The bill in intended to introduce a system of traffic violations for certain breaches of the Act, to provide for the implementation of a red-light camera system, to introduce a demerit points system and a reform of the fixed penalty system and related matters. Together, Al Rawi said, these measures aim to reduce the backlog of cases in the magistracy and free it up to deal with case management and trials of more serious cases than ticketing offences.

The decriminalisation is not proposed for the serious offences such as causing death by dangerous driving, he said. The bill proposes 49 clauses and one schedule. Al Rawi said, it seeks to repeal the enforcement aspect of the Act. In the speeches of successive chief justices of the local judiciary, Al Rawi said, they have called for ridding the court of the multitude of ticket cases that clogs the courts but nothing has been done.

Chief Justice Ivor Archie in 2008, he said, has spoken consistently about it. The judiciary in its annual reports between 2011 and 2015, he said, showed that an average of 120,000 traffic matters alone were dealt with between 2011 and to 2015 for traffic matters.

They generated $171 million in revenue for the State. The compliance rate was 36 percent, which meant, he said, that 64 percent of matters that came to court occupied judicial time for nothing.

Between August 2010 – to July 2016, he said that 67,926 cases are outstanding with some of the matters being 11 years. Revenue generated for the period was $250 million. In terms of the demerit points system, which will see drivers losing points for infringements and reform of the fixed penalty system, Al Rawi said the new proposals will see better use of technology in the issuance of tickets, increase in revenue, better use of manpower and the elimination of fraud.

Though Al Rawi was upbeat about the provisions of the bill which he did not elaborate on, Opposition UNC Senator Wade Mark and Independent Senator Dhanayshar Mahabir said there were too contradictions, inconsistencies and unreasonableness in it. They questioned some of the high fines with Mark describing the bill as an “income generating bill.” Mark called on Government to send the bill to a Joint Select Committee and to consult with stakeholders for their opinions and recommendations.

On the other hand Mahabir said Government needs to “thoroughly review” the bill and present a cleaner bill to the Parliament.

Among Mahabir’s many concerns were “too many inconsistencies” in the demerits and penalties proposed.

For instance, he said, the fine for not wearing a seat belt is $1,000 and four demerit points while a motor cyclist who is more likely to die without a helmet in an accident is fined $450 for not wearing a helmet with two demerit points.

“I can’t see the logic in that,” he said. Instead of giving demerits to private cars for “making a hustle” and fining them, he suggested that TT do as other jurisdictions are doing and look at Uber and regulate it. “It is more dangerous making a hustle,” he said.

Dr e a d n o u g ht s compiled 121 for six in their allotted 20 overs and later restricted Munroe Road to 119 for nine to book their spot in last night’s final against Barrackpore United.

“Ma n – o f – t h e – Match” Junior Gibbs (24 not out) and Akiel Timothy (22 not out) featured in an unbroken 45-run seventh wicket partnership for Dreadnoughts that carried their team across the line. Devon Nelson (22) and David Pattia (23) had previously shared a 32-run second wicket stand and were the other main scorers for Dreadnoughts.

Nashwon Lutchman (four for 19), Teshawn Castro (one for 32) and Emilo Gopaul (one for 14) shared the wickets for Munroe Road whose batsmen later struggled to overhaul the total.

Akeem Alvarez (20), E. Veledium (16) and Derwin Christian (14) contributed to Munroe Road’s total which fell just short.

M. Richards (three for 24), Timothy (two for 18), Junior Gibbs (one for 20), Ashmeer Mohammed (one for 29) and B. Delarosa (one for 25) did the job for Dreadnoughts with the ball.

Barrackpore United had defeated Blended Sports Club in the other semi-final earlier on Monday.

Speaking in the Senate, Garcia disclosed that in primary schools for the period 2015- 2016, drop outs stood at 151 (82 male, 69 female). For the same period in secondary schools, there was a total of 902 drop outs (546 male, 356 female).

According to the statistics provided by Garcia, there was a total of 1,117 drop outs (651 male, 466 female) in the primary school system from the 2008/2009 to the 2015/2016 academic years.

For the same periods, there was a total of 9,955 drop outs (5,492 male, 4,463 female) in the secondary school system. Garcia expressed satisfaction particularly with the reduction of primary school and secondary school drop outs between the 2014/2015 and 2015/ 2016 academic years. He noted that 2014/2015 was the last academic year under the former People’s Partnership government.

