NCC Chairman Kenny De Silva gave the assurance yesterday that there would be no recurrence of a parade of the bands without a result as was the case this year.
De Silva was speaking to band owners, masqueraders and other stakeholders at the NCC’s Queen’s Park Savannah headquarters as the commission handed out “performance” fees to bands. When the Court ruled that the results of Carnival 2003 were invalid due to a violation of the rules, the NCC was left with money which could not be legitimately distributed as prizes to the bands. The money could be utilised to pay the $700,000 lawyers fees, for injection into Carnival 2004 or for distribution to bands as “performance fees” to help in offsetting expenses and other financial obligations incurred as a result of the past parade. The commission chose the last of their three options. “We had to be careful with handing out the money, but we know that particularly the mini, small and medium bands would have made various financial commitments. In addition, all measures are being put in place to ensure that the problems with the adjudication process do not recur At no time in the future should there be a Carnival without a result!” declared De Silva.
Well known Carnival historian Ken “Sheppy” Sheppard questioned the involvement of the National Carnival Bands Association (NCBA) which he relabelled the “National Cheque Bouncers Association.” Sheppard exclaimed, “the NCBA is a glee club, a group of friends who should not be involved in our national festival!” According to the Chairman of the newly formed National Carnival Development Association, Donald Little, his organisation wishes to “make Carnival the industry that it is supposed to be. Imagine that no one has a list of the bands in Trinidad and Tobago, the constitution does not detail what a band really is. These are matters which must be addressed.”
According to both Sheppard and Little, the NCDF is presently the only registered Carnival association in Trinidad and Tobago and should be treated as such. “The NCC is the only body which is in charge of Carnival but we openly welcome the ideas of the NCDF,” added De Silva.When asked if the NCBA would continue to play the role which they have in previous Carnival celebrations, De Silva assured that there would be new rules for Carnival 2004. He did not divulge the rule changes but said that they would be circulated to the relevant parties. The “performance fees” which were distributed exceeded $300,000.
Simone Charles was crowned the sixth annual Tobago Fest Queen on Thursday at Shaw Park Cultural Complex.
The petite 15-year-old of Signal Hill, Tobago, was the obvious highlight in a less than spectacular show. Dubbed by organisers as “a show with a difference,” the annual Tobago Fest Pageant bordered between a Best Village and Tobago Heritage Festival production much to the chagrin of irate patrons, many of whom agreed that the dramatisations would have been suitable were it not a carnival- type event. This year, instead of only parading in the usual swim wear and carnival costumes, the eight contestants played an active part in the entire production. Patrons were disappointed and extremely shocked, however, when they realised that, amidst the revelry of the contestants, the crowned queen had been presented on stage with her trophy, while they sat with bated breaths for the anticipated announcement.
Pointe-a-Pierre MP Gillian Lucky has slammed Prime Minister Patrick Manning for what she dubbed his “meaningless utterances” in the face of the recent Suryadevara, Pooran and Roopnarine kidnappings, the latter which ended in the victim’s murder.
In a statement, Lucky queried Manning’s delay in sending a powerful message to criminals. She said: “Members of the business community have sent the signal that ‘enough is enough’ and have used the most diplomatic channels to send the message that this Government has failed the Nation in the fight against crime.” She dubbed Minister of National Security, How-ard Chin Lee, an “outright failure,” and alleged that he never presented his own Bills in Parliament. Lucky then advised: “Unless we can instill the fear of God in those bent on nefarious activity, the escalation in the crime rate will continue. The Government must give the resources necessary to those departments mandated to detect and prosecute criminals. Police stations, the Forensic Science Centre, and State institutions must be upgraded and staffed with their respective full complements.”
Lucky reiterated: “If Mr Manning wants to redeem himself and gain political absolution for his feeble approach to the fight against crime, then he ought to dismiss with immediate effect Minister Howard Chin Lee and replace this embarrassing appointee with a person who can get the job done.” Lucky added: “Mr Manning ought to seek legal advice from competent legal luminaries before many of the flawed and ineffectual laws are passed, as such persons obviously know more than his Attorney General.”
THERE certainly was no fighting between the executive and the judiciary when Chief Justice Sat Sharma hosted his reception to mark the formal opening of the new law term. Unlike the controversy when the Prime Minister announced that Parliament will be located to the block where the Port-of-Spain Magistrates’ Courts now exist, the Chief Justice’s party showed both men toasting to the nation and enjoying jokes.
