The difficulty arises in having to make a report to the nearest police station when such an incident occurs. I refuse to “hurt my head” over the futility of identifying and locating such a scam artiste in order to deal with them.

Additionally, in the absence of immediate action or assistance, either by the police or other motorists, a target of these scammers will likely be harassed, threatened and even assaulted as the attacker attempts to realise his objective — cash from his quarry.

When I heard about the warning from a concerned friend, I replied: “Vending on the highway is illegal.

Scamming on the highway is illegal. Police pass the vendors and scammers a million times a day. No action. How do we report such an incident?” I believe we know every location and the times when we will find these individuals operating.

A simple exercise should help to clear this up and then the socio- economic question that gives rise to this risky and obstructive activity can engage the skills of some of our experts.

We have already been told not to buy from these vendors on the highway. Therefore their livelihood should be addressed, so as not to cause the unruly actions of a few to disadvantage a larger number.

I trust that the police are putting a better effort into this matter than just that press release followed by a wait-and-see approach.

Ram Phakira rphakira@hotmail.com

Frequently, this misbehaviour does not warrant disciplinary action but could easily be corrected by ensuring that officers understand that the law applies equally to the police as to ordinary people.

Recently on the slip road to enter the Solomon Hochoy Highway going north from Chase Village, I came upon a vehicle belonging to the Praedial Larceny Squad stopped alongside a car parked on the shoulder.

The police vehicle was stopped in such a manner as to prevent vehicles from passing, as a result of which I sounded my horn to alert the driver that there was a car behind him.

The vehicle failed to move as it appeared the occupants were conversing with the driver of the parked car. I once again sounded my horn, whereupon the officer on the passenger side exited the vehicle and approached me, directing me to lower my window.

The officer asked why I was blowing my horn and I told him he was blocking the road. I asked him if it was against the law to blow my horn as I felt he should have pulled to the side to conduct his conversation. He then told me I should learn to have patience.

I advised him that he was being disrespectful as he was causing unnecessary inconvenience to law-abiding citizens. He stormed off in a huff, clearly annoyed that a senior citizen had the temerity to correct a clear breach of his civic duty.

The commissioner has a responsibility to ensure that his officers understand that they are employed to ensure the laws are obeyed and that cannot be accomplished if they are among the lawbreakers. Had it been a civilian who had stopped in the roadway, the officer would have been acting within his authority to correct the person.

It is equally incumbent on the officer to ensure that he is not engaged in behaviour which is not consistent with the law. This message must be known to all police officers and that there are no exceptions. The duty of a police officer is to uphold the law, not break it.

Let us not throw them in the deep end of the pool. We have enough angry young people out there.

Those young men are obviously crying out loudly for attention. They want to make the headlines. Allow them that opportunity. Give them that chance.

They have copious amounts of latent energy that can be channelled and used more productively.

I humbly suggest we transfer them to a school that will maximise their potential. Send them to a school where they can win a scholorship or be part of an intercol winning team.

Mr Minister, the ball is in your court. We have a responsibility to train these young men.

No one is perfect. Give them a second chance.

AV RAMPERSAD Princes Town

I say yes, please bring back the hangman and let us restore some order in this lawless land.

Let us not forget that the Offences Against the Person Act of 1925 states that “every person convicted of murder shall suffer death.” TT ranked 101 on the Corruption Perception Index in 2016. Part of cleaning up the corruption that is plaguing our country should include making an example of those who have committed murders, via the hangman’s noose and, perhaps, we will watch order being restored to our nation.

As our citizens will understand, when testing boundaries there will be repercussions.

There will be a zero tolerance on crime.

However, who will we hang? Who are we going to hang when there are high rates of unsolved murder cases? According to the Police Service, there were 420 murders in 2015, only 57 of which were solved. In 2016 there were 462 murders, only 70 of which were solved. Astounding figures.

So who are we going to hang when we do not know who committed the crime? Who are we going to hang when we are behind in implementing the latest forensic technology to solve crimes? In 2014, ACP Wayne Dick suggested that while officers were sent abroad to learn crime-solving tactics, there was still much to be done in terms of the officers amending what they learnt to make it applicable to our local context. As such, resources need to be allocated in this area in an attempt to solve murders and by extension all other crimes. Only then we will know who to hang.

