The activity was one of two things RBC did in support of United Way’s National Day of Caring two Sundays ago.

The assistance from RBC, which will extend beyond the Day of Caring, was heartily welcomed by Deborah Clarke, administrative assistant at the LIFE Centre. The institution runs as a non-governmental organisation (NGO) with a subvention from Government and depends to a large extent on the goodwill of corporate entities, foundations and other benefactors to fulfill its mandate.

“We feel honoured. As you can see, the building needed some sprucing up. I don’t think we could have asked for anything more on this National Day of Caring. It will be a great lift for the students,” said a happy Clarke.

The LIFE Centre, located on Theodore Hertzell Avenue, Petit Valley, caters to “special needs” children. There are currently 18 students, ranging from eight to 24 years, and a staff of 15, comprising 12 teachers and three administrative personnel.

The mission of the centre is “to equip individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and other communication related disorders with the skills and knowledge required for a fulfilling life in an accepting society”.

Building communities is a big part of RBC’s employee volunteerism.

Among the RBC staffers who did yeoman work on Sunday was Lianne Mitchell who formed an accomplished working partnership with her son, Keegan, a pupil of Belmont Boys RC Primary School. “We welcome this opportunity to help others. We do it with sincerity and the ultimate satisfaction that what we are doing here today will bring a smile to others.

Keegan and I are really happy to do our part in this RBC volunteerism project,” said Mitchell, as her son nodded in agreement.

Across in the sister Isle, the bank gave a helping hand to the Happy Haven School in Tobago with a $10,000 donation to cover costs for necessary teaching aids.

“This is truly a wonderful gesture from RBC Royal Bank and it will go a long way in assisting our students,” said Principal of Happy Haven School, Dianne Le Cointe.

The bank has a number of formal programmes that support employee volunteerism including its Day of Service Grants and Community Leadership Awards, both of which allow employees to earn funds for the charities and community activities they support.

Sunday’s exercise marked the second year of RBC’s association with United Way’s National Day of Caring, which underscores the bank’s corporate philosophy of helping clients thrive and communities prosper.

His sister, Indira Ali, 53, who was shot in the right leg was resting at home. The two were shot on Monday by two men who jumped the gates of their home Second Street, New Settlement. The gunmen ran off after shooting the siblings.

Sookdeo’s daughter Natalia told Newsday yesterday, her father is unable to speak and is responding with the use of his hands.

She said since the incident the family has been unable to sleep.

Police suspect robbery was the motive behind the shooting but the gunmen ran off empty-handed as residents were alerted to the sounds of the gunshots. Sookdeo retired three years ago from the Fire Service and now works as a security officer. An arrest is yet to be made and Couva police are investigating.

I’m speaking of the vendor on Queen’s Park East (in the vicinity of Holy Name Convent and a primary school).

Each time I drive along that road, I wonder why this vendor is allowed to block the walkway with her big cart while her customers block an entire lane of traffic flowing around the Queen’s Park Savannah and nothing is done about it, either by the police or the city corporation.

Please, Mr Mayor, don’t be selective in your actions against vendors.

Kindly remove this vendor since I’m certain it’s illegal to vend there.

A CHARLES Mount Hope

This acute demand exists along the east-west corridor, on the western coast, and within urban and suburban areas. The demand is highest precisely in areas where land for housing is least available.

Although Trinidad is a small country, the PNM has adamantly refused to decentralise government services. Its efforts at organising affordable housing have been worse than its bungling attempts at inter-island connectivity.

Under the Manning administration in 1992, the PNM produced a land-use document, the fate of which was to collect dust on a shelf somewhere. In 2002, with its usual incompetence, it produced another document — “Showing Trinidad and Tobago a new way home.” The PNM promised the nation 100,000 homes in 10 years. What a promise.

It wasted millions of taxpayers’ dollars by building high-rise towers on shifting lands — Las Alturas. Although Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley and, subsequently, Dick-Ford were reportedly ministers in the Ministry of Planning, Housing and the Environment during the planning and construction of that money tree, neither accepts responsibility — either for constructing or for demolishing.

Today, those whose duty it is to create a policy to facilitate the housing of the nation’s families and to protect the nation’s children — the heart and soul of tomorrow — have failed miserably in their duty to do so. The economic environment the PNM has created prevents ordinary people from acquiring homes.

You dare not assault their dignity by demolishing the meagre shelters they have constructed.

Where are the PNM’s heart and soul? What is most infuriating is that just as there is no accountability from the PNM when it builds irresponsibly and shabbily, in the same way it refuses to account to the nation and the victims of its wickedness when it demolishes.

