Deyalsingh told yesterday’s press conference held at the Ministry of Health head office, Port of Spain, that Cabinet has agreed to create an additional 75 medical intern positions.

He said graduates who have already applied need not reapply.

Meanwhile, Registrar of the Insect Vector Control Division, Dr Naresh Nandram has reported a reduction in the incidence of Aedes Aegypti mosquito- borne diseases, dengue, chikungunya and zika over the sixmonth period from January to June 2017 compared with January to June 2016.

The incidence of dengue from January to June 2017 was 274 compared with 461 for the same period last year, or a 40.6 per cent reduction.

The incidence of chikungunya for January to June 2017 was six compared with 40 over the same period in 2016, a 90 per cent reduction.

The incidence of zika in 2017 from January to June 2017 was 40 compared with 128 in 2016. This was a 68.8 per cent reduction.

There is no gainsaying that priority is usually given to the communities most affected.

In the case of inter- island transportation, while the entire population is affected, the business community and inter-island commerce would be immediately affected by chaotic transport managements between both islands. Those who do business between both islands would experience the most immediate effects.

Chaotic transportation arrangements would also negatively impact upon this country’s drive toward enhancing and modernising its tourist industry in the light of a waning GDP and the Government’s call for “economic diversification.” It is all too clear that the present PNM Government takes very lightly, the social and economic impact of its failure to resolve the inter-island transport dilemma. It is a national issue that has nothing to do with the “black man” or the feeling that the PNM is a “black” party and so should show partisan preference to issues affecting that group.

The PNM is a self-proclaimed “nationalist” movement — or so it says.

That apart, the Government’s inability to resolve straightforwardly and expeditiously, the management of a transportation problem bodes terribly for its ability to manage the complex affairs of the wider State. What is most perplexing is its apparent refusal or reluctance to achieve a speedy and successful resolution of the problem.

I seriously doubt that what the Port Authority and the Ministry of Transport have been doing so far authentically reflects the level of management and organisational skills available to them. If my memory serves me correctly, the previous government was able to satisfactorily resolve the identical problem in just six months.

The PNM has chosen, by leasing two additional old boats, to spend annually, $232 million on four boats, instead of $44.3 million on the one — the SF Galicia. This expenditure represents more than it spent on the entire GATE programme every year and which it said had to be cut. So there must be a deeper and darker hidden agenda here.

Here is a government in 2017 that convinced an electorate in 2015 that it could have done “better” than its predecessor and, after holding office for two years, not only cannot point to any area of tangible success but is steering the nation down a path of certain and complete destruction.

This administration cannot resolve a simple transportation problem.

What does that say about its ability to deal with the myriad other and far more complex dilemmas that face this blighted nation? And because many of us “look like them” we are happy to say: “Well, give them a chance.” When will we be prepared to say the PNM Government has squandered its “chance” or that it does not deserve a chance? Will it be when it transforms the country into another Haiti? And what is clouding our ability to judge its incompetence? Is it the bigotry of blind and irrational racism? What is wrong with us? The ignorance of such a position should by now be manifestly clear. The bigots among us who premise support for the present inept administration on “shared ethnic solidarity” despite the PNM’s demonstrable incompetence and its indifference toward them should reflect on the level of regard for “ethnic pride” within the criminal community.

Violent criminals are just as indifferent as those who govern.

Nikki Cosby and Fr Clyde Harvey, if they are honest, would surely attest to this.

So let us get over our childish stupidity already and cease deluding ourselves because of the misfits who incessantly preach “black pride.” Theirs is nothing but an attempt to mentally enslave and abuse the undiscerning among us by brutally dishonest and selfish charlatanism.

STEVE SMITH via emal

The national team also won several awards in the individual tournament, with current national Under-11 and Under-13 champion Seth Thong winning gold in the boys Under- 11 category. Earning silver in the boys Under-15 category was national Under-15 champion Christopher Anthony, while national Under-19 and national senior women’s champion Alexandria Yearwood copped bronze in the girls Under-19 category.