Lastly, will hanging instil fear in the hearts of our citizens when they think of committing murder? The last set of hangings were in 1999, under then Attorney General Maharaj.

Did it decrease the murder rate? No it did not. According to the TT Crime website, in 2000 there were 118 murders.

Between 1999 and this year, crime has steadily increased.

Studies have revealed that most murders are gang related. Moreover, there is a low detection rate as it is alleged there is lucrative relationship between the underworld and law enforcement institutions.

Therefore, it is obvious that before we can determine who we are going to hang, we have a lot of groundwork to do.

Louise D Dover via email

Darcus’ family lived next door to the Gloster Lodge Moravian School, which I attended in the late forties and early fifties, and I count his mother as one of the women who had an enormous influence on my life as I grew up. She certainly tried to keep me on the straight and narrow.

Our paths continued to cross as we both went to work in the General Post Office before he left for England I also believe those of us from east of the Dry River who went to high schools before the Eric Williams era had something in our bellies that said we could change the world. From Leroy Clarke up the hill in Gonzales to Daaga up the hill on Laventille Road and the scores of us in-between.

A lot has been written about Darcus’ advocacy in England and I hope his work with the young men on Observatory and Basilon Streets, in Renegades and the “Harpe” will also be documented and honoured. I know how it made a difference in many of their lives, helping to make them more conscious, confident and selfaware.

I hope they also lit a candle on Observatory Street in his memory.

I am hesitant to say rest in peace because he probably will continue to speak and act in that other space, but he may need and deserve some rest.

Till we meet, we honour your memory, Darcus.

Hazel Brown via email

He said if your neighbour were throwing his children in a pot of boiling water, you would not passively watch, and likewise the world now has a duty to intervene in Syria. He said 500,000 to 600,000 people have died so far in the Syrian civil war. Youseph said the late ANR Robinson had helped create an International Criminal Court (ICC) so that dictators could not take advantage of their people, and wished the ICC would be used in the case of Syria’s leaders.

“Whatever intervention to bring an end to this war is welcome by me,” he said.

Youseph, who born in Syria, said war could happen anywhere.

Asked if the US bombing in fact helps ISIS, Youseph said ISIS came on the scene after the challenge to Assad in about 2012. “To deal with the problem in Syria you have to deal with Assad first. ISIS is a by product of Assad.” Youseph related a recent warning by US Senator Marco Rubio that when children are killed, even if their parents are not extremists they will be radicalised by such murders.

He said that to him the Syrian regime’s killings by use of gas was not an unexpected thing, as dictators usually start killing their opponents from day one. Yousef said his own father had once been a victim of Syria President Bashar Al-Assad. “He was a member of the Baath Party but was not in Assad’s corner. He was detained for two and a half years without trial.

He was a teacher and a village elder, but when they released him from jail he was fired from his teaching job and had to keep chickens to mind his children.” He viewed some Syrian Christians as misguided in thinking of Assad, of the Alawite denomination, as their protector against Sunni Muslim domination.

Asked what he’d wish for Syria, Youseph said he would like the seeds of democracy to be sown there by an international, collaborative effort.

Amid this, he hoped for a separation of the secular state from established religions. He lamented that in Syria, Christians are lesser citizens, as the law disallows a Christian from ever becoming president who must be a Muslim.

All this was despite Christianity having arrived in Syria before Islam as evidenced by Saul/St Paul’s conversion to Christianity on the biblical “road to Damascus”.

He said if Saul/ St Paul came back today (as a Jew), he’d be barred by Syrian law from converting to Christianity, but be allowed to convert to Islam.

Asked about any model country in the Middle East for Syrian democracy to be modelled on, he said Lebanon has a democracy of a kind, although based largely on religion, and has a free press. Newsday was unable to contact Syrian Arab Republic, honorary counsel, Marwan Yousef.

