There have been 25 road fatalities, including motorcycle deaths, so far for 2017.

The council was formed in January earlier this year, and was incorporated in March.

President of the council, Stan Huggins, director of Nation Drivers Co Ltd and who has worked with Community Awareness Road Safety in the United States, said they were trying to change the culture of driving in TT.

He said the council would comply with the United Nations mandate on road safety for the world and would register with the World Road Safety Council.

“The UN mandates that every country has a road safety umbrella.

Every country has its own culture in the way that they drive, and we are trying to change the culture in TT,” Huggins told Newsday.

The council has already begun teaching road safety awareness in more than 15 schools and business places.

Huggins said so far they have only been able to cover north Trinidad, but has plans and needed support to expand operations across the country.

Huggins said it was time to re-educate the country with regards to driving.

“There are drivers who still break the red light and people continue to cross when the light is on red. There is no regard for traffic signs so the road safety ads and signs by the police are a waste of time.

“We have to educate the people. People must remember that the speed limit when driving near a school was five miles per hour.

When children see this then as they get older they would know that is the speed limit when in the vicinity of a school.

A safer driver is a better driver, a safer pedestrian is a better pedestrian.

If we do not change the culture now, we are going to inherit a culture of bad drivers,” Huggins said.

The council’s main objectives were to develop and deliver road safety awareness educational programmes for drivers and pedestrians through direct teaching and the use of radio, television and social media.

Huggins said they would also assist the Transport Ministry with all matters to reduce the alarming rate of deaths, and would seek funding from Government, the private sector and international agencies to finance and expand educational activities.

He said they also wanted to establish a well-equipped road safety library at its headquarters located at the Praedial Larceny Police Building,which was granted to them by the Vehicle Management Corporation (VMCOTT).

The Ministry of Education and the minister have been hit the hardest by all the rhetoric and one is left with the impression that the ministry is complicit in the administration of its duty.

But we must remember that no system functions in isolation.

There is the human element involved that can make or break the system. As parents, we have a responsibility to fill the school system with children who respect and adhere to the rules. We need to teach our children what is right and acceptable and reinforce that with affirmation or disapproval as the situation dictates.

Bullying is the new label we give to verbal and physical aggression in school. And we have been raking the Minister of Education over the coal. But can Minister Anthony Garcia really be held responsible if we are not instilling values of consideration and respect for others.

A news report talks about a “bullying” incident where, during “a game of catch and rescue,” one child lost his permanent teeth when his playmate apparently struck him on the mouth with a soft drink bottle. Have you seen children play? Do you see how out of control they get, fast? How is it then that the Minister of Education is being blamed for this and served a pre-action notice.

Added to that, children have little sense of restraint. They get caught up in whatever form of play and only when the tears or injury come does everything come to a halt.

I can recall my childhood in primary of school of children getting pushed down on the courtyard, because of wild play; children falling down stairs resulting in broken limbs, because they were trying to get somewhere in a hurry and didn’t stop to think they may hurt someone.

Fast-forward decades later and we call every action where a child is hurt bullying and we take it a step further to crucify the minister. It is my view that Garcia is doing an excellent job in carrying out his duties, and he is even aided by a Minister of State who is not only capable but eloquent.

Come on people, what we are witnessing is not new. As a teenager I witnessed the same heckling, jeering, name-calling and physical exchanges that are now more widely seen thanks to smart phones and social media.

The point I am trying to make is that there is nothing new under the sun.

Children, like all human beings, experience intense emotions that we as parents have the responsibility to check and channel. We have to raise human beings who respect themselves and others, who are slow to speak, slow to become angry, and quick to listen to the guidance and wisdom of their elders, and in particular their parents.