Prime Minister Patrick Manning and his wife Hazel accepted the invitation and turned up at the reception held at the Savannah Terrace of the Hilton Trinidad on Saturday night. Even Attorney General Glenda Morean-Phillip, who was on the receiving end of the Chief Justice’s address at the law term opening earlier this month, put aside any differences and attended the function with her husband. Sir Timothy Cassel, the British Queen’s Counsel who is prosecuting in the trial of former Government Minister Dhanraj Singh, was a surprise guest at the party. Cassel, who is leading the prosecution team against Dhanraj Singh, made his grand entry to the function where more than 200 persons attended.
CJ Sharma broke with tradition last year in his first year as Chief Justice. Instead of hosting the annual party at his home, he hosted the function at the Hilton. His predecessor Michael de la Bastide hosted the annual reception at his Haleland Park, Maraval residence. Prior to this, the annual reception hosted by the Chief Justice was held at the official residence at Prada Street, St Clair. But this residence was sold by the State to a local businessman amidst controversy during the term of the UNC Government. There is no official residence for the Chief Justice. Instead, the incumbent Chief Justice, who lives at Fairways, Maraval, decided to host the annual reception at the Hilton. The President hosts receptions at his official residence, so too does the Prime Minister. The Chief Justice, who is the third highest official in this country, has no official residence at which to host such functions.
Back to Saturday night’s function.There was a wide cross-section of lawyers and other personalities. President George Maxwell Richards sent his apologies for not attending, but former President Arthur NR Robinson was most present. House Speaker Barry Sinanan, himself an attorney, was present, taking time off from his preparations for today’s ceremonial opening of the new session of Parliament. Not to be left out was Karl Hudson-Phillips QC, our own International Criminal Court (ICC) Judge and the leader of the defence team in the Dhanraj Singh trial. The majority of judges of the Supreme Court were present, along with several magistrates headed by Chief Magistrate Sherman Mc Nicolls. Fomer CJ De la Bastide was there with his wife Simone, but noticeably absent were former Chief Justices Cecil Kelsick and Clinton Bernard. The heads of departments within the Judiciary were present.
PARENTS of students and teachers at the Felicity Hindu School can breathe a sigh of relief as Education Minister Hazel Manning has pledged that a 24-hour security system will be introduced at the school.
President of the Trinidad and Tobago Unified Teachers Association (TTUTA), Trevor Oliver told Newsday outside the Education Ministry’s Office on Hayes Street, St Clair on Friday that the decision was made during a two-hour meeting with the Minister. Earlier in the week, it was reported that 24-hour security would not be implemented at the school, as the school was not in a “high-risk area.” However, following the meeting Oliver said Manning agreed to the suggestion as parents were protesting the lack of security at the school, and because petty thieves were continuously breaking into the school, as well as vandalising the property. Parents of students school protested outside the school on Thursday, complaining that the Ministry was not doing enough, and threatened to keep their children away until something was done about increasing the security at the school. He revealed that teacher migration was among the issues discussed, as the minister was seeking feedback for a Caribbean Commonwealth Educa-tion Ministers meeting to be held in Scotland later this year.Oliver said teachers must be treated to “healthy remuneration,” as well as “good fringe benefits.” Adding that a “stable relationship must be developed so that we do not have this thing recurring” as regards the non-payment of fees to private primary and secondary Schools, Oliver said “the Minister says that plans are afoot to have discussions” with the relevant parties.
Should the media be a partner to Government in helping establish a national policy on gender? This question brought sharply differing responses at a mini-consultation organised by the Ministry of Community Development and Gender Affairs for practising journalists on Friday at the Hilton Trinidad.
The session, chaired by Patricia Mohammed of the Gender Affairs Unit of the University of the West Indies (UWI), St Augustine, was the first of a series of consultations with key interest groups including the protective services, trade unions, the private sector, the disabled, men’s NGOs, women’s NGOs, religious groups, and the elderly. Mohammed asked: “What is the role of the media in creating real change over the long term for the better good of society?” While some advocated the use of the media as partners to espouse a gender policy, others disagreed. One woman said: “There is a disparity between the goals of a gender policy and what a media house actually does.” A female journalist slammed: “We are not your partners.” A Mrs DeBique suggested a compromise. Several speakers suggested that “media” be more broadly defined. One man said: The ‘media’ is wider than a reporter or journalist.” He felt advertising as well as what a radio DJ says before playing a song could degrade women.
One radio reporter countered: “The radio deejay has a job to do. He has to identify with his market and pull in the advertising dollars. Attorney-at-law and activist Roberta Clarkes said she has seen a big change in the media in terms of what stories were covered and what interests we emphasised. National Gender Policy Coordinator Hermian Smart-Findlay advised: “Cover the truth as you see it. She later told Newsday that many reporters felt they validly covered news events as they saw it, but did not “add value” to the stories.
