It is time to reverse the high rate of one in four children being overweight or obese by promoting healthy nutrition which encourages children as well as adults on making healthy food choices, using correct portion sizes, and eating fruit and vegetables on a regular basis.

I appeal to the public to live active lifestyles through the use of gyms and other fun and innovative physical activities. This will produce and improve self-confidence and self-esteem in children and young adults. It should be noted that happy youth with high self-esteem are not involved in crime, and programmes that increase happiness and self-confidence could deter crime and drug use.

As you begin your workout, your brain’s neurotransmi t ters connect memory with muscle to get you moving. The feelings of satisfaction and accomplishment you experience during your workout stimulate the pleasure centre of your brain and lift your mood.

Consistent workouts at the gym will eventually help you achieve your fitness goals. When you look in the mirror and see a leaner or fitter-looking body staring back at you, you are more than likely to gain improvements in self-esteem and self-confidence.

Additionally, time spent exercising with other people in a spin or Pilates class provides you with a social environment where you can reap the emotional benefits gained through the camaraderie you develop with other gym members.

Because exercise helps use up oxygen, it causes your body to burn stored fat and helps you maintain a healthy weight. For instance, if you walk three miles a day five times a week, you can burn about 1,500 calories or nearly half a pound a week. If you don’t alter the way you eat at all and keep walking the same distance over six months, you’ll lose approximately 12 pounds. Walk the same distance for a year and you’ll drop twice the amount of weight.

It is important to remember that when it comes to physical activity, anything is better than nothing. Start with whatever seems manageable. Even a ten-minute walk on the treadmill at the gym can be beneficial to your health. You will likely be able to increase the amount and frequency of physical activity slowly as you start to feel better.

Generally, doctors recommend about 20- 30 minutes of exercise three to five times a week, but it can be a good idea to talk with your own healthcare provider to decide what’s best for you.

SIMON WRIGHT Chaguanas

Benacia said the union is yet to meet with Minister Fitzgerald Hinds to discuss outstanding matters

“I am not holding my breath on meeting with the minister and I consider his behaviour as totally disrespectful. If he chooses to meet with us, he knows how to get in touch with us.” Benacia continued, “We have outstanding matters to discuss and in the meantime, we are meeting with SWMCOL management to see what we can do. We expect working conditions to improve soon for workers.” Benacia said the union wrote to Minister Hinds when he was moved from the Works and Transport Ministry to Public Utilities in a Cabinet reshuffle last October

To date, the union head claimed, Hinds is yet to respond. He said that during a protest in April, they called on Minister Hinds to meet and treat with issues affecting workers

“The company is supposed to start upgrading conditions at the facility so hopefully within the next month or two we will see some improvements

We are still to hear on whether the company has received money to start the work or not. I know tenders went out last month

I have to meet with the CEO hopefully this week or next week, to get an update,” Benacia said

In an unrelated issues, David Forbes, general secretary of the Postal Workers Union said the union has requested a meeting with the management of TTPOST on May 16, to discuss outstanding health, safety and environment issues

“We have officially written to them and listed 12 items inclusive of health and safety and environment issues to discuss. Although we have one off issues that we are dealing with on a one day basis, it is work as usual until we come to an agreement,” Forbes said

His casket was draped yesterday in a sheet bearing the Sabga family crest. Sabga said that all of the males in the family decided to wear his father’s signature red tie, “to honour his passion for life and because today is not for mourning but to celebrate his story. Dad loved life and he lived it fully,” he said.

He added that despite being born into poverty and having to flee his home and family in Syria, due to religious persecution, his father dreamed.

“Despite these crippling circumstances he arrived on these shores with hope. The hope of a new beginning and opportunity and armed with the determination to go after what he wanted.” He said his father was a pioneer and an entrepreneur like no other and was even labeled, “the man with the Midas touch.” He said his success in the business world took vision and foresight but most importantly fortitude. “Dad failed many times but with each failure he got back up and kept on dreaming.

He used these dreams to fuel him further and further until he reaped the fruits of his efforts.” He recalled the pride his father felt when the University of the West Indies conferred on him an honorary doctorate of laws in 2015.

“This was the only academic certification dad had ever received in his life and he cherished it.” He said that despite all his achievements his father remained humble and was quick to credit his achievement to others and give credit where it was due.

He said that his father and mother Minerva shared “true love”, and Minerva, “stood with dad through every step of his journey on Earth.” “You were his largest fan and his biggest critic. Your love was honest and true and dad would be the first to admit that he was the man he was because he had you at his side,” Sabga said.