LANA SINGH via email

food, and cooking and basic hygiene practices. Of course, this will vary when we have hot days, windy days, humid days, and are caring for children, elderly, treating illnesses.

injuries, and in the cultivation of food and taking care of our pets and animals etc. The relevant authorities assure us that Trinidad and Tobago is fully capable of providing its basic water needs on a daily basis with dams such as Arena, Navet and Hollis in Trinidad and Hillsborough in Tobago. The Navet and Hollis Dams can potentially store over five billion gallons of water with an average production of about 27 million gallons a day (Retrieved from www. wasa.gov.tt, WRA, GOTT , 2017). This means that if 1.3 million people use 15 gallons a day (195 million gallons/day), just for basic needs on a non-emergency basis, and no other water is being produced or stored, we are short by about 168 million gallons daily. Desalination can produce over 75 million gallons a day for distribution. There is also the fact that our country depends heavily on the energy sector that uses large quantities of water and also in manufacturing industries.

agriculture and healthcare there will be a significant usage out of the total water produced/stored. Efficient, effective and efficacious integrated healthcare systems are extremely important in any country in the world. Health centres and hospitals use about five litres (1.3 gallons) for an outpatient and 50-60 litres for an inpatient a day (13-15 gallons) (WHO, WEDC, 2013). So if we have an average of 2,000 outpatients in all clinics and 650 inpatients in a typical general hospital in TT a day we would need 49,000 litres © 13,000 gallons/day). If we look at the fact that in operating theatres we also use up to 100 litres (26 gallons) a day/patient in emergencies as well and with toilets flushing about three-five litres/user/ day, we get a very good picture of our “water woes.” Schools need to have an average of three litres/day/student for drinking and hygiene and this does not include toilet flushes. Are we ready for a disaster in TT ? The Caribbean region is experiencing an overall period of drought and although we have heavy rainfall during the rainy season that sometimes leads to flash flooding there is still an overall shortage of water. I have not discussed other forms of water use, eg for washing vehicles.

watering lawns, filling swimming pools, watering plants and for pets, animals and gardening etc. In restaurants and the food and beverage industry, much water is used daily as well. When an earthquake strikes.

power and water are often disrupted almost instantaneously. Adequate water contingency plans are therefore needed at all levels. Man needs air, shelter, water.

food, and access to healthcare and security as soon as possible within 72 hours. It is therefore essential for healthcare systems, communities and schools to ensure that appropriate water is stored or easily available in the event of a complex emergency or catastrophic event. Truck-borne delivery of water and ice are two of the most important immediate basic needs of any population affected by a severe natural or man-made hazard. After the national power outage on March 29, 2013, an analysis of water requirements and usage at major hospitals revealed that if a significant power outage had occurred in excess of the period that it took for power to be restored in this case, limited capabilities existed at that time by RHAs to use pre-disaster MOUs and MOAs that would have ensured that local truck-borne water was provided for adequate hospital water supply in the event of shortage (GOTT , ODPM, 2013). If an earthquake occurs and the operational requirements of a large hospital are increased three-fold.

there will be a severe burden placed on the systems to cater for the increased demand for healthcare services (ASCE, Haiti, 2010). We are pleased that appropriate steps are being taken by the Government to ensure that disaster risk management practices are put in place. The North West Regional Health Authority (NWRHA).

for example, has indicated to me recently, that it has “the necessary resources in terms of disaster risk management.” This is highly satisfactory as the NWRHA has the unique responsibility of providing appropriate healthcare services to our central business district and our capital’s urban centres for a population of density 3,090/sq km in Port-of-Spain.

817/sq km in Diego Martin and 658/sq km in San Juan/Laventille.

ie, over 312,000 people over a land area of 377 sq km, with about 96,000 households (GOTT /CSO, 2011). We applaud the NWRHA and all other government agencies and institutions.

authorities and divisions that have established DRM mechanisms and therefore have the necessary tested emergency operations and contingency plans, business continuity plans, crisis management plans and critical infrastructure protection systems, processes and procedures and the measures to monitor.

evaluate and report on their effectiveness and efficiency using appropriately benchmarked indicators to ensure that the continuity of government business in place after any complex emergency or catastrophic event. We must all “conserve water now.

please.”

The organisation’s mission is a dedication to “supporting our brothers and sisters in the most impoverished regions in Trinidad and Tobago to help needy children in their area.” It has targeted Toco/Matelot as the first area to benefit from its intended purpose.