Young people in Trinidad and Tobago and St Lucia have been given a unique opportunity to express their creativity and share their views on the pressing issue of water resources in the Caribbean.
In a joint effort aimed at highlighting the growing international concern over the need for better management and protection of this vital resource, the United Nations Information Centre for the Caribbean Area (UNIC), the Pan-American Health Organisation (PAHO-WHO) and the Caribbean Environmental Health Institute (CEHI) based in St Lucia, have come together to initiate two separate but inter-related competitions. UNIC, PAHO and CEHI are the lead agencies in a joint TT-St Lucia essay competition that seeks to focus young people’s attention on the United Nations International Year of Freshwater, being observed this year. The theme for this essay competition is “Water, the Key to National Sustainable Development.”
The competition is open to persons between the ages of ten and 21. Winners will be selected at a national and regional level with a grand prize of a weekend for two at the Hilton Tobago courtesy the Hilton Trinidad. The other competition takes place at the national level and is part of observances for the 11th Inter-American Water Day, which will be celebrated on Saturday October 4, 2003. The theme is “Water, let’s not take it for granted.” The organising committee consists of the Caribbean Water and Waste Water Association (CWWA), WASA, the Ministry of Health, the Environmental Management Authority (EMA) and the Ministry of Education. The Water Day competition consists of an annual poster and calypso/rap competition for all schools. For further information contact the UNIC on 623-4813/8438.
Home Construction Limited (HCL), proprietor of the Tru Valu chain of supermarkets, has come under severe condemnation from president of the Banking Insurance and General Workers Union (BIGWU) Vincent Cabrera for its move to retrench 400 employees.
The workers, whose last day is tomorrow, are to be retrenched from the chain’s branches at Diego Martin, Long Circular Mall, Trincity and Valpark. The ownership of these branches is to be transferred to a new company, Eastern Commercial Lands Limited, which is also owned by HCL. A release from HCL revealed that these four branches would continue to operate under the Tru Valu banner and would serve as “major anchors” in HCL’s mall network. “We view this acquisition as strategic to our vision,” the release stated, “which will assure that the group becomes a major player in the supermarket industry.” Workers at the four branches in South — Gasparillo, Atlantic Plaza, Point Lisas, Fyzabad and Montrose, Chaguanas — will not be immediately affected. HCL will retain control of these branches.
Cabrera accused HCL of setting up Eastern Commercial Lands as a “paper company” for the purpose of trying to bypass employer obligations to the workers and he also alleged that the chain was trying to escape its duties under the collective agreement negotiated by BIGWU by rehiring some of the retrenched workers under new, individual contracts. At a meeting on Saturday, workers were told that they would all be rehired at higher salaries. However, Cabrera noted that they would not have a Cost of Living Allowance (COLA), membership in a pension plan, health plan or profit sharing. HCL, he asserted, was in violation of Section 5 of the Retrenchment and Severance Benefits Act. He also condemned HCL for appointing property managers as manager of Tru Valu, noting that they knew nothing of the grocery business.
Prime Minister Patrick Manning will address the two-day Caribbean US Chiefs of Missions Conference on HIV/AIDS which starts at 8 am today at the Hilton Trinidad.
US Ambassador to TT Dr Roy Austin will also address the function, and a PAHO/WHO representative will deliver welcoming remarks. The conference will review progress on HIV/AIDS since the April 2002 Chiefs of Missions Conference held in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Participants will also discuss their local activities and future plans for HIV/AIDS prevention, control, care and treatment for the entire region. The opening session will also include a presentation by Aaron Charles of Torrib Trace Presbyterian School, one of the winners of the Ambassador’s “Song and Verse” contest. It was a joint production of the US Embassy and the Education Ministry.
At noon, participants will tour the Caribbean Epidemiology Centre (CAREC), and will be entertained by students of Patna River Estate Government School, also one of the winners of the contest. The Caribbean Chiefs of Missions will present a final document to the media on Tuesday to conclude the conference. Among the 80 participants attending the conference are representatives of the US Department of State, US Department of Health and Human Services, US Agency for International Development, US Ambassadors from the Caribbean region, Caribbean Community Secretariat, CAREC, Caribbean Regional Network for Persons Living with HIV/AIDS, University of the West Indies and Caribbean Health Research Council.
Cabinet has agreed to establish 15 regional human and social development councils aimed at implementing a poverty reduction programme which is sponsored by the European Union.
Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister Christine Kangaloo indicated this at a post-Cabinet press conference at Whitehall. The programme will cost EC $6 million. She said Government also agreed to set up 15 project implementation units to facilitate the programme. The councils will comprise members from key government agencies and will be in a position to influence national policy on poverty reduction, Kangaloo said.
