Richards is urging President Anthony Carmona to intervene to rein in the service commission which he accused of unconstitutional behaviour.

“On the eve of assessment (for promotion), officers don’t have time to meet these criteria.” At a news conference at their Railway Road, Arouca office on Tuesday, Richards said the service commission, without consultation, had suddenly proposed the superior qualifications as a criterion to amend a list previously agreed to under Prison Service General Order No 22 of 2011.

He vowed to oppose the proposals which, he said, were already causing disenchantment among prison officers.

Richards said many negatives were affecting the service and he wondered if someone was trying to run it down in order to prepare for it to be privatised. “I wonder what’s the real agenda.” General secretary Gerard Gordon urged that prison officers be given their own prison services commission just as there exists a Police Service Commission.

Promotion in the Prison Service Second Division depends on an officer accruing points in several areas including fitness, time spent in preceding rank, special courses, performance appraisal, devotion to duty, knowledge of duty and disciplinary report. However a December 2016 service commission letter proposed to replace the seniority consideration with a special qualification criterion. While the 2011 document said 20 years of service is worth 15 points, the 2016 letter awards those same points by having a Master’s degree. Likewise, to earn 12 points, the old criterion of 15 to 20 years of service is to be replaced by the fact of holding a post graduate diploma, while holding a first degree is worth ten points, compared to nine points at present awarded for 10 to 14 years of service.

He said all Central Bank’s contractor did was erect a security booth at his home.

Rambarran said this was the only thing paid for by the bank and the cost of repairs to his home was paid by him.

He was testifying in a defamation lawsuit against People’s National Movement Senator and University of the West Indies lecturer Dr Lester Henry.

Rambarran has complained of statements made by Henry on June 9, 2014 while he was a guest on the Afternoon Drive programme on i95.5FM.

He is also alleging that the words uttered by Henry were done with malice and without making any attempt to verify the facts when he spoke of Rambarran’s qualifications, experience and appointment as Central Bank governor.

Justice Devindra Rampersad is hearing the matter in the Port of Spain High Court. Under cross-examination by Henry’s attorney Senior Counsel Gilbert Peterson, Rambarran accepted that in the radio interview Henry called for an investigation into the expenditure by the Central Bank at Rambarran’s private residence. He also admitted that any spending by the bank should be transparent and said the expenditure could be found in the Central Bank’s annual report.

He said he chose to return to his private residence six months into his appointment because of family considerations and because the official residence provided by the bank at Federation Park was in dire need of repairs.

This, he said, would have led to significant expenditure to make it habitable.

Henry said in his testimony that while he could not remember all the statements he made during the radio interview, he made them based on information he had that the Central Bank paid for repairs to Rambarran’s private residence.

“I did not know that as a fact,” he testified, reiterating that it was based on information he had. Henry also denied that the statements he made were defamatory.

He admitted that he never sought clarification of the issue by filing a question in the Senate nor did he file an application under the Freedom of Information Act to elicit the facts about the work done at Rambarran’s private residence.

“I conducted an investigation before making the statements,” he said when questioned by Rambarran’s attorney Senior Counsel Anand Ramlogan.

Henry said he held the belief that Rambarran was not qualified for the position.

“I thought he was the least qualified of the potential applicants.” Henry said he knew of the other candidates who were being considered by then prime minister Kamla Persad- Bissessar and it was his opinion that Rambarran was not a suitable appointment.

He also said he received a recording of the interview from the radio station but did not disclose it in the case because he did not think it was relevant or admissible.

Rambarran replaced Ewart Williams in 2012 and was fired on December 24, 2015 by Finance Minister Colm Imbert.

Directions have been given by the judge for the filing of written submissions by the judge who will give his decision at a later date.

The officers, from various divisions, branches and units will work with other arms of the Ministry of National Security along with traffic wardens and licensing officers.

In a release from the Police Public Affairs Unit yesterday, a special appeal went out to young women attending the festivities, to remain in groups and update relatives and friends of their whereabouts.

Disruptive elements too, are being warned against bad behaviour as law enforcement officers among them members of the Defence Force “are committed to providing a safe environment for all.” The added: “Members of the public are advised to conduct themselves in a responsible manner and refrain from arming themselves with weapons. Members of the public are also asked to comply with the lawful instructions given by law enforcement personnel.” On April 21, Mayor of Point Fortin Abdon Mason launched celebrations to mark the borough’s 37th anniversary.

A number of community activities inclusive of a military parade have already taken place. Point Fortin Borough Day Celebrations Safety & Security Plan team headed by ACP South (Ag) Joan Cumberbatch and Ag Snr Supt Inraj Balram reported that all activities so far have been incident free.

Police said that at about 8 pm, Harridass and the men were liming at the roadside when a gunman walked up to them and opened fire.