Garcia explained that drop outs refer to students who have discontinued their education during an academic year (September to July) and have been absent from the beginning of the next academic year up to November 30. The minister said that date is school census day and the mandatory age to attend school was increased from 12 to 16 years.

Garcia identified the economic situation which some children and their families find themselves in as a reason for children dropping out of school. He said since assuming office, the ministry has been employing a school based management system and other strategies to encourage students to go to school.

The minister said while certain postings on social media gave the impression that “things are out of control” in the nation’s schools, this is not the case. Garcia said there has been a 14.2 percent reduction in suspensions at primary schools and a 25 percent decrease in suspensions at secondary schools from 2015 to 2016. He added that extended suspensions decreased by 63 percent during this period. Garcia explained that all schools are required to have disciplinary committee and a discipline plan.

At 7.45 pm on Monday, gunshots were heard and a report was made to police. Officers and residents found Gabriel Bedeau on the road bleeding from gunshot wounds. He was taken to the Sangre Grande Hospital and remains warded in a serious condition.

Police said that 12 hours later, they were called back to the area as Bachan’s body was found.

Officers led by Ag Supt Phillip and including Ag Insp Ken Lutchman, Sgt Lopez, Sgt Campbell and PCs Mootilal and Hernandez visited the scene. Bachan’s body was removed to the Forensic Science Centre in St James for post mortem. Police said when they were first called out on Monday after the shooting, they did not find Bachan’s body because of poor lighting in the area.

Police said Bachan was a labourer.

No motive has been established for the murder and no arrest has been made. The murder toll stood at 172 up to press time.

Many times our economic gurus have spoken of getting the country into the boat building business as a means to create high-value employment and produce a high-value export commodity.

So instead of going to the Chinese, British or New Zealanders to buy a vessel, we should hire the expertise from abroad and use local talent to build our own. This would be the first step in our strategic plan to become world players as shipbuilders.

The geographics, infrastructure, energy, talent and skilled labour are all already here. Hence, the investment to diversify and retool should be relatively small.

Once successful, TT can build boats for the local coast guard and then offer to our Caricom neighbours.

With an impeccable reputation of quality and on-schedule delivery we can start to compete on the international market within the next decade.

We built the giant and complex Juniper offshore platform. Why can’t we build our own fast ferry?

NICHOLAS J WILLIAMS Cascade

In order to terminate this disturbing trend, we must primarily seek to identify the cause of this aggression in our teenage girls, then hastily effect corrective measures.

While some ascribe blame on lack of parental training, others are adamant that those girls themselves were the victims of abuse.

Apart from Olympic preparation, sport and exercise have been associated with a host of psychological benefits. Research shows, however, that as children become adolescents their perceptions of gender roles become more rigid.

Adolescent girls may be more likely than they were as younger children to view sport as a male activity. Research with girls has also highlighted that many girls worry that being physically active would ruin their appearance because it may mean getting sweaty and messing up their make-up and their hair.

Persuasion by parents and guardians of teenage girls should be employed if needs be to get their girls active. The views of psychologists both local and foreign are hereby expressed: “Physical activity leads to higher self-esteem especially among younger adolescent girls and girls who are overweight. “Self-esteem is important for psychological well-being, positive body image, increased self-efficacy and leadership skills, and having self-esteem protects against depression, anxiety, loneliness, aggression problems, and high-risk behaviours like smoking and substance abuse.

“Thus helping our girls to be physically active can help them stay healthy physically, psychologically and emotionally.” The following constitutes the basis on which the psychologists’ professional opinions were formed: “Sport and exercise have been shown to improve functioning in the prefrontal cortex of the brain which is often referred to as the CEO of the brain. This is because the prefrontal cortex is responsible for our executive functions which are cognitive control skills like the ability to focus our attention, be creative and flexible in our thinking, utilise self-control, modulate intense emotions and store and manipulate information in our working memory.

“This means our prefrontal cortex always plays a key role in our ability to problem solve, think in complex and abstract ways and exercise good judgment in challenging situations. The prefrontal cortex is the last area of the brain to mature and therefore is still developing in teenagers.” According to the study, sport not only exercises our bodies but also exercises our executive functions because sport requires sustained attention, working memory and self-discipline. Sport can additionally decrease stress and promote positive mood and social bonding.

