The local entrepreneur who transformed his family-owned business to a regional business throughout the Caribbean and Latin America, was installed as UWI’s sixth chancellor at a gala ceremony held on Saturday night at the Daaga Auditorium, UWI St Augustine Campus. Bermudez said that UWI must see itself as an exporter of education and attracting international students will both improve finances and aid in diversity.

He also said that the university must continue to grow its commercial activities and partner with private sector and contributing territories in endeavours that require stepping out of their comfort zone. On students he said they cannot just produce certified people but energised youth and stressed social skills, empathy and concern for empathy were as important for success as technical skills.

He said UWI’s entrusting its leadership to someone outside of academia showed that in its 70th year it is “recalibrating itself to the demands of the future.” Bermudez thanked UWI for the “extraordinary honour” and praised his immediate predecessor Sir George Alleyne, who served from 2003-2017, as a “great West Indian” who had dedicated his life to the service of his country, his region and UWI.

He said that he started life as a baker and he still sees himself that way and him standing as UWI chancellor has made him aware of the “vagaries of life.” Bermudez said that as UWI turned 70 many Caribbean countries were approaching their 50th year of independence.

He said that while the region may not have the material wealth of other countries “we are not backward; we are rich in talent.” He said the world was changing at an astonishing pace and UWI must embrace change. He predicted that technology will displace many traditional jobs and UWI has a pivotal role to train young people for this changing world.

He said that the greatest challenge will be ourselves and encouraged UWI I to dream by, act big and never conceive of failure.

Among those in attendance at Bermudez’s installation were President Anthony Carmona, Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley, Education Minister Anthony Garcia and other ministers, former UWI St Augustine principal Bhoe Tewarie, Caribbean Court of Justice President Sir Dennis Byron and regional ministers of education.

UWI Vice Chancellor Sir Hillary Beckles in his remarks said Bermudez’s installation was a special moment that cries out for change and transformation.

He said that it is a crossroads where UWI has “chosen a different path” and “a direction to radically transform the nature of our operations and the quality of service and our commitment.” He said 2017/2018 academic year is the 70th year of the university and it has been an outstanding period of service for which the university can be justly proud. Beckles said, however, that it cannot be business as usual and UWI must rapidly evolve or become obsolete.

He reported that a balance scorecard system was being developed which would hold everyone accountable from the Chancellor, the campus principals to the caterers.

He said that UWI must return to its activist roots on comment on issues such as economic development, control of crime, reparations and rebuilding of the West Indies cricket team.

He asked Bermudez to inspire, guide and empower them at UWI.

St Augustine Campus Principal Professor Brian Copeland said that the campus is totally committed to an agenda that inculcates a “culture of innovation.” He told Bermudez that given UWI’s task and Bermudez’s stellar and successful leadership in the Caribbean business realm UWI and the St Augustine campus in particular “sees great hope for success in future endeavours.

Thus, while some banks may provide some measure of seating, nevertheless this is not the norm and invariably, notwithstanding even this modicum of comfort, these citizens are made to stand in long lines or to wait for hours on end, before being able to reach a cashier.

In any event, one senses that bank personnel, by their attitude and body language, perhaps out of frustration and “pressure” by dint of the numbers alone, seem to convey the impression that a favour is being rendered.

I am suggesting that this occurrence does not convey the impression that “there is a government that cares.” I am wondering what has become of the announcement by the Minister of Social Development, some months ago, that payment of old age pensions and disability grants were to be made by direct credit to bank accounts.

Also, I am wondering how difficult is it, as an interim measure, to bring relief to all concerned (recipients as well as bank personnel) by avoiding the “first of the month” syndrome.

Of course, this could be done by staggering payment dates. May I suggest that payment by “name alphabet” be considered.

ERROL OC CUPID Trincity

What is almost certain is that the country has to come to grips with the stark reality of dwindling revenues.

The economists and interest groups have been characteristically giving their advice to the Minister of Finance in the hope that their views would be incorporated into the much anticipated presentation on October 2.

Historically, we have been down similar roads and would have hopefully learnt some valuable lessons from past experiences. As individuals we know that when our income levels decline we have to make commensurate adjustments in our spending.

We also have to be more prudent with scarce financial resources and will demand greater value for money, eliminate or reduce wastage and insist that all family members share the burden of adjustment.

With this basic logic in mind we will expect the Minister of Finance to outline measures to ensure that wastage is eliminated, efficiency in governance is enhanced and the burden of economic adjustments is not carried by one sector of the society — the workers through wage cuts/freezes or retrenchment.

The corporate sector must be made to carry their commensurate share of economic adjustments, be it higher corporate taxation, reduced concessions for doing business, greater levels of risk-taking and reinvestment of profits into the local economy.

At the same time, workers and their families must adjust consumption patterns, and place greater emphasis on savings and investments. Prioritising of expenditure must become a norm in each household, with investments in education being given top billing.

Our insatiable appetite for foreign goods and services must be reviewed in the context of needs versus wants. Fiscal discipline must begin in our homes.

In the national context, education being a public good must maintain its priority investment status. However, there is need for efficiency and value for money.

