Struck several times with a Taser, you become comatose. No need for a gun. With our history of rampant domestic violence, Tasers could provide another form of giving “loving chastisement.” They do not want you dead, just in a lot of pain.

Do I need to walk down the road of naughty teenagers running about with cans of pepper spray? Bullying in school will reach a new dimension.

Who is going to provide legislation to prevent misuse of these deterrents? Who would sell them? A doomsday scenario shows more women injured and beaten with their own Tasers. There might well be an increase in blind young people in all communities because bullies do not know when to stop.

Shops selling Tasers and pepper spray could outdo the Chinese restaurants that are often raided.

LYNETTE JOSEPH Diego Martin

For businesses, it has highlighted the importance of business continuity and disaster recovery especially for corporate data. Data centres play a pivotal role in safeguarding a company’s data assets and the COVE Eco-industrial and Business Park in Tobago will soon be able to support those mission-critical IT needs of tenants thanks to an agreement signed between TSTT and E-IDCOT to build a Tier 3 certified data centre there.

Data centres are facilities that centralise an organisation’s IT operations and equipment, as well as where it stores, manages, and disseminates its data. Data centres house a network’s most critical systems and are vital to the continuity of daily operations – source Palo Alto Networks. Data centres can be extremely expensive so while some companies may make the investment, most cannot and rely on data centre service providers like TSTT. The important thing about a data centre is the way it is designed to guarantee virtually continuous uptime. Businesses that want the assurance of the safety of their data look for internationally certified centres like the one TSTT operates in Trinidad and like the one to be built in partnership with E-IDCOT in Tobago.

Building a Tier 3 TIA-942 Certified data centre is a guarantee to customers that the data centre offers the highest levels of reliability with 99.982 per cent service availability, as well as a warranty that TSTT and E-IDCOT has followed the established, international, best-practice guidelines in four main areas:

1. architectural, including building and

location;

2. mechanical, including cooling, safety, fire

suppression and security;

3. electrical; and

4. telecommunications, including uptime and

reliability.

Customers can also be assured that a certified data centre will have redundancy in power and data storage, and high security features to eliminate risks from fire, theft, earthquakes, floods and hurricanes.

For this reason, the data centre can drive economic development and transformation in Tobago in furtherance of the goals and objectives of the THA’s Comprehensive Economic Development Plans (CEDP). “It will also support new, eco-friendly, technology-dependent businesses by providing a world class facility to house enterprise class ICT equipment, among other areas,” said CEO of TSTT Dr Ronald Walcott. Dr Walcott expressed that the venture remains a timely one for the people of Tobago. “Along with the data centre world, comes a whole range of eco systems, solutions and services that are required to ensure that businesses can maximise the data centre’s full potential,” said Dr Ronald Walcott.

Deputy Chairman of E-IDCOT, Kamau Akili said, the data centre will be the backbone for companies, especially in the protection of information, in the event of a natural disaster. Companies will have the option of renting customised, packaged IT services and infrastructure or, purchase their own hardware to be housed at the data centre. “And we have been able to arrive at an agreement that is of mutual benefit and more importantly an agreement that holds tremendous potential for the economic and social development of Tobago and the country at large.” Akili stated that the agreement can be seen as the beginning of a new phase of ICT development for Tobago.

The E-IDCOT / TSTT joint venture company will be called Nuklyus Tobago Company Limited and chairman designate, Wendell Berkley said, at present, there is no data centre facility located on the island of Tobago. “There is a growing local and global demand for data centre-based services, and with this collaboration, it is designed to do a number of things. To expedite technology transfer to E-IDCOT, to add revenue streams for both companies and to elevate Tobago’s profile as an important ITC centre.”

The TSTT/E-IDCOT Data Centre will be one of a few internationally certified data centres in the Caribbean and Latin America making it an attractive feature for investors that are familiar with type of service in other parts of the world.

We are being driven by technological change the likes of which we cannot fathom.

The new chancellor of the University of the West Indies, Robert Bermudez, made the point in his inaugural address last weekend during his official installation as the sixth chancellor. It is not just the change, rather the rapidity of change that could knock us off our perches if we aren’t careful.

That fact fails to register with most people faced with the demands of daily life, but for individuals like Bermudez who risk all as owners of front-line businesses where the laissez faire of many State-run enterprises would mean ruination, remaining agile, cutting- edge and competitive is everything.

