company, hand-picked by the Chinese state, is selected to build a grand project pursuant to a secret government-to-government agreement; Chinese laborers are brought into the country. They live under deplorable conditions: denied their pay and, therefore, left restricted as to their movement and conduct.

In the push to deepen ties between the free-trade-oriented West and China, a complex quagmire of issues has festered. These issues are ethical, economic and social.

Human trafficking is the abuse of a position of power over a worker and it is clear that this is what occurs with these foreign workers, most of whom do not speak English, are brought here.

Several of our capital’s grandest buildings have been built on the back of this practice. This is a national disgrace.

Economically, the use of Chinese labour has distorted some aspects of the local labour market.

It has made the State complicit in the perpetuation of the stereotypical claim that black Trinidadian workers are lazy and do not work. It has also given certain companies unfair advantages over local contractors, threatening their viability.

Socially, we continue to see the targeting of Chinese nationals by the criminal element, a situation that is aggravated by the xenophobia generated by unfair contract awards and the use of Chinese labour by the State.

We agree with the call by contractor Emile Elias for greater enforcement of the laws of the country. The criminal law as well as a range of labour laws are clearly being breached. When our own nationals go abroad they are subject to a range of laws and procedures. Why should we not enforce our own laws with equal fervor? It is not good enough for the State to simply raid premises and detain labourers. It must bring those responsible for their presence here to account. Who is behind what transpired at Charlotte Street? Furthermore, why were Chinese labourers still at work on the National Academy for the Performing Arts as recently as last year? Under what conditions were these workers — who resided at Charlotte Street according to reports — brought into the country? The State and its agencies, cannot turn a blind eye to the practices of contractors within its employ. It is not good enough to say, as Udecott officials have, that the labour practices of contractors is the business of those contractors.

It is hoped that enough resources are being given to the State’s Counter-Trafficking Unit.

They must be allowed to do their work freely.

It is also time that we take a look at our policy when it comes to refugees as well as the facilities that have been set up to house detainees of the State. The immigration detention centre at Piarco has been subject to many complaints.

This is opportune time for us to review our policies. We must learn lessons and act

They give their lives in exchange for the advancement of their countries when there are wars. We can offer no tangible thanks for self sacrifice.

In my estimation, trade unions had to come into being because there had to be guidelines about how we treat the working classes of the world. There had to be honour and respect for the working poor.

We do have it in TT but, when our trade unions decide that theirs is the one and only yardstick to measure success, we have a problem. Somewhere, along the way the politics of envy has invaded and is slowly poisoning the goodness of effective trade unionism and destroying worker attitudes regarding entitlement.

Out there on the ground, we have an out of control level of crime and criminality that appears to be based on envy. The expression, “’So poor as to thief” is really a poverty of thought and education.

We envy the success of others without caring how hard they worked to get their possessions.

Cars are stolen, houses broken into, money, farmers’ fruits, anything that can be moved and resold, gets taken. The must have syndrome of envy is killing us off in TT .

We have become a derisive nation. We intentionally use negative remarks to damage opponents.

Shortness of stature, blackness of skin, ugliness of face, over weight, under weight and remarks about sexuality, gender and mental capacity are thrown negatively at people to diminish them.

We need to get out the dictionary and look up the word “respect”. We also need to understand what is true self-respect because we are drowning.

There is a dangerous paucity of self belief holding back individuals.

T here is no race but the human race. All human life is reputed to have begun in Africa.

But, hear this-The face of the Sphinx in Giza, Egypt, many thousands of years old, is that of an African man.

Until the African people know their true history we will continue to self destruct and remain buried in the Sands of Time, forever.

Lynette Joseph Diego Martin

The Isuzu NPR82U CNG truck is currently available as a Demo unit to be test driven by various commercial operators, since this is the first OEM CNG Medium Duty commercial vehicle of its kind in Trinidad and Tobago (TT).

The first person to test drive the vehicle was Rishi Ramroop of 4R’s Hardware in Gasparillo.

Speaking at the vehicle handover on July 14, Southern Sales’ Managing Director, Imtiaz Ahamad, described the decision to bring a CNG truck to T&T as a “pioneering” one.

“This is an important milestone, we have been knocking on Isuzu’s door for a long time to supply this model to the region, it’s a good decision to break into the CNG commercial market segment,” Ahamad said.

While in testing, detailed data has to be compiled and submitted to Isuzu’s parent company, which will analyse the information to maximise the performance on the vehicle.

This Isuzu NPR model uses a naturally aspirated 4.5 litre four-cylinder engine, putting out 130 horse power at 3200rpm and delivering 353Nm of torque at 1400rpm.

This model has two CNG tanks which will have an approximate CNG capacity of 300 litres.

One litre of CNG costs $1.00. This model carries a tray length of 16 feet.

President of the NGC CNG Company Limited (NGC CNG), Curtis Mohammed, said he envisions success for this model of vehicle.

“NGC CNG applauds Southern Sales for taking the lead in this market segment, as TT prefers new vehicles.

The beloved story will open this year’s Trinidad and Tobago Film Festival (ttff). It is one of four TT features and over 34 local shorts that will premiere at the festival this year. A red carpet gala and screening of the adaptation, which carries the same name, will be held on September 19 at the National Academy for the Performing Arts (NAPA).

It is also the first local film by a TT director and producer to open the annual film festival.

The film was directed by Michael Mooleedhar and produced by Christian James.

Mooleedhar’s and James’ adaptation will feature Sudi Tafari (Shell), Nadia Kandhai (Rolasie), Anand Lawkaran (Mr Gidharrie), Che Rodriguez (Pa) and Dara Healy (Ma Lammy).