Also on the prize rostrum were Marie Claire Barcant (fourth place Under-19), plate winner Aimee De Verteuil (girls Under-15) and plate finalists Joshua Poon (boys Under-15) and Sigourney Williams (girls Under-13). The boys team placed fifth in the final standings

The 2001 film by Apolline Traoré of Burkina Faso, is about four women who sweep across Africa as its protagonists journey through Senegal, Mali, Burkina Faso and Benin on their way to Nigeria. While the quarter of independent women travel across the various country borders they must consistently free themselves from the men who stand in their way and stave off other challenges to get where they are going.

The film is one hour and 45 minutes long, and is in French with English subtitle.

Festival director Asha Lovelace said the festival, from July 24 – 30, has over 20 films to be screened at various venues, and was thankful to the Ministry of Community Development, Culture and the Arts for the grant received to assist in the weeklong festival.

“The festival is always a week before Emancipation and it is an addition to the existing Emancipation celebration that we have.

We are now in the third year, showcasing films from Africa highlighted in different segments,” Lovelace said.

The Movie Maxi segment is where the films are taken into different communities. Last evening, the festival was launched at the Brian Lara Promenade with that segment, and the screening of the Nigerian movie, Just Not Married.

Another segment, the AFTT Classics will be held at UWI, St Augustine when Lovelace said they would normally feature one of the pioneers or founding fathers of African cinema and this year they have chosen the works of Med Hondo of Mauritania.

“We will be screening two of his films Soleil O (1973) and West Indies (1979), that have been out of commission for quite a number of years. We were happy and lucky to have gotten them from the film-maker himself,” Lovelace said.

This year there is also Nollywatch, a day specifically dedicated to films from Nollywood, Nigeria, currently the second largest film industry in the world, with Bollywood being the largest.

“One of the films is A Trip to Jamaica that is said to be the highest-grossing Nollywood film to date. So we are very excited about that one. Then in the contemporary African films, we have a range of genres from comedy, to drama, documentary to animation, short films, features…

films from all over Africa.

We try in our programming to be as diverse as possible with regards to the programming so that it will appeal to our audience,” Lovelace said.

AFTT is an annual film festival that showcases the very best of contemporary and classic films from the African continent.

Asked how she got into the promoting of African movies in this region Lovelace said: “I am the regional secretary for FEPACI – Pan African Federation of Film-makers. I am the regional secretary for the regional diaspora.

So as a result of that, I meet with film-makers every year and get an update in the industry.

I am also invited quite often to be part of the jury in FESPAC O, Africa’s biggest Film Festival held in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, and one of the most significant African film festivals. To be quite frank, I just like African movies, I took a particular liking to African films. I dare say, if we want to develop our film industry here, we need to take a look at what is happening in the African film industry because they face similar challenges as we do in film-making, but they are handling it well.” As it stands, the African film industry is dynamic and relevant, and its film-makers continue to pursue an approach to film-making that is in sync with and reflective of their own cultural environment. Out of this has emerged an aesthetic that reflects the tone, landscape, colour, complexity and beauty of Africa. Lovelace said: “Through AFTT we are opening the doors for a solid and mutually beneficial alliance with this diverse and magnificent world of African Film.” FULL AFTT SCHEDULE

July 24 – Opening night, Central Bank Auditorium
7pm – Frontiéres, Burkina Faso

July 25 – African Classics – The UWI Film Programme Studio
7 pm – Soleil O, Mauritania

July 26 – AFTT Jr – The Little Carib Theatre
11am – Boutik, Mauritius Orisha’s Journey, Ghana Hair That Moves, S Africa
12pm – K3nt & Kat3, Uganda
7pm – West Indies, Mauritania (The UWI Film Programme Studio)

July 27 – Nollywatch – The Little Carib Theatre
12pm – The Dance Movie Project, Nigeria
2.30pm – Yellow Cassava, Nigeria
5.30pm – Three Wise Men, Nigeria
8pm – A Trip To Jamaica