Putting that in the context of education is an enormous challenge when the process of education can only be described as an overloaded juggernaut, difficult to turn around quickly even with clear danger in sight. Calling for the UWI’s strategic plan to be dynamic is to throw down the gauntlet before the entire education system in our region.

There was a discernible shuffle among those seated near me at the event when one speaker mentioned the fact that UWI had trained our public servants, lawyers, politicians and leaders. Is it just the outmoded structures within our institutions and the workplace that have shaped the cussedness of too many of those bright ex-students who become the disempowered, too often bad-minded professionals with whom we have to interface, or is it a mindset? We all know that recognising the problem is part of the solution. The bigger question is how we go about changing it.

It was encouraging to know that the new chancellor, never having attended a university himself, believes it is the experience of tertiary- level learning as much as achieving academic qualifications that really matters and which will produce the sorts of energised, open-minded people we need to shape the future of the region.

It is an important point, especially as we consider how imperative it is be engaged, critical thinkers in order to survive well in the fastpaced technological world we increasingly inhabit.

For too long the emphasis has been only on getting that piece of paper. The need to qualify will not go away, especially if we want to do research and/or pursue certain careers, but the powers of observation and enquiry, of curiosity, of discussion and thinking creatively about old problems and having empathy with others and their points of view are what we must give equal focus to.

As for the paper, no one, not even an employer, ever asked me to see a single certificate of education I had worked hard to achieve.

An issue we must grapple with too is the chance of bigger sections of our populations falling behind in the relentless march of new technology.

For today’s top professionals who retire at the still useful age of 60 or even 65 (remember that we are tending to live much longer lives), staying abreast of constant and expensive technological change is compulsory in order to remain relevant to society and not get left behind.

My mother, once the consummate professional, still speaks resentfully about becoming a “hasbeen” and feeling demeaned. We will all be has-beens one day; some much younger than her already are.

I for one just will not take on Facebook and Twitter, and other social media and am therefore already cut off from the hoi polloi.

And how do we deal with the 25 per cent of illiterate TT citizens, and even higher number in other islands? How can they be part of the dynamically changing new w o r l d ? T h e i r growing isolation and resentments cannot be ignored.

Approximately 80 people comprising of staff members, family and friends from these organisations, alongside hundreds of other local enthusiasts (at different locations) and millions throughout the globe, helped promote ocean conservation on this day.

Vice president of marketing at TSTT , Camille Campbell, commended those who came out in their numbers to assist in the ICC activity.

Brand ambassador, Dwayne Bravo, was on hand to support the beach clean-up following his hectic but victorious Trinbago Knight Riders Caribbean Premier League T20 campaign.

“Both locals and tourists come to this beach and it’s good to see that bmobile has taken the lead when it comes to the upliftment of the country. For me personally, I saw it fit to come and support these volunteers, who took time out to help make this country a cleaner place, for all of us to enjoy. I’m also happy to see many kids out here today assisting in this effort to preserve our environment,” he stated.

The ICC initiative, held annually on the third Saturday in September, was coordinated on a worldwide scale by Ocean Conservancy Office of Pollution Prevention and Monitoring, and presented—in its 13th year locally— through the Caribbean Network for Integrated Rural Development (CNIRD)

“Bay Ferries maintenance contract was cancelled and millions of dollars were saved. We ask and our members asked, ‘To whose benefit?’” Speaking to the Joint Select Committee on Land and Physical Infrastructure yesterday on the procurement of the MV Cabo Star and Ocean Flower 2 and the operations of the Port of Port of Spain, Birchwood-James thanked Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley for his apology made on Monday to the people of Tobago for the current crisis situation they are experiencing in relation to the passenger ferry service. “The fast ferry is no longer fast,” she said.

On the cancellation of Bay Ferries contract which was replaced by Magellan Services Limited with no maintenance component, Birchwood-James said, “There lies the problems with the ferry.” The ferry, she said, could not leave the Tobago yesterday morning as scheduled because of maintenance problems. Passengers then flocked to the Caribbean Airlines Limited (CAL) ticketing counter to see if they could get seats to travel to Trinidad.

The Superfast Galicia, she said, departed with no replacement, there were conflicting testimonies at the JSC from all parties involved and evidence of many episodes of bad corporate governance.

“Public servants, past and present ministers in questioning want to be politically correct when questioned. No real answers. We are yet to hear words that they have Tobago and Tobagonians best interest at heart,” she said.