“With Trinidad and Tobago now being part of your global network of business centres, we can look forward to businesses that are a part of the Regus international network utilizing the centre at Invaders Bay and seeing Trinidad and Tobago as the opportunity that it is.” Noting the Government will continue to make all effort to create an enabling environment to allow for new and existing businesses to flourish, Senator Gopee-Scoon announced that the Cabinet has before it a comprehensive implementation plan that will holistically address and significantly improve the domestic business and investment climate.

She stated that “the Plan was developed in collaboration with several Ministries and Government Agencies and is expected to be implemented over a 44 month period, achieving major deliverables every six months. It includes a series of administrative and legislative reforms which address several areas pertinent to business operations, such as trading across borders; paying taxes; starting a business; registering property; electronic payments; dealing with construction permits; resolving insolvency and getting credit.” Additionally, Gopee- Scoon informed the audience that an analysis of the existing free zones regime was currently being undertaken and the Government has agreed to the development of a Special Economic Zones Policy.

She said “this Policy will “modernize Trinidad and Tobago’s economic/free zone regime; increase the economic and social impact of economic zones in Trinidad and Tobago; enhance the international appeal of Trinidad and Tobago’s economic zone regime; and improve existing and advance new mechanisms and procedures to effectively develop and manage economic zones”.

She also affirmed that TT will continue to be attractive to investors due to its easy access to the Americas; strategic location as a transshipment hub for exports; preferential access to the markets of CARICOM and other regional and international markets through trade agreements with the United States of America, Canada and the European Union; low cost energy; and access to generous fiscal incentives, among other attributes.

Mark Linehan, Managing Director, Regus Franchise Partner Caribbean in his Address expressed pleasure in opening its first Regus Business Centre in Trinidad and Tobago.

He said “we are excited to bring our cutting edge work space solutions to Trinidad which is fitted with the latest technology to meet the needs of small, medium and large businesses. There is tremendous potential for Regus in Trinidad and Tobago.” Regus Business Centre offers office space, meeting rooms, co-working facilities and a business lounge to suit the needs of small, medium and large businesses.

She said TOFCO has the experience and the expertise to successfully construct offshore platforms, with the recently launched Juniper platform being the most recent example.

She said Angelin is a smaller platform, weighing in at 1,800 tonnes deck and jacket, compared to Juniper which weighed 5,100 tonnes, deck only.

According to Ollivierre, 750 persons were employed on the Juniper platform, 98% being nationals of Trinidad and Tobago, including 450 persons from La Brea and environs.

BPTT on Wednesday announced that because of “compressed project timelines” and other competitive factors it was no longer possible to fabricate the platform in this country, stressing that it remained fully committed to maximising local content in all its operations.

The statement said this decision was necessary to maintain the project schedule and achieve the objective of delivering first gas by early 2019.

It said this was a priority to ensure that gas supply volumes can be maintained in 2019 and beyond.

Ollivierre said the fabrication of platforms represent a major cost component in offshore oil and gas exploration and retaining this expenditure “in country” would have translated to a significant contribution to local content.

She added, “When one considers that these expenses are recovered by the company prior to payment of taxes, then you get a better understanding of the magnitude of loss to the local economy when the bulk of the capital expenditure is allowed to leave our shores.” The La Brea MP said the ramifications of this decision go much further than the 150 -175 jobs that will not be coming to La Brea.

She appealed to residents to avoid protest action, saying this would be undesirable as this has played a part in discouraging investment in the community.

Meanwhile, President of the American Chamber of Commerce of Trinidad and Tobago (AMCHAM), Ravi Suryadevara said it was not surprising that BPTT has decided not to fabricate the Angelin Platform in Trinidad and Tobago.

He said that having lost the project, this country must now take a look at how it attracts investment, which he said was an extension of the conversation with the ArcelorMittal Steel plant at Point Lisas, which was shut down and is now in liquidation, and the whole debate over gas curtailment.

Head delegate of the Trinidad and Tobago contingent, Jerry Chin Lee, is pleased with the team selection and training regimen, and believes the athletes will give a good account of themselves.

“As part of our preparations for CCCAN (Central American and Caribbean Amateur Swimming Confederation), our Under-15 male team will be competing in the Under-16 male category at the CARIFTA Championships.