July 28 – AFTT Main programme – The Little Carib Theatre
2.30pm – Rod Zegwi Dan Pikan, Mauritius
2.30pm – Kemtiyu, Senegal
5.30pm – Mr Johnson, Nigeria
5.30pm – Hissein Habre, Chad
8pm – This Migrant Business, Kenya 8 m – Train of Salt & Sugar, Mozambique

July 29 – AFTT Main programme – The Little Carib Theatre
2.30pm – Asha, Kenya
2.30pm – Pearl of Africa, Uganda
5.30pm – Brooklyn to Benin, Benin
5.30pm – House of Nwapa, Nigeria
8pm – Lodgers, Nigeria
8pm – The Giant is Falling, S Africa

July 30 – AFTT Main programme- The Little Carib Theatre
2.30pm – Victor, Nigeria
2.30pm – Kati Kati, Kenya
5.30pm – Mtindo, Kenya
5.30pm – Mimosas, Morocco
8pm – Vaya, South Africa

Turning to the situation in Venezuela, Charles claimed TT’s foreign policy here “lacks focus and direction and is based on short term considerations.” He alleged that were there a change in government then, “our cross border energy agreements may be at risk.” Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister Stuart Young has refuted this allegation made by Charles and other Opposition MPs. Charles claimed that Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley’s recent criticisms of the Organisation of the American States (OAS) Secretary General has caused Venezuelan opposition forces to see TT as “being too close to Maduro.”

Though two years have passed and many reforms have been implemented, the people behind the jailbreak have never been held accountable.

Disciplinary proceedings against three prisons officers are delayed. The failure of the Public Service system to facilitate a swift resolution to these matters is an embarrassment and a threat to the security of the public at large.

On July 24, 2015, four remanded inmates escaped from the Port of Spain Prison. With the use of illicit firearms, they shot their way out of the premises.

The jailbreak resulted in the deaths of three people – including a promising police officer – and two of the escaped inmates. Two prison officers were wounded.

As noted by a Parliament committee in a recent report, the jailbreak raised questions about the general safety of the public, National Security safety standards, security systems in the Prison Service, and the Prison Service’s ability to effectively manage and rehabilitate inmates.

Mere months after the July 2015 events, the public was again confronted with another scare when it was reported that the Port of Spain Prison was on high alert in response to rumours of a planned violent breakout involving a man charged with murder in a high-profile case.

The Commissioner of Prisons stated that security had been stepped up and the Prison Service was liaising with its national security counterparts to compare intelligence.

Mercifully, the threatened violence did not ensue.

Several commendable things were done to improve standards in the system after 2015. The number of armed personnel was increased at gates, special visits regularised, search procedures bolstered, a strict dress code introduced for visitors, random searches introduced, full-body scanners introduced, and CCTV cameras installed. These followed upon previous reforms such as mobile phone jammers and blockers.

However, according to evidence taken by the Joint Select Committee on National Security, there remain gaps in the coverage of surveillance at prisons.

And since 2015, even more alarming problems have emerged relating to the disciplinary processes for prisons officers. There have been problems constituting a panel to probe charges and then long delays in getting the work of this panel up and running.

According to the committee, “In relation to the investigations into the events of July 24, 2015, the committee finds that the almost lifeless disciplinary investigation process of the Public Service Commission is woefully defective and tortuous.

It needs immediate rectification.” The suspended prisons officers – who may not have done anything wrong – are being severely punished by the delays. Worse, according to the committee, “wrongdoers can manipulate the process already wrongly balanced in their favour using cleverly devised avoidance tactics.” The message being sent is that the State is soft when it comes to traitors within the ranks of the law enforcement agencies. That is not just woefully defective, it is obscene.

Aside from all of this, it is also unclear whether we have learned lessons in relation to deeper, more long-term issues facing the system.

The problem of prison overcrowding remains a serious threat to the overall integrity of the system, resulting in poor conditions for inmates and hampering rehabilitation efforts by turning jails into a special form of punishment.