The remaining 2018 World Cup qualifiers are of academic importance, possibly a good lime, because the Road to Russia has been bombed.

Already the argument of local coach versus foreign coach has reared its ugly head and the long knives have been drawn.

My view is that we need to stay local with coach Dennis “Tallest” Lawrence. He could at least tweak his coaching staff.

Frankly, the fluctuating quality of play, the individual defensive errors, the gun-shy approach outside the box and lack of fitness by some players were key factors in derailing our campaign.

We also did not make use of our opportunities.

I hold the view that every player must bring his A-game and agonise over poor performances. The team lacked the killer instinct moving as a force to demolish opponents.

At the end of the campaign moving forward, I would like to see football jefe David John Williams put on an “ideas shop” where all stakeholders and fans can have an input in the way forward. After sifting through the noise, he and the Football Association will have a clear idea on the pathway to Qatar.

KEITH ANDERSON via email

The vessel docked at about 12 pm. Shortly before 1 pm, officers from the Immigration and Customs Department boarded it to review the captain’s documents.

The captain said the vessel was due for dry docking and a decision was taken to proceed to Chaguaramas which offers such services.

This was subsequently confirmed by the Works and Transport Ministry. The vessel is owned by Bridgemans Services Group (BSG) of Canada. Efforts to contact BSG vice-president Andrew Purdey about the vessel’s arrival and whether it will be used on the seabridge were unsuccessful.

Works and Transport Minister Rohan Sinanan maintained the vessel’s contract had been terminated by the Port Authority.

“I have no information as to why they are here,” he said. Sinanan added he only knew about the arrival from media reports. The vessel’s agent Ken Shipping and Maritime Services could not be reached for comment yesterday.

Port Authority chairman Alison Lewis declined comment, indicating she is out of the country.

The ministry said there have been comments about a letter of credit signed by the Port Authority with its bankers, as part of the previous contractual arrangement with BSG for the Ocean Flower II’s charter.

The ministry said this letter of credit cannot be drawn down by BSG, “as a result of the termination of the contract.” The ministry said the letter of credit will come to an end “at its natural effluxion” next September.

The ministry said, “The interests of the public are not in any way exposed or compromised.”

POOR BOAT TIRED

During a public hearing of the Parliament’s Land and Physical Infrastructure joint select committee (JSC) at Tower D of the Portof- Spain International Waterfront Centre, Opposition Senator Wade Mark told former Head of the Public Service Reginald Dumas about the vessel’s arrival.

Dumas replied, “The poor boat is tired. it needs to be dry docked.” Mark also claimed there was an irrevocable US$2 million letter of credit from First Citizens Bank pertaining to the vessel’s procurement.

Dumas said the letter could have legal force despite the vessel’s contract being cancelled. Dumas said this, “ might have caused a change of heart on the part of those responsible.” He said the Ocean Flower 2 could only be in TT for dry docking or it might be operating on the seabridge, “in the not too distant future.” However Dumas added, “All we can do is speculate.” He said Prime Minister Keith Rowley’s comments about corruption at the port were not new.

“The port has been known as the place, where if you want to make money fast, you go and work there.” Dumas added, “Overtime is given for work never done.” Noting Government recently established a three-member committee to look at the port’s operations, Dumas said, “There have been many investigations of the port.” He said that despite all of these investigations and associated recommendations, people continue to say how corrupt the port is. Saying this situation is not just the fault of successive governments over time, Dumas said, “Something has to be seriously wrong with us. We need to go to a good psychologist.” Dumas also lamented, “The Public Service that I know, does not exist to some extent.” He said the Public Service is one of several institutions which are collapsing.

He said most government ministers give permanent secretaries oral instructions and it was the latter’s responsibility to ask for those instructions in writing, if they have any concerns.

Development of the field was expected to dramatically improve the supply picture for both countries. However, several earlier agreements have failed to see the project progress, and there is continued uncertainty about how the gas will be monetised. In July 2017, both countries assured that their bilateral gas sales agreement was still on track for completion by the end of the month. However, that did not materialise and the deal is still pending.

Ultimately, new investment is critical to helping offset high rates of decline at the country’s oil fields. To boost investment and offset the impact of lower global oil prices, State-owned Petrotrin confirmed it had reduced royalty rates levied against oil companies involved in farm-out and work-over exploration programmes.