The men, including Harridass who is unemployed, scampered for safety. However, the gunman managed to shoot Harridass in the left leg before running off into the street. Police are yet to determine a motive for the shooting but believe that Harridass may not have been the intended target. PC George and WPC Marshall of the San Fernando Police Station visited the scene and are continuing investigations.

Why have these financial assaults been unleashed upon us? Anyone who is anyone knows the kind of economy we have historically operated; one that our current onshore private sector is very comfortable with.

The energy sector, driven by foreign investment, earns the foreign exchange, the lifeblood of small open economies, and the private sector onshore in general uses this foreign exchange, the retained rents, to import the necessities and luxuries of life — it is easier, maybe more lucrative, to import than produce locally.

Government also spends, subsidises, to maintain onshore economic activity; employment, poverty levels etc.

When the rents dry up the onshore economy will collapse unless some foreign exchange can be poured into the economy and government maintains its spending to sustain some economic activity.

As long as the foreign exchange rents do not recover, the onshore economy will either close down abruptly or, by virtue of government interventions via local and foreign loans, sale of assets, rundown of savings and reserves, make the descent of the economy tolerable/ less harsh.

The position of the “over value” of the TT$ is supported by some, in particular the IMF, which calls for flexible currencies for the region, even though some of the staff of the IMF have admitted after criticism by our own Dr DeLisle Worrell that devaluations in small, open economies are detrimental to the long-term stability of such economies.

Our Government’s choice is to close down the economy slowly for which it is being penalised by the downgrades; these downgrades make it more difficult and expensive to continue borrowing.

However, the gradual closedown of the economy by whatever means is not a solution to the recession; it is a reaction to the drop in foreign exchange rents and the economy could reach its steady state, bottom out, when the imports’ demand can be maintained simply by the reduced foreign exchange earned.

The repayment of the foreign loans will put even additional demands on the rents in the medium term which the rating agencies would have made more expensive. The solution to the recession is not fiscal, is not in the hands of the rating agencies, not even in the hands of the IMF. The solution is short to medium-term where with astute government intervention we can exploit our comparative advantages and unique product opportunities, can teach our private sector to export new products/services and/or upgrade its limited export performance.

In the long term we should respond to the emerging demands of the global economy to generate new, innovative and globally competitive products/ services. Hence the creation of a national innovation system is required if we are to respond also in the long term.

Many say that diversification is a task for the private sector not government, though the latter can be a facilitator. But a private sector that has lost its ability to adapt has to either be taught how to create export industries as was done in Chile by the government and a private sector combination to construct the salmon farms, or regenerated by new industrial creations.

Still, some are hoping, praying, that the energy sector rebounds, as it has done in the past, and the rents will begin to flow again — the good times would have returned.

With an eye on brevity, this is the brief listing of the grounds: * Both Acts are dated for implementation beginning January 1, 2010, have lapsed and consequently lost their internal coherence, chronology and sequence of events by 2017, militating against legal and proper enforcement and in need of urgent judicial review.

* Previous property tax legislation has been prematurely repealed, establishing a legal vacuum or lacuna without any assessment rolls being compiled by the Commissioner of Valuation that is conditional for effective start-up.

* The May 22 deadline for owners of land to submit returns proclaimed by the Minister of Finance is a figment and fig leaf of his imagination without legal basis.

* Act No 18 is a violation of Sections 5 and 6 of the Constitution without being passed with the requisite constitutional majority.

* It is also an infringement of the constitutional rights to property ownership/possession and not to be deprived thereof, except by due process, as well as the right to privacy.

* Even if it complied with Sections 5 and 6 above, the Property Tax Act No 18 of December 31, 2009, is so draconian, oppressive, disruptive, unilateral and an unprecedented quantum and astronomical percentage deviation from the prevailing tax norm, and a denial of legitimate expectations, that it fails and would fail the test of proportionality in a democratic TT .

* The prevailing, adverse, regressive and plummeting socio-economic ecology will reinforce the applicability of the above-mentioned proportionality factor that can be upheld in and by a court of competent jurisdiction.

STEPHEN KANGAL Caroni

Until recently, not much emphasis has been placed on culture as a possible determinant of economic behaviour. It is important to understand how culture is embedded in a nation and the manner in which it influences economic behaviour. This allows us to understand the way culture influences our decisions and the impact of those decisions. For example, Trinidadians have an appetite for car loans, but we do not produce cars, therefore our individual desires for motor vehicles mean that we must find the foreign exchange to purchase them. This places unnatural pressures on our demand for foreign currency and may even result in a depreciation of the dollar. Another example can be the lack of emphasis on productivity, especially in public sector institutions, which is evidenced by promotions based on longevity in the job as opposed to the quality of output. The result is no motivation to be productive as there is nothing to be gained from it.

Our economic and social behaviour is driven by our cultural practices. A good example is always the comparison with Singapore.