The need to relocate the Port of Spain Prison has also not been addressed.

As this sad anniversary approaches, we urge the State to ensure another year does not pass without good progress on these issues.

After the suspect beat teenager Sancaro he then drove at highspeed towards him running him over. The attacker is reported to have stopped the van and reversed, running over the teen’s body a second time to make sure he was dead. He then drove off. The teen was taken to the San Fernando General Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

According to reports, Sancaro and two friends were returning home from a bazaar in Otaheite and while walking along the Southern Main Road in Dow Village, South Oropouche, last week Sunday when they spotted the man beating a woman with a cutlass near a bar. The three intervened telling the man to stop beating the woman.

The man became enraged and turned on the three with his cutlass causing them to run off. Realising he could not catch them , the man then jumped into his Ford Ranger pickup and sped towards the fleeing men. On reaching a car wash, the suspect knocked down Sancaro from behind and then drove over him as he lay bleeding on the roadway. Sancaro was cremated on Wednesday following a service at Guides Crematorium in San Fernando.

Batting first, Stable Boys were skittled out for 38 in 11.1 overs with Jovan Whint taking two wickets for seven runs while Terrance Jadoo got 2/14.

Dwayne James offered lone resistance for Stable Boys with 12.

In reply, El Dorado raced to 39 without loss in 3.4 overs, with Tevon Jadoo unbeaten on 14 and Ashmeer Banwarie on 10.

In another encounter on July 1, Valley Boys had a narrow three-wicket win over Angie’s Liquor Mart Rampage.

Taking first strike, Rampage were bundled out for 28 in 8.5 overs with Ravi Singh (3/7) and Andel Ruiz (3/9) doing the damage with the ball.

Valley Boys reached 33/7 in response, despite Rajin Kanhai and Rishi Bharathsingh getting identical figures of 3/7.

And Nightngale had a tense eight-run win over Bustin Loose.

Nightngale were restricted to 50/9 in their allotted 12 overs, with Musa Mohammed scoring 12. Ronnie Mahabir grabbed 4/15 and Wesley Mohan 2/7 for Bustin Loose.

In their response, Bustin Loose were bowled out for 42 in 11.3 overs, as Ravin Mohan claimed 2/7 and Scott Ali 2/9 for Nightngale.

Other Results – June 21 – VALLEY BOYS 26 (9.4 overs) – Vikram Ramdath 4/12, Jairaj Balkaran 3/2 vs HARD DRIVE 27/8 (11.1 overs) – Andy Ruiz 2/4, Akash Garness 2/4, Andel Ruiz 2/11.

Hard Drive won by two wickets.

NIGHTNGALE SC 79 (11.5 overs) – Sieunarine Bachan 16, Johnny Ramadhin 16, Avinash Motilal 11; Joel Ramdhanie 3/14, Rennie Manolal 2/10 vs SWAZIE IMPORTS SMASHERZ 57 (10.4 overs) – Joel Ramdhanie 18 not out, Asif Mohammed 15; Solomon Edoo 3/6, Afraz Ali 3/12.

NIGHTNGALE SC won by 22 runs.

June 22 – MIX-UP BOYS 51/5 (12 overs) – Daniel Mahbub 3/9 vs KINGS 40 (9.2 overs) – Richard Siewah 3/3, Peter Mahase 2/2, Amrit Sammy 2/4, Amir Sammy 2/15. Mix-Up Boys won by 11 runs.

BRING DRINKS KREW 38/9 (12 overs) – Aneil Sammy 2/6, Kevin Ramgarib 2/7, Nicky Rampersad 2/10, Temul Ramkhelawan 2/11 vs HOME BOYS 39/3 (8.2 overs) – Sunil Sanasie 19 not out; Terrance Ragoonath 2/17. Home Boys won by seven wickets.

June 24 – SHERRY’S BAR RAMPANT RECRUITS 87/2 (12 overs) – Mahase Sookhan 31, Ryan Cassie 23 not out, Kurt Cassie 18 not out vs ROAD RUNNERS 55 (11.2 overs) – Rishi Heetia 20, Amrit Supersad 15; Rick Cassie 3/6, Kurt Cassie 2/21. Rampant Recruits won by 32 runs.