The Parkites declared their first innings on 437 runs for eight wickets on Saturday and subsequently dismissed Comets in their first innings for 117.

Following on, Comets resumed yesterday on 239/3 but had a shocking collapse as they fell from 261/3 to 291 all out, with Terrance Hinds taking four wickets for 56 runs while Darren Deonarine had 4/99.

Opener Andy Gobin struck a valiant 106 (154 deliveries, 16 fours) while Vikash Mohan made 74 (67 balls, nine fours and two sixes) and ex-TT Red Force wicketkeeper Steven Katwaroo 52 (87 balls, five fours and a six).

At Wilson Road in Penal, the meeting between hosts Clarke Road and Merry Boys ended in a draw.

In their respective first innings, Merry Boys were bundled out for 152 with Clarke Road responding with 213.

In their second turn at the crease Merry Boys, continuing from their overnight 71/0 were bowled out for 269 with opener Mario Belcon hitting 69, Amir Khan 51 and Rishaad Harris 49. Ahkeel Mollon claimed 5/109 and ex-Red Force all-rounder Jyd Goolie 3/61.

Set 209 to win, Clarke Road reached 175/5 when the match was called off, despite Goolie’s 43 and 39 from discarded Red Force batsman Yannick Ottley.

Harris got 2/37 for the visitors.

On Saturday, Central Sports defeated PowerGen by two wickets at the Invaders Ground in Felicity.

Round Six action will be contested on May 13, 20 and 21.

Some of those authors have a book that is so successful, they can never write another book in their lives.

Other writers fumble around trying to write that second great novel, but never achieve the goal.

Below is a list of my favourite books by authors who have written one great book.

Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen – One of my all-time favourite books – as well as one of the favourite books among my YTC students, Water for Elephants is the touching story of ninety-year-old Jacob Jankowski as he looks back on his life in the circus. Faced with the unexpected death of his parents, a penniless Jacob joins the circus only to find cruelty beyond his imagination.

Water for Elephants is a memorable love story and a moving story of facing adversity and protecting those you love. Sara Gruen has written other novels such as Riding Lessons, At the Water’s Edge and Ape House, but none of her novels ever measured up to Water for Elephants.

Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell – The sweeping saga of Katie Scarlett O’Hara and the vanishing South during the US Civil War, is still one of the best love stories ever written. After the novel’s publication, Mitchell spent the rest of her life trying to manage the tremendous success of her Pulitzer-prize-winning novel. Fans clamoured for a sequel, but Mitchell wouldn’t comply with their wishes.

Except for Lost Laysen, a novel Mitchell wrote when she was a teenager, Mitchell never wrote any other book. She was killed by a drunk driver while walking along the street with her husband.

Tsotsi by Athol Fugard – South African writer Athol Fugard is known for his television scripts and screenplays including Tsotsi, Gandhi and The Killing Fields.

Early television in the 1950s featured many of Fugard’s scripts, but Fugard wrote only one novel, Tsotsi, the story of a rough, gang member whose life changes when he finds an abandoned baby. Tsotsi, the man with no name, who is only referred to by the Afrikaans name for gang leader, is a remarkable story of compassion. A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole – Few characters in literature can match Ignatius J Reilly described as a “huge, obese fractious, fastidious, latter day Gargantua, (and) Don Quixote of the French Quarter.” This rip-roaring tale of Ignatitus’s adventures is one of the funniest American novels. Tool’s mother published this brilliant piece of humour and satire after Tool committed suicide.

The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy – When Arundhati Roy won the Booker Prize for fiction in 1997 for her moving story of of twins living in south India and dealing with their mother’s choices in life, I couldn’t wait to read what she would write next.

Her novel, beautifully written, broke many rules about form and structure. Arundhati Roy certainly was an iconoclast.

It never crossed my mind that what appeared to be a semi-autobiographical novel featuring a twin who stops speaking, would turn out to be the only novel Roy would write.

Over the years, Arundhati Roy has written many essays, but no more fiction.