For Mooleedhar, opening the film festival is a dream come true. He said in a release, “I screened my first film at the ttff in 2008 and ever since the festival has been our first stop for premiering our movies, so it is truly an honour.

I always look forward to this event and this year promises to be even more special. The Green Days by the River team is excited to be sharing this film with Trinidad and Tobago and the world.” The festival’s founder, Bruce Paddington said, the film was one of 15 in development that participated in the festival’s 2015 Caribbean Film Mart. As two graduates of the University of the West Indies’ (UWI) film school, Paddington said, it was ‘a joy’ to see the Mooleedhar and James’ film happen.

For new Caribbean generations unfamiliar with the novel, Green days by the River is, “set in the idyllic countryside of 1950s Mayaro and re-tells the story of 15 year old Shell. Newly arrived in the village, he quickly gets caught between his longing to be a man, and his child-like innocence in the face of adult cunning. “With adolescent hormones raging, amidst the beauty of the local girls and the Mayaro landscape, the quiet storm that’s brewing may prove more than Shell can handle and life as he once knew it may never be the same again.” The film will also be screened at Movie Towne, San Fernando, on September 25, at 6 pm.

Tickets for the Port of Spain premiere goes on sale from August 21 and can be purchased at the NAPA box office, or ordered on line at: ttfilmfestival.com, from that date.

Mangru took two wickets for eight runs in four overs to help limit TT to 94 for nine in 20 overs.

Plaffiana Millington was the chief destroyer grabbing 4/17 in four overs. Reniece Boyce top scored for TT with 33, while Renelle Dookie pitched in with 22.

Boyce struck five fours in a 40- ball knock, while Dookie faced 20 balls and struck four fours.

Chasing a revised target of 86 in 18 overs because of rain, Guyana posted 86/3 in 17.2 overs with Mangru scoring 34.

Mangru, who cracked six fours in a 36-ball knock, was ably supported by Shabika Gajnabi who contributed an unbeaten 20. Gajnabi faced 36 deliveries and hit one four. April Ramoutar was the only wicket taker for TT , taking 3/17 in four overs.

Earlier in the day the preliminary round was completed with two matches.

At Gilbert Park in Couva, Windward Islands defeated Barbados by 10 wickets. Batting first Barbados scored 52/9, before the Windward Islands raced to 53 without loss in 7.5 overs.

Guyana got past TT by three wickets at the National Cricket Centre in Couva. TT posted 92/9, before Guyana got to the target of 93/7 in 19.4 overs.

The robbery occurred at the Kam Wong Restuarant, Eastern Main Road, Arouca at around 7.45pm. The men, who were unmasked, were armed with guns and robbed restaurant patrons of cash, cellphones and a women’s handbag. There were no reports of injuries during the incident.

One of the men was wearing a blue and white striped polo shirt, blue three-quarter pants and a blue cap while the second wore a black cap, white vest and a red three quarter-pants. A video of the incident was posted on social media on Friday morning.

Investigations are continuing.

The incident was the latest in a series of crimes where Chinese nationals, mostly business people, have been targeted.

On July 12, 57 year-old Zhang Sijiu, the driver of Chinese Ambassador Song Yumin, was snatched along Hayes Street in St Clair shortly after 7 am. A call was made to the Embassy and a $20,000 ransom demanded. Arrangements were made for the money to be dropped off at the Roxy roundabout at 11 am. However, the kidnapped was unaware that the stolen car he used to transport Zhang, was outfitted with GPS and it was intercepted and forced to come to a halt by police. Zhang was rescued and taken to hospital while the suspect was arrested and taken into custody. On June 27 businesswoman Yana Zeng, 33, was robbed and shot dead at her mini mart in Santa Cruz.

Then on June 15 businessman Shirui Zhao and his employee Yanli Gu gunned down in the car park of Kosume bar, New Haven Avenue, Marabella. On June 13 Francis Lee Lon, 67, and his wife Sylvie, 77, were robbed at their Fourth Street, Barataria home by three men. The couple handed over cash and jewellery valued at $13,530 and were tied up. They untied themselves and alerted the police. The three bandits and getaway driver were held and the stolen items recovered.

Newsday also found four separate incidents of Chinese nationals being robbed in 2016.

THE Arthur Ashe Institute for Urban Health (AAIUH), located in multi-ethnic Brooklyn, was founded in 1992 by tennis champion and humanitarian, Arthur Ashe.

Since its inception, the Institute has collaborated with community members to reduce morbidity and mortality from disease through improved access to care and increased health knowledge among the most vulnerable populations in urban, under served areas. The Institute collaborates with community members to design, incubate and replicate neighbourhood- based interventions that address health conditions that disproportionately affect minorities, reduce health disparities, improve outcomes for under served groups and better prepare a more inclusive workforce.

Every year, the AAIUH partners with Non-Governmental Organisations to carry out a research programme for secondary school students, focused on public health issues.

The Pointe-a-Pierre Wildfowl Trust has been collaborating with this organisation for the past three years and continues this year with research focused on disease outbreaks due to natural disasters.

Participating students conduct their study at the Trust, collating information from Trust visitors about their knowledge about natural disasters and their links to public health issues. Students participate in interactive presentations with Dr Maurice Frank, a veterinarian working at the Pan American Health Organisation; Trust educator Tamara Goberdhan, Trust president Molly R Gaskin and vice president Karilyn Shephard, who share wide-ranging discussions, as this programme is designed to address the social determinants of public health and their linkages, in Trinidad and Tobago.