HUNTERS 86/9 (12 overs) – Shawn Joseph 25, Atiba Villafana 12 not out, Keston Villafana 12; Ronnie Mahabir 3/16, Ryan Dwarika 2/23 vs BUSTIN’ LOOSE 43/4 (12 overs) – Simboodnath Ramrattan 4/11. Hunters won by 43 runs.

DRUNKEN’ MASTERS 101/8 (12 overs) – Jason Ganpat 43, Avinash Dookran 21, Jeremy Kowlessar 13; Darnell Sookoo 3/21, Rohan Padarath 2/1 vs Legends 50/7 (12 overs) – Amelio Heerah 2/4, Sastri Jaisumair 2/17. Drunken’ Masters won by 51 runs.

June 27- INVADERS UNITED 76/4 (12 overs) – Nicholas Mohammed 37; Chevorn Griffith 2/18 vs AMIGOS 60/9 (12 overs) – Romel Lalsingh 13; Chris Ramsaroop 3/13, Viraaj Singh 3/27, Mahesh Chetram 2/16. Invaders United won by 16 runs.

KITCHEN KREW 63/6 (12 overs) – James Sooknarine 16, Christopher Thomas 11; Noel Gopaul 2/8, Stephan Charran 2/21 vs JUST FOR KICKS 37/8 (12 overs) – Nicholas Kanhai 2/3, Kishore Seeboo 2/4, James Sooknarine 2/6. Kitchen Krew won by 26 runs.

June 28 – MASH-UP KREW 40/8 (12 overs) – Sherwyn Hamilton 2/7, Amir Sammy 2/13 vs MIX-UP BOYS 46/7 (10.1 overs) – Amrit Sammy 16 not out; Vinod Ramdeen 3/10, Jesse Mohammed 2/11. Mix- Up Boys won by three wickets.

SILVER STARS 60 (11.4 overs) – Narindra Rampath 17, Ricki Sieuchan 17; Leon Ramdeen 5/11, Darrien Manohar 2/7, Vickram Ramdath 2/13 vs HARD DRIVE 59 (11.5 overs) – Adesh Lalla 13; Narindra Rampath 3/10, Denesh Ramsaran 2/13. Silver Stars won by one run.

June 29 – SWAZIE IMPORTS SMASHERZ 76/6 (12 overs) – Ricky Ramroop 22, Joel Ramdhanie 12; Atiba Villafana 3/9 vs HUNTERS 74/9 (12 overs) – Shawn Joseph 22, Takshnaa Jairam 12; Kavesh Maharaj 4/19, Sultan Mohammed 3/11. Smasherz won by two runs.

D’ BOSS TEAM 76/8 (12 overs) – Christopher Jagmohan 13, Riaz Mohammed 11; Danesh Ragbir 2/14, Ismail Mohammed 2/20 vs TEAM SPORT 25 (8.3 overs) – Safraaz Aki 3/3, Dylan Ravello 3/7, Terry Ramnarine 2/2. D’ Boss Team won by 51 runs.

June 30 – KINGS 50 (10.2 overs) – Navin Ali 11, Allan Baboolal 10; Sashtri Ramdeo 3/10, Jameson Sunny 3/11 vs D’ A-TEAM 60/5 (7.2 overs) – Sashtri Ramdeo 25, Rohan Sookdeo 14. D’ A-Team won by five wickets.

NEW RECRUITS 74/8 (12 overs) – Kapil Ramcharran 19; Shane Ramnanan 3/11, Sanjay Lahorie 2/14 vs D’ ALLIANCE 49/8 (12 overs) – Vikash Mearns 10; Alex Frederick 3/10. New Recruits won by 25 runs.