It would be to the country’s best interest for Sport and Youth Affairs Minister Darryl Smith and his ministerial team to use sport as the panacea in turning around the lives of those girls who are going along the wrong path.

With professional coaches and trainers on hand and with understanding supporting adults in place to advise our girls as they navigate through their developmental process, these teens would not only make their school teachers proud but their communities as well and the entire country as they transition from school bullies to Olympic champions.

DAVID O’NEAL Chase Village

Manickram’s attorney Richard Clarke-Wills expressed concern that despite the new Criminal Proceedings Rules, he is yet to receive a summary of the evidence against his client. “I thought a prosecutor would have been assigned,” Clarke-Wills said. He said it was like, ‘extracting blood from stone’, to get answers from the prosecution, adding it appears the new rules have made no difference.

Prosecutor Insp Winston Dillon said while he did not want pre-empt the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, he could say that statements were obtained from witnesses but are yet to be sworn to and the police file into the murder investigations is expected to be sent to the DPP by May 23.

In keeping with the new Criminal Proceedings Rules which mandates the defence to state its case from the outset, Clarke- Wills indicated that the case for the defence will be one of alibi.

The matter was adjourned to May 31.

In March, former Chief Magistrate Marcia Ayers-Caesar set May 2, as the date when the trials against two would begin.

Ayers-Caesar was appointed a High Court judge on April 12, but last week resigned after it was revealed she left behind a number of part-heard cases on her magisterial docket.

Since her resignation, Ayers-Caesar has not returned to the magistracy and there are mixed views as to whether she can now legally do so. In Alexander and Mires’ matters yesterday, Earle-Caddle informed attorneys representing both that she could not preside over their cases. She explained that Alexander was involved in a school mentoring project of which she is also involved.

“I believe it would be in the best interest of everyone that I recuse myself,” she said but informed attorneys she was ready to manage the case in keeping with the new Criminal Proceeding Rules recently adopted for cases in the magistrates’ and high courts.

After being informed that the prosecution led by senior State Prosecutors Angelica Teelucksingh- Ramoutar and Mauricia Joseph – that seven photographs, a police sketch and interview notes of the two police officers were disclosed to the defence. It was also disclosed that there were no medical reports for the alleged victim and the prosecution will be calling nine witnesses.

Teelucksingh-Ramoutar also indicated that the prosecution was recommending that the cases against the two are tried summarily and as a result, the charges were again read out to them. Both Alexander and Mires pleaded not guilty and opted to have their cases heard in the magistrates’ court.

Alexander is charged with assaulting Santa Cruz resident Christopher Charles in July of last year, causing him actual bodily harm. PC Sheldon Mires, is charged alongside Alexander with two similar offences arising out of the same incident. He is charged with assaulting Charles by way of beating him and also committing a common assault upon the alleged victim. The offences were alleged to have taken place in Santa Cruz.

The two were told to return to court on June 22 and their cases were transferred to the 4A Magistrates’ Court.

Natalie Yorke and Jason “Fridge” Seecharan did vocals while Dennis Smith played on pans.

Smith showed his versatility as he played songs like Feel So Good, Ole Time Days, Rockaway, La Vida Carnival and Caribbean Man.

When it was Yorke’s turn in the spotlight she thrilled with Rapture, Make it Easy on Yourself, Sweet Love and My Spirit is Music.

In the second half of the show Fridge took the stage and had the audience singing along with him as he performed My Girl, Easy, Celebration, Meh Lover and Black Man Feeling to Party.

Dil-e-Nadan’s frontline singer, Derrick Seales was in the cafe celebrating his birthday and was invited on stage to help perform Celebration.

He said the Spirit will undergo comprehensive hull accommodation, safety and auxiliary machinery works in June. Sinanan said the Express will have comprehensive hull accommodation and auxiliary machinery works done on it when it is dry docked in September.

On interim measures to avoid either vessel breaking down before they are dry docked, Sinanan said the Port Authority has instructed that nightly maintenance be done on both ferries and any inefficiencies corrected immediately.

Later in the sitting, Sinanan said his ministry has not been asked by the Health Ministry to conduct any inspection on the Couva Children’s Hospital as a result of a recent earthquake which occurred off Tobago. He said it was improper for his ministry to take such an initiative on its own. Sinanan also said there were no reports of any damage in the Couva area as a result of that earthquake.