He said that his father’s greatest source of pride was his family and in his later years he spent time focusing on his grandchildren and great grandchildren.

The funeral was attended by scores of people from local and regional politics, business and media.

Sabga is survived by his wife, children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

The couple was awarded compensation which will be assessed by a High Court Master.

Justice Carol Gobin yesterday struck out the State’s defence as they failed to provide evidence to substantiate their claim that there was another vehicle bearing the same registration number. Bakr and Ramnarine-Bakr yesterday hailed the court’s decision as a win for everyone who believes they have been victimised by the police.

They were represented by attorneys Om Lalla and Dereck Balliram. Bakr urged persons to not tolerate police harassment by taking legal action or filing complaints with the Police Complaints Authority.

“It shows that something is wrong with the system…It sends a message to the authorities that there is a way to do things and the police cannot victimise people or not allow them their rights,” Ramnarine- Bakr said after the court’s ruling. The couple said their ordeal was ‘embarrassing.’ They were heading east along Churchill-Roosevelt Highway around 5.30 p.m on February 24, 2016, when, in the vicinity of Beetham Gardens, they were stopped by the police.

He was told to get out of his van and handcuffed after which they were taken to the Besson Street station, where they were eventually told that Bakr’s van was reportedly stolen as there was another vehicle with the same number plate according to their reports. For almost two hours, neither husband nor wife was told the reason for their arrest.

They were also not given the opportunity to contact an attorney in accordance with established police procedures.

Eventually, Ramnarine-Bakr was allowed to retrieve the certified copy for the vehicle and she was allowed to leave the station while Bakr was moved to Central Police Station, on St Vincent Street, Port of Spain, and released around midnight.

The footage showed Ward using an “evidence suit” given to him by the homicide bureau to wear and attaching it to a cell bar where he hanged himself.

Yesterday, an autopsy revealed Ward died from hanging and there were no marks of injuries to suggest that Ward was a victim of murder.

Police are treating Ward’s death as a suicide and an inquest will be ordered into his demise.

Ward was detained on Friday night for the shooting death of Rasheed Khan who was shot in the Caura district on Friday. Ward and another man were detained for the shooting death.

Police sources revealed that Ward ,who spent six years in prison, had confided to prisoners at the station that he did not want to go back to jail hence, the decision to end his life.

I called in to point out that I feel the same way you feel and that as prime minister, I’ve set about doing something about it.” He recalled his government’s colloquium at the Hyatt Hotel, Portof- Spain a few months ago, at which the riot act was read to all heads of State agencies, on a lack of timely financial statements for submission. “We gave them a deadline.” Rowley said he instructed Minister of Finance Colm Imbert to mandate in writing that all State enterprises submit their financials by March 31, regardless of the documents’ condition. “Nearly all have complied in submitting financial statements.” He said the Ministry will go through all reports and any non-compliance will incur serious consequences.

“We’ve been paying people handsomely to manage agencies, they’ve been spending taxpayers money but even when the law requires them to report to the Parliament they would not do that.” Some disregarded their duty to report to the Ministry of Finance, Rowley added.

“We intend to draw the line. And what you’re seeing in the Auditor General’s Report is a synopsis of the situation.” Asked about TSTT’s $255 million purchase of Massy Communications, he said much misunderstanding exists in the public domain.

“It is not correct to say Cabinet was not informed. TSTT is a very strange company in that it is not wholly State-owned. The State owns 51 percent and an international company owns 49 percent.” He said TSTT faced a serious threat from external and internal forces and so detailed its budget and future plans to Cabinet. Rowley related that in one case, Cabinet advised TSTT to consider using the Corporation Act to make its case.

“TSTT’s Strategic Plan has been approved by Cabinet. What is not expected to happen is that TSTT will be micro- managed.” He said the buying of Massy Communications was not unusual in the corporate sector, adding “It is not correct to say it is wrongdoing.” Asked why TSTT did not tell Cabinet about buying Massy, he replied, “The Strategic Plan that we approved pretty much covered that kind of action.” He said Massy is listed on the TT Stock Exchange so any wrongdoing would cause all in the firm to have to account to the Securities Exchange Commission (SE C), but that is not happening.

“So this is somebody looking for a story when one doesn’t exist.

Cabinet is not complaining.”

At 19, Springer is the youngest player on the Tridents’ 17-man roster for the 2017 competition.

Last year, Springer competed in his first season of the Hero CPL after being drafted by the Tridents.

An experience the teenager called “a fantastic one.” He saw limited action on the field but the well-spoken Springer still has fond memories and lessons from the experience.