The Humming-Bird Tree by Ian McDonald – This coming of age story by Trinidadian author Ian McDonald is a Caribbean classic. Set in colonial times, The Humming-Bird Tree tells the story of Allen, a British boy and his relationship to two Indian children in the village.

This is the only novel written by McDonald, who is known for his poetry.

Sometimes it takes only one great novel to make an author’s career.

The event will take place at the Hyatt Regency on the Wrightson Road waterfront on October 28 and 29.

In making the announcement, US Charge Affairs in Port of Spain, John Mc Intyre, congratulated students who have qualified for entry into American universities this year pointing out that a great number business, political, cultural and educational leaders of this country have studied in the US.

“Every year local students set off for US colleges and universities ready for success,” he said.

“I want to congratulate all students in Trinidad and Tobago who have received offers of admission from one of the over 4,500 accredited institutions of higher learning in the United States.” Mc Intyre said.

Mc Intyre said offers of admission are the product of much careful thought and hard work, both by the students who apply and by American universities that conduct a rigorous review of these applications.

He said the US recognised the energy and creativity applying students poured into essays about their dreams and ideas, the hard work it took to prepare for examinations, and the commitments you fulfilled to community service and extra-curricular interests. He revealed that over one million international students are now in US higher education institutions, maintaining the United States’ long-standing position as the world’s top host nation for international students.

“International students from diverse backgrounds strengthen ties between the United States and countries around the world, developing the relationships between people and communities that are necessary to solve global challenges.,” Mc Intyre said. “We value inclusion, and actively support students from diverse racial, ethnic, religious, and geographic backgrounds on campuses across the United States. Colleges and universities across the United States value international students for the unique and diverse perspectives you provide both in and out of classrooms.” Mc Intyre said American students and communities benefit from the unique opportunity interaction brings to expand their own world views, which, he added, “helps prepare all of us for shared, successful futures in an interconnected world.” “I personally encourage those of you who have received offers of admission to accept this life-changing opportunity and join your peers in experiencing the unique value of an American higher education,” Mc Intyre said.

Commenting on the significance of the occasion, Minister Rambharat stated: “Every visit to the Emperor Valley Zoo is a reminder of the outstanding work of the ZSTT.

As the Society celebrates its 70th Anniversary today, the Zoo is leading the way in animal conservation and welfare; public education; care for the environment; and most recently recycling and waste management.” He added, “Today is a reflection on the foresight of those men and women who created the Society 70 years ago. We have much to be proud of and thankful for.” At that time in 1947, a group of conservation-minded individuals had a vision to advance the field of zoology and felt that the best way would be the establishment of a zoological garden. Some five years after, on 8th November 1952, the Emperor Valley Zoo opened its gates to the public.

Seventy years later, the Emperor Valley Zoo is vastly different to those early times where a small collection of animals was exhibited in cages.

Today, the Zoo is in an active upgrade programme transforming its exhibits into those befitting a world-class facility.

The enclosure housing the giant otter has been described by international zookeepers as among the best in the world and the animal collection is diverse with neotropical and international representation. Complementary educational and recreational activities which are a daily staple contribute to the Zoo’s reputation as a premier destination for families.

Credit for the enviable status which the ZSTT has earned comes from the leadership of a multi-sectoral board which has at its helm well-known environmentalist Gupte Lutchmedial.

With a vision for the ZSTT’s role that goes far beyond the zoo, this organisation is involved in several conservation activities, including leatherback turtle conservation at Manzanilla, manatee conservation and research in the Nariva Swamp and environmental advocacy on a number of issues of national and international importance.

“I am proud of the role that the ZSTT plays in saving species and protecting the environment,” said Lutchmedial. In expressing appreciation for having come this far, Lutchmedial asserted: “It’s been an evolving journey and the ZSTT would have certainly benefitted from the contributions of its members over the years to reach this milestone.”

Scores of students from various parts of the country got together to display their skills in art, craft and cuisine.

The youngsters were excited to show off their handmade necklaces, bracelets, tie-dyed handkerchiefs, organic soaps, throw pillows and ornaments.

