“The reason why I said it is because I was just on the phone coming in and they told me about a certain official in a corporation who is using the corporation vehicle from Sunday to Sunday and even taking it home,” said Minister Hosein. “So far it is an allegation, but I am going to deal with it on Monday morning and I am going to find out.” Hosein gave a surprise address to those gathered at the Chaguanas Borough Corporation’s hall on Saturday for the launch of the corporation’s Volunteer Network. Hosein, not carded to speak, dropped in unannounced nearing the end of the event and was given a chance to address the gathering.

“I do not stand for any corruption,” he said. “There will be no corruption under me in the Ministry and I know there is a lot in the corporations. I get text messages every day, letters are written and it is not right for people who are working in the corporations including supervisors to abuse tax payers’ money and assets belonging to the state. It is not right.” Hosein praised the launch of the corporation’s Volunteer Network, which has a list of over 300 volunteers from the respective districts of the corporation.

Similar networks are expected to be launched in all 14 corporations and each network will have a database storing volunteers and their skillsets who can be called on in times of need.

Later this week, the Ministry will launch a toll free disaster emergency hotline number that would give people a direct line of communication to disaster management units within respective corporations instead of going through the corporations’ administrative offices.

Significant increases in the occurrence of Non Communicable Diseases (NCDs) namely, heart disease, diabetes, cancer and cerebrovascular disease, threaten to erode decades of public sector investment,” said Health Minister, Terrence Deyalsingh. He said in recent years, NCDs have become the leading cause of morbidity and mortality locally.

“Without action, the increasing prevalence of NCDs will continue to unduly burden our health system, consume already scarce resources and severely undermine our socio-economic advancement,” he said.

Chairman of the North Central Regional Health Authority (NCRHA), Steve De Las said the Authority is transforming the way healthcare is delivered by aggressively pushing back the spread of NCDs by reaching out to citizens who are most at risk.

He said the Authority has adopted a multi-disciplinary approach to tackling NCDs by providing citizens with counselling, dietary advice, lifestyle changing strategies and follow up services to ensure they benefit from a higher quality of life. “Transformation succeeds by communicating its significance through a strong team and by encouraging wider involvement. The NCRHA, with a group of dedicated and committed team members, have shown they are willing to take on the challenge,” added De Las.

The “Walk-The-Talk” project is part of a wider strategy to step up the Authority’s battle against NCDs by providing testing, screening equipment, training and support for community groups. The project which has engaged religious groups, seeks to empower community organizations to proactively seek out high risk persons so they can receive urgent medical attention.

The NCRHA’s doctors and medical personnel provides training and the support needed to conduct ongoing testing and screening within communities as well as during community gatherings such as church services, sports, fairs and local events. More than 3,000 persons have already been immunized against the flu, and 20 community organizations will be presented with screening equipment as the NCRHA continues to work with communities to monitor and refer high risk patients to doctors.

“We realize that providing early preventative medical care, can contribute significantly towards improving the quality of life for our potential patients, as well as reduce the need for secondary or emergency care later on. This allows us to detect health problems long before they reach crisis levels for patients,” says CEO of the NCRHA, Davlin Thomas.

He said the project will leave equipment in the hands of community organizations who will be able to continuously monitor the health stats of their members, so they can identify and direct high risk persons to the attention of doctors long before they see the negative symptoms on their lifestyle.

“Combating non-communicable diseases is a mission that must engage all of us, and this is not only an issue for medical personnel, but communities as a whole,” he added. “Apart from improving the quality of life for those affected, early detection and screening also reduces the cost of medical care in the long run. He noted that the equipment, personnel and medication required to respond to critical illness bought on by NCDs is much higher than the lifestyle changes that individuals can take to mitigate serious symptoms and illness later on.

The “Walk-The-Talk” project will provide community institutions such as churches, mosques and temples with blood pressure monitors, blood sugar testers, BMI calculators and the training of community representatives so they are empowered to provide ongoing care and monitoring to members of their institution. The representatives have direct and frequent contacts with medical personnel from the NCRHA so they can monitor and fast-track care to high risk patients.

Because there are usually no symptoms at the onset of NCDs, the project seeks to expand access to early screening so more people will be are aware of their status and potential risk. With early detection, we can address symptoms and other indicators that put citizens at higher risk for deadly lifestyle diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, stroke and hypertension.

SHE smiled broadly giving extra light to her eyes. Kezia Alexander is on her way to fulfilling her dream of becoming a doctor.