Our Under-18 female team will be competing in the Under-19 female category at this year’s CARIFTA in their preparation for CCCAN here at home,” Chin Lee said.

He explained that the team selection was made by the coaches from a pool of athletes who successfully completed the fitness test on March 4.

Chin Lee also praised the young athletes for their commitment to national duty.

“Overall the work ethic of the young athletes, discipline and attendance has been very good,” said Chin Lee, “their training generally consists of conditioning at the three early morning sessions, while the four other sessions are normally reserved for strength, technique, and tactical work through half-court work and full-game scrimmages.” Team coach Kester Scanterbury also expressed confidence in the team’s ability to retain the titles. He commended Chin Lee for his astute management of the team to date, especially as it relates to the organisation of team training sessions.

Scanterbury sees CARIFTA as a stepping stone for the CCCAN Championships which will be hosted in Trinidad and Tobago in June.

“I am very excited for CCCAN and while we have young teams, they are very smart, creative and competitive,” said the TT coach. “I believe our chances are very good in coming on top.” The U-19 female squad will feature in the tournament’s opening match versus Barbados at 8.30 am today, while the U-16 male outfit will battle Barbados at 9.20 am. At 2.20 pm, the girls will face Jamaica, while the boys will tackle hosts Bahamas at 4.20 pm.

Trinidad and Tobago teams – Under-19 Female: Zoe Van Reeken (goalkeeper), Aaliyah Aching, Jaeda Attong-Julien, Tahirah Beepat, Hailey De Leon, Victoria Gillette, Brean Jordan, Leah Mitchell, Yasmin Mohammed, Amy Pounder, Sahara St Clair-Douglas, Megan Stafford, Abeo Valentine; Kester Scanterbury (coach), Nichola Welch (assistant coach), Nathalie Nimblett (manager).

Under-16 Male: Tristan Francois (goalkeeper), Kelvin Caesar, Christian Chin Lee, Dante Drakes-McKell, Ross Gillette, Nathan Hinds, Everson Latchman, Antonio Newallo, Ricardo Ramdan, Yannick Robertson, Nicholai Yorke, Tommy Ou, Benjamin Chow Quan; Kester Scanterbury (coach), Jerry Chin Lee (manager/head delegate).

The military transport vessels were purchased from Dutch firm Damen by the previous administration.

Sinanan made this known at the post-Cabinet news briefing yesterday. Also speaking at the briefing, acting Prime Minister Colm Imbert said if this option is agreed on, the army vessels would be manned and operated by military personnel. But Imbert hastened to add, “It is one of several options.” Sinanan said Cabinet approved the purchase of a new inter-island ferry so as to prevent a repeat of the current uncertainty around the Galicia which is being withdrawn from service at just 14 days notice. He said Cabinet is now drawing up the specifications for such a vessel.

Sinanan gave an overview since the Government on March 30 had received a letter from the charterers announcing the Galicia would be pulled out from TT on April 14 (Easter Friday), a date since extended to April 18 by a follow-up letter.

He said the Port Authority and Ministry immediately drafted a tender document for Cabinet approval to to acquire a replacement vessel by purchase and/or a lease of three years.

“At this point in time we are looking at all the options to ensure there will be no shortfall in the transportation of cargo to and from Trinidad and Tobago.

We feel very confident that for the Easter weekend everything will be in place.

Subsequent to the Easter weekend and until a new ferry is located we have several options of contingency that will be in place.” Sinanan said one option is the TNT Spirit, a semi-cargo vessel that can convey 7,000 kilogrammes of vehicular cargo.

Another option is a barge to transport construction materials including sand, gravel and cement.

“We also have the use of two military vessels, that we are looking at the options of bringing them into service as and when required.” Former national security minister Gary Griffith, has welcomed the use of the two Damen vessels to service the sea bridge.

“This is an excellent idea by Government, a very proactive approach and thinking outside of the box,” Griffith said, adding the two vessels were originally acquired as a support to six Damen medium-range patrol vessels.

The two were to be used to send supplies so as to allow the six patrol vessels to remain at sea for extended periods.