Wreckin’ Krew 37/7 (12 overs) – Pradeem Ali 2/4, Riaff Ali 2/7 vs TOOL TIME WIN LOSE OR DRAW 40/0 (7.2 overs) – Sunil Boochan 20 not out, Ravindra Naidoo 18 not out. Win Lose or Draw won by 10 wickets.

In an interview at the Venezuelan Embassy in Port of Spain on Thursday, Calderon said Venezuelan Energy Minister Rafael Ramirez is expected, “to come any time (to TT) before the end of the month to conclude part of the deal.” Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley and Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro signed three agreements when Rowley on December 5, 2016.

These were for asupply of natural gas from Venezuela to Trinidad and Tobago from Camp Dragon; Shell Venezuela and Pdvsa entering in negotiations to evaluate opportunities to reduce gas flaring in northern Monagas state, and areement to obtain financing for a joint venture to encourage increased oil production. Rowley and Maduro first discussed the initiative to access natural gas from Venezuela’s Dragon Field when Maduro visited TT last May.

Rowley and Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister Stuart Young have both said that efforts are being made to conclude a gas sales agreement by this month.

Calderon said teams from TT, Venezuela and Shell have been holding technical meetings but this may not be widely known to many people.

She said the latest set of these meetings happened three weeks ago.

The Ambassador said all three teams are committed to concluding the agreement as soon as possible, given the undertaking by Rowley and Maduro that this be done.

Calderon said the initiative is a win-win situation for both countries, with Venezuela having the natural gas while TT has the installed capacity for it.

She added that this agreement will give Venezuela the opportunity to become a gas exporter,”which we have not been as yet.” Calderon was also pleased that the US$50 million revolving trade fund continues to operate since it was launched on May 22, 2016.

To date, she indicated there have been four shipments of goods from this country to Venezuela.

Last May, Rowley said TT was, “pleased that financing has been put in place to enable cross border trade of manufactured items.” Noting the history of trade relations between TT and Venezuela, Calderon recalled a time when TT citizens would go to Venezuela to purchase commodities not available in this country.

The fund – which can be administered by the court or an NGO or charity – will divert State funds towards ‘positive and therapeutic programmes’ which will serve to benefit both prisoners and prison guards, Justice Vasheist Kokaram said.

The novel approach to the award of exemplary damages was articulated by Justice Kokaram who held that the beating of five prisoners at the Remand Yard of the Golden Grove Prison in Arouca on June 16, 2015, by a number of prison officers carrying out a search of the cell block was unlawful and unjustified.

He ordered that each prisoner will receive damages to compensate for the injuries they sustained during the beating.

Jason Raymond will receive $65,000, Marvin Scott will receive $75,000, Ryan Stephens will receive $70,000, Christopher Lewis will receive $70,000 and Junior Collins will receive $55,000.

In keeping with his ruling of a split award of exemplary damages, Justice Kokaram ordered a total sum of $250,000; one third of which will be divided among the five prisoners and two thirds (or $166,667) will be paid into the court for the Prison Reform Fund.

Attorneys for the prisoners and the State have three months in which to advise the court of the options or programmes available to give effect to the judge’s order and if they fail to do so, the money put aside for the Fund will go back to the prisoners, half of which will be paid immediate and the other half when they are released or within two years.

“As a matter of policy, for a small society witnessing unprecedented levels of violence and crime, every effort must not be spared in ensuring that our prisons are not a breeding ground for further violent and aggressive behaviour.

The violence that is bred within those walls quite easily spill out. The degree of institutional violence is a direct product of prison conditions and how the State operates its prisons,” he noted.

“Of course, overcrowding and inadequate facilities simply make violence inevitable,” he added. He has also suggested that Parliament introduce legislation to give effect to the split in exemplary damages, but he noted that there was nothing preventing the courts from making such an order in future cases.

“The Courts have repeatedly called for change in the approach in the prisons,” Justice Kokaram noted. Representing the five prisoners were attorneys Gerald Ramdeen and Darryl Heeralal while Senior Counsel Fyard Hosein, Rishi Dass and Gitanjali Gopeesingh appeared for the Attorney General.