Come September she will be attending St Joseph’s College. She is one of several students from Excel Beetham Estate Government Primary who, this year, will be attending a school outside of the catchment area. For the first time in 18 years, the school received a pass for St Mary’s College. There are many philosophies which posit that education is one of the greatest, if not the greatest, vehicles for social change and behaviour modification.

It is this philosophy that is the driving force behind Beetham Gardens Learning Support Centre.

Managed by the Rose Foundation, the project has yielded fruit, with its students having passed for schools outside of the catchment area. Traditionally, Newsday was told, many of the students would usually attended Success Laventille and surrounding Life Centres. This year, however, some of its students have passed for schools such as St Mary’s College, St Joseph College, Barataria North Secondary and Tranquility Government Secondary School. The foundation provides remediation for students from standards two to five. For the Rose Foundation, this represents the beginning of change in a community many see as at-risk. The foundation was contracted by then British Gas (BG) [now Shell] in 2015 to manage the learning centre. Its history was told to Newsday by the foundation’s chairman, Sterling Belgrove.

Talking about how the foundation became involved, he said, “The Morvant/Laventille initiative was one which gained momentum some years ago. And as a result BG, at the time, had made a commitment to support the initiative. Their involvement was around education.

So they sponsored an after school programme at the primary school on the Beetham. The programme was initially managed by the Rotary Club. One year later the Rotary Club was having some challenges with the programme and so we were invited to take a look at the programme “Having done the diagnostics we assumed management of the programme.

And we established what we then called a Learning Support Centre because we did not want to create an after school scenario.” After having done the necessary assessment the foundation developed individual plans for each student. Some of the programme’s components include remedial classes, a siblings programme [where siblings of older students in the programme were taken care of so the older brothers and sisters could attend], holistic development, social graces and etiquette, anger management, dispute resolution and life coping skills among others.

The overall objective of the programme being, Belgrove said, to not only transform the student’s academic capabilities but to also ensure their all round development of citizens of TT. But the foundation and the programme’s previous mangers understood that its takes a village to raise a child. So, a partnership has developed with the Inter Agency Task Force (IATF).

The officers of the task force transport the children to and from the Life Centre as well as provides a supporting disciplinary role. WPC Mottley who has been involved with the programme for a year said while she got involved as a result of being attached to the task force, she has always had a passion for “dealing with children.” Over the year’s span, Mottley saw many of the centre’s youth face challenges.

But the intervention of the centre and the IATF officers have resulted in changes in their attitudes. “We were instrumental in picking them up…we built a bond with them and it impacted a lot.” Similarly, PC McPherson, who joined IATF and programme approximately three months ago, has seen great changes in the youth.

McPherson, who also grew up in Sea Lots, says the students attitude to work has changed. He said he volunteers for anything in the community to try to assist. Very often, McPherson said, there would be a lot of negative comments about students and people coming from communities like Beetham. He said, however, through education many changes can occur in the community.

Education, he said, made the difference in his life. He offered advice to the area’s youth, saying, “Take your education seriously.” He also called for other corporate and non-governmental agencies to offer similar programmes within the community.

Belgrove said there was a history of the IAT F having to go into the school, regularly to council the children on behaviour and their attitudes but that has since “come down to zero.” Providing meals, a reduction in the noise levels at the school are also markers for the Rose Foundation that an impact has been made. Parental involvement is also high through the parent outreach programme. “We got buy-in from the parents in that they really felt comfortable that we were taking care of their children.

All of the children would be picked up from the school and delivered to their doors…,” Belgrove said. He said parents were now committed to having their children attend the afternoon classes because of the comfort of having them dropped home, every afternoon, by the IAT F. He said more parents were also coming and taking an interest in the school than was seen initially.

The school’s principal, Ann Antonie, said of the programme in 2016, “With the introduction of the dining room and the increased personnel, there has been a noticeable improvement in discipline.

The goals of the programme appear to be more within sight. It would be good for the partnership to continue. It would provide the children of the low socio-economic neighbourhood a better chance of becoming literate citizens who are able to contribute positively to their community and country.” Ultimately, for Belgrove, “Our expectation is that with the support we are providing for the residents of the Beetham, that they would take greater pride in their community.

They would become ambassadors for a more positive image and conversation about the Beetham.

The nation would realise that some of the most productive people come out of the Beetham and that it could become a destination for exploration and visiting.”

The deal was confirmed yesterday by way of an announcement by the club.

He will join the club on a free transfer in January after signing a pre-contract with Darmstadt.

The 25-year-old former W Connection defender/midfielder will move from American Major League Soccer club Seattle Sounders, after arriving in MLS Soccer in December 2014 for his first signing with Chicago Fire.