The start of a long delayed 40,000b/d Ultra Low Sulphur Diesel (ULSD) unit in 2015 allowed the country to produce cleaner diesel with lower sulphur content. This US$503 million project, two years behind schedule, enabled the country to meet more stringent fuel standards in the US and Europe. This formed part of the country’s Clean Fuels Upgrade programme, which, though long delayed, also saw the implementation of the Gasoline Optimisation Programme (GOP) which aims to replace aged equipment, improve plant reliability, produce more value-added products and meet stringent gasoline specifications.

The country’s desire to move into high-value-added refining was likely prompted by the expansion of the Caracas-backed PetroCaribe oil trading scheme. PetroCaribe provides crude and oil products to participating Central American and Caribbean countries on barter and low credit terms. This scheme has had a negative impact on Trinidad and Tobago, which saw our oil product market share in the Caribbean market drop under a deluge of heavily-subsidised Venezuelan oil as late as 2015.

Trinidad and Tobago sells gas on contracts indexed to the price of oil, which has declined since late 2014; and the government has signaled that it has concerns over the structure of existing exports contracts, which were arranged under the assumption that LNG would be sold to the US market. The latter once purchased around four-fifths of our total gas output. Now the US is becoming a major LNG exporter. Trinidad and Tobago will not only lose that market, but may also come into direct competition with the US for Caribbean and Latin American markets. US LNG, linked to the weakened Henry Hub index, can be expected to be competitively priced which can be expected to challenge this country’s dominant position in the Latin American market, where it accounted for 40 per cent of all seaborne imports in 2014.

As a response, the government should consider building on its relationships with other CARICOM countries and expand aggressively into new markets to capture market share. With the reopening of the expanded Panama Canal, which will be able to accommodate 90 per cent of the worlds’ LNG carriers compared to four per cent currently, transport constraints to Pacific markets will be virtually eliminated, and Trinidad and Tobago can focus on expanding exports to higher-priced Asian markets where global demand growth will be concentrated over the coming decade. Cargo from this country will be able to reach East Asia more economically with a 30 per cent reduction in sailing times to Japan. Exports to regional customers such as Chile will also be facilitated by the expansion.

We face increased competition and the challenges attracting foreign investment in the energy sector, we need to determine what our competitive advantage is and create profitable opportunities for ourselves. Where is our economic plan?

PC Gabriel Merrique, who is on vacation, owns the maxi taxi.

He was transporting five passengers but two of them were bandits who announced a holdup.

While Merrique kept driving the bandits robbed him and the other three passengers of cash, jewellery and cellphones. Merrique was ordered to stop and as the gunmen were getting out, one of them fired a shot at the constable.

Merrique had hidden a personal, licensed firearm which he pulled out and fired at the gunmen shooting them and killing one.

Merrique alerted maxi drivers passing by, and the police was contacted.

Senior Superintendent Michael Daniel and Superintendent Glen Dillon were among the officers who responded and the area was cordoned off. The injured bandit was taken to hospital and is warded under police guard.

His accomplice’s body was taken to the Forensic Science Centre, St James.

He remains unidentified. Police recovered the stolen items.

PC Merrique and the passengers were taken to Arouca police station where they gave statements.

Recently, Education Minister Anthony Garcia said the Government Assistance with Tuition Expenses (GATE) subsidy will only apply to courses accredited by ACTT, which must be local courses, not those awarded by foreign universities.

ROYTEC offers its own local courses, plus courses awarded by Canada’s University of New Brunswick (UNB).

Augustus said, “Because we are accredited, our local programmes will continue to be funded by GATE but our international programmes are not.” She named the non- GATE UNB courses as Bachelors in Business, Bachelors in Education and Masters in Education, plus a new Masters in Business Psychology that was never funded.

Asked if ROYTEC has received its State funding, she said it did.

She confirmed a dive in enrolment for UNB courses this year compared to last, saying, “We have had a 75 per cent drop in enrolment.” Students must now pay the full cost of the programme, Augustus said, blaming less enrollment for UNB courses to the withdrawal of GATE.

ROYEC’s local courses are okay, she said.

Banks and credit unions are offering unsecured loans to UNB students, she said, and ROYTEC has a payment plan. She said it is still hard for some students, hence the fall off.

“I think they should be GATE-funded because they are strong programmes, they are robust and New Brunswick is a well-recognised institution and accredited in Canada.