However, Communications Workers Union (CWU) president Joseph Remy maintained that the labour movement felt disrespected on both issues. Remy warned that the ruling People’s National Movement (PNM) could be defeated in the next general elections, if it repeats the mistakes made by its People’s Partnership (PP) predecessor, in disrespecting labour.

Speaking with reporters as CWU members staged a protest outside of Tower D of the Port-of-Spain International Waterfront Centre, Baptiste-Primus said a meeting between the union and Tourism Minister Shamfa Cudjoe could take place early next week. Baptiste-Primus had given that commitment in the Senate on Tuesday.

On the suspension of labour’s involvement in NTAC, Baptiste-Primus said, “I don’t think this situation cannot be repaired.” While there will be differences in any relationship, the minister stated, “Given the larger picture and what is involved, I am quite sure that we will be able to overcome this present challenge.” Remy later reiterated to reporters that the CWU was never consulted on the dissolution of the TDC.

Calling for Cudjoe’s resignation but noting only Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley could remove her from her post, Remy said Government committed a breach by not meeting with the CWU as the recognised trade union for TDC employees before deciding to dissolve the company.

Claiming this move could be to facilitate the construction of a Sandals resort in Tobago, Remy said the union was not opposed to anything to benefit Tobago. On NTAC, Remy said labour will not return to that body, “until and unless” Government does certain things. “We are not going to go to the negotiating table with a gun to our head,” Remy declared.

“Cosmeticism, mamaguy and hypocrisy, that is how I would describe it,” he added. In the House of Representatives, Acting Leader of Government Business Terrence Deyalsingh said Finance Minister Colm Imbert will bring a note to Cabinet for the winding up of the company within 90 days. Deyalsingh said the TDC’s current staff complement of 114 persons, includes 101 monthly paid and 13 fortnightly paid workers.

In a statement yesterday, the TT Chamber of Industry and Commerce expressed concern that new tourism entity will not be formed in the immediate future, once the TDC is dissolved.

Calling for this matter to be speedily resolved and its willingness to play a role in that resolution, the Chamber said, “Far too much is at stake, given Tobago’s declining position as the preferred destination for travellers.”

“But, the key thing I will suggest is, hold on to your jobs because jobs are at a premium nationally, regionally and internationally given the global circumstance. All of us should take this into account.” Hinds made the appeal while delivering the feature address at the launch of the Postal Code and Address Improvement Project at the North Eastern Community Centre, Sangre Grande. The new S42 Addressing Standard, which is already being used in developed countries, is expected to improve efficiency in the postal service.

Pledging his support for the new initiative, Hinds told the audience: “I will stand firm with the entire staff of TTPost right down to the last worker. We are in tough times and we all at the level of the board , at the level of the management, at the level of the staff, if we have not yet understood, internalise that we are in tough times and it requires further sacrifice on all of our parts, sobriety, a calm approach and a focus, at least for workers to hold on to your jobs.” Hinds raised the issue of job security as he referred to a recent documentary about on-line shopping, which was found to be a growing trend internationally. He said the documentary revealed that some 70 per cent of a client’s overall cost was taken up with freight charges while the remaining 30 per cent covered warehousing charges and delivery.

The documentary, Hinds said, found that the 30 per cent cost for warehousing and delivery, regardless of the length of the journey, was inefficient and wasteful. “They are now finding ways to improve it and one of the ways is through unmanned trolleys, programmed through the use of information technology and computerisation,” he said.

The S42 Addressing Standard contains the addressee’s name, building number and street name, community name, postal district, post code and country name among other basic elements. It will replace the system of lamp post and lot numbers, mile markers and street names without building numbers.

Apart from making the postman’s job easier, Hinds said the new system also will facilitate more efficient processes and a faster turnaround at the post office. “It will improve efficiency inside of TTPost as an entity, saving money by saving time while at the same time improving the service to customers,” he said.

The cocaine is believed to have originated in Venezuela and then moved to Jamaica for transport via a container to Trinidad.

Yesterday, Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of Crime Irwin Hackshaw told Newsday that he had not yet been officially informed of the drug bust but added that once the information reaches Interpol in this country and he is officially informed then an investigation will be mounted by the Organised Narcotics and Firearms Bureau (OCNFB) to ascertain to whom the container was consigned.

He said police now will be working closely with authorities in Jamaica to assist in this investigation so that closure could be made and those culpable for the offence detained and brought to justice.

According to Hackshaw, Trinidad and Tobago shares extremely good relations with other Caricom countries in partnering in the fight against crime including the illegal transhipment of drugs and arms and ammunition.

Newsday also contacted Senior Customs officials who also indicated that they were not officially informed of the drug find but will be making contact with their counterparts in Jamaica to render any assistance needed in this latest probe.

Authorities in Jamaica said yesterday that due to the sensitive nature of the investigation they are still in the process of gathering information and putting together documents before they make official contact with TT authorities for assistance in this investigation.