“This is a big step for me, to move to Darmstadt 98 and to enter German football after the last two and a half years in the American MLS,” said Jones yesterday.

“I am very happy for the chance to prove myself at Darmstadt and I cannot wait to start with the club and help them achieve great things.

He continued, “I would like to thank everyone who has been there for me. I have had a solid and a half two years in the MLS which I have enjoyed and I would like to thank everyone at Seattle Sounders, my teammates and the fans who have supported me.

“Now I am looking ahead to moving onto another chapter in my career and I am looking forward to achieving great things with Darmstadt,” Jones added.

The club manager Torsten Frings stated: “We are very pleased that Joevin has decided to join us.

He is an absolutely dream player and a player that we really wanted to have rather today than tomorrow. We trust him to pick up on his performances in the Major League Soccer and we are sure he is going to help us as soon as he is at Darmstadt.” Frings is a former midfielder with Bayern Munich and played 79 international matches for Germany.

SV Darmstadt were promoted to the German Bundelisga for the 2015-2016 season but were relegated to Bundelisga II last season.

Jones is in the midst of what is shaping up as a record-breaking season for a MLS defender.

He currently has nine assists, as many as any player listed as a defender since Diego Gutierrez logged 13 for the Chicago Fire in 2000.

HAVING SOME knowledge of the recent history of Guyana and its tribal divisions, I took with more than a grain of salt Freddie Kissoon’s dogmatic views on Indo- Guyanese as quoted by Raffique Shah in his column in the Express of 16/5/17.

My information is that Kissoon was an academic of minor standing who was dismissed from his position by the Indo-Guyanese-dominated PPP/Civic government for reasons not known. Smarting from this rejection it is hardly likely he would maintain an objective perspective on Indo-Guyanese in general as would the Kaiteur News whose editors had their confrontations with the PPP/Civic Government.

The unhappy experience of Guyana as an ethnically plural society has much to teach us. Both Indo- Guyanese and Afro-Guyanese supported the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) up to 1953 as both Dr Cheddi Jagan and Forbes Burnham held leadership positions in it.

When, in 1953, the British Government suspended the constitution of British Guiana and removed the PPP Government from office, Mr Burnham subsequently broke from the PPP and formed his own party, the People’s National Congress (PNC), which drew its support largely from Afro-Guyanese.

The PPP was left basically with Indo-Guyanese support.

This was the genesis of Afro and Indo-Guyanese racial division with its political overtones and appeals to racial sentiment for political mobilisation.

Election results in 1957, 1961 and 1964 would confirm the racial cleavages. However, it should be noted that, although in the late fifties and early sixties, the Indo- Guyanese population was well in excess of 50 per cent of the total, the Indo-dominated PPP was able to command only 47.6 per cent of the total votes cast in 1957, 42.6 per cent in 1961 and 45.8 per cent in 1964.

These statistics indicate that a not insignificant percentage of Indo-Guyanese voted for non-Indo- Guyanese-based parties and therefore could not be regarded as uncompromisingly tribal in their voting patterns as Kissoon insinuates.

After Dr Jagan and his PPP won the 1961 election, there was a concerted effort to undermine his government with the objective of crippling its ability to govern. Dr Jagan was seen as having Marxist leanings and too cordial ties with the Soviet Union which caused alarm bells to ring in Washington.

In 1962, the CIA intervened in the internal affairs of then British Guiana and collaborated with Burnham’s Afro-dominated PNC as well as the Afro-dominated Trade Union Congress to instigate street demonstrations, strikes and riotous disturbances of the peace.

Inevitably, the conflict devolved into a racial conflagration between Indo and Afro-Guyanese. The period 1962-1964 was a most traumatic time for the country. There was wanton looting, arson, maimings and killings.

Ann Marie Bissessar and John Gaffar La Guerre in their book, Race and Politics in Two Plural Societies — Trinidad and Tobago and Guyana, noted: “By the time some semblance of order was restored in late July 1963, the death toll stood at 166 with over 800 people wounded. About 1400 buildings, in addition to cane fields, were destroyed by fire.” (p 86) While members of both major ethnic groups engaged in the violence, the Indo-Guyanese endured substantially more with greater loss of lives and more vicious attacks on their persons and properties. They fled the country in their tens of thousands. This experience of rabid violence seems to have deeply affected the psyche of Indo-Guyanese and it is understandable that their animosity towards Afro-Guyanese would become more entrenched and visceral.

However, it should be noted that many Indo-Guyanese blamed Dr Jagan for facilitating the conflict by pursuing his inflexible leftwing ideological agenda and for his government’s inability to protect them.