Students from the Palo Seco Secondary School, who had among their display notepads and fluffy slippers, said they zoned in on items which they thought were now hot sellers on the market.

“We made all the notebooks and decorated them ourselves.

The fluffy slippers are in now and they are comfortable,” one student said.

The display by the students from ASJA Boys’ College, San Fernando, was an interesting one.

It included items that would usually attract females such as necklaces, bracelets, and gift pouches.

However, they said it was not just a whim as they conducted several surveys to determine which items were most desirable and most likely to sell.

Students from Rio Claro Secondary decided to try their hands at organic soaps made from all natural ingredients, ideal for people who were allergic to other commercial soaps. There were also candles and cocoa butter blocks.

The youngsters, many of whom said they worked hard on their projects, also made time to have fun as they went around encouraging onlookers to buy their products even while taking in their competition.

The interviews by the Royal Highnesses were graciously received and praised by mental health advocates and experts, including the president of the Royal College of Psychiatrist – Sir Simon Wessely, who said that Prince Harry has done more in raising awareness of mental health in 25 minutes than he had been able to do in his own 25 year career.

Prince William in his public facetime chat with pop star Lady Gaga, discussed mental health, addiction, and “the importance of breaking open that fear and that taboo.” He also pledged to ensure that his children would “grow up feeling able to talk about their emotions.” It is evident that attitudes are changing globally with increasing numbers of high profile public figures speaking out about their mental health struggles. In the last few weeks we have seen documentaries highlighting the mental health battles of former international cricketer Freddie Flintoff, former professional footballer Rio Ferdinand, and grime artist/ MOBO award winner/actor – Stormzy.

They have shared with brutal honesty the intimate details of coping with the pain, misery and isolation of depression, and even though their vulnerability was not something they initially wanted the world to know about, sharing their stories has been a catalyst in their recovery.

This new-found frankness by international public figures is excellent as it deflects negative judgements, encourages self-reflection and promotes empowerment.

Nonetheless, let us not be fooled into thinking that tackling the mental health agenda is going to be plain sailing from now on.

There are still cultural specificities at play when it comes to breaking the taboo.

In the UK, the discomfort and silence is mainly due to the ‘stiff upper lip’ tradition, while in Trinidad and Tobago it is the deep seated cultural prejudices which makes public disclosures problematic.

The fact of the matter is that everyone goes through emotionally tough times, one in four people will be affected by mental ill health at some point in their life, and mental health and its struggles lie at the heart of some of our deepest social challenges.

Hence, apathy is not an option.

Ultimately, there is a desperate need for compassionate and understanding conversations which destigmatises the characteristics of mental and emotional health. The type of conversations that addresses the topic in the context of physiological well-being, that explains the link between the mind and the body, encourages self-revelation and asking for help when needed.

As Prince William said “we need to make mental health normal, we need to treat it the same way we treat physical health, it has to be seen in the same way”.

Paul Farmer, CEO of the mental health charity MIND said “every time someone in the public eye speaks up we know that it encourages ordinary members of the public to do the same”. A point echoed by Prince William when he says “it is time everyone speaks up…the more we have influential and very important people speaking about their issues and their battles, the better”.

Prince William also said “this is a pivotal moment in the change of mental health” a sentiment shared by Poppy Jaman – chief executive of Mental Health First Aid England who predicts “a wave of change coming in mental health”. Wouldn’t it be great to see similar changes in TT ? With that in mind, I’m taking this opportunity to send out a challenge to any soca star or member of soca royalty – Be a trailblazer, step forward, share your story. Give your voice to raising awareness of mental health in Trinidad and Tobago and the wider Caribbean region. Use your high profile status to promote and influence positive pathways to social, cultural and behavioural change in order to improve well-being, reduce unnecessary suffering, and save lives. #Let’sTalk Dr Yansie Rolston FRSA is a UK based disability and mental health specialist advisor.

She is a social strategist and trainer who works internationally at various levels of government, business and civil society.

Contact her at yr@efficacyeva.com