Newsday understands documents from Jamaica are to be sent to this country to be scrutinised so that suspects could be questioned locally based on the paper trail derived from documents at the Port in Jamaica.

According to a report in The Gleaner “The Narcotics Police have made a second multimillion-dollar cocaine seizure in the last 72 hours.

In the latest incident, the Narcotics Police report that 11.25 kilogrammes of cocaine, valued at $13.4 million, was found inside a container at Port Bustamante, in Kingston last night.

Law enforcement sources revealed that the container arrived in the island from Venezuela on Saturday.

According to one source, the container, stocked with empty glass bottles, was destined for Trinidad and Tobago.

However, it’s reported that detectives from the Narcotics Police division, along with members of the Customs Enforcement Team, were conducting operations at Kingston Freeport Terminal when they detected “anomalies” with the seal on the container.

The container was searched and the police say ten rectangular parcels were found with white powdery substance believed to be cocaine.

Last Friday, members of the Narcotics Police division arrested a 46-year-old businessman and another man in Manchester after 15 kilogrammes of cocaine valued at over $21 million was allegedly found in a car in which they were travelling.

A police report stated that at about 11 am on Tuesday, Morris, a civil engineer was at Lutchmeesingh’s asphalt plant at M1 Ring Road, when the fatal freak accident occurred.

A distraught Lutchmeesingh told Newsday: “John is a very close friend of mine and was almost like family. It is a very unfortunate incident and I am very very sorry.” Lutchmeesingh said Morris stayed at his home whenever he was in Trinidad. While he was not a worker, he would visit the plant once he was in the country.

He said: “He is not a worker, but he loves to go on the plant. He knows about asphalt because he has been doing that all his life. “ Lutchmeesingh said Morris has his family back in England and he has been in contact with them since the tragedy.

He said: “I have been talking to them (family) and they took the news very hard. The body will be flown back home, it is the most I can do for him at this time.” An autopsy will be performed today at the Forensic Science Centre, St James. Officers of the Princes Town Police Station are investigating.

Referring to the clause, Moonilal warned it could trigger a situation where people accused of murder, who are currently incarcerated, would walk free after 18 months. While saying the Opposition is prepared to support the Government to deal with the country’s crime problem, Moonilal declared the Opposition is, “not about joining the Government to break the law.” Arguing that the Constitution does not permit the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to function as a judicial authority, Moonilal claimed this point was made by Finance Minister Colm Imbert in 2014 when he was an Opposition MP. “This is reckless! This is dangerous!” Moonilal declared.

In his contribution, Ramadhar said this legislation was, “running us into a dictatorship.” He argued that PNM members like Franklin Khan and Eric Williams were saved from prison sentences as a result of evidence which came forward at the preliminary inquiry stages of their respective matters. Defending the Runoff Bill which was brought by the PP, Ramadhar said it would have rid the country of the evil of minority governments. Referring to an earlier contribution of Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh, Ramadhar opined that Deyalsingh would have been recalled as St Joseph MP if the Runoff Bill became law

Gopee-Scoon was speaking to reporters prior to a tour of TCL’s Claxton Bay plant yesterday. “Actually I am quite comfortable with this company, the improvements they have made and their capital restructuring,” she said.

“I think they are in a very favourable position. You have to look at where this company could have been. It has been years of difficulty and uncontrollable debt and this business could have been closed had it not been for the intervention, I think in 2015, of CEMEX.” “I think they brought about US $40 million and they were able to reduce their debts and restructured their debts so their capital structure now is quite favourable, as he said not perfect, but the company is in a much better place. They can manage their working capital, ensuring that they get maximum credit and they are paying their bills on time, but their debts are much lower.

That is where the efficiency of the agency starts – with managing your finances.

“When it comes to the employees, we are concerned but the organisation has managed to reach to a point of stability. What it means is they are prepared to keep the employees which they have so I can see there will be increased opportunities for employee levels as well.” Asked about foreign cement on the local market, Gopee-Scoon said the Bureau of Standards has to ensure that all goods entering met international standards as there is little to stop the entry of foreign goods.

However she noted that there were some improvements in the price of cement on the local market which is a benefit to consumers.

Meanwhile, TCL’s managing director Jose Seijo, asked about measures being put in place to reduce the environmental impact at the plant, said there is a “backlog of issues” which has to be dealt with. He said the company had invested “roughly 15 to 20 percent” of the company’s capital expenditure on health, safety and environment issue

Finance Minister Colm Imbert said a report about fraudulent activity which took place in the First Citizens Bank (FCB) Initial Public Offering (IPO), under the former People’s Partnership (PP) government, is now before the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). Works and Transport Minister Rohan Sinanan that in the 2013 to 2015 period under the PP, employees at the National Infrastructure Development Company (Nidco) were being paid $200,000 under questionable circumstances. Al-Rawi, Imbert and Sinanan made their respective disclosures in the House of Representatives yesterday.