“I was able to have a taste of cricket in one of the most competitive leagues in the world,” Springer said.

Springer burst onto the international scene in 2016, as an integral member of the West Indies team that claimed the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup crown.

His performances at the World Cup led to a selection by the Tridents for the lanky fast bowler and technically sound right-handed batsman.

Springer joined a high-powered camp that featured global T20 stars AB De Villiers of South Africa, Shoaib Malik of Pakistan and Kieron Pollard of the West Indies in the Tridents set up.

“The environment was great for any young cricketer because of the abundance of the great players and each of them are very experienced and very knowledgeable,” Springer added.

“All you had to do was ask a question and they always had an answer for any topic in discussion.”

Over 100 participants representing 10 institutions from the financial services sector came together to determine who was the fittest.

The aerobics burnout was the fifth activity on the 10-event card in the 26th edition of the games.

Though two-time winner of the event Adona Joseph was unable to hold on to the aerobics crown for a third straight year, her Sagicor teammate Oliver rose to the occasion to keep the title with the financial Group with a dominating display in one hour and 10 minutes.

Oliver outlasted second- placed Falomi Marcano from First Citizens, while Joseph had to settle for third as the women dominated the field.

After winning the event, Oliver said, “I feel very accomplished, according to most people I have been exercising since in my mother’s womb and so I feel very accomplished, exercise has always been a part of my life!” Among the men on the floor, Stephan Thomas of Republic Bank looked most confident and in control with the instructions from the stage.

He placed eighth overall but was definitely a cut above the rest in the men’s category.

Before the aerobics burnout, Thomas reminded himself, “I have to come good today and make the (men’s division) hat-trick, it was evident that self-motivation worked, I came out with the intention and that is what I accomplished.” Alafia Whiskey of Guardian Group was second among the men, while Peter St Clair of Republic Bank claimed third spot.

Next on the agenda in the CariFin Games is the cricket/ football tournament at the Republic Bank Grounds in Barataria on Saturday from 10 am.

Williams and Jacob were invited to the Association of Caribbean Commissioners of Police meeting in Aruba which preceded the awards ceremony. The Ag Commissioner submitted Jacob’s name to the Regional Recognition Award Programme with supporting information on Jacob’s accomplishments in crime-fighting. After a panel of judges reviewed dozens of applications submitted, Jacob was announced as the top crime fighter in the Caribbean for 2016.

Williams said he was especially pleased with the fact that a TT policeman won the top crime fighter award the first a local officer’s name was entered into the competition.

Two other officers, ASP Oswain Subero of the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) and Insp Clint Arthur of Administration, placed second in Top Caribbean Community Policing and third in the top Caribbean Career Move, respectively.

Jacob who has 35 years service, told Newsday he felt very proud as the win was not only for himself but the entire Police Service.

Maduro’s regime has brought economic ruin to a country rich in oil and gas; Mugabe has done the same to Zimbabwe, a country rich in mineral resources and was once the food basket of southern Africa.

Shortages in basic food are the order of the day in Venezuela; there is a similar situation in Zimbabwe.

Maduro blames foreign intervention for his country’s woes; Mugabe blames Britain. Maduro also blames foreign interference for the public demonstrations against his government; Mugabe also does the same when his people mobilise against him. Maduro operatives infiltrate the security and judicial systems to crack down on dissent; Mugabe continues to do the same with more brutal force. Maduro has moved viciously on the Opposition; Mugabe had done it for years but has now eased it up considerably. And the list goes on. Calderon is acting out the playbook in precise terms when she says, “President Maduro loves Venezuelans and is committed to his people.” Mugabe’s spin doctors were saying the same thing in 1984 when he sent in over 15,000 troops and a hated unit called 5 Brigade to Matabeleland to blockade food supplies to over 400,000 Zimbabweans.

He instituted the brutal blockade to smoke out about 200 dissidents who were opposed to his ZANU-PF party. Hundreds of thousands of his people were reduced to desperation.

Mugabe’s government’s response was, “First you will eat your chickens; then your goats; then your cattle; then your donkeys. Then you will eat your children, and finally you will eat the dissidents.” That’s the mentality of a dictator. While this was happening the Organisation for African Unity (OAU), now called the African Union (AU), was silent. However, the Organisation of American States is not prepared to be silent, but we are.I will continue to trust the reports on the situation in Venezuela coming from the media rather than what comes out from the Venezuelan Embassy.

HARRY PARTAP former high commissioner to South Africa (Zimbabwe)