Can you imagine in the 21st century and no government agency has accepted responsibility for this most recent callous demolition in Valencia? So which State institution ordered the destruction of the homes at Pine Gardens, in an exercise conducted by the Commissioner of State Lands? Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi told the media that “his office was not informed and neither was the Agriculture Ministry, the Housing Ministry or the Chief State Solicitor.” He asserted that he has “been calling for the Commissioner of State Lands to meet with me every single day since the 15th.” He said he has even written to her every day.

His office is just about two blocks away but after “written requests and umpteen phone calls” he could not discuss this with her.

Why did he not take a walk? Poor Al-Rawi. Like us, he too finds “it rather unusual that the Commissioner of State Lands will be acting entirely by herself (if sued), and (he is) concerned as to where the advice” originated.

STEVE SMITH via email

So said Secretary General of the Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha Sat Maharaj as he addressed the organisation’s Arrrival Day Dinner at the Radisson Hotel, Port-of-Spain, on Saturday night.

“Whenever there is a political crisis, the Attorney General (Faris Al Rawi) uses child marriage as a distraction. Everytime they under pressure is child marriage,” he told guets.

“But, we do not believe in child marriage, we believe in teenage marriage. But everytime there is a crisis, the whole thing about child marriage comes up.” The outspoken Hindu leader raised the issue as he praise on Pundit Bhadase Seetahal Maraj, First Vice-President of the SDMS, who was honoured by the organisation for his contribution to the development of education and East Indians in this country. The SDMS secretary general said Maraj had led by example through his brief stint in the Senate during the debate on child marriage several months ago. “So, the debate was about to begin in the Senate and I called the Leader of the Opposition and I said, I want a voice in the senate, my own voice in the Senate, the Maha Sabha’s voice in the Senate for this debate on child marriage,” he said.

He Maraj and a representative from ASJA were eventually selected to debate the issue.

“He delivered a speech without a note because I was looking at him on television,” he said of Maraj.

The SDMS general secretary said all of the money that Maraj has worked for over the years has been “squandered” behind a mandir.

“Every single penny, TT$4 million.

This man is a virtual pauper at this point in time,” Maharaj said.

“He has to depend on his doctor son to ensure that he has enough to eat and drink.” In congratulating the pundit, Maharaj said: “You are a wonderful person and if anybody is worried about continuity, there is a whole generation behind us who are prepared to take over and lead the Hindu community.”

In a release, the NCHRA quoted its CEO Davlin Thomas who said, “The NCRHA is at present increasing its capacity to accommodate members of the public in need of dialysis treatment. Four additional haemodialysis machines are being purchased, with one to be allotted to special needs patients, i.e patients with infections like HIV and Hepatitis B, effectively increasing capacity to treat with this group.” The Authority also highlighted the consistent decreases in hospital based or hospital acquired (nosocomial) infections at the facilities it manages as well as no issues of patient infection at the Dialysis Unit of the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex.

Thomas said, “Because of our proactive and systematic quality risk management approach to Infection Prevention Control (IPC) within the NCHRA, we can boast that at the EW MSC the nosocomial infection rate at the hospital as a whole has been reduced by 50 percent.

At the Mt. Hope Women’s Hospital there has been an 83 percent decrease.” The NCHRA said it was constantly mitigating against conditions that facilitate the spread of infections and as a result at the EW MSC they have observed all quality risk management protocols to minimise the existence of any condition that would accommodate the spread of infections at their facility.

But what if we choose instead to take a position of support for what we believe to be right? Well, we will find no supportive group surrounding us. In fact, we risk being shouted down by contradicting others. To stand for what is right you often have to stand alone.

Consider the situation of Barrabas and Christ. Were those seeking Christ’s crucifixion in the right? No. Were they even in the majority? Perhaps not.

However, Christ’s supporters had either fallen silent or fallen away from him; this for the purpose of remaining safe from the crowd or going even further and ensconcing themselves within its bosom.

For the support of Christ and the Christian position, many throughout the years have stood alone and paid severe consequences.

Nowadays, though there is no longer any persecution of the church on this side of the world, is it that Christians are still falling silent or falling away simply to join the crowd? I support the paying of property tax as a Christian and a Trinidadian. I do not, unlike others, have one issue with the tax. My God and my country have been supremely good to me and I can’t wait to contribute to TT at this time in this way.

As for my fellow Christians and citizens, stand alone when you believe something to be right; forget the crowd. Write a letter, post a comment, speak out. Support.

ANISA GRANT via email

This was the agreement arrived at following a High Court application filed by the Tunapuna/ Piarco Regional Corporation last week .

According to the TPRC’s claim, Enigma Events Limited – the operators of the Expo which is located opposite the Centre of Excellence in Macoya – did not have the necessary building approvals from the corporation .

Justice Carol Gobin presided over the matter which was brought by the corporation’s chairman and council against Enigma Events Limited .