The AG cited pieces of legislation on the House Order Paper which have “a direct correlation” to the issue of fraudulent land deeds which was mentioned in judgement in the San Fernando High Court on Tuesday.Al-Rawi said other draft legislation Government is working on, “will require positive proof ” from the relevant parties involved in these matters. Imbert said, “My understanding is that the reports of the fraudulent activity that took place under PP government are with the DPP.” He added, “The Minister of Finance has no control over the DPP.” Imbert said there was nothing wrong with FCB making another IPO, “because the perpetrators of the confusion…namely the PP government…

the former board…the persons in the management who engaged in market manipulation are all gone.” Sinanan said reports alleging that Nidco was going to fire over 100 contract workers are wrong.

However he disclosed that preliminary inquiries coming out of Nidco have shown, “we had employees drawing over $200,000 per month and to this day, we cannot find what they were doing for that sum of money.” Sinanan said those persons were on Nidco’s payroll from 2013 to 2015. He also said Nidco is currently doing a manpower audit and at the end of this exercise, the persons who Nidco requires will be retained. Sinanan reiterated that the former members of the board of the Port Authority resigned and were not fired.

The arrest was made over the weekend in Couva by officers of the Organised Crime and Narcotics Unit. The accused is a citizen of the United States and his passport was ordered seized by the magistrate. Acting on intelligence, officers reportedly went to a house in Couva where they recovered the guns along with 116 rounds of nine millimetre ammunition, one round of .38 special, one round of .50 calibre ammunition and one magazine.

He was also charged with possession of a small quantity of ammunition

The foundation, which acts as a guardian body for marginalised youths seeking to reduce bullying, suicide and discrimination, has spent the last five years advocating for the full inclusion and acceptance of LGBTQIA (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning, intersex, and asexual) youths, not only in our nation’s classrooms, but in our wider society.

The large contingent of supporters witnessed at the march, proudly waving rainbow pride flags, hoisting pro-LGBT signs and chanting the slogan, “Gay rights are human rights,” not only demonstrated a monumental moment for the local gay rights movement but also signalled a tide of change sweeping through our nation as more citizens welcome diversity, celebrate inclusion and seek equality.

Executive director of SLF, Jeremy Edwards, stated, “Our presence at this march was intended to stand in solidarity with women across our nation on the common themes of discrimination, exclusion and inequality, which continue to form the everyday reality for LGBTQIA citizens of this nation.

“This women’s march provided the often unseen LGBTQIA community a welcomed opportunity to maintain a larger presence of visibility against adversaries opposed to their human rights, of which SLF, alongside other organisations, was extremely proud to lead.” Beginning with the work initiated by SLF over the past five years, we firmly believe all levels of discrimination and homophobia can be reduced once there is greater access to education, support and sensitisation to the issues that currently plague our society against LGBTQIA citizens.

We remind both our leaders and fellow citizens of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights which states, “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.” Therefore, SLF again calls on our leaders to do more to fully include LGBTQIA citizens into our society where respect for their rights is upheld and protection under the law is guaranteed.

Kennedy Everett Maraj via email

And that is deservingly so, because many will have worked very hard to achieve their professional and other goals, some more so coming from poor families and benefiting from the support of their parents, and more especially, from the “schooling” such parents deemed essential.

I did not, however, see the women and mothers belonging to the latter category being celebrated in the news for their sacrifice and hard work to make ends meet in order to take care of their families and send their children to school.

Perhaps I may have missed it, but if I did I would have been effusive in my praise for any single reporter who was sensitive enough to recognise the tremendous role such women play, but probably such women are not “newsworthy” enough.

But my “old lady” was always news for me, for being a water carrier from the sugar estate barracks in Golconda, she “toted” that water tin on her head for over 50 years, suffering the indignity on one occasion — of which she told us in her later years and there may have been many more — when a high class/caste woman refused to allow her to touch the water hose which she had allowed her to fill from.

With my father, who was also a canefield worker, they saved every penny so that we could go to school and beyond even up to university, allowing me to claim the distinction of being the first boy from the sugar estate barracks to go to university, and also my sister who benefited from a Mona education at a time in the 70s when the Jamaican dollar was almost equivalent in value to the US dollar, if not higher.

She was a woman then — a lady — for whom there was no celebration, which perhaps she may not have wanted, for the performance of duty would have been a continuing celebration in itself.

And there are many others like her, like the one being physically abused on a daily basis, having to endure it, for what can she do, if not stay and take the beating, just to live, and for her children.

And what of the young woman who had dreams like any other, of living with the man who professed to love her, and with him raise a family, little knowing that all he wanted was one thing and when that was over and she was left alone with the little pickney, he would pay her the odd visit, bringing a box of chicken ’n’ chips, and if faraway in the Big Apple, send her a barrel with some pretty, pretty Nike Jordan. Still she would carry on until the end, whatever that may be.

They are real women, but if even they were on the papers, they would blush, for true duty never cares for the limelight. But the women clinking glasses and praying in the cathedral are equally deserving as women, and lest we forget, let us also remember those who sacrifice and suffer in stony silence.

Dr Errol Benjamin via email