In the 1960s, we both had similar economic structures, history, and institutions. Initially, Singapore’s per capita income was as low as US$2,161 and its infrastructure was very poor. The economy was poorly diversified and poorly integrated globally. Capital was scarce, and there was hardly any direct foreign investment (FDI). In contrast, Trinidad and Tobago had the highest per capita income in the English-speaking Caribbean at US$4,370. Early that century, it had started producing oil and natural gas commercially, and this attracted multinational corporations, significant FDI, technology and skills.

The comparison then gets a bit unflattering for Trinidad and Tobago.

In his book The Underachieving Society: Development Strategy and Policy in Trinidad and Tobago 1958-2008, Terrence Farrell states that “there was little technology transfer, innovation or research and development occurring in any industry in Trinidad and Tobago,” whereas innovation played a role in Singapore’s development.

Regarding productivity and labour, Singapore established a tripartite wage negotiation system to facilitate stability in wage bargaining and deter labour militancy. In 1971, Singapore also established the Manpower and Training Unit to provide industrial training. This did not occur in Trinidad and Tobago. According to Farrell, the Industrial Stabilisation Act of 1965 “had become a dead letter, until replaced in 1972 by the Industrial Relations Act”. Nevertheless, a tripartite committee was appointed in 1968 to deliberate on the feasibility of an incomes policy, but “its recommendations were never implemented and the subject of wage restraint was dropped” until 1974. In addition, the government also facilitated “low-level, low productivity employment in the civil service, the local government bodies, and statutory corporations and later in state enterprises”.

This led to increased expenditure on wages and salaries and “less of government expenditure was available to be directed to capital expenditure on social overhead capital and infrastructure that could promote external economies and increase productivity”.

Recognising that their development programmes had failed to meaningfully improve employment and seeking to counteract the social disruptions of the time, the government abandoned fiscal restraint which resulted in a near six-fold increase in inflation: from 2.5 percent in 1970 to 14.8 percent in 1973.

Beside deficiencies and mistakes in policy, Farrell also identified culture as a factor that could have contributed to that nation’s underperformance.

At one time, economists felt that sufficient capital, especially through national savings, might catapult nations into a flight path of economic growth. A growing number of authors seem to agree that economic growth will take more than an infusion of investment capital, more than an import of the latest technology, even more than dependable political and economic institutions; there is the need for cultivation of a set of attitudes and values, including ironically, discipline, production and tolerance, before a country is fertile for economic development. To see any real improvement in our current economic circumstances, we must ensure that the economic behaviour of companies and individuals result in economic prosperity.

Newsday Editor-in-Chief, Jones P. Madeira, recalled that when Sabga bought the Trinidad Guardian newspaper, he “injected a lot of capital towards its development as a major force in the industry.” Madeira said Sabga was “a giant who took the chance at expanding from print into radio and television.

This not only worked for him, more than that, it has led to the development of quite a large body of talent in both print and broadcast media.” “He was not afraid to roll his sleeves up and to assist in the development of all of his companies, including what has grown to become Guardian Media Limited.”

PAULA REMEMBERS Trade and Industry Minister Paula Gopee-Scoon, said Sabga’s life was “one of sheer determination, integrity and humility.” “He was resolute in creating and shaping his own future, and in the process, shaped the economic landscape of Trinidad and Tobago and the Caribbean. His journey from humble beginnings to head the Caribbean’s largest business conglomerate is a testament to his strength of character, his sound business acumen, his steadfastness of faith, and his willingness to share his knowledge and experiences. Dr Sabga was committed to creating goods and services of value, and he was equally devoted to improving his country and his countrymen.” Gopee-Scoon noted that in addition to receiving the first Prime Minister’s Award for Export Performance in 1968 and being inducted into the Business Hall of Fame in 2008, Sabga founded the ANSA Caribbean Awards for Excellence which recognises achievement and innovation by Caribbean nationals.

Reflecting on his many achievements and his contributions to local and regional development, Gopee-Scoon described Sabga as “an outstanding human being and will continue to be an inspiration to those in business and those seeking to make a positive change in the world we live in.” Managing Director of ANSA Merchant Bank, Gregory N. Hill, told Newsday he not only lost his chairman, with whom he “worked very closely,” he lost a mentor and friend.

“We had a very good, very close relationship over the past ten years.

He was not only my chairman, he was a personal mentor to me and I think the country and the Caribbean will truly miss him. It’s a loss to everyone but Mr Sabga left a fantastic legacy and provided a lot for a lot of people. He did a lot for the country, for the region.”

PRAISE FOR ‘UNCLE TONY’ Former Arima Mayor Ghassan Youseph, said “Uncle Tony was a gentleman to be admired and I could identify with him because he came to this country as a young boy; I came at the age of 15, and started his own business. I too ended up starting my own business.” “His greatest example as a businessman was to work hard and work with principle. One of his talents was hiring the right people because he built the business on his own at first but his greatest asset was his management team and hiring the right people. He was a visionary. Being a successful businessman takes two things – bravery and a vision, and he was a visionary when it came to business,” Youseph recalled.

The Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Industry and Commerce (TT Chamber) said Sabga was known for his sharp mind and business acumen, and played a pivotal role in several areas of national life.

“His entrepreneurial ventures encompassed manufacturing, retail, agro-processing and more. He founded ANSA Industries in the immediate post-Independence era, working at that time with licensing arrangements from large international corporations, to manufacture stoves, refrigerators and other electrical appliances. These were exported to other islands in the years before CARICOM was established.

He also founded Standard Distributors and Carib Brewery – household names today.”

BIG VOID LEFT The Trinidad and Tobago Manufacturers’ Association (TTMA) said the death of this “captain of industry, left a void in the business landscape of TT.

“The most innovative venture undertaken by Dr. Sabga was possibly the marriage of three of the most successful businesses in the Caribbean – ANSA, McEnearney and Co. and Alston’s Ltd., – to form ANSA McAL a regional leader in manufacturing, distribution, services, packaging, automotives, media, shipping, travel, banking, insurance, real estate and most recently, energy.” “The TTMA mourns the loss of this great individual and is proud of his immense contribution to the local manufacturing sector of Trinidad and Tobago. Not only was he a great leader, but an icon in the eyes of many. He will be truly missed.

Gone but never forgotten.” Minister of Rural Development and Local Government, Kazim Hosein, said Sabga would be remembered for his “immense contributions to our country, his vision, humility and his strong spirit of volunteerism.” “We are truly grateful for his work with the Ministry of Rural Development and Local Government, especially during the (2017) National Clean-Up Campaign, in which his company donated glass recycling bins to each municipality.

In this time of loss, may the light of Almighty God shine down on his family and loved ones and provide them comfort. He will be sadly missed by all. May his soul be at peace.”

Three stages were set up on the Scarborough Esplanade and music lovers roved through the settings to enjoy their favourite local acts.

The event brought together a range of styles and genres from reggae and soca to RnB, all infused with a distinct flavour of jazz. Among the performers were Sharmain Francois, Marissa Diaz, Aaron Ifill and Lynette Louis.

Phillips was appointed Chairman of SporTT in November 2015, replacing local cricket administrator Dudnath Ramkessoon. The resignation of Phillips comes 11 days before the Brian Lara Academy officially opens in Tarouba, a project that SporTT was heavily involved in. A Brian Lara XI will face a Sachin Tendulkar XI at the opening of the Academy on May 13.

Phillips, who is a former national cyclist, made the decision to resign on Monday. Phillips said, “I would like to take the opportunity to notify the public that I have tendered my resignation as chairman of SporTT . I am proud to have been able to make a contribution to the development of sport in Trinidad and Tobago in this capacity. I thank the Prime Minister, Corporation Sole and the Minister of Sport for having the confidence in me, to lead this organisation. Regrettably, I have found the requirements and time needed to effectively remain as chairman is more than I am able to extend at this time. However, I will continue to engage in the community programmes and activities that I have established in my personal capacity.” Phillips, who is the owner of bike store Mike’s Bikes and Phillips Promotions, is one of the top cycling promoters in the country, organising events such as the Beacon Cycling on the Avenue and the Michael Phillips Republic Day Cycling Classic.

Phillips said he has not been able to hosts mountain bike events recently, something that he hopes to commit to again. “A lot of my programmes have really taken a hit, because you just don’t have the time to spread across the board. So that is what I am anxious to be able to get on with.” Asked to comment on his tenure, Phillips said it was a privilege to see first-hand how the Sport Company operates.

“It was a great learning one. It is a real challenge in terms of time and work. It was a great opportunity to see the inner workings of the Sport Company,” he said.

Phillips refused to comment, though, on what was his biggest achievement while sitting as Chairman.

“I really don’t want to get into anything that is self promoting to be honest with you,” he said.

Phillips in his statement said that he is still willing to offer his services to advance sport in TT .

“I have given an undertaking to the Minister of Sport and to the sporting fraternity that I will make myself available where possible in the interests of creating a vibrant sporting industry for Trinidad and Tobago. A great deal of positive in sport has occurred over the last year and a half and I am confident that the trend will continue. There are many people working in the best interest of sport and SporTT , and it was a pleasure to have the chance to lend some of my personal experience to its growth. I wish the Ministry of Sport, SporTT and the board of directors continued success as they move forward.” Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs Darryl Smith said it was a pleasure working with Phillips.

Smith said, “I wish him all the best. It is his choice, I had a wonderful time with him, he worked very hard and I was very pleased.

I wished him and his family all the best.” Smith said Cabinet now has to decide on a new chairman