These will undoubtedly be guiding principles in the Finance Minister’s presentation.

For too long we have seen money thrown down the drain, either for political patronage and nepotism or due to ill-conceived educational reforms. Has the country been getting value for the money it invests in education? Are the graduates of the education system making the contributions to the economic, social and cultural well-being of the country they ought to? We continue to see large numbers of students graduate from our tertiary institutions to realise there are no jobs aligned to their qualifications.

It is no secret that the tertiary education sector swallows a large chunk of the allocation to education. We have seen a proliferation of private tertiary education institutions blossom overnight throughout the country thanks to the generosity of the State. At the same time our primary education sector — the very foundation of our education system, continue to languish in dilapidated infrastructure.

So while the Finance Minister is pondering on priority spending and fiscal discipline, this is an opportune time for him to reflect on how and where scarce resources should be focused in the education sector while maintaining its high agenda status.

It might also be wise for the Government to reflect upon the education model that in currently in use against its development priorities since our model essentially produces “workers” and consumers, rather that people who create employment through innovation.

We produce school graduates who consume technology rather than create it. The minister must ask if such an education arrangement is capable of taking our economy away from fossil fuel dependence and along a path of sustainable development.

We await his p ronounc e – ments.

North East have tallied 18 points after nine games, and sit atop the 10-team standings, while Club Sando are on third spot with 17 points. W Connection also have 17 points, and a superior goal difference over Club Sando.

If the North East-Club Sando game ends in a draw, W Connection can move up to first place once they get the better of reigning champs Central FC in the second match at Couva.

Fourth-placed San Juan Jabloteh will head to the St James Barracks to meet Police at 6 pm while, simultaneously, Point Fortin Civic will be entertain fellow strugglers Morvant Caledonia United at the Mahaica Oval, Point Fortin.

Too many times negative things are said about this community and it is my hope that more youth who are involved with gangs and drugs will give up this senseless lifestyle and begin to dare to dream like Pantin and do positive things for this nation.

This is another wake-up call to our nation’s youth to dare to dream in the midst of a corrupt, barbaric and violent society.

Women are being raped and their throats slit by heartless criminals.

Stress levels are running high, while patience is running low. But there is still hope.

Pantin is proof that you can be successful and make your friends and loved ones proud by simply believing in yourself and dedicating your life to your passion.

The world has been literally transformed by men and women who dared to dream.

Men like Mahatma Gandhi who dared to dream that the Indian people could have been freed from British rule. Men like Barack Obama who dared to dream that he could become the first black president of the US and that a change was coming. Martin Luther King dared to dream that a time would come when men and women would no longer be judged by the colour of their skin but by the content of their character.

Ne i ghb ourho o d crime prevention is an important strategy in the fight against crime because it affects the fear and perception of crime as well as the actual prevalence of crime. If members of the community are participating in crime prevention, their perception and fear of crime may also diminish.

There are many different approaches to neighbourhood crime prevention. The attempt is to establish a cohesive and socially aware community where crime cannot flourish. Also, we need to teach our young men and women to pursue positive dreams and reach for the stars.

We need to engage in a concept called target hardening in crime affected areas. This technique involves making it physically more difficult for the potential offender to engage and be successful in criminal activity. Installation of deadbolt locks in doors, the latest anti- theft devices, using steering wheel locks for cars, and putting iron bars on windows are just a few examples of target hardening.

The recent surge of cybercrime has made it increasingly necessary to address issues of privacy.

Computer users must protect themselves from victimisation by installing the latest software that has the ability to defend against potential intrusion by hackers and other cyber criminals.

Citizens can take an active role in preventing crime, preventing victimisation and reducing the fear of crime on Nelson Street and other crime-affected communities.

We need more Pantins and less criminals.

SIMON WRIGHT Chaguanas

Griffith made the remarks yesterday via a media release, in which he cited a recent campaign spearheaded by his wife and former Senator, Nicole Dyer-Griffith, to amend section 2 of the firearms act which prohibits the use of pepper spray. “Again, the benefits of pepper spray for law-abiding citizens allows them a chance which they may not have acquired when confronted by a criminal element, and this has proven to save many , especially women, from being killed, kidnapped, beaten, robbed or assaulted.” Addressing concerns from police that the decriminalisation of pepper spray would increase crime, Griffith said that was not possible, as most criminals use much more deadly weapons in their trade, adding that the Firearms act was outdated and has left many citizens defenceless in the face of criminals.

For this reason he implored Parliament to make the necessary adjustments to ammend the act.

“For this decision to be ignited, it rests with Parliament to amend an outdated law that presently makes it illegal for citizens to carry pepper spray and depriving them of an opportunity to possess a tool that could have been used to defend themselves when attacked.” Despite his support for the issuance of pepper spray, Griffith said that electric guns or tasers were weapons which could result in death if improperly used.

“The taser gun is a completely different tool, which can and has been used on numerous occasions not as a defensive weapon, but as a weapon to attack, hurt and even punish others.” He added that while the public should not be allowed to access tasers, they could prove useful to law enforcement in subduing assailants, provided that they receive proper training.