Since they were acutely critical of their own party and its leader, I n d o – Guyanese tribalism could not have been absolutely unequivocal as c l a ime d by Freddie Kissoon.

The warning came from Snr Supt Joanne Archie who applauded a suggestion from a resident speaking at a police town meeting at the Glen Road Community Centre last week, that landlords should seek information from police.

“There are a lot of people coming from Trinidad to Tobago to hideaway and are on outstanding warrants, people who are committing robberies and as soon as they come to rent your place and they settle they start to do criminal activities.

You need to ask for an ID and ask a police officer to do a background check. We are willing to do that check for you before you rent anybody your place,” Archie told residents.

The suggestion that persons renting apartments should visit the police station to get a background check on prospective tenants came from Annette Broucher, who said that landlords needs such information so they would know whether that person has a criminal record or was suspected of any felony.

Residents also spoke about larceny, delinquency, parking restrictions and towing of vehicles as well as lack of street lighting as issues affecting them.

Michael Collins of Rockly Vale complained about young persons who he said were a nuisance to the community, that they were walking around the community with cutlasses on their hips making threats.

Collins claimed some of these men were from Trinidad and warned that residents could take the law into their own hands if the police do nothing. In response, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Tobago Division, Garfield Moore, gave the assurance that officers would address with the issues, urging residents to not take the law into their own hands.

Another villager, April Huey, said she would like to see more activities available for young people, especially during the vacation periods while another person, Miss Eastman, said she hopes the police would deal with family conflicts in a more serious way.

Eastman said she lodged a complaint with the police about her son who was causing trouble at home.

For the year, eight murders have been committed in Tobago with the most recent being a murder/suicide in which Romelda Joseph-King was chopped to death in bushes at Congo Hill in Moriah last Wednesday by her husband Hilton Gordon King shortly after she gave him divorce letters.

King then killed himself by ingesting a toxic substance.

At a news briefing at Valpark Chinese Restaurant, Permell said a truer valuation would reduce Clico’s debt by a larger amount. “If you don’t transfer the land at the right value, you’ll be short-changing Clico,” Permell said. He joked with reporters that if they know anywhere in Trinidad or Tobago selling land at $10 per square foot, to please tell him so he could contact his bankers to arrange a purchase.

He contrasted the $174 million valuation of Buccoo Estate as stated by Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley at last Thursday’s post-Cabinet media conference, to a $866 million fair market figure, which Permell claimed was stated in a PriceWaterhouseCoopers (PWC) report.

The Buccoo Estate – valued by PM Rowley at $174 million – includes No Man’s Land plus the upmarket Samaan Park Development, the latter which Permell said by itself, is worth $244 million.

He said a 2016 valuation done by GA Farrell and Associates had said that while Samaan Park was part of the 429 acres of Buccoo Estate lands that were transferred to the Government, the 31-acre Samaan Grove was not considered in the valuation of the overall estate. Permell quoted the Farrell document, “The area includes Samaan Grove which does not form part of this (valuation) exercise.” Further, he cited a real estate agent website, Abrahams Realty, which had individual lots at Samaan Park being offered for sale at a very high value, all of which he said enforces his argument that the Buccoo Estate overall, was transferred for less than its true value.

He said that agency’s website is selling lots of 7,000 square feet for $1.15 million, working out at $177 per square foot. “Why would you want to exclude Samaan Park, the most valuable part? I calculate that $245 million is the value of Samaan Park.” Permell also queried Rowley’s $174 million figure, saying Clico’s 2016 audited financial statements had valued the Buccoo lands at $187 million. “So the transfer price was $13 million less than its book value…a $13 million loss to Clico.” He quipped, “I never knew that land depreciates in TT.” Permell also asked why the Farrell report had said the land valuation of Buccoo Estate had excluded 16 acres known as service lands or sewer lands. “We have not seen the valuation for those lands,” he said. Permell urged that the land transfer be reversed or alternatively, that the land be offered to citizens to purchase at $10 per square foot.

“Who is giving the Prime Minister information? He is not infallible; he is not the Pope. He got misinformation.

I don’t hold him responsible.” Permell said, “The Central Bank Governor must say if he got instructions to transfer the lands. It’s not unlawful for the Government to give instructions to the Central Bank. The Central Bank must ensure it is a proper valuation report.” Calling for clarification from the Government, Clico board and Central Bank, Permell asked, “Who gave instructions for these (Samaan Grove) lands to be excluded?” (See Page 7A)

It was reported that Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley was consulted in relation to the decision to shift the ceremony from Independence Day to Republic Day, but we are none the wiser as to the Cabinet’s view. Though the President is Chancellor of the Distinguished Society of the Order, let us not forget the role played by the Prime Minister in the National Awards process.