The corporation was represented by attorney Farai Hove Masaisai instructed by the firm of Hove and Associates while Enigma Events Limited was represented by attorney Simon de la Bastide instructed by Nyree Alfonso .

At the hearing, Enigma Events’ attorney agreed that his client did not have the approval from the corporation’s engineer, but submitted that the TPRC lacked the required rights to facilitate the proceedings .

In a spirit of compromise, Justice Gobin initially provided an option for the temporary operation of the business given the closeness of Indian Arrival day after which Enigma Events would be required to seek the necessary approvals .

However after deliberations, Engima Events gave the undertaking to cease and desist from conducting any trade or business operations on or before 11:59 p.m. on the June 6 .

The operators of the Indian Expo have also agreed to begin dismantling its white tent on June 7 and this is to be completed by June 13. Engima Events have also agreed to approach the TPRC to attain the necessary approvals for all future structures before commencing any trade or business operations .

They were also ordered to pay the TPRC’s costs in the sum of $2,500 .

In a statement, the TPRC said that its chairman Paul Leecock and members of council were willing to explore the option to allow Enigma Events to continue operations until June 6 just after the Indian Arrival Day Celebrations since according to the chairman “we support and welcome all form of legitimate economic activity in the Tunapuna/Piarco Region” The corporation noted that the action was pursued in the High Court since its council felt that it was imperative that all businesses in the region meet the required standards as set out in the Municipal Corporation Act for operating within the region and by so doing protect the wider interest of all of all burgesses .

The corporation also encouraged all business and burgesses to seek the lawful approvals from Council prior to setting up trade and/or constructing any structure within the region .

Always cruising under champion jockey Ronald “Tiger” Ali in the 1800 metres race, the Harriram “Pepsi” Gobin-trained six-year-old American- bred gelding was sent into top gear 800 m,etres out. And when Transpire appeared to be mounting a challenge, Teniente Coronel just scooted clear to win by a long looking 6 1/4 lengths.

The other co-feature the Chief Commander Classic, howev er, turned up a surprise winner in the John O’Brien-trained Alruna.

Jockey Sheldon Rodrigo brought the daughter of Gold Market/ Katakova with a sustained stretch run in the 1600 metres event on the turf,m to just home by a nexk ahead of Nisky’s Boy.

Caesar Country sent an early Derby warning when winning the day’s final event over 1750 metres, when beating older horses by 1 1/4 lengths ., gicing jockey Wilmer Galviz his second winning ride.

O’Brien and Gobin shared the honours among trainers, both saddling two winners on the day’s 10-race programme.

Dividends were very good throughout the day with one superfecta dividend paying a rewarding $13, 114.80 and there was another payout of $13,837.20.

But the Hi5 in the day’s final race eluded turfites so there will be a carryover of $26,025.00.

Works and Transport Minister, Rohan Sinanan, informed Newsday of this yesterday when contacted about the Canadian company’s denial that it was paid US $7 million annually during its 11-year management contract with PATT.

According to BFML, it “was paid a management fee of US $954,475 annually”.

“The port board (PATT) is doing a full report for us on this specific issue.. When I get that full report, then I’ll be able to comment further.

It should be sent to me sometime during this week…maybe Thursday or Friday,” Sinanan said.

BFML, in its statement, said that prior to the September 30, 2016 end of its contract, “PATT was well area of the need for significant scheduled maintenance projects on both vessels after September 30, 2016, which formed part of the long-term maintenance plans for the vessels.” BFML also said it “supported whatever transition was going to take place” in a number of ways, including delivering all BFML-controlled and approved safety management documentation was delivered to PATT and leaving all vessel technical plans, manuals and other documentation onboard the vessels.

“Historical vessel maintenance data remained fully accessible in onboard databases once PATT arranged for its own software licence and applicable training; which subsequently occurred (and) PATT was in possession of very detailed technical reports of all significant work undertaken on the vessels over the years. We are deeply saddened to see how events are transpiring,” BFML stated.

While the company did not make direct reference to a specific person or comment, last Friday Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley held a press conference at Parliament during which he said the data on the maintenance of the TT Express and TT Spirit had been removed and that both vessels had been negatively affected by “human interference.” BFML made it clear that it neither wished nor intended “to participate in the current political and other discussions surrounding this ferry service; we only wish to clarify certain of the facts.” While Sinanan declined to comment on the other aspects of BFML’s statement, he refuted there being any political aspect to the inter- island ferry woes.

“I don’t know that this is a political situation. I don’t want to comment on what Bay Ferries would have said. Bay Ferries would have been way before my time and it’s a matter that we are looking into,” Sinanan told Newsday.

Sinanan also noted that attorneys for the Government and the port authority are looking at the issue surrounding the charter agreement with the owners of the MV Super Fast Galicia cargo vessel.