This could have been done through his address to the General Assembly and bi-lateral meetings with world leaders on the margins of the GA,” Charles said in a news release yesterday.

He said heads of state from Antigua and Barbuda, Haiti, St Lucia, and St Kitts and Nevis will also be in attendance including Prime Minister Gaston Browne who will highlight his country’s urgent need for assistance in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma.

He said this country will be represented by Foreign Affairs Minister Dennis Moses who is expected to speak on Saturday after most delegations would have returned home and had Rowley attended, under UN protocol, he would have spoken at the Assembly earlier and addressed several issues including the country’s crime challenges.

“He could have reminded them that many of the drug related challenges we face are a consequence of the insatiable demand for drugs in their respective countries and our location between the producers and consumers of these drugs. This combined with the large number of deportees from these countries have severely overburdened our law enforcement agencies.

“These reasons could have been used in support of more technical and mutual assistance from these countries.” Charles said since taking office, Rowley has taken numerous foreign trips, many for personal matters, but has avoided major meetings such as the Paris Climate Change summit and three very important UNGAs.

“Trinidad and Tobago must avail itself of opportunities at the highest global levels to share our experiences and learn from others. Nothing beats face to face meetings for achieving national objectives on the global stage.”

To make things worse, Ganesh was last week given an eviction notice by the Housing Development Corporation (HDC) to leave his Cashew Gardens, Longdonville home. Speaking to Newsday on Sunday, Ganesh wept unashamedly as he spoke of his fear for what the future may hold.

He recalled being handed keys to the house by the HDC in April 2015 under the People’s Partnership.

Ganesh said he is unable to make payments because of his condition.

“I have a disability grant of $1,800 in which I must pay utility bills and maintain my wife Karen and daughter Emily,” Ganesh said. The monthly installment for his home is $800.

And while this sum may appear to be paltry to some, Ganesh said that apart from having to pay for groceries and utilities, his disability cheque must also cover the cost for his medication.

He is pleading with Minister of Housing Randall Mitchell and Minister of National Security Edmund Dillion to look into his matter and allow him tenure on grounds of him suffering a disability cause through no fault of his.

“I am a victim of crime. I have become paralysed and now my family is fighting to survive on what little government assistance we get,” he said, adding that his wife has to see to his every physical need during the day and night as they cannot afford a nurse. As such, she is unable to go out and work.

In 2012, Ganesh was at his home in St Helena when bandits entered.

He was shot twice. In April 2015, then prime minister Kamla Persad- Bissessar gave keys to houses for physically challenged individuals at the Southern Academy for the Performing Arts (SAPA). “It was a good feeling to have some place that my family could call home,” he said.

“Please, I am begging the government to please help me, please. I don’t want to end up on the street with my family.

I have gone through enough when I was attacked and shot in my own home,” Ganesh said.

He told the congregation, which included President Anthony Carmona and Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley, “We have used God’s gift for selfish means and it has destroyed us.” Observing there continues to be a perception of rampant corruption and an inability to regulate many functions of governance, Berkley lamented that people in TT are constantly creating “conundrum after conundrum.” In passing reference to troubles with the domestic seabridge, Berkley remarked, “We can hardly buy a boat.” Rowley was scheduled later in the day to appear before the Land and Physical Infrastructure Joint Select Committee at Tower D of the Port International Waterfront Centre, as part of its enquiry into the seabridge. Berkely said he hoped that in the new law term, the Judiciary will be able to help the country to restrain this trend of envy and self-ambition.

Earlier in the service, Justice Andre des Vignes prayed that, “attorneys who practice in our courts will be honest and trustworthy.” He hoped the population would once again experience “integrity, fairness and humble service” from all members of the judicial system. Des Vignes prayed for Chief Justice Ivor Archie, “as he continues to discharge his responsibilities as the leader of the Judiciary.” Attorney Iyawo Ogunsola Tempu Nefertari-Moheni lamented, “We are still failing to adequately protect our children.” She prayed that members of the judicial system and the society as a whole, would open their eyes and their intellect, “to culturally relevant solutions to the social issues that feed criminal activity in this nation.”

In a media release yesterday, the Chamber cited a JTUM statement issued last Friday in which the umbrella labour organisation revealed that it had left the National Tripartite Advisory Council (NTAC) because “both the government and employers had joined together in the retrenchment of workers even while the Labour Movement was a part of the tripartite body.” However, the Energy Chamber stated that while some “individual companies” had been forced to retrench workers “given the extremely challenging economic environment” pointed out that several other companies had “actually increased their labour force over the past two years.” “Private-sector companies compete with each other and each company makes individual decisions on staffing levels based on their particular circumstances,” the Chamber stated.

“The Energy Chamber, working through the Joint Chambers group, has made it clear that we support the reform of the Retrenchment and Severance Benefit Act and we have made detailed proposals in this regard. The Energy Chamber remains committed to NTAC,” the Chamber continued.

Meanwhile, JTUM once again reiterated its demand for a moratorium on retrenchment from the government as one of the main conditions for its return to NTAC saying it was of the belief that government’s retrenchment of workers would have be intensified in the coming months.