The Prime Minister has the power to veto any name put forward by the National Awards Committee. He or she may accept, reject or add to the Committee’s recommendations. It is the Prime Minister who then advises the President to bestow the final list of awards. Furthermore, the President has a status of Chancellor of the Order but does not determine categories of the awards.

It was the Cabinet that decided on December 21, 1967 that there should be seven categories and 14 classes of National Awards. The Cabinet subsequently amended these numbers to four categories and ten classes.

The spirit of the role of the President – who must generally act on the advice of Cabinet – suggests a change as important as shifting the date of the ceremony is no mere administrative trifle. By his own terms, the shift is profound given its envisioned impact on Republic Day observances. Such a profound, nationally symbolic matter should be determined by the people or at least their elected representatives.

So, in truth the President’s role is limited. But even if this were not the case, the very nature of these awards dictates far more from the Office of the President. It is important that the ceremonial Head of State do nothing to in any way tarnish the awards. This means the post-holder should be circumspect in seeking to bring about any change that might engender controversy.

In this instance, Carmona has risked the creation of a pall over all of this year’s recipients through the perceived lack of widespread consultation.

Whom did the President consult? And was this consultation good enough? All of this is separate and apart from the merits of a move.

Clearly there are benefits.

Firstly, the Independence Day routine is crowded with a range of activities and functions for the public and the various protective services. So much so that various public officials over the years have fainted or pulled out of events.

Still, it is ironic that the President seeks to remind the population of the significance of our becoming a republic when in fact, the actual date we became a republic was August 1, 1976.

September 24 was the date the first Parliament met.

The deeper issue is the lack of transparency over the awards, not just their date but also the reasons for awardees being honoured. The traditional citations used are far too brief. So, though we welcome the shift, we call for clarity on the question of consultation in relation to this matter. The National Awards should not be a roving event and we deserve far better.

However, while scheduled to begin at 10 am, challenges in transport and a brief power outage delayed activities until midday. This did not dampen spirits as vendors showed their skill preparing some favourite local dishes such as bake and shark, buljol and fried chicken, as well as authentic African cuisine such as Goat water, a broth prepared from seasoned goat meat and vegetables and Joffol rice, a seasoned tomato rice dish from Nigeria.

In addition to delicacies, patrons also had a wide variety of clothing and cosmetics booths available as patrons including several tourists could be seen milling around, observing some of the traditional African wear and sampling the local cuisine.

In the late afternoon, patrons were also treated to the sounds of various steel bands as they did their shopping.

Newsday spoke to several vendors who said that while this year’s Food fair may have gotten off to a late start, they were pleased with the response from public.

Dala Obika owner and proprietor of ‘D’s Menu’ and first time entrant said that she was overwhelmed from the support received from the patrons and other vendors and said that she would be returning next year.

(See Page 16A)

Archer expressed her sorrow via a ‘live’ video feed on her Facebook account in which she called on youths to lay down their weapons.

“I will pray and ask God to forgive the person who pulled the trigger and killed my child.

“My son was going through a lot. He was searching for God.

Last year I had to bury another of my sons and here I have to come once again and bury another. I was in church sitting down when I got a text message saying they kill my child,” Archer said.

Archer also directed her emotions at her son’s murderer and urged the perpetrator to seek forgiveness from God.

“I wish this video could go viral all over so that Mr Gunman can see it.

“Go to God and ask God for peace because you all don’t understand.” According to reports, Harrichand of Carenage was last seen sitting at the corner of St Paul Street and Block 8 in East Port of Spain sometime before 1 am yesterday.

Residents reported hearing loud explosions and later notified the police.

Officers of the Inter Agency Task Force (IATF) and the Homicide Investigations Bureau (Region I), responded and discovered Harrichand’s bullet-riddled body face down on the ground.

He was rushed to Port of Spain General Hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival. Investigators have yet to establish a motive for the killing.

Newsday spoke to relatives who said that in the days leading up to his death, Harrichand said he kept feeling as if his days were numbered. No relative could say why anyone would want Harrichand dead.

However, sources within the community claim that Harrichand ran afoul of the ‘Rasta City’ gang and was executed. Up to press time, no arrest was made.

In an unrelated incident, a Diego Martin man was shot and wounded in Farm Road, Diego Martin.

According to sources, Wallace Quashie, 26, was liming with friends at about 11 pm when they where approached by a gunman who shot Quashie. Residents notified the West End police and officers responded.

Quashie was first taken to the St James Hospital but was later transferred to the General Hospital where he remains warded in critical condition.